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11-15-2020, 07:27 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Help! Woke up to burning smell
We have a 2019 Jayco Redhawk 25R Class C. Owned it for 2 years. We use it every other month. But, Starting in August, with a few breaks in between, we’ve been living in it while we wait to move in to our new home.
We woke up this morning to a burning smell. My wife describes it like cigarettes. It does smell a little like that to me also. It’s coming from either my hot water heater area,( it’s a Dometic), or somewhere else near My charger/converter, fuse panel and transfer switch which are about 5’ away from hot water heater, at floor level in same cavity. My Transfer switch and charge/converter are warm to the touch but not hot at all. Smell could becoming from either area. Fan is cycling normal on the charger/converter.
We’ve only used the hot water heater with electric. It’s been switched on since end of October. Last week my hot water heater’s pressure relief valve was leaking a bit for 2 days but has stopped. Not a lot just a little bit of dripping. My hot water does seem very very hot.
Wife is very nervous as am I a bit.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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11-15-2020, 07:47 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Black River Falls, Wi
Posts: 1,154
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Have you serviced your batteries lately? If not, they may be struggling to take a charge from the converter and the converter could be working overtime. A battery overcharging would emit a sulphur / egg smell.
Disconnect from power and ensure all electrical terminals and lugs are tight behind all main electrical devices. (Converter / transfer box / inverter)
Good time to drain and flush the hot water tank
__________________
2019 Pinnacle 36 FBTS
2016 Silverado 3500 CC SRW DuraMax/Allison
1975 Corvette for the sunny days n dry roads
2017 RZR for the rainy days n muddy roads
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11-15-2020, 07:56 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stingray75
Have you serviced your batteries lately? If not, they may be struggling to take a charge from the converter and the converter could be working overtime. A battery overcharging would emit a sulphur / egg smell.
Disconnect from power and ensure all electrical terminals and lugs are tight behind all main electrical devices. (Converter / transfer box / inverter)
Good time to drain and flush the hot water tank
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I just topped the battery‘s off to the correct level two weeks ago. This is definitely not a sulfur egg smell of acid. I’m a former auto mechanic from the 80’s, I understand exactly what you’re talking about and that’s not the smell.
I’m trying to get the cover off of my transfer switch as I type. It’s in a tight spot. We’re in South Florida so we have been running the air conditioning nonstop.
Keep’em coming please!
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11-15-2020, 08:07 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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FOUND THE SOURCE! Transfer switch has melted connections!!!!!!
Now where do I buy on a Sunday?!!!!!
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11-15-2020, 08:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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You don't need to replace it for now. Since you're on shore power, disconnect the wires from shore power and from the power connection going to the house. Wire nut them together. Don't forget to unplug shore power before doing this.
This problem was undoubtedly caused by a loose connection on the terminal board.
__________________
Don
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11-15-2020, 08:25 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 16,075
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnynorthland
FOUND THE SOURCE! Transfer switch has melted connections!!!!!!
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If you're on shore power you could bypass the swtich until tomorrow. Go to HD or LOWES and get a junction box and connect the wires together with wire nuts.
I think most Camping World Stores have their parts depts open on Sunday.
__________________
DISNEY LOVERS
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11-15-2020, 08:54 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Thanks Hoppers4 & Grumpy.
I will do just that! So reading the Schematic I am connecting the wires that go to the “panel” to the wires coming from the “power cord” correct? See photo below of wiring diagram?
And by doing this it will just bypass the transfer switch from switching AC/DC, charging house battery and or bypass generator? I know what a transfer switch does on a home with a generator and I’m familiar with electrical and electronics. I’ve wired sub panels, ran plenty of circuits in my home so I’m not afraid to do anything. Just never did this on an RV before.
I’ve been googling camping worlds and all of their parts departments are closed on Sunday. But their Accessories store is open.
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11-15-2020, 09:48 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Port Orchard
Posts: 2,064
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Wire "power cord" to "panel" together.
__________________
Don
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11-15-2020, 10:48 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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I jumped out the transfer switch, All up and running Temporarily, now am I correct in saying all of my 12 V systems are running off the house battery, and the house battery is not being charged?
If this is the case, Should I go out and buy a trickle charger and connect it to the house battery and pedestal until I get the new transfer switch?
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11-15-2020, 10:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Black River Falls, Wi
Posts: 1,154
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If you bypassed the transfer by connecting shore power direct to converter the batteries should be seeing charge. Would think you’d see 13.7 at the batteries while on shore power.
__________________
2019 Pinnacle 36 FBTS
2016 Silverado 3500 CC SRW DuraMax/Allison
1975 Corvette for the sunny days n dry roads
2017 RZR for the rainy days n muddy roads
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11-15-2020, 11:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stingray75
If you bypassed the transfer by connecting shore power direct to converter the batteries should be seeing charge. Would think you’d see 13.7 at the batteries while on shore power.
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I got 13.4, it’s hard to see in this photo, Luckily I installed this;
(And DW complains every time I install upgrades!)
