Electrical Madness on my Ember cancelled my Vacation ON THE DAY we were leaving! Anyone have ideas?

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[@RVingWithJoe]

Thanks for everyone suggestions. Some I had tried already but I will return again today with some fresh ideas from these comments. Thanks again to the whole RVing With Joe Community!!

[@bazilwreckerloughead]

A friend almost had to cancel his vacation because of suspension problems with his truck, but he's so stubborn he rented a truck for a few days, then fixed his when he got back!

[@RVingWithJoe]

Makes sense, heck I might just rent a hotel room! lol

[@Lfs1891]

We had a similar situation on our toyhauler, it was the charger, inverter. It got water sprayed on it. Urs is the combimastrr unit, master volt, everything power wise runs off it.

[@chadsmith946]

Hi Joe my rule of thumb is if it is an intermittent power issue, it is a Ground issue. Check you grounds.

[@grouchinthewoods4995]

I believe if you follow your battery cables, they appear to go to a terminal block near the battery. These terminal blocks are actually a fuse. Some have a reset button, and some don't. This could be your problem. Check your voltage at the fuse panel inside your trailer to see if you have a voltage there. If you don't, one of these terminal fuse blocks could be tripped or blown.

[@brucesamuelson7541]

Seems like it could be as simple as bad ground is the first thing you should check and yes I am an electrician and own an rv ask me anything, good luck Joe!

[@gjjohnston]

It could be your battery is bad - disconnect the shore power and test the battery. If it’s dead take it to an auto supply store to have it tested.

[@BillandJulieKelty]

You also need a battery load tester to rule out battery issues. We have a digital one that test flooded, gel, agm (flat and spiral) and the smaller SLA batteries. To make sure that your charger/converter is working properly, disconnect the battery and connect the RV to shore power and the disconnected battery leads should read 13.6V with a multimeter.

[@PeterGutzmann-tw3mb]

Sounds like a loose connection ground related. I had a nut fall off the main ground connection and the nut was bouncing around and shorting out a connection bus. That explained the electrical problems and system reboots I had while driving van camper. A breaker reset fixed the issue temporarily but would reappear elsewhere depending on which terminals were shorted. When all systems shut down I found that the ground had disconnected. Reconnecting and nut retightened fixed 100%.

[@jaymercha3859]

check your trailer cord plug for dirt. Spray with wd40 or soak it overnight in wd 40. I had a similar problem and it was dirty contacts at the trailer plug and socket.

[@RVingWithJoe]

Thanks it was a loose brake wire for the disconnect issue.

[@smashit4690]

Sorry to hear your bad news, hope you can salvage your vacay!

[@RVingWithJoe]

Thanks it was a loose brake wire for the disconnect issue. Looks like we are about to save about half the vacation... stay tuned...

[@tobbywhitmore3721]

Am so sorry joe.. that can happen to any of us... it's sad..

[@KDog4]

Does your 12volt system work off trailer battery and not shore power? Did you blow any fuses in the trailer? Try disconnecting everything including trailer battery and pulling all fuses in trailer. Start with only your trailer brake system connected to truck. After you get your truck communicate with the brakes, reconnect trailer battery then one fuse at a time, if that dosnt work disconnect every piece of equipment and connect one thing at a time till you find which piece of equipment is causing the problem then you can back track the problem. Bad ground, short, ext.

[@robertosgood961]

Sure is a gut punch, but you'll get through it. Check for a good ground? Generating power, just not getting past a switch or breaker in the rv.

[@danimal0921]

This really sux Joe. I hope they can get you up and running so that you can at least salvage a small portion of your vacation. Good luck, my friend!

[@toddcoscia6891]

You need to check battery’s with out generator or shore power and your lights should work with batteries

[@jsteier2102]

Check your fuses on solar. Mine has fuses on the solar panel side as well as on the battery side

[@donaldraver]

Ah the RV Gods sent you those little guys to torment and frustrate you. I believe they made a movie about them back in 1984 starring Hoyt Acton, Phoebe Cates, Cory Feldman. You want to call an exorcist, All kidding aside I thought long and hard about our camper cheap and simple is how I roll. Cheap RV's are built for the masses with many of them being made. Which usually has a deeper supply chain of parts. Good luck Joe and safe travels

[@RVingWithJoe]

That's why I never feed the RV after midnight. LIkes I said above, RVs are investment devices for Banks to sell loans FIRST and recreational vehicles for consumers SECOND. Many disagree with me.

