Another electrical problem

[B & J T]

Though this one is not a deal killer. I have a New Aire and use a Garmin RV 1090 nav device. When plugged into the cigarette lighter it does not charge when on the dash mount. After eliminating the device itself as an issue I tested the outlet and its putting out 11.6v, not enough. I tested the cigarette lighter in our Jeep and it’s putting out 13.6V and the device charges fine there like it’s supposed to. My question is what can I do about the voltage output in our coaches cigarette lighter port? It’s worked before.

All this while we’re plugged into 50 amp shore power, I even tested it with the generator running. Same results.

Ideas?

 

[Gronk]

Did you check the outlet itself or the wires coming out of the outlet? Check the center terminal of the outlet with a known good ground and see what the voltage is. It could be the ground on the outlet causing the low voltage problem.

 

[Buly]

Gronk is right.
I had the same problem. For some reason, Newmar connects the cig. lighter to a low voltage wire? The little green light was ON, so I thought everything was fine. I was blaming my devises for not accepting charge, until I measured the voltage. Then I got behind the dash, and found a wire with the correct voltage to use. Problem gone

 

[B & J T]

Thank you guys. I checked with another ground and same reading. I’ll try finding another hot wire.

 

[Rich W.]

Had the same problem and solved it by installing a new 12v cig lighter type outlet under the dash on the left side, with power from the electrical compartment under the driver‘s window. Works perfectly and it‘s a good location since I have my 890 on the left side of the dash.

 

[TheLooks]

Get good connections and maybe find a place to get a dedicated line for the supply, Eliminates the problems of having multiple draws on one line.

 

[Neal]

The Garmin 890/1090 have an interesting wiring setup, make sure first and foremost you have it setup properly. The 12V plug should go into the mount and not the GPS. When the GPS is magnetically attached to the mount is when it charges.

As to the 12V outlet, there are two wires connected to it via spades, you can voltage check there if needed and I'm not sure the minimum voltage needed for a 12V device to charge. 11.6 may work, who knows. The voltage drop is likely not a connector but simply the length of the 12V wire run and gauge of wire used. There are tons of 12V wires under the dash, you could consider splicing into a different 12V run if you run out of options.

 

[FloridaSon]

You might have some already stubbed out in your coach. In my 2022, I found good 12+ and GND wires under the dash when I removed the center console drawers. They were even labeled and had a butt connector on the end. They were on when batteries were on, so i added a fuse and switch.

The 1090 will look dim when on a USB charger and needs more voltage as you found.

 

[B & J T]

Thanks for the replies. @FloridaSon, we’re on the road again so when I have a chance I’ll remove the drawers and look to see what I find. Hopefully straight forward.