Camper DC 12v power troubleshooting

[bassquatch]

I bought my wife a used 2017 Rockwood 1940ltd pop-up camper a couple months ago. We used it for the first time this week. I completely understand only running one power source at a time. However, when we turned off the propane to run off 12v power for the final night, I switched the 12v red switch to the 'on' position and the lights went out,  flipped it back to the 'off' position and they came back on? This means the DC power was technically ON while we were running the propane system. (See pic)

My question is, why? Is a wire crossed somewhere? Is this an easy fix? Very odd. The battery was hooked up correctly. The camper is in nearly new condition but it just takes one knuckleheaded attempt at wiring something to cause major issues and i don't know what the previous owner may have monkeyed with.

Difficult to find specific information online, so I thought I would try here.

Thank you in advance!

[Mudman]

1 is 12v and one is the inverter which needs 12v to work I think.  They are married in some ways.  I dont understand the problem issue you refer to??  If ya install a Batt disconnect it would make sense of course.  Does propane igniter system run off 12v when ya using propane?  Or is it lighter Bic style?  I think it is working way supposed too imop. Maybe I misunderstand though....  It happens, often lol.

[Boss .300 winmag]

@bassquatch

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[bassquatch]

The knob on the left is for propane on/off. The red plunger behind it is the ignitor for the pilot.

The green switch is the on/off switch for 120v/shore power.

The skinny red switch is the 12v DC (battery power) on/off switch.

We shut the propane off after a couple days use. I switched the skinny 12v to 'on' for our last night and the lights went out. Switched it back to the indicated 'off' position and they came back on...doesn't seem right. Curious if a wire is crossed somewhere?

[bowNarrow]

is that the fridge youre trying to run? could be a bad or low battery

[Boss .300 winmag]

Did you have shore power hooked up?

[bassquatch]

No shore power. Just running lights off the battery the last night.

The issue is:
The 12v is on when in the 'off' position and visa versa.

So in the photo, it should be off according to the labeling...but the lights would go on. Lights went off when I switched it to the labeled on position. Like it's getting reversed polarity or something? Looks like service department time...

[Hilltop123]

 
Don't run your fridge on 12v, it is the least efficient of your three options. Stick to propane, unless 110 is available. Was your battery dead by morning, if not it was close. If you insist on using 12 VDC for your refrigerator, make sure your isolated from your truck battery, you don't want to wake up and find both batteries are dead. 

[bassquatch]

Only ran lights. No fridge.

[MADMAX]

Id flip the connection on the switch and call it good

[bassquatch]

Was originally my thinking but I'm concerned the 120v is the same way and that could prove messy.

Decided just to get it to a shop, have it gone through and checked over. When my wife uses this thing without me I want to know all will be as it should. I have a feeling the previous owner wired in something they wanted and then pulled it before the sale and in the process hooked stuff up wrong. Better safe than sorry.

Appreciate the insights 

[Stein]

The DC rocker switch will have two wires going to it with spade connectors, it sounds like they are backwards, an easy fix.  Same story with the AC switch if it's backwards.  Rocker switches are simple devices, at the bottom inside of the switch there are two round flat contacts at either end of the switch.  In the middle is a teeter totter type piece of metal (rocker) that is connected via spring to the button.  When you push it up, it teeters the metal piece over and makes connection between the middle connector and one of the outer connectors and vice versa when you switch it to the other position.

Depending on the switch, there are either two or three male spade terminals coming out of the bottom.  There will always be one in the middle and then either one or two on the ends which will work opposite of each other (one will be on while the other is off).

AC rockers work the same way, many are dual rated for ac and dc.  AC switches may have more plastic on the bottom between spade connectors for voltage creepage and clearance protection, but the rest is the same.

The only thing different with AC is that you want to make sure it isn't miswired to switch the neutral as the consequences could be higher than in DC if you miswire and switch the negative.

[bowNarrow]

Only ran lights. No fridge.

Those switches are for your fridge only . You have a inverter somewhere that controls the lights. I doubt it's wired wrong. Fridges draw alot of power when ran on 12v . Which would make your lights go off of the battery got low enough

[bassquatch]

Only ran lights. No fridge.

Those switches are for your fridge only . You have a inverter somewhere that controls the lights. I doubt it's wired wrong. Fridges draw alot of power when ran on 12v . Which would make your lights go off of the battery got low enough

Now that makes sense! Upon further investigation today, I believe this is exactly what happened. Thank you!