TT lights are on - not connected to TV

[dljs1941]

So I just happen to look outside tonight and noticed that all of the exterior lights of my 2020 Bullet 273 BHS were on. The camper is parked in my yard and is not connected to my TV nor is it connected to shore power. The battery disconnect is off so power inside the TT is off. I disconnect the battery and all of the lights went dark. We just returned from a 4 day camping trip and did not experience this issue. I'm not even sure where to begin trouble shooting this and am looking for places to start. Appreciate any guidance.

[NH_Bulldog]

Check for a short in the plug/cord to the vehicle (I know it isn’t connected). If there is a short between pins 3 & 4 on the plug, the running lights will be on. A lot of people do it intentionally while parked at a campground. Apparently it’s a thing, although I am not personally a fan. Either way, there is a short in that plug or at the trailer connection at the other end of the cord.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Check for a short in the plug/cord to the vehicle (I know it isn’t connected). If there is a short between pins 3 & 4 on the plug, the running lights will be on. A lot of people do it intentionally while parked at a campground. Apparently it’s a thing, although I am not personally a fan. Either way, there is a short in that plug or at the trailer connection at the other end of the cord.

Yup, I would start at the junction box, and the umbilical cord.

[dljs1941]

So just to keep this straight in my head...looking at a 7 pin RV Round wiring diagram the Green pin power the marker and tail lights (don't know if that's pin 3 or 4). The BLACK pin is 12V power which I assume is from the battery. If those two where shorted, would that bring power to the marker and tail lights?

[chuckster57]

You got it. Easier way is to hold the trailer plug, with the locking tab UP. The power and running lights are the top two.

[dljs1941]

OK thanks. Will start to troubleshoot as soon as rain let’s up from Henri.

[GMH]

Originally Posted by dljs1941

The battery disconnect is off so power inside the TT is off. I disconnect the battery and all of the lights went dark.

That’s not really a disconnect then? My disconnect kills all power to everything so nothing will kill the battery during storeage. But you still must have a short or something for the lights to be on.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by GMH

That’s not really a disconnect then? My disconnect kills all power to everything so nothing will kill the battery during storeage. But you still must have a short or something for the lights to be on.

The OP is talking about the exterior running lights that should not be connected to the trailer battery, at least from the factory. Uness you installed the battery disconnect the factory disconnect does not disconnect ALL parasitic loads. There will still be drains on the battery from things like the LP & CO detector, the radio memory, the InCommand sydtem or any other system that interfaces with a xmsrt phone or remore that can level the trailer, deploy the slides or awning.

[GMH]

Originally Posted by flybouy

The OP is talking about the exterior running lights that should not be connected to the trailer battery, at least from the factory. Uness you installed the battery disconnect the factory disconnect does not disconnect ALL parasitic loads. There will still be drains on the battery from things like the LP & CO detector, the radio memory, the InCommand sydtem or any other system that interfaces with a xmsrt phone or remore that can level the trailer, deploy the slides or awning.

I see. I did install my own with the intent of killing ALL power to the trailer for storeage between trips. It made sense to me. But if the OP’s switch killed all power, he might not even know he had a short.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by GMH

I see. I did install my own with the intent of killing ALL power to the trailer for storeage between trips. It made sense to me. But if the OP’s switch killed all power, he might not even know he had a short.

If he had a disconnect switch on the negative side of the battery you are correct. That’s how I installed my battery disconnect as well.

[dljs1941]

Just to clarify, the battery disconnect switch is factory installed. Exterior lights stay on regardless if battery disconnect is on or off. The only thing that makes sense to me is the lights are somehow getting power from the battery.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by dljs1941

Just to clarify, the battery disconnect switch is factory installed. Exterior lights stay on regardless if battery disconnect is on or off. The only thing that makes sense to me is the lights are somehow getting power from the battery.

There are only 3 places for that to happen... the junction box where all the wiring comes together from the umbilical cord, the umbilical cord itself or the 7 way plug on the umbilical cord..

Since that is probably a sealed cord and no way to get inside the plug, I'd go buy a good Bargman cord and just rewire it to the junction box.. I've carried a spare cord for so long I might need to see if it's rotted from heat.

[flybouy]

If the umbilical has a molded plug then I would start at the junction box. Seems more likely to me that one of the wires pulled out of the connector and is now touching another wire. If the 7 way plug was replaced at some point then I would start at the plug.

[Roper46]

When I did my walk thru for the 5er at CW, the guy gave me a 15 amp fuse and said since I gave you one, you will never need one. And we laughed.

But before he gave me the fuse he showed me a "trick" that him and his buddies have played on each other. He took that same fuse and stuck it in the top two holes on the seven way. He then laughed and said look at the clearance lights. They all were on without being plugged into anything.

Just saying.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Roper46

When I did my walk thru for the 5er at CW, the guy gave me a 15 amp fuse and said since I gave you one, you will never need one. And we laughed.

But before he gave me the fuse he showed me a "trick" that him and his buddies have played on each other. He took that same fuse and stuck it in the top two holes on the seven way. He then laughed and said look at the clearance lights. They all were on without being plugged into anything.

Just saying.

Some people "turn on their clearance lights with a fuse, some with a paper clip or a short piece of wire and some "fancy souls" use an old mechanical blinker relay so their running lights "disco dance" to their own music.... But, point is any 12 volt power source that touches the brown wire at any point, umbilical plug, umbilical wiring or umbilical junction box would be the three most likely places for "battery power to inadvertently contact the running light/tail light wiring".....

Oh, if you're ordering pizza to be delivered to the campground, it's much easier to say, "Deliver it to the trailer with the flashing lights"... Makes for warmer pizza in most situations..... And, to give the practice a "practical application", it also works for EMT responders too.....

[Roper46]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Oh, if you're ordering pizza to be delivered to the campground, it's much easier to say, "Deliver it to the trailer with the flashing lights"... Makes for warmer pizza in most situations..... And, to give the practice a "practical application", it also works for EMT responders too.....

Never thought of this. Those are great ideas !

[flybouy]

Also if you’re on the side of the road broke down having all the lights flashing may give better warning to traffic.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Also if you’re on the side of the road broke down having all the lights flashing may give better warning to traffic.

Yep, Having chest pains from the trucks and cars "whizzing by" while trying to change a flat tire on the roadside side of a trailer parked on the roadside.... (I know, too many roadsides in that sentence) can cause chest pains... So, call for medical assistance and tell them it's the trailer parked on the side of the road with the flashing lights... They'll also "better your chances" of not getting run over before the ambulance gets there to take you to the nearest cardiac unit while Good Sam tries to find a "road service facility" that will respond to your location...... I'd almost bet the pizza delivery guy will find you and the trailer before the Good Sam roadside service and maybe even before the ambulance gets there.....

[dljs1941]

Well after a very short (no pun intended) visual inspection it didn't take long to figure out the the umbilical cord was shorted out midway and had burned thru the outer jacket. The cord must have been marginal from the factory and shorted from having it wound around the power jack (which was how it was delivered to me). So I replaced the umbilical cord and voila, all is back to normal. Getting the wires connected inside the junction box was not hard, just a little tedious.
Thanks for all of the suggestions and a few new ones for why you might want your running lights on when the TT is not connected to the TV.

[Lee]

Thank you for the follow up!!!!