Emergency!!!!

[mcr1010]

As a safety reminder, make sure your shore power is disconnected and stow switch is off when you are checking your wires in the box.

[Dan9841]

Originally Posted by Jedsmom

I have an ACE 30.1. Where's this box we should check out?

Thanks!

It should be under the bed. Black box about 7 inches x 5 inches or so.

[Dan9841]

Originally Posted by mcr1010

As a safety reminder, make sure your shore power is disconnected and stow switch is off when you are checking your wires in the box.

Yes please everyone make sure there is no power coming to the coach. Great comment

[saddlesore]

And this should be checked by all owners regardless of the age of the coach!

[petef]

My 27k is under the dinette seat. Call Thor. I was like wholeyF when I saw the burned wires after trying to figure out why the power would not come on..kind of scared me.

Originally Posted by Jedsmom

I have an ACE 30.1. Where's this box we should check out?

Thanks!

[blw2]

one of the 1st things I did when I bought our coach
was to install a smoke detector in that under-bed compartment.
I figured that I want as early warning as possible sleeping on top of that bird's nest of loose connections!

I try to remember to test the battery before every trip, too.

[Jedsmom]

Just called Thor's customer service and talked with Angie Cox. What a helpful person! I now have a schematic of all of the electrical stuff for my rig!

We're pulling our rig out this weekend to start getting ready for a month-long trip. I'll be checking the connections then.

Thanks again for your help!

[mcr1010]

Originally Posted by blw2

one of the 1st things I did when I bought our coach
was to install a smoke detector in that under-bed compartment.
I figured that I want as early warning as possible sleeping on top of that bird's nest of loose connections!

I try to remember to test the battery before every trip, too.

Good idea. Thanks for posting.

[jrizzo406]

Another item for me to locate in the Siesta 24ST. My list keeps growing!

[Dan9841]

I am glad that this posted helped some of you. Stay safe and enjoy the travels.

[Texan]

Hi All,
Just got back home from a few days away. 2nd day away, air con stopped/microwave etc no power.... checked the breakers at the post/ breakers, fuses inside MH... all ok. Then noticed that the surge protector was still displaying a 120V input reading/no faults. Remembering this thread, quickly removed the seat cushion and base... and then was hit by a acrid burning smell and could see a candle size flame rising from the top of the black box. Action/Panic stations and a lot of F bombs later... situation normal.

This is the second electrical fire I've had to deal with thanks to the workmanship (what I think is criminal standard) on the Thor product line, 1st being the 120V wiring on the back of the water heater (see my post).

I wonder if Thor keeps records of which personnel work on which MH, because the frequency these incidents makes me wonder if someone has an axe to grind??

Anyway, everything is repaired... everyone is still alive. Glad we were there to catch it.

Until the next time!!

Rgds
Tex.

[mcr1010]

Good thing you caught it in time to do little damage. It is a shame that Thor is not more attentive to their lack of quality control and employee management. I hope you took pics and will follow up with Thor. They need to know and care about these life endangering events and correct. If not maybe another agency could step in to investigate.

[vkb]

Originally Posted by DocMike

MCR,

Looks like I have a safety check to do tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

Doc

Ron checked our 'black box' this morning..first, he says the best way to reach it is to pull the drawers out between the beds, as previously stated...
He said the lid was tight and took a little work to remove.
Having checked all the circuits, he was happy to report that all were in good shape and taped.
Once again, it appears the build team on the Axis did their job correctly.

whew !

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

In Chattanooga TN inspector told me it is a code violation to use wire nuts on DC. Terminal blocks only but local codes don't cover RVs.

[Jedsmom]

We were cleaning the RV today & I had to look long & hard for our box. It wasn't where the schematic said it should be. Found it under the bed, but had to unscrew a wood panel to access it. We left the screws out -- shouldn't hurt anything in case we need to get in there quickly.

[PEHetzer]

Be careful! Looking at the top of the relay seems to indicate a severe over current condition. The relay is responsible for flipping the coach to generation power if you're not connected to land power. You stated that this occurred after a power outage and made me wonder if the relay stuck allowing the land power to cross over in to a generator that is not running. You can use a paper nail file to burnish the contacts (remove any roughness and burn from the face of the contacts) in an emergency.
Remove all A.C. power from the coach and disconnect all batteries (including engine battery) then use a piece of stiff wire with a small hook bent into the end of it to slightly move the contacts up and down to determine if they are not stuck together. If the contacts can move freely then the relay contractor may work fine, but if they appear burnt then have the relay replaced.
Be careful and good luck!
Paul H.

[mcr1010]

As a follow up to the ATS( Auto Transfer Switch) overheating and smoking; I finally had some time to rewire mine. Below is a before and after pic of the box and pic of the wire nuts and pigtails that were removed.

I had one connection melt down a wire nut last time out camping and I wanted to remove all the wire nut connections and mount directly to the terminals on the ATS. I did not have any confidence in the stranded wire to solid wire connection with a wire nut after the melting of one of the connections. An easier alternate to wiring directly to the terminals of the ATS would be to remove each wire nut, solder the connection and replace the wire nut.

On the Vegas and Axis, the ATS box has to be detached to gain access to it. It is in a tight space and drawers between bunks have to be removed unless you are a contortionist.


Before rewiring


After rewiring


Wire nuts and pigtails removed