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Old 11-14-2019, 01:09 PM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Montana
Posts: 3
THOR #17357
Mirage by Thor Electrical

I have a 2001 mirage by Thor 5th wheel and I am having two issues I can’t figure out:
1) the two over head lights in one of my slide outs don’t work. They worked when I first got it and the outlets all still operate but, not the lights. I have replaced bulbs and that does not do anything. Other troubleshooting ideas?

2) I have 3 switches near my door when you first enter the RV. The middle one controls the majority of my lights in the living area but the one on either side of that switch seems to have no function. Any idea what they might go to?

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Old 11-14-2019, 02:09 PM   #2
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Brand: Keystone
Model: Sprinter
State: Florida
Posts: 1,422
THOR #15553
[QUOTE=JLoo;211789]I have a 2001 mirage by Thor 5th wheel and I am having two issues I can’t figure out:
1) the two over head lights in one of my slide outs don’t work. They worked when I first got it and the outlets all still operate but, not the lights. I have replaced bulbs and that does not do anything. Other troubleshooting ideas?

2) I have 3 switches near my door when you first enter the RV. The middle one controls the majority of my lights in the living area but the one on either side of that switch seems to have no function. Any idea what they might go to?

What controls the Minority? Some switches control lights that have switches on them. Scare lights outside? awning lights? Step lights? Storage Bay lights? My 5th wheel 2002 had a Scare light on the driver side I could not see.

Outlets are 120 volts. Lights are 12 volts. Are the non working light side by side? Lights are daisy chained. Pull them from the ceiling and see where you loose the power.
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Old 11-14-2019, 02:42 PM   #3
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2013 ACE 30.1
State: Alberta
Posts: 1,410
THOR #2631
Welcome to the Forum. I don’t know your coach but to follow up the other poster:


1. Since you are having issues with the ceiling lights in the slide I will assume they are 12vdc lights and not 120VAC since you said the slide outlets work fine. Check fuses that power lights......although usually more than one DC light fixture is connected to a single fuse. Any other DC lights not working?
The next simplest problem might be a bad ground connection at the light fixture “if” the fixture is fed 12vdc with a single wire (from the light switch) and chassis ground provides a return path from the fixture or a short wire under a screw in the ceiling space located near and connected to, the fixture. On a movable slide, that may not be a preferred way to wire the light.
Next simplest is if the light on/off switch is still working correctly. Check if the corresponding light switch has 12vdc on it and if there is continuity through the switch when operated.
It may also be possible that one or both of the DC wires that feeds the dead lights has flexed over the years and possibly broken a conductor internal to the wire outer sheath (or totally) wherever they transition from the slide to the coach. Normally there would be slack in the wiring to allow for this kind of flexible movement. The DC wiring "might" following along the same path with the AC wiring from the coach into the slide space so check under the slide for where those wires may be run.


2. The other two switches may control an awning, outside light by the door or possibly be a lock out for the electric steps (keeps them out so they do not follow the door being opened and closed).
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Old 11-19-2019, 04:33 PM   #4
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Montana
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THOR #17357
[QUOTE=cavie;211807]
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLoo View Post
I have a 2001 mirage by Thor 5th wheel and I am having two issues I can’t figure out:
1) the two over head lights in one of my slide outs don’t work. They worked when I first got it and the outlets all still operate but, not the lights. I have replaced bulbs and that does not do anything. Other troubleshooting ideas?

2) I have 3 switches near my door when you first enter the RV. The middle one controls the majority of my lights in the living area but the one on either side of that switch seems to have no function. Any idea what they might go to?

What controls the Minority? Some switches control lights that have switches on them. Scare lights outside? awning lights? Step lights? Storage Bay lights? My 5th wheel 2002 had a Scare light on the driver side I could not see.

Outlets are 120 volts. Lights are 12 volts. Are the non working light side by side? Lights are daisy chained. Pull them from the ceiling and see where you loose the power.

Thank you!! I will do some more checking on possible combinations of what the switches may go to that has a secondary on it.

I will check this.
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Old 11-19-2019, 04:34 PM   #5
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Montana
Posts: 3
THOR #17357
Quote:
Originally Posted by javelin View Post
Welcome to the Forum. I don’t know your coach but to follow up the other poster:


1. Since you are having issues with the ceiling lights in the slide I will assume they are 12vdc lights and not 120VAC since you said the slide outlets work fine. Check fuses that power lights......although usually more than one DC light fixture is connected to a single fuse. Any other DC lights not working?
The next simplest problem might be a bad ground connection at the light fixture “if” the fixture is fed 12vdc with a single wire (from the light switch) and chassis ground provides a return path from the fixture or a short wire under a screw in the ceiling space located near and connected to, the fixture. On a movable slide, that may not be a preferred way to wire the light.
Next simplest is if the light on/off switch is still working correctly. Check if the corresponding light switch has 12vdc on it and if there is continuity through the switch when operated.
It may also be possible that one or both of the DC wires that feeds the dead lights has flexed over the years and possibly broken a conductor internal to the wire outer sheath (or totally) wherever they transition from the slide to the coach. Normally there would be slack in the wiring to allow for this kind of flexible movement. The DC wiring "might" following along the same path with the AC wiring from the coach into the slide space so check under the slide for where those wires may be run.


2. The other two switches may control an awning, outside light by the door or possibly be a lock out for the electric steps (keeps them out so they do not follow the door being opened and closed).

Ok I will do some checking on this... thank you!!
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Old 05-02-2020, 07:10 PM   #6
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Mirage 5th Wheel 3800RK
State: Texas
Posts: 1
THOR #18722
My son recently had a similar issue with the lights in his super slide not working. The problem was finally traced to the wiring harness underneath the slide out. A screw had penetrated the insulation on the wires thus causing a short. In his case the fuses kept blowing due to the short. Perhaps in your case, there is the possibility of wire connections pulling apart or other issues like mice chewing though the wiring underneath the slide. We were surprised to learn that the problem was outside, underneath the slide as opposed to hidden in the walls. We came very close to ripping out the wall panels, but opted for an RV Specialist instead. That turned out to be both a cost savings and avoidance of a much bigger mess!
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