Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-10-2018, 12:18 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 367
Caught my coach on FIRE!

I did the dumbest thing yesterday and let this be a warning to others.

I was going to start my generator, but the batteries were low. I decided to boost them off with my pick-up. I connected the positive end of the booster cable to the positive post on the house battery bank and then connected the negative booster cable to another positive battery post (I thought it was negative). Both posts had several connections on them, so....

I connected the booster cable to my pick-up and noticed nothing was happening. The generator would still not start.
I heard a loud POP, went out to see what had happened and the booster cable was on fire from the pick-up battery to the coach batteries.

Those little fire extinguishers don't last long, but I did get it put out.


I then had to clean up the mess and buy 4 new 6 volt batteries.
The next issue was trying to figure out how to connect them. Fortunately, I did take pictures, but unfortunately, the positive and negative terminals we hard to distinguish. I was finally able to get everything properly connected and all seems to be working properly now.


Just a word of warning: Make sure you understand your 6 volt battery system and don't assume where the negative post is.

Wm Mayberry
2003 National Tradewinds 375LE
Palmetto, FL
wmiii is offline   Reply With Quote
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!

Old 06-10-2018, 12:26 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Skip426's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
OUCH!

I've purchased red electrical tape and wrapped the last 3" of every positive cable to remind me , what's what ,on all the chassis and coach systems.
Too many black cables in the system.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
Skip426 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 12:29 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
mrt_1111's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1,111
How come you didnt just start the engine in the RV? Most, some charges all the batteries.
__________________
Mark
1999 Bounder 32H Ford V10, 2012 Ford Focus, Pretty DW, 1 cat. Retired USAF
mrt_1111 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 12:31 PM   #4
Community Moderator
 
TonyDi's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
Wow close call!

I did exactly what Skip did with his wires.

Get a good sized fire extinguisher too. Those little ones won't do the job in a real emergency.
__________________
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.
TonyDi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 01:04 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Citra, Florida
Posts: 1,396
Just as easy to make a big mistake as a small one. I speak from experience. Glad nothing serious happened.



Good luck and thanks for having the courage to share it,,, we all benefit from the knowledge.
__________________
Good Luck and keep us posted please. "Q"
1999 Newmar, Mountain Aire 3768, V-10, CAI, Headers.
"Spending our kids inheritance one trip at a time"
Quincy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 01:56 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 367
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrt_1111 View Post
How come you didnt just start the engine in the RV? Most, some charges all the batteries.
Mark,
I tried to, but it didn't work.
I guess that's something else I'll need to check.


Wm
wmiii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 01:56 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Fiesta48's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,283
With your phone take several pics prior to an incident. I also made a wiring schmetic on the coach. I've got 6 house batteries in 2 locations....
__________________
Full Timers.
2015 Fleetwood Discovery 40E on a Freightliner XCS chassis with a Cummins ISL9 pulling 1 and/or 2 motorcycles, '07 Honda Accord OR a 17' Runabout Boat.
Fiesta48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2018, 01:58 PM   #8
Senior Member/RVM #90
 
MSHappyCampers's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,626
Thanks for the heads-up! Glad you didn't have more damage!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
MSHappyCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2018, 08:00 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
A Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 698
Caught my coach on FIRE!

Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_0038.JPG
Views:	79
Size:	470.0 KB
ID:	206677

Label the cables like this and it’s a big help.

House batteries are numbered “H1” through “H4” and the cables are numbered to match.
A Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fire



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2012 Keystone Fuzion caught fire Westfamily Toy Haulers Discussion 10 12-04-2013 05:26 AM
Generac NP-52G model 9202 almost caught on fire! tonylom3 RV Systems & Appliances 3 07-04-2012 01:12 PM
Could have caught fire? OSP1268 MH-General Discussions & Problems 9 04-20-2012 08:30 PM
Brakes almost caught fire. Cedar41 Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 9 04-23-2006 06:01 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.