|
|
05-02-2015, 09:38 AM
|
#1
|
Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
|
URGENT HELP NEEDED - Found Melted Wires This Afternoon
Wife and I keep smelling something, couldn't tell if it was pot ( not from us, other people outside ) or propane, decided to check around the Airstream, turned off the propane and when looking in the refrigerator compartment, found this:
A good portion of the plastic drain hose was melted/burnt on these two red wires. Honestly, don't know if it was the drain tube touching something hot and melting onto the wires, or if the wires burned the drain tube.
I'll have to dig out my Dometic manual, but if anyone can provide any immediate advice it would be helpful since we're 3 days into full-timing.
Touching the wires and they do not feel hot. But we are running on electric right now.
However, we where on propane all of Thursday and for 5 hours on Friday before arriving at our first destination.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 09:51 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2015 30' International
2009 27' FB International
2007 25' Safari
Currently Looking...
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,564
|
I would be checking for a propane leak. This appears to be possibly the result of a small flame in that if the wires had heated from resistance one might think they would be burned their entire length.
Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871
__________________
Happy trails and Good Luck
Ms Tommie Fantine Lauer, Greensboro, NC
AIR #31871 KQ3H
www.fantinesvoice.com
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 10:06 AM
|
#3
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
Tommie,
I can't tell from one pic, might not be able to tell from 10 pics either. But that is a very interesting observation and would bear strong merit if any adjacent non electrical items were scorched also, especially if they happened to be away from the wires.
Tommie gets 3 points for this one even if its wrong.
Gary
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 10:14 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
|
I think those large red wires are ones which go to the 120 volt heater in the refrigerator chimney. There is another little red wire at the bottom which also looks to be burned.
Since they are all burned in about the same spot, the guess of a propane leak causing a small flame fire in that area is a good one. Wires overheated from too much power running through them don't melt and burn that way.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 10:32 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Portsmouth
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 776
|
If those are 110vac wires to the heater and they shorted, I would think the breaker would have tripped first. As you and everyone else pointed out, the drain hose is melted so that means there was a small fire there that caused it. I would get some soapy water and start looking for gas leaks and also look at the orifice on the burner to see if its possible there is something blocking it or causing it to shoot a flame back. You can splice in some new wires to the heater or at least get some heat shrink around them to keep them insulated.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 10:49 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
|
I am running with the blocked or clogged orifice, however, if I remember the igniter is behind the metal piece or flap on the lower right side of the picture and I don't see any sign of having been heat or flame anywhere near that area?
On the other hand a short as noted would trip a breaker and a fire in the wiring would have probably burned through. Did the drain hose come in contact with the refrigerator coils by any chance, they can get pretty warm, usually not hot enough to cause an issue, but possible as noted earlier melted the drain which dripped onto the power wires.
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 12:36 PM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
Mississauga
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,239
|
check for a blocked chimney.
Al
__________________
Al and Jean
TAC ON-3
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 12:47 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
1979 24' Airstream Excella 24
Tipp City
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 551
|
I second the blocked chimney. Look for spider webs that could be blocking the chimney affect. It may allow some exhaust to get by but not enough, forcing the flame to back up and heat up things that should not be getting hot.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 01:19 PM
|
#9
|
2 Rivet Member
1967 22' Safari
Long Beach
, California
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 88
|
Hello BoldAdventure:
I had a similar experience. My burned wiring looked a lot like your photo. - My experience may give you some ideas of where to look for your problem.
I first replaced all the burned wires, but sure enough they promptly burned again. I traced all the wires and still could not find the problem.
I removed the refrigerator from the trailer and took it to an RV repair facility. They took several days to bench test the refrigerator and told me (and showed me) that the refrigerator worked perfectly in their shop.
Now I needed to search elsewhere within the trailer. I isolated the problem to the 12 volt circuit. After several days of searching individual circuits with a meter I found where several ground wires were gathered into one with a gigantic wire nut. The short was within this connection. I cleaned the wires, bought a new wire nut and wrapped everything with several layers of electricians tape.
