amonia smell coming from fuse panel

[dentra]

while cleaning and packing our 05 Fleetwood Newport for this weekend I had the AC on and noticed an amonia (fishy) kind of smell and after taking the cover off the AC and cleaning it and the condenser on the roof I did some more snooping around and found the smell to be coming from the breakers in the electrical panel? And it only smells when the AC is on? My only thought is to replace the breakers? Anyone ever have something like this befor and if so what was it?

[TXiceman]

There is nothing that smells like ammonia in the A/C or breaker panel. Now the RV frig has ammonia in it and that is BAD NEWS. You need a new cooling unit or a new frig. Close up the frig and let it stand not operating. Open the doors and sniff. Also cehck at the top of the frig vent stack.

Also, having worked in the ammonia refrigeration industry for 40 years and smelling plenty of ammonia, I would never consider if as a fishy smell.

You might want to pull the top cover off the A/C and check fo any burn wires or a fried capacitor.

Ken

[dentra]

fridge was not on and while standing in the pop up it is kinda like a fishy smell and it is definitly coming from the breakers no wires are hot and its kind of a pundgent amonia kind of smell up close?

[InPursuit]

mice

[wa8yxm]

I have to agree, Ammonia not in breakers or panel.. Only ammonia in fridge or in bottles wife has in cabinet.

Of course, Since your sniffer is not my sniffer.. I don't know how good it is at identifying Ammonia.. (I have mis-identified aromas myself a few times)

[TXiceman]

The frig does not have to be on. It is easier to smell if it is off. Mouse urine has an ammonia smell.

I have also worked around a lot of sea food processing plants and fish does smell like ammonia unless it is going bad.

The pungent smell is most likely a capacitor going bad.

Ken

[dentra]

Its not the fridge or mouse urine! pop up has been up since saturday and I only smelt it today after turning on the AC but it is not coming from the AC. allthough I might not be describing the smell right in saying it smells like amonia I can definately say I am 100% positive it is coming from the breaker panel I just dont know what it is?

[dentra]

I decided to start at the panel and check the breakers first. so I got my ohm meter and started checking for resistance and they were all good but then I noticed when I disconnected the hot wire from the main breaker the screw was a little loose and the back of the main breaker and the plastic part of the panel itself were a little warped and had that fish smell! the smell was actually coming from the plastic as it got so hot from the loose wire it was starting to melt! Tightned it all up and ran the AC for 2 hours that night and all weekend while camping and no smell and the breakers never got more then luke warm!

[RJay]

Could it be burned electrical insulation you are smelling?

[wa8yxm]

I keep telling folks that we RVers often have a few screws loose.

Suggestion... Pull the plug and apply that screwdriver to all the screws in that box.. Odds are that was not the only loose one

Some of mine took like over a turn and a half.. IN fact I seem to recall two turns or more.

[TXiceman]

I will go over the screws in the electrical panel about once a year. jiggling down the highway tends to make things get loose.

ken

[RVhauler]

IMO that breaker is give you problems down the road. I would change it out for peace of mind for the few dollars it costs