|
|
05-22-2018, 07:57 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 29
|
ATS caught fire and fried
We have a 2018 Aspect 27K. We bought it 11 days ago. Today we went on our maiden camping trip. After about 3 hours of being connected to the camp ground's electrical service we smelled an electrical fire. My DW smelled it first. When I went around the RV to the side of the electrical connection I smelled it too. I crouched down to the electric cable and was convinced that was the source.
I disconnected the power and went to open the door for the electrical cable. I could see light smoke coming out the the smell was overwhelming. The power was off. I checked the cable and it was not frayed. I touched the Surge Guard ATS box and it was very hot. I called the dealership and the Park. The Park electrician checked the electrical post and it was good. I opened the ATS with a lot of effort. The wires were fried.
Has anyone else had a similar problem?
machlin
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
05-22-2018, 08:00 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 795
|
So scary, glad you guys were awake and alert at the time
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 08:31 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
|
Yes. Not uncommon.
Likely a not tight connection. #1 killer of transfer switches. Open your switch at least yearly and snug up the connections. They loosen from heat cycling.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 08:53 PM
|
#4
|
Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
|
Good thing your DW has a good sense of smell. Glad you are okay.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 10:17 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kingsville TX
Posts: 1,754
|
X2 loose connectons
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 10:40 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,305
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by vsheetz
Yes. Not uncommon.
Likely a not tight connection. #1 killer of transfer switches. Open your switch at least yearly and snug up the connections. They loosen from heat cycling.
|
Yep. Keep them tight!
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 11:07 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
|
Covered under warranty I hope.
Let us know how they treat you.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
|
|
|
05-22-2018, 11:16 PM
|
#8
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: In a lawnchair
Posts: 11,993
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland
Covered under warranty I hope.
Let us know how they treat you.
|
+1 Pretty scary stuff for an 11-day old RV.
__________________
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 05:24 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Citrus Springs, Fl.
Posts: 798
|
Yes happened to me and ruined our Christmas trip. The problem is simple and I have told the RV manufacturer why it occurs. The ATS is shipped to the RV manufacturer with pre-stripped wires. The pre-strip is too short and the highly talented assembly line workers just use it as is rather than lengthen the stripped area. They use wire nuts in the build process. There is not enough exposed wire to make a good connection, but hey, keep the line moving, jamb that nut on there, next coach.
I redid mine using butt connectors. Wire nuts on something moving down the road shaking and vibrating is stupid and a bad method to fasten the wires together.
__________________
2017 Thor Freedom Elite 29fe
2015 Jeep Wrangler Toad
Making a smooth transition to senility for over 70 years
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 05:44 AM
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: western NC mountains!
Posts: 4,106
|
I agree that probably a loose NEUTRAL, but just my opinion, as it happened to me on my shore cord, as well. While aggravating, it should be a 'simple' replacement, even a DIY if you want...with the only drawback in losing some of the length of wiring that was fried, but maybe the factory provided enough to not have to do any additional splicing.
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 08:26 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Citrus Springs, Fl.
Posts: 798
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterT
While aggravating, it should be a 'simple' replacement, even a DIY if you want...with the only drawback in losing some of the length of wiring that was fried, but maybe the factory provided enough to not have to do any additional splicing.
|
Let me tell you about that simple replacement. First you have to get to the fried ATS. Mine was first removing the Inverter which was sandwiched between the bed surround and the ATS next to the panel/converter. Burned wires did not describe the melted mess. No they didn't leave enough slack wire which lead to more splices. It was a memorable diy project and I was within the warranty period, but 2 1/2 hrs. to a repair facility and 2 1/2 back said just do it yourself and do it right. So far so good.
__________________
2017 Thor Freedom Elite 29fe
2015 Jeep Wrangler Toad
Making a smooth transition to senility for over 70 years
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 05:30 PM
|
#12
|
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 29
|
ATS caught fire
Thanks to everyone who responded,
I have an update on my ATS fire. The dealership installed an ATS 'replacement'. They received a new one but one of the posts was broken and could not be installed. They took one off of a 2018 Aspect 30J on their line with permission from Winnebago.
The technician told me that two of the bolts, on the burned ATS, were welded to the wire and could not be removed. He also told me that four of the bolts were only hand tight! That is alarming.
I reported all of this to Winnebago.
machlin
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 08:09 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: E WA or S TX
Posts: 4,046
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nosticks
Yes happened to me and ruined our Christmas trip. The problem is simple and I have told the RV manufacturer why it occurs. The ATS is shipped to the RV manufacturer with pre-stripped wires. The pre-strip is too short and the highly talented assembly line workers just use it as is rather than lengthen the stripped area. They use wire nuts in the build process. There is not enough exposed wire to make a good connection, but hey, keep the line moving, jamb that nut on there, next coach.
I redid mine using butt connectors. Wire nuts on something moving down the road shaking and vibrating is stupid and a bad method to fasten the wires together.
|
There are no wire nuts in the photos! They are all screw terminals.
__________________
04 Horizon QD, 12 Ford Flex, Excalibar, Brakemaster, Winter Texan, RVin! since 1974
Norm, Donna & Tinker Kat(RIP) 01 Z3
Life is a Timed Event, you only get One Go Around!
|
|
|
05-23-2018, 08:44 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 741
|
Ours died last night. We have a 2017 Minnie Winnie 31D. It has the 41300 identical to OP. All of a sudden our power went out. We checked circuit breakers etc and couldn't find any issues. When we went to the power cord area, we smelled burned rubber. We knew to immediately unplug and not try to use the generator. It got hot today in Iowa and we are in a motel due to the heat and humidity. We plan to drop our RV off in Forest City on Friday until they can fix it. Removing cover and doing any work is above our pay grade.
While we are in our air conditioned motel with cable tv that works and free wifi and a free hot breakfast in the morning, and a bed that someone else made and will wash the sheets and towels you know the thought that crossed my mind. (We enjoy rving but it is really starting to feel like a JOB.) We don't wish to be electricians or learn about neutrals etc.. Way above us. Scary if they don't get the repair done right.
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|