Red rear lights always ON when 12V/110V power is ON

Maple_Geek

I just de-winterized my new 2022 TAB320S for the first time.
For the most part it went very well but in the process, I noticed that one LED (middle one) in both rear red lights always stay ON when I have 12V or 110V power.
As soon as I disconnect the 12V (through the disconnect switch), they turn off...assuming I don't have shore power.
This means that when I go camping, these lights will always be ON all night unless I shut everything off.

Has anyone else run into this? I will also send an email to Nucamp support.

pthomas745

Some of these sorts of issues get traced back to the 7 pin plug.  Read this thread.
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/10884/exterior-light-question

Denny16

Clean your 7-way plug, and blow out any water in the contacts.  You have s shot in the connector or elsewhere.
 Cheers 

Maple_Geek

Thanks for the replies. One thing I did notice yesterday while de-winterizing was that there was corrosion inside the TAB 7 pin connector. I cleaned it all up with a contact cleaner and I also added some dielectric grease. But the problem was still there. I left the camper at the storage place with the connector facing down. We'll see if it happens again the next time I go see it when I turn the shut off valve back on.

tabiphile

Check pins one and three for a short. If you put the dielectric grease into the plug you might want to consider cleaning it again. Dielectric grease should not be used inside the connector, only to keep water out of it.

SLJ

There's a black junction box under the tongue for 12 volt and trailer connections. Open it and make sure none of the lugs on the posts are touching another one on the post next to it.

rfuss928

IMO - When only a single LED or an odd few are lit, it is a problem within the light assembly.  Possibly a shared ground between the tail lights.  When working properly there is not a mode where only one LED lights that I recall.
Good luck.

Maple_Geek

rfuss928 said:

IMO - When only a single LED or an odd few are lit, it is a problem within the light assembly.  Possibly a shared ground between the tail lights.  When working properly there is not a mode where only one LED lights that I recall.
Good luck.

Thanks, yes it's only the middle LED on both back red lights that lights up and it's very faint. 
It's a brand new camper that I got from the dealer on Saturday and I didn't notice this until I was at my destination 2 hours later. Very strange but I'll try to troubleshoot this the next time I go see it where I have it stored.

Still waiting for a response from Nucamp but I'm sure they are busy at this time of the year.

rfuss928

I know someone from a T@B rally with a 400 that had exactly that problem.  I will. see if I can get in touch and find his resolution. 

rfuss928

Reply from Kevin so far:
I remember the problem.  I can’t remember the fix.  I’ve had an issue with the inverter ground and something else.  I have to go to the barn and get my service journal out of the camper.  I did find this on line it seems to be happening to all makes and models:
" You did say LED ?? Not surprised. If you had a lot of rain from the storm, there is going to be a lot of moisture in everything. It only takes small amount of current to get a LED to lite up...even dim. If it rains or snows on my Xmas lights...all LED, when I shut them off late at night, it looks like the house is dimly lit. Bet as soon as it dry's out, you won't see the light. Get the plug out in the sun and let it dry out really good. Let it dry before doing anything."
Not really much help but I'll let you know if/when I find out more.
Have fun...
Bob

Maple_Geek

Lights don't seem to be coming ON anymore. Must have been some moisture somewhere. 
Thanks everyone for your input.

scott14

I noticed tonight that we are experiencing this same issue while at uCamp.  It comes the day after the double severe thunderstorms rolled through.  @maple_geek, are you satisfied that moisture (perhaps in the fixtures) was the problem? 

Thanks.

Maple_Geek

@scott14 I'm convinced there was moisture somewhere in that 7-pin connector. It was stored all winter at the dealer. I have since purchased and installed this little gadget that keeps water away from it when parked and I love it. Haven't seen the problem since.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01MFFC0IU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got the idea from watching one of Jenn Grover's YouTube video so thank you @jkjenn

ChanW

I've always simply made sure my 7-pin cable is hanging down, as you mentioned earlier.

I'd be concerned that this device's inverted stowage method could allow water in, but no way for it to drain out.

rfuss928

The DM T@Bs had a parking spot for the connector molded into the front cover.

VictoriaP

@ChanW Mine’s been stored with one of those gadgets for two years now. Zero water inside.

scott14

I am happy to report the LED's are out.  It seems to have been a moisture issue within the light fixtures and not related to the 7-pin connector.

ChanW

Heh! I bet the Pacific Northwest doesn't ever get rain either! 
(Just my impression from looking at the image)

VictoriaP said:

@ChanW Mine’s been stored with one of those gadgets for two years now. Zero water inside.

VictoriaP

@ChanW No, never! LOL 

It’s not even close to summer weather here yet. This year is so damp, I’m running still the furnace and dehumidifiers together to keep humidity down in the house. Even the trailer has a dehumidifier running alongside a low watt heater still. It’s insane.

But no moisture in the 7 pin connector in that holder. I suspect the cap extends over it enough to protect from rain, but is a loose enough cover that condensation doesn’t seem to build up in there either, at least none that I’ve seen.

ChanW

Yeah, it was in the 40s last week here in western NY state, and in the 90's this week!

Here it would be blowing snow that I'd expect to crawl its way in there. 

A house painter friend once said 'with caulking, block all ingress but be sure to leave egress...'. so I tend to take these things to extremes... (Escape hatch, ejection seat, etc...)

VictoriaP said:

@ChanW No, never! LOL 

It’s not even close to summer weather here yet. This year is so damp, I’m running still the furnace and dehumidifiers together to keep humidity down in the house. Even the trailer has a dehumidifier running alongside a low watt heater still. It’s insane.

But no moisture in the 7 pin connector in that holder. I suspect the cap extends over it enough to protect from rain, but is a loose enough cover that condensation doesn’t seem to build up in there either, at least none that I’ve seen.