awning and tail light issue

[RomeoZulu]

Our new 2025 Imagine 21BHE is in the shop for warranty to sort out a lighting issue.
Noticed that the awning light string glows dimly with the ceiling lights turned on and dimmed.
The awning light was Not turned on.
The trailer has been in the shop since the beginning of December.
Grand Design has been involved providing trouble shooting guidance.
The shop informed me that after replacing a circuit card in the one control module, repairs were completed.
Fast forward to pick up day today, I was forced to leave the trailer there because the issue had not been sorted out.
The awning lights remained glowing dimly and the ceiling lights set dimmed. With the lights set to full bright, the glowing awning lights were off.
The service writer and I checked a brand new 21BHE on the lot and were able to duplicate the issue.
It turns out the shop has two other trailers in for the same problem!
Another service writer hinted that this is known to Grand Design and quite possibly Lippert (supplier of the one control system). That service writer reported a possible recall is in the works, The service writer also reported that the offending part might be the wire harness between the one touch control panel and the control module.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed but am missing the trailers availability for spontanious trips.
We bought it to be used rather than holding 4 patches of earth down in the shops storage yard.

Have any of you Imagine 21BHE owners noticed this issue? The dimmable lighting feature is new from 2024.
RZ

 

[jkwilson]

Likely a ground issue. I’d disconnect the awning lights and use the trailer until they figure out the problem. RV repair shops aren’t very good at this kind of troubleshooting in general.

What’s going on with the tail lights?

 

[NB Canada]

Why would you worry about something so unimportant?
I mean yes get it fixed but I sure wouldn’t stop camping for something like that

 

[RomeoZulu]

Update, there is a constant 0.5 v at the control module feed to the awning lights.
Techs found same at the left tail light which also glowed dimly when ceiling light was on and dimmed. Noticable at night. Spoke with service shop who are putting heads together to solve the problem. They are starting to think maybe an electrical leakage issue on a circuit board in the control module. That board had been replaced. Shop has three units in for the same problem.

 

[jkwilson]

Update, there is a constant 0.5 v at the control module feed to the awning lights.
Techs found same at the left tail light which also glowed dimly when ceiling light was on and dimmed. Noticable at night. Spoke with service shop who are putting heads together to solve the problem. They are starting to think maybe an electrical leakage issue on a circuit board in the control module. That board had been replaced. Shop has three units in for the same problem.

The only connection between the tail light and the interior lights is the ground. Electricity can leak anywhere it wants on the control board, but it’s not going to get to the tail light. My guess is the grounds are connected together, but either the aren’t connected well to the frame or the battery ground isn’t connected well to the frame.

 

[RomeoZulu]

NB Canada, I have learned that our dealer service department have three customers with the same issue. Further, the service writer and I identified another unsold 21bhe with the identical issue. I noticed the issue on our shake down trip.
It's an odd one that could lead to bigger issues down the road. The problem is that there is an expectation that a new trailer would be problem free. That may be unrealistic but we still have that expectation. I my view, we spent too much money to let it slide. It hurts to point out that American made is losing it's lustre. It certainly is a sad reflection that maybe it's a reality.

 

[NB Canada]

NB Canada, I have learned that our dealer service department have three customers with the same issue. Further, the service writer and I identified another unsold 21bhe with the identical issue. I noticed the issue on our shake down trip.
It's an odd one that could lead to bigger issues down the road. The problem is that there is an expectation that a new trailer would be problem free. That may be unrealistic but we still have that expectation. I my view, we spent too much money to let it slide. It hurts to point out that American made is losing it's lustre. It certainly is a sad reflection that maybe it's a reality.

It will unlikely worsen tbh and like I said above you should get it fixed but you mentioned it is stopping you from using it and it appears this is a concern of yours, I said I would forget about it and use the camper until a better down time

 

[triplethreat]

Our new 2025 Imagine 21BHE is in the shop for warranty to sort out a lighting issue.
Noticed that the awning light string glows dimly with the ceiling lights turned on and dimmed.
The awning light was Not turned on.
The trailer has been in the shop since the beginning of December.
Grand Design has been involved providing trouble shooting guidance.
The shop informed me that after replacing a circuit card in the one control module, repairs were completed.
Fast forward to pick up day today, I was forced to leave the trailer there because the issue had not been sorted out.
The awning lights remained glowing dimly and the ceiling lights set dimmed. With the lights set to full bright, the glowing awning lights were off.
The service writer and I checked a brand new 21BHE on the lot and were able to duplicate the issue.
It turns out the shop has two other trailers in for the same problem!
Another service writer hinted that this is known to Grand Design and quite possibly Lippert (supplier of the one control system). That service writer reported a possible recall is in the works, The service writer also reported that the offending part might be the wire harness between the one touch control panel and the control module.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed but am missing the trailers availability for spontanious trips.
We bought it to be used rather than holding 4 patches of earth down in the shops storage yard.