That fixed my problem.
Good luck with yours!
Don
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 02:35 PM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
2000 19' Bambi
mt. Prospect
, Illinois
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 829
|
It looks like a flash back from the gas burner, something you'd more typically see in the water heater (where they have a high temp fuse in the gas valve power line to cut off the gas flow in exactly this type of situation). The gas flow to the 'fridge is much less than the water heater, though, or should be. As suggested by others, check the chimney for blockage. Weird.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 03:53 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,764
|
Something has heated the insulation to melting temps on those wires, as shown by the uneven red blobs mixed in with the black stuff. Replacing the bad portions of the wires should be a high priority--right up there with finding out what burned them in the first place. That red insulation can no longer do its job. Touching the wires not a good idea until they're re-insulated.
I agree with all above about checking for propane leaks, blocked chimney, etc.
You might also check the condition of the electric heating element for the fridge. If it shorted out internally, that might explain a high current flow in those wires--but didn't you say you were running on electric now? That should mean the element is working.
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 04:12 PM
|
#12
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
I have an '07, yours is an '07. Mine had the recall baffle shied installed, by your pic yours does not have the recall performed. Look for Dometic recall info in fridge forum.
Can't prove it right now, but red wires I think are going to a temp sensor in the chimney not the primary element feed.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
05-02-2015, 05:55 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
|
Those two red wires are 12 VDC and run from the control board to the thermal safety that can be seen in the right of the photo. It is the temp. sensing disc with the reset button in the center. This was part of a Dometic safety recall a few years ago.
Use soapy water to check the fittings of the LP solenoid (foreground). Also, remove the cover to the burner chamber (lower right) and put the fridge on LP.
Look at the flame and watch for flashbacks. Also, if you want to be on the safe side, you can cover the LP burner with tin foil ( OK, aluminum foil........it IS an Airstream!) and run a brush up the flue tube to check for a blockage.
You also might pull the fridge and run the brush from top to bottom in the flue tube after you remove the thin piano wire with the spiral baffle attached to it.
For electrics, those burnt wires should be totally replaced and not spliced. If you DO find a bad ground in a bundle as described above, ditch the wire nut (they have NO PLACE IN AN RV......... IMHO) and replace with a marine terminal block.
Keep us posted!!!!!
GOOD LUCK!
Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 08:41 AM
|
#14
|
Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
|
Flash back from a leak at the LP connection. I used to soapy water, and also noticed that our 1 full propane tank is now empty today. 30lbs gone with minimal use.... yup. I'm just glad I decided to keep spare wire, solder and my heat gun. Going to replace the wire completely this morning as Lew suggested.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 08:46 AM
|
#15
|
Full time Airstreamer
2014 30' FB FC Bunk
Anywhere
, USA Living.Somewhere.Yonder
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,359
|
Wow. Technical stuff aside, glad you guys are ok.
__________________
@living.somewhere.yonder | Instagram
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 09:05 AM
|
#16
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
2 additional Forum points for Tommie.
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 10:21 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
|
Yep, sounds like Tommie got her. Lets hope so. Glad you guys have good sense of smell and thought to look around as well. Good luck
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 03:18 PM
|
#18
|
Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
|
I'll continue to keep an eye on it. The stack is clear, I pulled the fridge awhile back, and while I bolted it back in and returned all the screws, I might of hand tightened the connection and forgot to come back at it with a wrench, which could of been a costly mistake.
On that note, the wiring kit will remain a staple of my full-timers toolkit.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 07:48 PM
|
#19
|
1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
|
Glad all is well!
__________________
I this great country!!!!
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke
|
|
|
05-03-2015, 08:08 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
|
So the LP connection was loose?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Wow...'that's a bomb. Also the LP is bad to breathe!!!! Mp lease get some yellow liquid gas sealant. It holds much better. Also the yellow GAS tape. Better stuff and the joints will have a hard time loosening. Not the "pot"'joints... The gas connections.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|