lights flicker when I run the fresh water pump

[BigJoe]

My internal 12-volt lights flicker when I run the fresh water pump.

It's not always been like this, and it's rather annoying.

 

[Hoolie]

Poor negative or positive connection between your electrical panel and the batteries

 

[sailorman]

Poor negative or positive connection between your electrical panel and the batteries

+ that pump is power hungry possibly 6 amps

 

[PaulRainbow]

Poor negative or positive connection between your electrical panel and the batteries

That, or low battery voltage.

 

[RupertW]

Are they LEDs? I have found LEDs more sensitive to everything and am trying to different makes to get back to the sort of reliability I used to have before I changed all the lights two years ago. I still have the old bulbs but that seems a backwards step.

 

[MoodySabre]

My LEDs flicker when the water pump is run. The pump is very power hungry and so I just accept it's the effect of fluctuating voltage. It doesn't happen when the mains battery charger is on.

 

[BigJoe]

Battery voltage is fine, and yes, its LED throughout.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Perhaps check the connections on the pump at both ends. If something is sparking......

 

[moomba]

I have found my lights flicker if the fuse is wrong i,e at its margin. I use blade fuses
this is for power hungry switches as well , this is a new install so took time working through correct fuses for appliances
as said above the pump might be asking for more power than normal due to age, loose wire ,etc

 

[dom]

Battery voltage is fine, and yes, its LED throughout.

Next step is to check batt and other connections.

If all good, you might wish to consider a cheap buck boost regulator on the lighting circuit; something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cocar-Stab..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=BFXWFW9F7QDAXS971RA9

 

[William_H]

If as BigJoe says this is a new problem and was previously OK with LED lights then something has changed. It may be the battery getting tired and voltage falling with the sudden current of the pump. A motor will draw more current at turn on than when running. It may also be that there is a resistance in the wiring that is common to both circuits. This could be corroded connection or bad switch or fuse holder. LED lights which are resistor current controlled (the cheap ones) are very sensitive to voltage and so will show up any voltage drop. So either chase a voltage drop or ignore the problem until it gets worse if it does. NB a digital volt meter on the battery may be too slow to register the voltage dip on pump turn on but may be OK to show battery voltage with pump running. An analogue (mechanical ) meter might be better at showing the dip. ol'will

 

[BigJoe]

Thanks...........................

I replaced some strip LED's and that has improved the situation, seemingly by accident.