Electrical Savants - Problem of the day

[Mike-NM]

Greetings,

I was headed back from San Diego to Albuquerque in my 2014 Jayco precept 31ul 5500 watt generator with two air conditioners with no issues. Just got off a leg to Temple Texas, back to ABQ then off to San Diego with no issues. On my way back from San Diego 50 or so miles out I stopped and left the coach. Upon returning, I noticed the refrigerator lights were off, battery was not running/burning the propane as it normally would without the generator or shore power. The on and off button was dead. I cranked up the 5500 watt generator and tried to turn on the air in the front no such luck the air was out, all of the slides were out as well. I turned on the rear bedroom air conditioner, the coffee pot was working and the microwave worked. I checked the GFI it was not tripped, so i tripped it and reset it anyways and nothing. I checked the fuse box and there was a blown fuse. #1 states exterior radio/Dash Radio/REFER LP/CO Detector 15 amp. I noticed the red light on the house battery disconnect was not on, I should it off and the lights and everything went dead, I installed a new 15 amp then turned on the house batteries with the disconnect button and saw a flash of the red light then lights came on but the disconnect button did not remain on with red glow. The air and frig and slides still not working. I checked the fuse and it was blown again. I packed all the refrigerator goods in the ice box blasted the rear air and finally arrived home.


Appreciate any thoughts on what this may be. I suspect that the battery disconnect solenoid or a relay or perhaps only one leg of the 240 is good.. not sure what is causing this. I checked the voltage at the fuse and it was live 12v. To tired to do anything else with it...... for now.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Just guessing here. You have a short circuit somewhere on the fuse that blew twice. You must find that issue first. Then, all the rest of your issues may go away. Check the inline fuses at your battery disconnect solenoid while you are looking. Even though your AC unit is 120 volt, it requires 12vdc from your system for controls. If still an issue once you fixed the blowing fuse issue, check all fuses in your panel, and turn completely off and back on all circuit breakers one at a time. I’m still thinking you have only a 12 volt issue. If you do not have an electric meter, you must get one. Suggest you get a clamp on AC/DC ammeter one. Amazon has some of them. If you can get the Bluetooth one, I would suggest it. That way, you can watch the amps, volts, or whatever on your phone while you move through the wiring trying to find the issue.
Best wishes, Kevin

 

[Mike-NM]

Thank you Kevin… You were spot on. After getting a good rest I dug into it. Seems Jayco mislabeled the fuse box. After breaking down the four wires that were connected to the fuse the one that was causing the issue was not listed. The elevator for the TV at the dinette set was the culprit. I disconnected it, reconnected the other three and all, slides, refrigerator and front AC are up and running. During my investigation I did find that the cable running from the battery disconnect solenoid to the negative terminal battery post had been rubbing against a screw on the battery table to the point it caused a tear and exposed copper wire. Attached photo. I fixed that immediately. Anyhow, back up and running. Thank you for the information.

Mike

 

[Kevin Cooper]

Very happy you found it so quickly. Sometimes very hard to find.
Best wishes, Kevin