Troubleshooting a Travel Trailer with a 12 Volt Circuit Short

Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, takes you on another journey of 12 volts to find out what's wrong with this RVs 12 volt electrical system. Although the issue was evasive, there's always something to discover on these RV electrical walk-through videos!

[highfeather]

Oh. My. GAWD! I ultimately could not care less that you couldn't wrap it up with the smoking gun at the end. You just saved me a ton of either time or money by showing me how to do this for my RV. This is so, so helpful. On the day when you read my comment, I hope you will go to bed that night feeling good that you saved some dude you don't know a whole lot of frustration.

[herbdecker]

When you view this you are seeing an honest man that did not make up a story at the end. Refreshing.

[SpeedyCotton]

The real value was seeing an honorable person that did not try to bs me. Great video.

[charlesyoungblood]

Electrical problems are so fickle especially DC. Absolutely great job of explaining everything and your thought process.

[richardroy]

Excellent lesson tracking a dead short.
I’ve had similar electrical mysteries so great to see an expert’s approach.
Always learn and enjoy your presentations

[cpickslay]

Thx for sharing even though you didn't get to the source. The troubleshooting steps were super helpful.

[petesylves]

This guy is really good... I like the way he explains things... I watch his videos all the time... I have made several DYI improvements to my RV just by watching his videos... Keep the videos coming...

[CaliforniaTravelVideos]

Many thanks for the excellent narrative while you were "on the hunt." In the back of my mind when you isolated the problem to the black "Center" circuit wire, I was already worried you might face a "CCWT" (Came Clear While Testing) resolution - bummer! As it turns out on RVs, sadly the installers hurriedly (and sometimes sloppily) rush through installing screws that "nick" into the insulation of a hot wire. And sure enough, over the years these time bombs that were sleeping in wait, eventually wiggle around enough that the screw finally pierces the insulation and shorts the voltage to ground.
While closing out the trouble ticked and heading home seems reasonable, yet when we're soooo close, ideally we would want to spend a bit more time to try to isolate and resolve the problem. Here could hook up the beeper individually to each of the black wires at the acorn connector and pull/push/jiggle the wires while listening for an intermittent/momentary beep. Perhaps the short was a wood or sheet metal screw at a junction or switch box, etc. On my Fleetwood when replacing the microwave oven, I was shocked to find dozens of sharp metal filings floating loose above the microwave, left behind when a rookie installer didn't bother cleaning up. I also found a wood screw piercing the insulation going to the ac/heater controller so goodness knows what to expect in the future. In fact right now my Converter doesn't seem to be working so back to work for me... Happy Trails, Michael

[rwcawley]

Its amazing what you can learn on Youtube. This is exactly what I needed when I needed it. My new (to me) MH 12v is not working and now I know how to find the problem. I'm confident I will have it very soon thanks to you.

[hillbillyrv]

Great video Darren. Very good diagnosis. Sometimes we fix stuff by mistake. Gotta love RVs

[rinehartbrent]

This is by far the most informative video I've ever watched and look forward to seeing many more.

[scottmerrill]

I know as a maintenance tech wizard for 40 yrs all I would have to do is show up at the problem and all of the sudden no more problem. Wait around a half an hour or more for problem to return and nothing. Leave and 5 minutes later get a call to return.
keep up the good work.

[bradleywatkins]

Thanks man, new rv tech from Michigan here. Electrical has never been my strong suit, or preferred suit lol. But im learning its imperative to succeed in our industry. Training at my employers isn't exactly top notch ( to learn is to make mistakes and learn from it) however, I hate to be THAT GUY in the field where people are paying and counting on me to know, not guess and hope for the best. Anyways, your videos are always my go to. And are turning me into a knowledgeable tech yet!! 🤘

[Mancerzac]

I have a hard time learning, mainly lack experience an the confidence to just do an find out.
Its helpful to see different issues an problems.
Iv seen vehicle issues just go away after taking part almost off an couldn't free it from space so I bolted it back down and didn't trouble me no more.... so I basically let it be and still have the new starter I

[kathygallagher]

Very well done electrical troubleshoot explanation. I will refer lots of friends to watch it as most just throw up their hands when confronting electrical problem. Methodical, thoughtful, professional. Thank you!
Kathy G

[SDakota]

Love your videos. Maybe expand on why the fuse didn’t blow.

[wolveslick]

Love your videos Darrin. I recently traced all of the DC wires in my 2019 Palamino Puma RESS257 5th wheel.
Just as you removed each individual DC fuse to trace a short, I removed each fuse one at a time for Front, Middle and Rear. Then I tested every light, most of which are LED in the RV by flipping switches. "Front" fuse on my RV only protects the front cap docking lights. "Middle" fuse protects bath fan/light. "Rear" protects all living room/kitchen, hallway, bedroom and outside switched lights, which seems like a lot of lights on one circuit. I just realized that I didn't trace which fuse protects the kitchen range hood/fan which of coarse I will now have to do. There are certain other fuses hidden around my RV. I found a 5 amp fuse for awning rope light next to the front door, inside the nearest upper kitchen cabinet, behind a crude piece of plywood, along with a huge rats nest of wires behind the DC switch panel for slide, lights, awning, and water tank level indicators.
I also made a DC wire color chart for each fuse leading out from each DC fuse.
Also, for any of your viewers like me, I found out that when a particular colored DC wire runs from the fusebox to a switch that, for example, would operate a slide room motor, the wire leaving the switch to the slide room motor is a different color.
More colors than a rainbow, purple, black, orange, gray, purple, green, brown, pink, red.
The black/white wire to "Front" docking lights ran under the rig to the front and up into forward storage compartment to the switch, beside the storage door. Inside the front compartmennext to the door frame is a thin plywood covering where many staples are shot clean through the plywood, leaving a gap near the switch where I could see the black/white wire running to the light switch for the docking lights. A red/white wire leaving the switch to the docking lights had a wood screw driven right through the middle of the two wires. I removed the screw and saw bare wire on both sides. I was absolutely amazed that that fuse had not blown!
Just like the short you were tracing, if there were a screw driven through a wire that was somewhere/anywhere inside a wall or ceiling it would be very difficult or expensive to find!
You made a comment in another video I recently watched mentioning the "Proprietary" RV trade secrets that "They" don't want "Us" to know.
I wouldn't own an RV if I had to take it to a "Dealer" for every little repair. You're videos are "Invaluable"!

Thanks again for the information you provide!

[Scorpiomary]

Cool neat to see how you did troubleshoot the RV. Thanks for sharing

[crlguitar]

Impressed with your method of trouble shooting the short....
I am having issues with my pop up tent trailer 12 volt lights not working. The 120 AC seems to be fine.

[stunninglife]

Hey this helped a lot, I had the exact same fix - Didn't discover the problem but the issue fixed itself. So now we have anxiety about it breaking again, but at least the fridge is back on!