Multiple electrical failures

[Kenneth Neal]

I have a 2012 Daybreak on a Ford chassis. I have a parasitic draw of .5 amps. I can eliminate the draw by removing two mini fuses located under the dashboard on the driver's side. These fuses are #4 which protects the instrument panel cluster and #16 which protects the body builder battery feed.

In addition the following lights don't work: tail lights, license plate lights, running lights, instrument panel lights, parking lights and the map light. The other lights work normally. Testing showed I could vary the amount of parasitic draw by adjusting the dimmer switch for the instrument panel lights. Adjusting the dimmer to its lowest setting reduces the draw, but does not eliminate it.

I took my MH to the Ford dealership. They've had it for five weeks and have been unable to solve the problem.

Can someone tell me what the body builder battery feed is all about. What is its function? Because all these symptoms appeared at the same time it seems there must be a common cause to all the light failures.

 

[Lloyd S]

I have never heard of a "builder battery feed", But I would sure be interested in hearing what you find out. Seems rather odd to me that Ford doesn't seem to know either.

 

[Kenneth Neal]

Lloyd,
I'll let you know if I find out what a body builder battery feed is.
Ken

 

[Bantie1]

I found some info on this but not enough to actually solve the problem. Body builder battery feed concerns feed to relay power or switches as in stop, turn, or taillight switches with combined or seperate configurations. It makes no sence to me, but maybe it will to you guys...?

 

[Kenneth Neal]

I talked with Ford. The body builder battery feed is a circuit supplied by Ford so that the body builder, in this case Thor, can add accessories. Ford does not add anything to this circuit.

I talked with a rep from Thor. I was told on my model only the radio and auxiliary battery switch are connected to this circuit, fuse #16. The Ford dealership won't work on this circuit, because they didn't add any accessories.

 

[Infinityrver]

In the "commercial truck industry" it is called an upfit. If someone has a crane body and an electric crane installed, for example, on a ford F-550. The electricity, to that crane, is supplied by the "body builder battery feed".

I know I have several commercial trucks that have been upfitted. When we have an electrical issue at the upfitted body we use our heavy truck mechanic. Any facility that handles heavy duty trucks are able to work on electrical issues and chassis issues that Ford (or any brand) is not comfortable with.

IMHO I would recommend that you pull it out of Ford and take it to a heavy duty shop. Usually these shops are independently operated. Look around in your area.

 

[Lloyd S]

That is good info to know.
Thanks for posting that Dave.