Fire in electrical compartment

[87Rockwood]

When the cord was put away "hot" and coiled up it just made a bad situation worst. All the heat was now in one area and melting started. If it had been left out in a straight line it would have cooled down. Then coil it up. Still have to find out why it got hot.....

[Winepress]

Originally thought transfer switch was bad. But looking at photo 1, you can see the ground pin is melted away on the 50 amp plug. Also in photo 1 is some wire above the 50 amp plug. It looks fried, but cannot tell for sure because the top of photo is cut off. My "guess" is that wire was hot and came in contact with ground pin. Maybe a wire from the inverter, before the circuit panel breaker.
Interesting to follow the results of this mess. Glad no one was injured.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Winepress

Originally thought transfer switch was bad. But looking at photo 1, you can see the ground pin is melted away on the 50 amp plug. Also in photo 1 is some wire above the 50 amp plug. It looks fried, but cannot tell for sure because the top of photo is cut off. My "guess" is that wire was hot and came in contact with ground pin. Maybe a wire from the inverter, before the circuit panel breaker.
Interesting to follow the results of this mess. Glad no one was injured.

Frankly, I don't see any 50 amp pins at all at they are still buried into the 30-50 amp Dog-Bone.

Liz will correct me if I state this wrong BUT her 50 amp shore cable was attached to a 30-50 amp Dog-Bone and it is still attached in the photos. In fact the middle of the Dog-Bone has been just about melted in two.

The entire shore cable was warm to the touch when she stowed it in her compartment as stated in her very first post. What we are viewing is the mess when she opened the compartment after smelling smoke.

I am hoping that she will have an answer early this week.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Winepress]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

Frankly, I don't see any 50 amp pins at all at they are still buried into the 30-50 amp Dog-Bone.

Liz will correct me if I state this wrong BUT her 50 amp shore cable was attached to a 30-50 amp Dog-Bone and it is still attached in the photos. In fact the middle of the Dog-Bone has been just about melted in two.

The entire shore cable was warm to the touch when she stowed it in her compartment as stated in her very first post. What we are viewing is the mess when she opened the compartment after smelling smoke.

I am hoping that she will have an answer early this week.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Hi Richard, Here are the melted pins I am referring to.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

I am having a hard time seeing any device in either photo that doesn't have a cover. Please help direct me to your observation.
Liz will correct me if I state this wrong BUT her 50 amp shore cable was attached to a 30-50 amp Dog-Bone and it is still attached in the photos. In fact the middle of the Dog-Bone has been just about melted in two.
Thanks!

There are two aluminum brackets, barely visible in the top of the picture, one to the right of the cord and one to the left in the OP's pictures. There is supposed to be a plastic panel covering that whole area like we have on ours. That's why I asked if the panel had been removed or did it melt. There are several relays and a connection block up there that carry full battery power all the time. Short across them and I think you'd get exactly what the OP has.



Also, her 50 amp plug is against the back wall and it's the one that melted

[Dr4Film]

Thank you for pointing that out!

You're absolutely correct however, now I am totally confused as there are TOO many connectors inside that compartment to make ANY sense out of what she has or used for her power connections.

I see a Dog-Bone in the middle of the photo that is melted in the middle so what that 50 amp connector is that's on the wall is now a mystery.

I guess we'll have to wait until we hear from Liz.

I appreciate the explanation and the arrows.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[palehorse89]

For all that is looking and investigating this take a look at the photo's again, I just went back and looked again, first thing that catches my eye is the 50 amp. plug is resting against the carpet on the rear wall, plug is melted and nothing happened to the carpet? zoom in on the cord rubber seal in the metal frame where the cord goes outside....... it is melted and you can see exactly where the cord was. If this cord had got hot enough to melt the entry cord seal why was it unpluged and coiled up and stored? The cord had to have been melting itself to melt and form a spot in the seal where the cord go outside..........Just look-in and thinking as everyone here is.

[Pullin' Chocks]

We are glad you are OK Liz. That is scary.

[adonh]

Lets hope that who ever looks at this on Monday will take their time and try and see what caused this and not just start pulling stuff out and throwing it in a dumpster. Just repairing the damage alone does not fix what caused it in the first place.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

For all that is looking and investigating this take a look at the photo's again, I just went back and looked again, first thing that catches my eye is the 50 amp. plug is resting against the carpet on the rear wall, plug is melted and nothing happened to the carpet? zoom in on the cord rubber seal in the metal frame where the cord goes outside....... it is melted and you can see exactly where the cord was. If this cord had got hot enough to melt the entry cord seal why was it unpluged and coiled up and stored? The cord had to have been melting itself to melt and form a spot in the seal where the cord go outside..........Just look-in and thinking as everyone here is.

The smaller cord that melted is the cord for the block heater, you plug it into the brown plug in, it's controlled by a switch in the front overhead on ours.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

There are two aluminum brackets, barely visible in the top of the picture, one to the right of the cord and one to the left in the OP's pictures. There is supposed to be a plastic panel covering that whole area like we have on ours. That's why I asked if the panel had been removed or did it melt. There are several relays and a connection block up there that carry full battery power all the time. Short across them and I think you'd get exactly what the OP has.

Also, her 50 amp plug is against the back wall and it's the one that melted.

Thank you! I now see exactly what you are referring to. Without having a similar coach it is difficult to know that a cover was supposed to be there.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[papaw.1]

Hi Liz,
I am really glad you are OK.I know this is very unnerving.I have a 2011 Damon Daybreak and next week I have to have my Transfer Switch,Tv,Microwave,the motor for the steps,and Carbon monoxide replaced and all of this happened at different times.except the shore power quit working at home and thats when the RV tech checked and said it was a bad switch so I feel your pain.The only thing for me is I have the extended warranty.Good Luck And be Safe.

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The smaller cord that melted is the cord for the block heater, you plug it into the brown plug in, it's controlled by a switch in the front overhead on ours.

I never mentioned anything about the block heater cord, I have the same setup. As hot as the 50 amp. plug got to melt it like that one would think it would of done something to the carpet it is resting against.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by palehorse89

I never mentioned anything about the block heater cord, I have the same setup. As hot as the 50 amp. plug got to melt it like that one would think it would of done something to the carpet it is resting against.

I never said you did, "Winepress" mentioned it so I answered them.