Community Forums

rcshaw · 01-30-2014, 06:57 PM

I'm trying to locate a 6 volt 30 amp mini breaker for my 2006 Surf Side Motorhome. Any Ideas? It seems that the house batteries (NEW, 2-6 volt deep cycle) are not being used and the chassis battery (also NEW) is doing all the work, thus, it runs down after about 3 hours, even hooked up to shore power. It was diagnosed as a stuck mini breaker.

BFlinn181 · 01-30-2014, 07:17 PM

Is the circuit breaker between the two 6 volt batteries? The two 6 volt batteries are wired in series to create the 12 v the RV uses in all it's systems. Also, a circuit breaker is only to cut current when the draw is exceeded or shorted out, not as a switch.
In many RV systems, the two battery systems, house and chassis are isolated from each other if no charging is available to either system. If you are plugged in to shore power, the Converter/Charger, or Inverter/Charger will supply 12 v power for the house and charge the house battery(ies) When the current is detected, a heavy duty switching solenoid energizes and connects the two battery systems together so both banks get charged on shore power or generator. Likewise, when engine is running, the alternator will charge chassis battery and a solenoid will close and also charge house system while driving. That solenoid that connects the two banks of batteries is also often closed by use of a 'boost' or 'emergency start' switch near driver. Not all RV makers include all the above flexibility, only the chassis charge on engine alternator, or only house batteries charged by Converter/Charger. To determine what your RV has, you can test with multimeter for voltage increase when charging.

29surfsiderd · 01-30-2014, 07:49 PM

The main panel in my 2006 Surf Side is at the floor at the side of the sink cabinet. Also, make sure the battery shut off in the panel by the door is in operational mode.

rcshaw · 01-31-2014, 08:17 AM

I'm sorry for not being clear in my post. The 6V 30amp mini breaker that is not working is in the electrical storage box on the outside of the motorhome. The converter, and controllers for the slide-out and many-many cables come into this box. There are circuit boards and other electronic stuff (sic). The mini breaker that is not working is located on a circuit board, i think that's what it is(it's a piece of aluminum with 5 small rectangular boxes with cables attached). It is not in the cabin. I have checked the breaker box and the breakers and fuses are all OK.

A tech at an RV repair store in Shereveport, LA diagnosed the problem but did not have a replacement mini breaker. I can find 12V 30 amp mini breakers but no 6 Volt mini breakers. The numbers on the mini breaker are "6V~24VDC". Can I replace this with a simular 12 Volt?

BFlinn181 · 01-31-2014, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcshaw

I'm sorry for not being clear in my post. The 6V 30amp mini breaker that is not working is in the electrical storage box on the outside of the motorhome. The converter, and controllers for the slide-out and many-many cables come into this box. There are circuit boards and other electronic stuff (sic). The mini breaker that is not working is located on a circuit board, i think that's what it is(it's a piece of aluminum with 5 small rectangular boxes with cables attached). It is not in the cabin. I have checked the breaker box and the breakers and fuses are all OK.

A tech at an RV repair store in Shereveport, LA diagnosed the problem but did not have a replacement mini breaker. I can find 12V 30 amp mini breakers but no 6 Volt mini breakers. The numbers on the mini breaker are "6V~24VDC". Can I replace this with a simular 12 Volt?

The "~" symbol can be interpreted as '6 to 24VDC' So a 12v circuit breaker would work.

Ed-Sommers · 01-31-2014, 08:49 AM

The 6 to 24 tolerance is very good, and can be replaced at just about any GOOD RV parts store, just pull out the offending breaker, plunk it down on the desk, and say "I want one of those. Even Radio Shack could probably help. You have a 12 volt system, not a 6 volt!

Ed

rcshaw · 01-31-2014, 04:30 PM

I asked one guy if a 12V would work and he said, "You'll burn something up if your do that." I certainly don't want to "burn something up".

94-Newmar · 02-01-2014, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcshaw

I'm trying to locate a 6 volt 30 amp mini breaker for my 2006 Surf Side Motorhome. Any Ideas? It seems that the house batteries (NEW, 2-6 volt deep cycle) are not being used and the chassis battery (also NEW) is doing all the work, thus, it runs down after about 3 hours, even hooked up to shore power. It was diagnosed as a stuck mini breaker.

rcshaw,

I suspect yours looks just like either of these two:

These are extremely common breakers used by most every motorhome manufacturer in various capacities. The RV "tech" whom has told you that it must be a 6volt breaker or you will "burn something up" has no business working on RVs and should immediately surrender his tools. Please post the dealership or repair shop name so that others may avoid them in the future.

30 amps is 30 amps regardless of the voltage rating on the breaker itself. The breaker could be rated for 2000VDC at 30 amps it will do the exact same thing as one rated for 6, or 12 or 24 volts. It is perfectly acceptable to use a higher voltage rated breaker as long as the amperage rating is the same. The only difference in voltage ratings applies after the circuit has been tripped, but that's an entirely different subject.. back to the matter at hand...

Bflinn181 and Ed-Sommers posts are spot on. As suggested, if yours looks just like those pictured above, either can be purchased at most any auto parts store and possibly RadioShack (they seem to stock very little anymore).

rcshaw · 02-01-2014, 08:01 AM

Thanks for all the help. I called so many places that I can't remember which one gave my the bad advice. I plan to take my unit in to a reputable repair shop and have them check everything out. Hopefully our next trip will be better. Thanks again. This site is the BEST!