Light Switch By Door - 1976 Sovereign

[juel]

I cannot get the light switch by the door to turn on the kitchen over sink light any longer. Sometimes it will come on after about 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes not. There is also a switch for the outside light that never worked until a week ago, and it takes about 5 minutes to come on. I recently took that 12v radio out because it wouldn't stay off. Can anyone tell me how these switches are wired and if I messed up disconnecting the radio. If anyone has a wiring diagram of the 76 Sovereign, I would love you to email me a copy. I have everything I'd ever need for my Argosy, but nothing for this trailer. juel1942@sbcglobal.net

[ticki2]

My scanner is presently not working so no schematic. IIRC the over sink light , front overhead light and outside over door light are all on circuit # 4 . Check that fuse , bottom of a bank of 4 on the right of the fuse panel. They sometimes loosen , so the fuse may be good but still no worky. Don't think the radio diconnected would have any affect.

[wahoonc]

Juel,
Here is a copy of the wiring diagram for the 1976...couldn't remember if you had the rear or center bath so I put both in there.

Aaron

[juel]

Great. Thank you so much.

[Ganglin]

The switch problem may be a pretty easy fix. Our scare light would come on then go out after about 10 minutes - the step light would not even come on. I drilled the rivets out of the switches pulled them and sprayed them down with electronic cleaner multiple times while working the switch - rag in place under the switch for the drips. They've worked fine since.

Now - just a warning about something I heard happened to someone else...
If you work on the switches while they are still hot... like this other person did... and accidentally ground the switch out against the skin while putting it back in... I heard it can actually spark enough to ignite the insulation inside the wall....

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by juel

I cannot get the light switch by the door to turn on the kitchen over sink light any longer. Sometimes it will come on after about 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes not. There is also a switch for the outside light that never worked until a week ago, and it takes about 5 minutes to come on. I recently took that 12v radio out because it wouldn't stay off. Can anyone tell me how these switches are wired and if I messed up disconnecting the radio. If anyone has a wiring diagram of the 76 Sovereign, I would love you to email me a copy. I have everything I'd ever need for my Argosy, but nothing for this trailer. juel1942@sbcglobal.net

Juel.

I will fax you a copy of that schematic Monday, or possibly tomorrow, if I go to the office.

Andy

Please PM a fax number to me.

[FrenchBern]

I had the same problem and got to the root cause by disecting both switches and found out that they had the same problem. They are very cheap unsealed switches (bout 52 cents on internet) and being located in the wall they absorb moisture on the steel spring that press the contacts together. In both switches the spring had rusted in 2 pieces. I replaced mine with sealed switches from local auto parts but I had to slightly elongate the lenght of the cover hole.

[juel]

Originally Posted by FrenchBern

I had the same problem and got to the root cause by disecting both switches and found out that they had the same problem. They are very cheap unsealed switches (bout 52 cents on internet) and being located in the wall they absorb moisture on the steel spring that press the contacts together. In both switches the spring had rusted in 2 pieces. I replaced mine with sealed switches from local auto parts but I had to slightly elongate the lenght of the cover hole.

Thanks for your input. Can someone on here direct me to a good 12V meter/tester. I've seen lots of them and don't know what would be good for an RV.

[Lumatic]

I have had my lights in certain circuits go funky, sometimes tuning on at 3am, when the battery is low.

[69AmbassFl]

Juel,
I would probably say the best meter on the market would be a Fluke meter. They can range in price to as high as near 500 dollars. I'm sure Radio Shack and or Sears sells a good meter. I know the higher end meters 80-200 dollar ones you should be able to get an amp clamp to test higher amp draws that most meters allow. I have used them from 20 dollars to the 400 dollar one, they work about as good as the other, the more expensive ones come with more bells and whistles that you really don't need. Voltage(ac/dc), resistance(ohms), and amps is really all you need.

[juel]

Ganglin, thanks for your input. Bought a new switch which didn't have enough connections. One side has three on mine, the other side of the double switch has two. So I decided to try the cleaning and spraying with WD-40 approach. Sprayed several times, cleaned several times, sprayed again and put the old switches back. IT WORKED! I now have my switch by the door working. Thanks everyone here who sent me information. It pays to have friends who have "been there, done that".