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11-15-2020, 11:09 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Brunswick
Posts: 491
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnynorthland
I jumped out the transfer switch, All up and running Temporarily, now am I correct in saying all of my 12 V systems are running off the house battery, and the house battery is not being charged?
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The battery is charged by the Converter/Charger. The Transfer Switch isolates the Generator from Shore Power that way if you run the Generator while on Shore Power, the RV will only be powered by the Generator and Shore Power will be "locked" out.
In your case, as you learned from your volt meter, your batteries are still being charged.
-Michael
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11-15-2020, 11:17 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnynorthland
I got 13.4, it’s hard to see in this photo, Luckily I installed this;
(And DW complains every time I install upgrades!)
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So, the converter/charger integrated into my breaker panel, does the house battery charging and converting to AC/DC, (12 V),?
The transfer switch it’s just that, transfers pedestal power & generator power and energize the panel just like a home with a built in generator and auto transfer switch?
Hence the words “converter/charger”, Daaaaa! I guess even at my age I’m still learning! My mind spun when I discovered the electrical heat damage!
I have a good grasp on electrical and electronics, been RVing for five years on my own, manny more years with my dad, we’ve had 3RV’s, never had this issue other than a melted plug outside. Thanks for all your help my fellow travelers! Happy trails and no burning smells to you all!
My automotive instructor in the early 80’s once had said to me,
“I don’t know all the answers but I sure as heck no a way to find them”!
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11-15-2020, 02:38 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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I found a direct replacement for my transfer switch in a camping world in my travels. However I see different models that don’t use the screw connecting blocks, rather pigtail wires that you wire nut together. I’m thinking this is a better option. The screw terminals become loose overtime and caused this arcing burning issue. Plus some of the pigtail types have power out to charge batteries as well as an option for an inverter in.
Anybody have any experience with these?
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12-02-2020, 01:44 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Update, I figured I’d email Jayco motorized, What do I got to lose, and they were actually very helpful and Are reimbursing me for the transfer switch!
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12-02-2020, 02:06 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 4,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnynorthland
FOUND THE SOURCE! Transfer switch has melted connections!!!!!!
Now where do I buy on a Sunday?!!!!!
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I missed this original post - but the EXACT same thing happened to me a couple of months ago!
What a melted mess.
Moot, in your case since you're getting a new ATS from Jayco but I found those lug connectors on Granger. Like you, I noticed the new version of that ATS now uses Wago connectors.
__________________
2016 Greyhawk 31FK
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12-02-2020, 02:10 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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I even emailed Progressive dynamics asked them if there was a recall any plans to do so, of course they said everything was due to lose connection. If you ask me that’s a poor design especially since they totally changed it to pigtails and wago connectors. They know somethings up.
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12-03-2020, 08:27 AM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 34
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After traveling about 300 miles we stopped and set-up at at cg. A few hours later there was a smell of smoke and then saw smoke coming from the back of our stove. Upon inspection and calling 911 we discovered that our hot water heater electrical connections, the wires had rubbed against a metal box surrounding the hardware. The wire covering wore through and the wires began to smolder..alot. The smoke wafted through a cabinet in between the hot water tank and stove then was drawn up the back of the stove vent. The fire department used a heat seeking gizmo to find the 'hot spot'. Terrifying!!!!
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12-03-2020, 10:03 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Out there somewhere
Posts: 1,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tljwYaki
After traveling about 300 miles we stopped and set-up at at cg. A few hours later there was a smell of smoke and then saw smoke coming from the back of our stove. Upon inspection and calling 911 we discovered that our hot water heater electrical connections, the wires had rubbed against a metal box surrounding the hardware. The wire covering wore through and the wires began to smolder..alot. The smoke wafted through a cabinet in between the hot water tank and stove then was drawn up the back of the stove vent. The fire department used a heat seeking gizmo to find the 'hot spot'. Terrifying!!!!
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Wow! Glad you and family are ok! Can you post some photos so everyone has a clear picture of what happened to you so we can all learn from this?
I don’t mind things breaking down but when it comes to a life hazard, I’d rather skip that learning experience!
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12-03-2020, 12:09 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,768
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tljwYaki
After traveling about 300 miles we stopped and set-up at at cg. A few hours later there was a smell of smoke and then saw smoke coming from the back of our stove. Upon inspection and calling 911 we discovered that our hot water heater electrical connections, the wires had rubbed against a metal box surrounding the hardware. The wire covering wore through and the wires began to smolder..alot. The smoke wafted through a cabinet in between the hot water tank and stove then was drawn up the back of the stove vent. The fire department used a heat seeking gizmo to find the 'hot spot'. Terrifying!!!!
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Glad all has turned out well for you. That heat seeking gizmo is Thermal camera. They are nice units. You can see exactly where the heat is at. We use them at work to look for water leaks (cold spot), in our electrical panels, for loose connects (hot spot). Bearings on production equipment (abnormally heating up, they are failing). We use them a lot. I really a Flir for my phone.
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