Have any of you Imagine 21BHE owners noticed this issue? The dimmable lighting feature is new from 2024.
RZ

In my opinion, the Service writer should probably just stick to being a service "writer", and leave the troubleshooting end of it out. There is NO harness per se' between the One Control Panel and the One Control Module (OCM for short). The OCP has a communications cable to the OCM......and possibly the 12VDC source. With One Control, all of the actions like On/Off/Dimming/etc are done via the communications cable from the panel to the module. Think of something like a Desktop computer sending a signal, via a USB cable to the printer. That USB cable is there for communications from the computer to the printer....and the One control stuff works similarly......Panel controls, module executes the commands.

 

[RomeoZulu]

Triplethreat
The service writer IS the data harness/cable with the techs doing the troubleshooting. Together we are talking to and with the techs face to face. Without the service writer I would not have been allowed to check for the issue on an unsold trailer in inventory.

(by the way, same failure found)

Troubleshooting by nature is a try and see if work done changes the state of the problem or not. The first guess, a circuit card in the OCM was suspected, replaced, tested operationally with no change or fix.
The OCM awning light terminals have an out put voltage at all times whether the awning light is selected on or off.

This could be the data harness/cable having an issue with power leakage, or, OCP touch panel circuit panel providing garbage commands to OCM.

It is my theory that if left unfixed, we could have a total systems failure whilst trying to enjoy the benefits the trailer was purchased for.

The trailer has been with the service department for a very generous three months...

 

[NB Canada]

It is my theory that if left unfixed, we could have a total systems failure whilst trying to enjoy the benefits the trailer was purchased for.

The trailer has been with the service department for a very generous three months...

I don’t understand why you think you would have a “complete systems failure”
And what systems would you lose?

Like I said if it were me I would enjoy the trailer. You really don’t need to even use the lights to camp. There are lots of alternatives but if this what you would rather do then I guess you will wait

Good luck

 

[triplethreat]

Triplethreat
The service writer IS the data harness/cable with the techs doing the troubleshooting. Together we are talking to and with the techs face to face. Without the service writer I would not have been allowed to check for the issue on an unsold trailer in inventory.

(by the way, same failure found)

Troubleshooting by nature is a try and see if work done changes the state of the problem or not. The first guess, a circuit card in the OCM was suspected, replaced, tested operationally with no change or fix.
The OCM awning light terminals have an out put voltage at all times whether the awning light is selected on or off.

This could be the data harness/cable having an issue with power leakage, or, OCP touch panel circuit panel providing garbage commands to OCM.

It is my theory that if left unfixed, we could have a total systems failure whilst trying to enjoy the benefits the trailer was purchased for.

The trailer has been with the service department for a very generous three months...

I'm very experienced as an electrical troubleshooter (I have limitations, just like everyone does). I spent 42 years of my life as a Journeyman Electrician before I retired almost 5 years ago, and many of my job responsibilities involved electrical troubleshooting on a variety of equipment that is much, much too long to list......and serves no good purpose to list any of it.

The issues you are having certainly points towards something wrong with the module that outputs voltage for the different devices.....and at 1/2VDC, it also points toward "leakage" voltage, possibly on the circuit board level. If it is happening to other units also, there may actually be an issue with the production of the circuit boards themselves.....I wouldn't rule that out at all. The problem is, no one there is going to be able to verify or dismiss that as a problem....unless it somehow makes it back up to the manufacturer of the boards for the proper testing and verification. You even stated yourself, three other customers with the same issues, as well as an unsold trailer in their inventory.

 

[RomeoZulu]

Tripplethreat
I'm a retired tech that understands (enough to be a dangerous expert...) Data bus systems. My strengths are mechanical. The shop foreman mentioned Data bus connection between the touch control panel and the control module.

