Chas Morristown, NJ
Trail Lite
">
Such products might be rough on certian metals, so understand that some of RV wall and door panels are made of a combination of metal trim & rivets, with fiberglass.
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy
I have a Parallax Model# 7355 converter on my B+. I've never had a problem with it before. The last few days we were on a trip and it was very humid and uncomfortable. We hooked up to the campground grid and after a few hours with the Fridge, TV, A/C, and a few lights on, the main 30 amp breaker tripped. DC kept the lights on. This happened a few other times over the next couple of days. The converter panel especially around the main breakers was hot, sometimes too hot to touch. On the next to the last day, we were shopping and I left my 2 small dogs in the coach after a walk with the generator and the a/c on. I came back to find the A/C BREAKER tripped, but not the main. That night, after another MAIN trip, I got the bright idea to switch the fridge to propane. That helped tremendously. The panel did not get as hot, and nothing tripped. There was a big thunder/lightning storm that night as well. I don't have a surge protector.
In addition, all around the converter, and especially close to the breakers, there was an 'electrical' burning/overheated smell. The typical acrid smell associated with electrical components experience heat stress of some kind.
I had no DC problems.
These are all of the symptoms. I spoke to the campground owner and he told me the wiring in that area is new. He also suggested, as I saw in some other posts, that the breakers might be weak.
I would appreciate any help anyone could provide. I have a voltmeter but have done no testing yet.
Thank you all in advance.
Just because it's free doesn't mean you can take more than you are rated for.
Mike
2012 Winnebago Impulse Silver 26QP
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
2018 Jeep Wrangler JK
previously Snowbird Campers,
Triple E Motorhome and Fifth Wheel
Shouldn't a 2005 unit be electrically designed to allow all or at least most devices to operate at one time?? We have never had this problem before, even in hotter weather.
* This post was edited 06/26/09 11:18pm by cheeze1 *
So hmmm... I am now thinking that you likely have a loose connection. I have seen loose connections get red hot and because they are trying to get a lot of power through a high resistance point...aka, the screw terminal that is not tight so only making connection at a few points on the wire... that point heats up to red hot and causes high resistance, hence high current through the total circuit, and the circuit will blow in protection.
You should take the covers off your converter and breaker panel and check all the wiring connections. Not just the power ones, it could just as easy be a neutral line. Likely you will see the high resistance point because of the heat stress it has already caused.
Of course, this should be done with the power disconnected and all breakers off. The way you describe the heat in the converter panel points me to that point in the circuitry first. If you do find it there, tighten all connections rather than just that one, it only takes a few minutes more and is very good preventative maintenance.