Dome Light Wiring Shorted Internally

 

"Gel Cells" … disadvantages…. they must be charged at a slower rate (C/20) to prevent excess gas from damaging the cells. They cannot be fast charged on a conventional automotive charger or they may be permanently damaged. <snip> Some other disadvantages of gel cells is that they must be charged at a lower voltage (2/10th's less) than flooded or AGM batteries. <snip> The newer AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries have all the advantages (and then some) of gelled, with none of the disadvantages. <snip> The charging voltages are the same as for any standard battery - no need for any special adjustments or problems with incompatible chargers or charge controls.

 

But, as Aris is going to need to take down the fixture to, at least, snip out the shorted wire regardless, it may be worth poking a finger around - just to see. 

 

If you win, I'll send you $.02 upon receipt of a self addressed stamped envelope . 

 

This may be my last post for a few days...heading out tomorrow sometime and still have a ton to do beforehand.  I've been checking in to take rest breaks.  I ran the two 8ga. wires from the WFCO power supply/distribution panel, between the inner and outer floors and came up underneath a small compartment under one of the dinette seats.  Going to try running my radio off of the WFCO - just for the halibut. Worked OK here, but it was not charging the battery.  I don't know if the WFCO would work well charging AGM batteries???  I did find a second source of RF noise - the TV antenna amplifier (Winegard).

 

If you remove the light fixtures between the shorted section, you may be able to use the "channels" that the factory used for the original wiring and fish thru a new section of wiring.  The lights are usually wired in parallel.  I recently did this to lenghten my component video cable running thru the ceiling (it shared a channel with the light wiring) and just this morning, fished two #8AWG wires thru the layers of my floor from one side of the camper to the other, using an existing channel that had 2 pieces of Romex and an RG6 cable in it.  Note that sometimes there are 90 degree turns at the fixtures requiring removing the fixture at the 90, fishing to that point, and then fishing to the next.  It sounds harder than it is.  All you have to do is remove the screws from the fixtures and fish.  When done, reinstall the fixtures.  You won't be able to tell that anything has even been done, visually.

 

Caveat: I did no mods to my Pod, so I can't promise that it will work with the Pod.  It has worked with more than one trailer that I have owned.  I am also assuming that since you are familiar with a meter and testing that something like this would be within your abilities and you sort of know what I am talking about.  Also, don't try to use the existing wire to pull thru the new wire, or you'll just get hung up on the same problem screw.  Good luck!