Lippert supplies the components so I would hope their engineering and tech support would be involved via Grand Design. Hopefully Lippert has requested the return of the original circuit board from the unity control module from our trailer. That circuit board was suspected and replaced with no fix. It's 50 50 that the problem lies within the board as a qualified of manufacturing, or an issue within the touch control panel. That panel lights up when we are in close proximity and receives it's power from the control module via a data cable. .

Modern tech embodies pure flipping magic to complete or execute our wishes.

In a travel trailer of the past, the old style rocker switches used to work quite well and the system were simple to fix.

 

[jkwilson]

Tripplethreat
I'm a retired tech that understands (enough to be a dangerous expert...) Data bus systems. My strengths are mechanical. The shop foreman mentioned Data bus connection between the touch control panel and the control module.

Lippert supplies the components so I would hope their engineering and tech support would be involved via Grand Design. Hopefully Lippert has requested the return of the original circuit board from the unity control module from our trailer. That circuit board was suspected and replaced with no fix. It's 50 50 that the problem lies within the board as a qualified of manufacturing, or an issue within the touch control panel. That panel lights up when we are in close proximity and receives it's power from the control module via a data cable. .

Modern tech embodies pure flipping magic to complete or execute our wishes.

In a travel trailer of the past, the old style rocker switches used to work quite well and the system were simple to fix.

The tail light issue says it’s not in the One Control. The DOT lights are on a totally independent electrical system from the rest of the trailer. They shouldn’t even have power unless the trailer is connected to a tow vehicle. The only commonality is the ground, and that’s very likely where the problem lies.

 

[RV2600RB]

I don’t understand why you think you would have a “complete systems failure”
And what systems would you lose?

Like I said if it were me I would enjoy the trailer. You really don’t need to even use the lights to camp. There are lots of alternatives but if this what you would rather do then I guess you will wait

Good luck

There’s evidently a problem of some sort. I would want it fixed too. Rather than ignoring it.
Rich

 

[NB Canada]

There’s evidently a problem of some sort. I would want it fixed too. Rather than ignoring it.
Rich

Huh? I have always said get it fixed

The op was complaining that the trailer is in the shop for 3 months and can’t use it when they wanted to and I said “use it”. Fix it when you have down time

I made my point quite clear I thought

 

[RomeoZulu]

Jkwilson
You are correct that DOT lighting is separated from one control system.
The "but" is that the one control system has a lock-out feature activated while DOT lighting is activated via the 7 pin.
Apparently this is a safety to prevent uncommanded deployment of slide or and awning while underway. There are tail light inputs to the one control module. Have seen them with my own eyes. I asked the shop for man about them. He provided that tidbit about control lockout feature.

 

[triplethreat]

Jkwilson
You are correct that DOT lighting is separated from one control system.
The "but" is that the one control system has a lock-out feature activated while DOT lighting is activated via the 7 pin.
Apparently this is a safety to prevent uncommanded deployment of slide or and awning while underway. There are tail light inputs to the one control module. Have seen them with my own eyes. I asked the shop for man about them. He provided that tidbit about control lockout feature.

My previous reply about One control was based on my 2018 model Momentum. They have obviously changed/updated since then and I was not aware of any DOT lighting equipment being somewhat integrated with the One Control. I have learned something today......and yes, even "old" Electricians can learn new stuff.....sometimes!

 

[RomeoZulu]

NB Canada
Water pump, lighting, awning, slide out (if equiped,) tank level sensors all report through the OCM to the OCP

It made sense for mee to leave the trailer at the shop until it is fixed. Finding a fix may mean multiple steps need to be pursued over multiple days, to sort out and analyze the cause and effect each step taken. The shop is too far from my home to tow back and forth to suit the t/s required.

 

[RomeoZulu]

Tripplethreat

Yeroldifyernotlearnin
You are younger than you think!

 

[NB Canada]

NB Canada
Water pump, lighting, awning, slide out (if equiped,) tank level sensors all report through the OCM to the OCP

It made sense for mee to leave the trailer at the shop until it is fixed. Finding a fix may mean multiple steps need to be pursued over multiple days, to sort out and analyze the cause and effect each step taken. The shop is too far from my home to tow back and forth to suit the t/s required.

And none of those things other than the slide would stop you from using it. anyway….
Like I said if it is working now it is likely to continue working and you could use it if you truly wanted to
I was just commenting because of your complaint it was at the dealer for months with no idea when it will be corrected

Have a great day