Transfer Switch Meltdown

[nosticks]

We just cut short our Christmas trip from Hell. We were setting up camp and doing the usual hook ups. so I was in and out of the RV several times. The only appliance on at the time was the A/C. Had not yet turned on the water heater and the refer was still on gas. I smelled something electrical. I sniffed around and went to the bed, under which is the transfer switch along with the rest of the wiring mess.

The transfer switch was warm to the touch, but in getting my nose closer I was sure the electrical smell was coming from around there somewhere. Breakers fine, no wires hot to the touch. So I sat down for a few moments, then snap blam all 110v lost. Smoke started to fill the bedroom first. I ran outside and dropped the breaker at the campground pedestal. Back inside, opened windows, vents, and fans and cleared the smoke. Opening the bed, I discovered the transfer switch melted. I pried the cover off and found the melted wires and suspect since they were wire nutted and electrical taped they began to arc.

I'll be on the phone with Thor today, expecting a transfer switch to be shipped to me directly. Still in warranty, until mid-March. This is my second Thor Motorhome. The last one suffered a melt down of the water heater connection due to loose wires and improperly installed wire nuts. When I repaired that one, I used high quality crimp on connectors, which is exactly the plan this time.

[99dart]

Good grief! That sounds awful. This makes me worry about every connection in our coach!

[revjeffrey]

the twist type connectors should be banned from the RV industry they have better type of connectors now.

[tmshih]

Yup, same thing happened to our 2015 24.1 Vegas. The repair guy explained that the insulation on the cables was stripped short on the cables before they were connected. This prevents the electrician from twisting the strands into a tight bundle properly. A loose strand can create an arc that will blow out the transfer switch.

[revjeffrey]

If you were to replace all your twist caps what would you replace them with I'm looking for a good quality replacement? Thank you.

[nosticks]

revjeffery The best connectors I've found are crimp on with the tail part being heat shrink tubing. It looks like the factory left enough wire to do it right, hopefully. To get to it I have to pull the inverter as it is very close to the transfer switch internals.

[revjeffrey]

Thanks I'll get online and look at that type appreciate your reply thank you

[Bob Denman]

It sounds as if you were pretty lucky that the entire rig didn't burn down...

[Tearstone]

Anyone have pictures of what should be corrected to prevent being in the same boat?

[nosticks]

If you know what a wire nut is, pictures aren't necessary. The wire nuts are inside the Transfer Switch Box. They join wires together. It's a method that shouldn't be used on RV's, but is common practice.

[Bama57]

Thor product?
http://m.fox8live.com/wvuefox8/db/37...ntent/XbxDe3dj

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by Bama57

Thor product?
WVUE : Alabama fan's RV catches fire near Superdome while in town for Sugar Bowl

I don't think so. It looks like it is on a bus chassis. The cameraman for that video needs to be fired.

[SuperD]

Had a similar experience with our water heater. Smelled something burning, traced it to the water heater under the sink. Had a short in the 120v connector caused by a faulty wire nut connector. Luckily we were in the coach and watching tv at the time, very easily could have been a fire.

I think wire nuts should be banned and crimp connectors used!