[@tractorboy31]

I rented a camper to use at my tractor show. But due to new job i had less time so i paid to have the camper delivered. I was rustic camping so no 110 without running my gen. The camper had no 12v without converter running. I called place i rented it from. They "claimed" they couldnt get a mobile mechanic. I got a campsite down the road for the night thinking bat just needed a good charge. And was talking with camper place and walked through some things. I did a fuse at bat and fuse at converter panel and ran a wire connecting the 2 myself like a wire was disconnected. And you mentioning trailer brake issue im thinking there is a ground junction block in the front area of camper that is messing with your trailer brakes and your camper 12v system. That is where i would be looking first. Good luck to you😊

[@RVingWithJoe]

Yes I tightened a coulme of ground bolts so far but will keep looking.

[@KevinCoop1]

Take all the positives off of the batteries. Leave the grounds on the batteries. Take a voltage reading from the positive battery lead to metal frame. If it’s the ground connection, you will get low or no voltage if bad ground.

[@RVingWithJoe]

Great idea but to take all the positives off my battery I need to disassemble my whole charging/inverter system since they buried the batteries under it. Its going to Woodys on the 10th for assessment.

[@markomaticd4106]

There may be a circuit breaker that protects your battery circuit. If that is tripped, the conditions you describe would exist. If the truck alternator is charging your RV battery, the voltage on the RV battery should go up when you start the vehicle. Many Lithium batteries have DC to DC chargers, those would have fuses in & out of them too.

[@diann546]

Ck your truck fuses. We had that error all through Alaska last summer. Spent some bucks tracking the problem. It turned out to be a truck fuse!

[@RVingWithJoe]

I was going to but when it worked perfectly fine plugging in a nearly identical trailer, that eliminated the truck as the related cause. But yes you are right to diagnose the truck before the trailer with that one.

[@diann546]

I am pretty sure the hitch/trailer people didn't have a problem, when they hooked the truck up to another trailer.

[@johnstangel8918]

That really is a bummer Joe I wonder if rats got to it in a spot you can't see and thats why it's so goofy. Check your ground from one end to the other and the same with you charge controller that way you will know the wires are all good. Good luck.

[@bertone6996]

And that's why a purchase a 1994 small Fifth wheel 2 years of enjoyment Zero problems. Cheers from Toronto.

[@kchortu]

I wonder if you got a lighting strike while stored, it sounds like a main 12v system wire is gone/broken/shorted/ disconnected. You could have had a massive back feed and burnt out the mppt in the process. You might be able to rewire it with an off the shelf all in one unit. search solar hybrid inverter or solar off grid inverter. The fact that the brakes arent saying we are there seems like a internally borken/corroded wire along with the intermittent issues. the problem with that is you cant just do a continuity test you have t o do a loaded continuity test. Go to a car parts store get a cheap halogen headlamp and a socket and an inline fuse 10-20amps should work connect from the farthest from you battery system end of your wires to a ground if it lights up its probably fine if it doesnt yo now have an idea where the gremlins are. You could wire your brakes to a 12v battery just for the brakes and 7 pin.

[@mishdude]

Good luck, Joe. I hope you guys opt for hotel and make a go of it.

[@Soldmytrailer]

Hey if you still need help. Let me know. I specialize in trailer electrical. Hope everything works out for you!

[@RVingWithJoe]

Thanks we got the trailer brakes fixed (Broken wire) the rest will fall to the dealership.

[@briancc2100]

I've seen a common problem with ember where the solar system becomes disconnected behind the refrigerator

[@RVingWithJoe]

Do you remember which model? Mine seem to come together at Greg mppt under the couch in my 191MSL.

