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01-13-2019, 11:11 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 18
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Open ground/loose neutral?
Hi everyone,
Lately I have noticed the 12v lights flickering ever so slightly whenever the lights are on. This seems to occur regardless of whether we are on shore, generator, or house battery power. At the same time I noticed the surge protector now indicates open ground. I thought maybe it’s an issue at my home outlet but I went to a state park and it’s showing the same fault indicator.
I checked the grounds coming off the batteries and all seems intact. I’ve been reading online but I can’t determine if these two problems are related or not. The only thing different is I had some work done on the generator at the shop but I can’t figure out the connection between these two issues.
Has anyone ever experienced an open ground fault plus 12v flickering?
Many thanks!
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01-14-2019, 03:38 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WalkTheLine
Hi everyone,
Lately I have noticed the 12v lights flickering ever so slightly whenever the lights are on. This seems to occur regardless of whether we are on shore, generator, or house battery power. At the same time I noticed the surge protector now indicates open ground. I thought maybe it’s an issue at my home outlet but I went to a state park and it’s showing the same fault indicator.
I checked the grounds coming off the batteries and all seems intact. I’ve been reading online but I can’t determine if these two problems are related or not. The only thing different is I had some work done on the generator at the shop but I can’t figure out the connection between these two issues.
Has anyone ever experienced an open ground fault plus 12v flickering?
Many thanks!
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Open ground fault is for the 120V system and has no bearing on your 12V system. Open ground is dangerous and can be life threatening.
What year/model of RV do you have? Are the flickering lights florescent or do the regular bulbs flicker as well? 10 year old florescent may start flickering. You might put a voltmeter on one of the flickering lights to see if the voltage is fluctuating.
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01-15-2019, 02:14 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,336
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Call your generator guy and ask if he has some ideas. Did he work on the transfer box?
https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...iABEgLesvD_BwE
Maybe you have a loose nut(s) inside the T-Box?
Check your generator ground wire. (Just because.)
...fluorescent light circuit boards do cause flickering, but this is a 12V source issue. I replaced my 2 solenoids and my fluorescent lights got brighter.
...you stay you are getting an "open ground" on the surge protector???
So disconnect the surge protector and then use a 120V-AC receptacle tester you can pick-up at any hardware store and let us know if your problem is the surge protector.
https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Instru...s=120V-AC+test
Let us know what you find.
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01-15-2019, 07:34 AM
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#4
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by al1florida
Open ground fault is for the 120V system and has no bearing on your 12V system. Open ground is dangerous and can be life threatening.
What year/model of RV do you have? Are the flickering lights florescent or do the regular bulbs flicker as well? 10 year old florescent may start flickering. You might put a voltmeter on one of the flickering lights to see if the voltage is fluctuating.
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Thank you. Thanks for answering my question re open ground vs the 12V system..looks like I have 2 problems here...I have a 2005 Winnie Voyage 33v. The regular bulbs flicker as well as the florescent bulbs. However, I will go check that and put the voltmeter on the lights. Will let you know what I find--may be tomorrow afternoon before I can go check. I also ordered a tester to check the surge protector (see below)
__________________
David & Celeste
2005 Winnie Voyage 33v
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01-15-2019, 07:35 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by imnprsd
Call your generator guy and ask if he has some ideas. Did he work on the transfer box?
https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/...iABEgLesvD_BwE
Maybe you have a loose nut(s) inside the T-Box?
Check your generator ground wire. (Just because.)
...fluorescent light circuit boards do cause flickering, but this is a 12V source issue. I replaced my 2 solenoids and my fluorescent lights got brighter.
...you stay you are getting an "open ground" on the surge protector???
So disconnect the surge protector and then use a 120V-AC receptacle tester you can pick-up at any hardware store and let us know if your problem is the surge protector.
https://www.amazon.com/Sperry-Instru...s=120V-AC+test
Let us know what you find.
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I ordered the tester for the surge protector so will test that ASAP. I plan to call the service place and talk to them about the generator. I will also look for the transfer box and examine it too as well. I will let you all know what I find. Thanks!!
__________________
David & Celeste
2005 Winnie Voyage 33v
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01-15-2019, 08:58 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 3,574
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If you haven't already done so, unplug and don't use shore power or generator power until you correct the problem. As previously stated, this can be life-threatening.
__________________
Bob C
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
Workhorse Chassis
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01-15-2019, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobC
If you haven't already done so, unplug and don't use shore power or generator power until you correct the problem. As previously stated, this can be life-threatening.
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Yessir it is unplugged from shore power and I will not run generator till I get to the bottom of this, Thanks for the alert, appreciate it.
__________________
David & Celeste
2005 Winnie Voyage 33v
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01-15-2019, 09:56 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Tampa Bay FL
Posts: 27
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Also when you are trouble shooting it pick a day with no rain and when the ground is dry. If you have an open ground YOU don't want to become the ground path.
__________________
2009 Winnebago Aspect 28B
Ford E-450 V-10
2012 Honda CRV
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01-15-2019, 12:55 PM
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#9
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Winnie-Wise
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Altoona, Iowa
Posts: 419
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WalkTheLine
Hi everyone,
Lately I have noticed the 12v lights flickering ever so slightly whenever the lights are on. This seems to occur regardless of whether we are on shore, generator, or house battery power. At the same time I noticed the surge protector now indicates open ground. I thought maybe it’s an issue at my home outlet but I went to a state park and it’s showing the same fault indicator.
I checked the grounds coming off the batteries and all seems intact. I’ve been reading online but I can’t determine if these two problems are related or not. The only thing different is I had some work done on the generator at the shop but I can’t figure out the connection between these two issues.
Has anyone ever experienced an open ground fault plus 12v flickering?
Many thanks!
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I've had it happen to me a couple of times. Each time I roughed up and cleaned off the prongs on my shore cord with a file. So far that has fixed it.
__________________
2010 Itasca Sunova 33C (a lot of modifications)
2004 Jeep Rubicon, 34K miles (highly modified)
Three cats and the wife
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01-16-2019, 02:14 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WalkTheLine
I ordered the tester for the surge protector so will test that ASAP. I plan to call the service place and talk to them about the generator. I will also look for the transfer box and examine it too as well. I will let you all know what I find. Thanks!!
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I messed around with all this and put a call into the generator place...they called back requesting I bring the MH back ASAP so they could see what was going on so I just dropped it off at the shop. I will let y 'all know what they find. Thanks!
__________________
David & Celeste
2005 Winnie Voyage 33v
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