Top 5 Electrical Issues in RVs and How to Troubleshoot Them.
If you’ve ever flipped a switch in your RV and nothing happened, you know the feeling—frustrating, inconvenient, and sometimes a little scary. Whether you’re camping deep in the Cascades or enjoying the tranquil bay coast line of La Connor, electrical issues can put a real damper on your adventure.
At Odyssey Mobile RV Repair, we handle these problems every day, right where you are—no towing required. Let’s break down the top five RV electrical issues we see along Washington’s I-5 corridor and what you can do about them before giving us a call. Of course, if you want to get straight to scheduling, you can do so here on our Scheduling Page.
1. Dead House Batteries
The Problem: Your lights flicker, the water pump won’t run, or nothing powers on.
The Fix: Start by checking battery voltage with a multimeter. A healthy 12V battery should read around 12.6V when full. If it’s below 12.0V, recharge or replace the battery. Don’t forget to inspect the terminals—corrosion buildup is a common culprit.
Pro Tip: Add a battery disconnect switch to reduce parasitic drain when storing your RV. Some RV’s come with them from factory.
2. Faulty Shore Power Connection
The Problem: You’re plugged into a pedestal, but appliances aren’t working.
The Fix: Use a circuit tester or multi meter on the pedestal to verify power. Check your surge protector or EMS unit for error codes. Sometimes your surge protector is not working, try removing it and plugging the RV in directly. If power is reaching the coach but still no juice inside, inspect your transfer switch (if equipped) or breaker panel for tripped breakers or burned wiring.
3. Blown Fuses or Tripped Breakers
The Problem: One appliance works, but another won’t.
The Fix: Isolate the circuit. Open your fuse panel (usually behind a vented door) and visually inspect for blown fuses. For breakers, toggle them fully off and back on. Replacing with the correct amperage fuse is key—never oversize. Keep the 20A fuse, a 20A fuse. If you oversize, you could be putting your RV at risk of an electrical fire.
4. Converter Malfunction
The Problem: Your batteries are draining fast, even while plugged in.
The Fix: Your converter may have failed and is no longer charging the batteries or powering 12V systems. Use a multimeter to confirm it’s outputting 13.6V+ while plugged into shore power. If not, it’s time for a replacement—and yes, we can sometimes find them in stock same day or on Amazon for a quick repair.
5. Inverter or Solar System Conflicts
The Problem: Strange behavior when switching from shore power to solar or inverter mode.
The Fix: These setups often have transfer switches or settings that need adjusting. Check your digital control panel settings if you have one installed. If you installed a new lithium battery recently, confirm your converter or solar controller is lithium-compatible.
If it’s beyond DIY-friendly, call in a pro. These systems are powerful—and complicated.
Call in the Cavalry
Mobile RV repair isn’t just convenient—it’s absolutely necessary when your coach won’t move. If you’re experiencing electrical issues anywhere from Seattle to the Canadian border, Odyssey Mobile RV Repair is here to help. We troubleshoot and fix these problems on-site, saving you the hassle and cost of towing. We are 5 star reviewed on Google and warranty our work.
