Mysterious red light on top of the camper ('06 Model 2619)

[tentcamper]

There is a large bundle of wires behind the fridge, maybe 15-20 wires. Can not remember if it was behind the upper or lower fridge vent door, but it was to the right side of the door.

In my manual for an 03 the wiring diagram shows a red wire for the radio antenna power. There were two red wires in that bundle, one was for the antenna. The wires has a crimp connectors that unplugs, I tried both red wires until the red light went out.

I used 2 needle nose pliers to pull the crimp connector apart. Don't pull on the wires or there is a good chance that you will pull the wire out of the connector. Pull on the connectors using the pliers.


So is the radio antenna called the bat wing antenna? I always thought people were talking about the TV antenna when they said bat wing antenna??

[Bill]

The crank-up antenna, a.k.a. bat wing antenna, is for TV reception. It works very well for all over-the-air (broadcast) TV signals, whether analog or digital. It may also receive stations in the FM band - I don't recall at the moment. In order to use this antenna, you must raise it, and then push the tiny little button on the control panel on the side of the refrig compartment, to illuminate the tiny little green light.

The batwing antenna is NOT part of the cable TV operation. There is a separate connector on the outside of the TM where you connect the campground's cable TV. To use cable TV, you must press the same tiny little button to turn the tiny green light OFF.

The antenna on the rear edge of the front shell is for AM and FM radio. The cable from this antenna ends up in the radio compartment above the refrig. This is an amplified antenna, and is always powered on. The red light you refer to simply confirms that power is reaching the antenna. As others have noted, it is always powered on, and unless you add a switch somehere in its power line, it is one of the parasitic power drains that all RVs seem to have.

Bill

[Wingedryder]

My TM is a 2013 model, but as mentioned above, does have the red radio amp indicator light on the roof as well. It's on all the time when set up, but I noticed tonight that when the bathroom walls are down (even though shells are up), which also control the 12V overhead lights inside, the red light is out.

In other words, apparently the red light is not wired direct to the battery, but is on ONLY when the bathroom walls are up, causing the button that the back wall contacts is depressed, so would not be on when traveling or storing - a good thing!

[tentcamper]

On my 03 it always on, until I switch off the battery. But it is very dim and I can not see it in the daylight.