Pendant Lights won’t turn on

[GabeH]

So I have a 2017 cougar 336bhs, I have had it for a few years and the pendant lights above the kitchen sink have never worked. I recently decided to check voltage and attempt to fix it. I had 0 voltage on both pendant lights with the switch on. I then checked the fuse box for interior zone 3, and had a perfect 13.7 volts. I also checked the switch which also has the same voltage coming and going out. Ive tried tracing it, but I cant figure out where to look next without ripping the whole rv apart. Any info helps!!

 

[JRTJH]

I would start by taking the light bulbs out of the pendant lights and checking the sockets for correct voltage. Why? Both single "base contact" bulbs and dual base contact bulbs will fit into the socket, but depending on which socket it is, the bulbs are not interchangeable... We just had another member with pendant lights that would not work and he was trying to install the wrong bulb into the sockets. If you do have 12 VDC between the conter contact and the socket base or between the two contacts (if it's a dual type socket) then post a photo of the socket and we'll get you the correct bulb number.

 

[GabeH]

Thats the fun part, i pulled the entire fixture down and tested voltage from the incoming wires and I have nothing. i checked the connections on both and all seems well. I cant get a diagram unless i get it from a dealer so I was trying to see if anyone knows where they land

 

[chuckster57]

You won’t get a diagram from the dealer, they don’t exist. Start at the fixtures, note the color code and then start back tracking.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

For clarity, does the switch that controls the pendent lights, also control anything else, or just those two fixtures? Have you pulled the switch out and checked the wires on the switch for power and proper placement? I had a mis-wired switch on my 2019 with the opposite problem; a light wouldn't turn off, so wiring mistakes do happen from time to time.

 

[JRTJH]

Thats the fun part, i pulled the entire fixture down and tested voltage from the incoming wires and I have nothing. i checked the connections on both and all seems well. I cant get a diagram unless i get it from a dealer so I was trying to see if anyone knows where they land

If you have 0VDC at the wires for the light fixture, then work your way back to the switch measured between the two wires, then use your voltmeter to see if you have 12VDC between the hot wire and a "known good ground". If you do, the ground wire is bad. If you do not, then measure with the ohmmeter between the ground wire and a known good ground. You should get continuity if the ground wire is properly connected to the trailer ground system. If the ground is good and you have 0VDC, then work your way to the switch. There you should find the same wire (hot lead) so measure from the INPUT wire to the switch to ground and you should have 12VDC. Then turn on the switch and see if you have 12VDC on the output side of the switch. If you do, there's a problem with the wire. If you don't have 12VDC out of the switch, replace the switch.

If you DO NOT have 12VDC into the switch, then continue back to the fuse panel for that circuit. Sometimes, a fuse will be inserted into the fuse block with one leg of the fuse not in the slot, so not making contact. Also, the wires attached to the fuse block can loosen and sometimes completely fall out of the "screw clamp".