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LightOfWeigh · 07-18-2020, 06:32 PM

Hello. We have a 2019 25FB International Serenity. Our external entrance light (over the door of the trailer) does not turn on when we are boondocking on 12-volt DC battery power, but all other lights inside the trailer will work. However, if we connect to shore AC power, the external light does become operational.

Has anyone else experienced this? We can't figure out if this is by design, or if we have a wiring issue. We were under the impression that all LED lights would work on 12-volt battery power.

One hypothesis: I thought maybe the external light was somehow connected to the GFCI circuit breaker (which requires either AC power or the AC inverter enabled to activate). I found NO documentation to support that hypothesis :/

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or education! I tried to attach a picture of the light below, but it's sideways. It's the light above the door outside the trailer. Thnx!

rd tighe · 07-18-2020, 07:15 PM

My guess is a ground problem it should work on 12 volt. Mine does. Check the screws that hold it on. Mine have come loose and caused the light not to work. Good luck.

LightOfWeigh · 07-21-2020, 05:27 PM

Thanks, RD. Wouldn't be the first time I've had a screw loose

If it was a ground issue, wouldn't the light not work regardless of whether I'm on battery or shore power? For some reason it works when on shore power, but not when we're on battery. Odd indeed

jeffmc306 · 07-21-2020, 05:35 PM

LightOfWeight, I think Dean, the previous poster is correct. I think you’ve got a red herring - a coincidence that the light does work on shore power. All the lights operate on 12V.

Our door light didn’t work when we got our trailer. I tapped on the housing with my hand and the light came on. A voltmeter would answer the question by testing in both scenarios. My money is on a loose connection, either ground or 12V positive lead.

DoublTrouble · 07-21-2020, 05:40 PM

we've had issues with ours since our 27FB was new. We've had the rivet changed but it still works intermittently. You can remove the two screws and manipulate the lense out to look inside. If I tap on it, it will come on... See if it's loose and check if moving the led light will cause it to come on. I'm going to follow along should someone else have a fix.

DoublTrouble · 07-21-2020, 05:42 PM

so, jeffmc306, is it grounded to the trailer right there at the light? How did you fix yours?

jeffmc306 · 07-23-2020, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoublTrouble

so, jeffmc306, is it grounded to the trailer right there at the light? How did you fix yours?

I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t fixed it permanently - tapping on it works but lately it’s working without fail. It’s going to JC for a punch list of items and that will be one of them.

lsbrodsky · 07-23-2020, 01:21 PM

Same problem for years...a ground issue. I used a C-clamp to completely crush the rivet to a very tight fit and it has worked ever since. Of course initially I spent the money on new lamp internals and bulb. A waste.
Larry

PB_NB · 07-23-2020, 02:50 PM

It makes sense that the connection would be to blame. The LED's all run on the 12V system. When you are plugged into shore power, the converter is making 12V DC power and feeding it back into the system.

I really can't see Airstream going to the expense of adding 110V ballasts to the LED's to convert the AC current into DC current. Or have a separate set of wires running to the light that is only energized when the shore power is active.

It sound like the fixture is the problem like you have discovered by tapping it.

DoublTrouble · 08-10-2020, 03:33 PM

We are out so I was playing with the light just now. The black wire that goes into the led/socket has a weak connection. I pressed it in, we'll see how long that fix will last. Probably needs some solder.

DoublTrouble · 08-21-2020, 10:01 AM

So far, so good. After 800 miles, the light is still working. This is the most reliable that it has been, ever!

Jwf · 03-05-2022, 08:40 AM

How do you get access to the light? I couldn't really see any way to take off the lens or to see the wiring.

DoublTrouble · 03-06-2022, 08:41 AM

If you remove those two screws, you can work the lens out. The lens is notched to be held in place by the screws. Once inside you'll see that the LED has a bracket that is held in place by the rivet which passes through the dome. There is only one wire that powers the light, it is black.
The fixture is grounded to the trailer. My light had the a loose black wire at the socket. Ultimately I had the dealer instal an new LED assembly a few months ago. Now it works correctly.

You can find the LED at LED4RV.com part # 512490.
But for DIY, you need to be able to to do the shaved rivet thing.
I don't have those skills/tools.

Good Luck

Jeffrey

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Jwf · 03-07-2022, 06:43 AM

Thanks. I'll check it out. Maybe it is the ground. A couple of the LEDs glow faintly when I turn on the light. I can't believe if it is that then they wouldn't have improved that by now. It's not like these are cheap campers.

Perhaps it's a result of vibration from the door that's causing it to fail.

Jwf · 04-13-2022, 08:05 PM

I removed the screws and fiddled with the light. I got it to work but clearly something isn't making good contact.

Also I noticed that the factory wasn't very careful when screwing the fixture in. The right screw completely missed the hole and just pushes the right side of the cover higher than the left. $80 grand trailer and they can't line up one screw.

DoublTrouble · 04-15-2022, 09:44 AM

The next time you're in there, see if the black wire that "punches in" to the LED fixture is the culprit. I don't know if you are under warranty but have them change the LED assembly....