[@Soldmytrailer]

⁠ no problem, but seriously though I am a trailer tech with over 20 years experience with low-voltage electrical systems. Including solar and generators. I work for one of the largest trailer dealerships in Ontario. I am more than understand your frustration with the manufacturer and the dealerships. I travel around Southwestern Ontario. Offering mobile service on Trailers. I would be more than happy to send you my contact information. In a private message. If you are interested. I like showing an educating people. They have the ability to diagnose and repair. Their own trailers. So they’re not stuck on the side of the road. If you are interested.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

You have voltage but no amps... battery fried or charger shot... or both

[@SpykersB]

Trailer cord plug, clean up the plugs n terminals n use a proper electrical lube. But was it the same electrical plug cord u used on the other trailer u tested? My first thought is to eliminate it not to be your electrical cord from trailer to truck. 🍻

[@RVingWithJoe]

Thanks it was a loose brake wire for the disconnect issue.

[@athenasword8312]

Is your Ember a "covid" era build? RV manufacturers racing to keep up with demand cut corners and used inexperienced labor. There's another KZbin channel I watch, LizAmazing, who is now devoted to exposing quality problems in the RV industry. She's been threatened legally for doing. Every week she features a story of people with new rigs experiencing problems. Everybody wants new thinking new is better but, with RVs, just the opposite is true. Her advice is to buy used built before 2020. Hope you get your problem resolved. Your content is great.

[@RVingWithJoe]

Yeah, although I roll my eyes a bit at Liz. I think the RV quality problem is deeper, part of an overall manufacturing problem (See Boeing. Ford, Dodge, Tesla, GE, ets) all of whom have declining QC... and the end result of unfettered capitalism... RVs are investment devices for Banks to sell loans FIRST and recreational vehicles for consumers SECOND. Many disagree with me.

[@marshallbaldwin395]

Get ahold of chrome at van city van life

[@Waynecookson]

Don’t feel I had to cancel my camping trip this past weekend. Got about half hour from the house and my truck broke down on me so I had to cancel our camping trip.

[@RVingWithJoe]

So sorry. This is only the second time we had to cancel a trip... last time the slide out broke on our previous RV right as we were setting up camp.... spent the rest of the day driving back home.

[@poorboyz888]

hey joe, if you see this make it to kentucky and ill loan you my winnebago for a few weeks, no charge no strings attached. drop me a contact method and lets get you rolling. (dont worry, the ford WILL pull it) your a great guy. the offers here, its plated, over insured and well....come get it!! youll enjoy LBL region and theres so many places youll get some great content. lets make it happen!

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

Your batteries are shorted

[@ericstrawn9818]

Charge controller. Your batteries are connected thru it. No battery, no trailer connected.

[@tractorboy31]

Charge controller?? That could explain his display issue but his brake issue. I dont know his trk but my brake controller in my dually senses a trl with brakes and a ground issue would mess with the sensing. Im thinking there is a main ground block on camper causing issues

[@RVingWithJoe]

it was loose wire on drivers side trailer brakes.

[@tractorboy31]

@RVingWithJoe so all is good now I hope

[@timothyklossner2381]

Sorry you got a lemon time to cut the cord trade it in where they don't know the rig

[@RVingWithJoe]

I still love my Ember though... and I would have to turn my channel off to sell it.... hahaha.. I have detailed every ding and defect on KZbin.

[@oubliette862]

no, I've never cancelled a vacation, because I've never had a vacation.

[@RVingWithJoe]

I'm sorry, that sucks.

[@oubliette862]

@@RVingWithJoe it's all good, I just don't like traveling.

[@poorboyz888]

dangit this video didnt even pop until it was about 13 days later....my trolling skills are slacking....check your email

[@toddcoscia6891]

You have a bad battery

[@tractorboy31]

But he said he was having brake issues too. The only common is ground so i dont see how the battery would cause the issues hes describing. Be nice as that be easiest fix though😊

[@JamesBorden-wl8il]

Buy junk deal with junk

[@moparmarley]

I agree @poorboyz888 anything but a ford. lol

[@bertone6996]

That's sad. New stuff today is made just making money.