Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Elliott on April 06, 2023, 06:47:12 pm

Title: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: Elliott on April 06, 2023, 06:47:12 pm
The docking lights on on both sides of my U320 spontaneously turned on last night and haven't gone off. This is the second time it's happened (last time they turned off about an hour later).  I can feel both relays behind the kick panel are warm. I'm having a hard time making sense of my wiring diagram but it seems to indicate that the only place the two relays meet are at the switch above the bed. I disconnected the wires on the back of that switch to no avail. Have confirmed that both switches on the dash are set to the off position. Short of ghosts - where else could my problem be? Something is delivering 12v to each relay but what?

Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: WS6_Keith on April 06, 2023, 06:53:01 pm
Unplug the relays and plug them back in and see if they reset or do they have a trigger source (12v+ and -)?
Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: turbojack on April 06, 2023, 08:08:20 pm
I believe the relays are latching relays.  Same as the ones that are used for the water pump. 

After I wrote this I am not no so sure I am right with the above statement.  When you turn the lights on is the switches momentary or  are they like a regular light switch, on and off and stay were you put it.

I think you are going to have to remove whatever in order to be able to get to the relays to trouble shoot the wiring.  In my U295 I was able to get to them by removing a cover in closet.
Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on April 06, 2023, 10:38:05 pm
My first thought Elliot would be the turn off the salesman switch for 10 seconds at least and then try turning it back on and see if it resets the relays. Other than that I got nothing. Good luck and post what you find please.
Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: Elliott on April 06, 2023, 10:47:53 pm
After I wrote this I am not no so sure I am right with the above statement.  When you turn the lights on is the switches momentary or  are they like a regular light switch, on and off and stay were you put it.

I think you are going to have to remove whatever in order to be able to get to the relays to trouble shoot the wiring.  In my U295 I was able to get to them by removing a cover in closet.
The switches on the dash and in the bedroom are latching. Are you suggesting there are other relays I should go hunting for that aren't the two I see behind the kick panel in front of the passenger seat?

The salesman switch didn't do the trick... even with that off, the led indicator light above the bed was still lit up so it's getting it's power from somewhere else (and I currently have the chassis batteries disconnected).

Keith I will try your idea of pulling the plugs on the relays tomorrow to see if they reset.
Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: dbennett9 on April 06, 2023, 11:46:40 pm
We had problems with the docking lights and horn activating spontaneously and discovered the problem was ... cats.
Title: Re: Docking Lights Spontaneously Turned On
Post by: FourTravelers on April 07, 2023, 06:55:46 am
Docking lights are most likely fed from the coach batteries. Is the switch above the bed momentary or maintained? On ours it is a maintained switch so latching relays are not needed. Rocker switches at the drivers control panel should be maintained also.
With two (left and right side) switches up front and only one above the bed, relays are required, wiring diagram should show this. If lights on both side come on together, I would pull the switch from above the bed and start there with a voltmeter.