DC port(s) output not steady

[MartinIT]

Hello,
The ONLY problem my Gladiator has had for about 4 months is that DC output in the custom DC outlet installed in the bed and in the original cigarette lighter is not steady. It comes up to full DC power (~12.5 VDC) and goes down to zero, comes up and goes down to zero, ....
My Gladiator has a number of mods possibly affecting DC electrical system but everything else is working with no issues:
- marine USB/DC connector installed in the bed: the digital output shows consistent 12.5 (or so) V, USB works with no problems but but my power supply bank shows the issue indicated above and my fridge would not work off of the port (it gives me power error core after being on for 45 seconds)
- winch; works super
- compressor, works super

The 110VAC in the back console works with no problems. The truck works with no signs of any other problem. The only issue is that DC wavy output. The DC out used to work great for at least a year or perhaps one and a half and then :-(
Does anyone have any ideas what might be the problem and possibly how to attack it? Thx a bunch!!!

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[ShadowsPapa]

Hello,
The ONLY problem my Gladiator has had for about 4 months is that DC output in the custom DC outlet installed in the bed and in the original cigarette lighter is not steady. It comes up to full DC power (~12.5 VDC) and goes down to zero, comes up and goes down to zero, ....
My Gladiator has a number of mods possibly affecting DC electrical system but everything else is working with no issues:
- marine USB/DC connector installed in the bed: the digital output shows consistent 12.5 (or so) V, USB works with no problems but but my power supply bank shows the issue indicated above and my fridge would not work off of the port (it gives me power error core after being on for 45 seconds)
- winch; works super
- compressor, works super

The 110VAC in the back console works with no problems. The truck works with no signs of any other problem. The only issue is that DC wavy output. The DC out used to work great for at least a year or perhaps one and a half and then :-(
Does anyone have any ideas what might be the problem and possibly how to attack it? Thx a bunch!!!

The 12v outlet- "cigarette lighter" should show the system voltage of whatever the charging system is being regulated at at that time is. So if it's running and the cluster shows 13.4 volts, the 12v outlet should also be showing that. It's fused but not regulated. So if the engine is off, ignition on, and the battery voltage is 12.6 then the 12v outlet should be 12.6
A bit more info is needed - how did you power the outlets you put in the bed? What are they running off of? What size wire did you use?
Are you seeing the voltage fluctuate with nothing plugged in - or only with the fridge plugged in? (implying possible over-draw on that circuit?)
What is it fused through? (the outlets you ran to the back)

This is mine - truck not running so it's showing actual battery voltage (yeah, I know - battery only about 75% charged). Running it would be more.
I have it run through an aux switch so I can kill power to the wires running back there when I don't need it.

 

[MartinIT]

Thanks for the reply.
The marine outlet (like yours) is connected directly to the battery using a super thick wire. When the marine outlet shows the following voltage when it is turned on
ignition off - 12.5 (or so)
ignition on/motor off - same as above and the cluster shows the same
engine on - 13.7 and the cluster shows the same

When my power bank DC charging port is connected to the cigarette lighter (with engine running) or to the marine DC port (motor on or off) it fluctuates like describes on the original message BUT till about few weeks ago it worked great ????

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