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Gary Keeling · 06-30-2022, 10:31 PM

I have a 2011 Monaco Diplomat. I been having strange things happening to my Motorhome. Lights and gauges coming on while sitting with no key in the ignition. Come to find out the control board in the outside compartment is shorting out. Sometimes the engine will keep running with the ignition turned off. The board was built to compact causing jump over especially when humid or rainy. HAS ANYONE else had this problem?

MrMark52 · 07-01-2022, 07:15 PM

Not sure how the board is supported in its enclosure or if the support is adequate enough - but if the enclosure is metallic, or if there is a metallic backing behind the so,dear side of the printed circuit board, it’s possible the solder side component leads could be making contact with that metal backing.

Similar to what happened with bundled wiring as it passes through metallic wire clamps that rub through the insulation as a result of vibration (coach movement) or movement through a metallic wire clamp as the result thermal expansion/contraction.

Firedog53 · 07-02-2022, 06:59 PM

How did you determine it was shorting out? Could it be something as simple as a bad/incomplete ground?

Gary Keeling · 07-03-2022, 02:53 PM

I could pull relays and things would still work. I took a 12 volt test light and touch from main ground to fuse holders (with no fuse in it) and it would smoke under the fuse holder or the next fuse holder over. Had tech also look at it and he came to the same conclusion. By all that I have read this board was built too compact. The fuse holder will short out very easily. This is a know problem with Monaco, holiday rambler and beaver that used this board. rev rv is the only company that supplies this board. They have to have a order of 4 before there supplier will make this board. I have one on order right now with no sure answer when I will receive it.

MrMark52 · 07-03-2022, 03:57 PM

I would sure like to see a picture of the both sides of the board.

You apparently have found out many there’s have this same problem with that board.

Interesting.

Gary Keeling · 07-04-2022, 01:33 PM

I have front picture only. The back side looks normal with no corrosion.

MrMark52 · 07-04-2022, 06:29 PM

Hard to tell anything due to the resolution. I think I see an arrow on the board next to 2 sets fuse sockets that appear to have over heated.

How many amps are those fuses?

The reason for wanting a picture of the solder side was to see how “tight” the board was built so as to cause “shorting out”.

From what it appears - the board isn’t “shorting out” - it’s very likely the solder pads under the fuse holders were undersized and the specified copper thickness was not adequate for the current being drawn at the fuses or through the traces on the circuit board.

It can be fixed, and the deficiencies corrected. I certainly wouldn’t invest in a new board that hasn’t been improved - not without making the needed upgrades to the new board.

153stars · 07-04-2022, 08:24 PM

That tough rubbery stuff on back or full circuit boards "conformal coating" helps prevent the kind of thing your talking about.
At work totally sealed tight electrical boxes have more problems than outdoor/rainproof ones that just have channels to keep water out so they breath/dry out if they do get damp. Some sealed boxes, I just drill a couple small holes in the bottom. Others I will add a electrical type vent .
See the same issue with taped wire nuts if the get wet they stay wet.