⚡️🔥 Prevent an RV Electrical Problem! (Full Time RV!)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
Are your electrical connections shaken loose from all of the vibrations an RV endures while traveling? Better to find out before it finds YOU! 😳
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⚠USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
The torque specs for the electric panel is often on the tag in the box. Breakers will have the spec on them also.
Great reminder for any rig. This past week our microwave was not working and we traced that to the outlet. The outlet is buried in a cabinet over the sink, it is not easily seen or accessed. When I opened it up, I found it was arcing and shorting out. So I replaced the outlet and took the opportunity to change the plug on the microwave to a right angle, so the wire will have fewer interactions with the contents of the cabinet.
Chad, make sure you check the electrical connectors for the fireplace. Dave and Karen on Watts with Wheels found some major wires burnt and loose on there rig. Went back to the junction boxes and found more issues. He diffidently saved there rig.
Safe travels and roads. Brian and Cindy "xtreambydesign with passion"
All this great content on the heals of Andrew Steele loses his rig to an RV fire
Saw that! 🙁 A fire can spread so quickly in an RV!
You hit a home run with this video,, like usual,. We had a fulltimer friend that lost their rig due to fire that was caused by a loose connection and another that could have had it happen very easily with a loose connection they found.
Chad, great preventative maintenance video!! I can see Tara’s eye glazing over as she editing another Chads tech video!! Lol You guys have a amazing channel, you have a great balance of content. Stay safe and keep up the great job your both doing.
Excellent reminder, and with people starting to bring RV's out of storage and plan trips, perfect timing. This was one of the things on my list to do this year before we even bring my rig home - shut down all circuits and top to bottom look at all of the connections that I can get into and check. I would add one thing for the outlets - test your GFCI outlets, and if they act at all odd or don't feel like they reset, replace them because they do wear out.
Great tip! 👍🏼
Nice job Chad. One thing I would encourage you to do is to get a torque screwdriver for the connections to the circuit breakers in your AC distribution box. These connectors need to be torqued to a specific value and not just hand tightened. over-tightening them is as bad as a loose connection. The specs should be in your manual. I can provide you with a link to a torque screwdriver on amazon if you like.
For sure! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
You guys are my wife and I favorite RV couple but you're not making enough videos
Maybe you're not getting notified? We're putting out full videos every week and shorts in between..
Chad Yes get an inch pound screwdriver and dial in the in-lbs needed. On my distribution panel printed next to the Neutral bar 25 in-lbs, the grounding bar 30 in-lbs, the converter and battery connections 45 in-lbs, the wires to the fuses are 20 in-lbs. Circuit breakers screws 20 in-lbs. every 1,500 mi. or 1-year I check mine, to many roads out there shake, rattle, & roll to loosen them up.
Great Jobs covering/checking the electrical connections.
Indeed! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
Good tips, but.....
Others have already mentioned the over torquing.
Generator connections need to be checked too.
Many RV's, like my motor home, have all the 12 volt ground connections attached to the vehicle chassis with ring terminals bolted directly to the frame with 1/4" bolts. This can be a problem because of constant exposure to the elements. As a preventative measure I removed all of them, about 15 to 18 between two locations, cleaned them, cleaned the frame down to the metal, coated the frame and the terminals with an electrical contact paste, reattached the ring terminals and then sprayed the entire area with a rust inhibitor. (LPS #3)
Don't discount the 12 volt and control voltage terminations. Both systems can easily provide enough power to melt, become red hot and burn through wires. Batteries have an enormous amount of power and the short circuit amperage can be HUGE. Fuses and circuit breakers do not protect all of the wiring in 120 volt and 12 volt circuits and can not see some overloads, over heating and shorts.
You may want to purchase an inch pound screwdriver and recheck your terminals in your breaker box. Mine said torque the screws to 20 inch pounds. I do check the torque once a year and so far , I haven't had any loose connections. I always enjoy your videos.
Indeed! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
Well we definitely have something to add to our chore list!
Outstanding! Never considered this, we are so worried about water leaks, this area of preventive maintenance we never considered. Will be doing this soon.
Stranded wires are notorious for coming loose but one of the main reasons is because they were not properly tightened down from the start. All stranded wires should be tightened down firmly and then purposely vigorously wiggled and then tightened down again. This helps to reposition the strands under the screw and removes any microscopic space between the individual strands. You would be amazed at the extra 1/4 to 1/2 turn you will get from the screw after wiggling the wire back and forth.
Chad I'm an electrician just wanted to say watch over tightening I seen it in your 14 and 12 gauge wire that they will break right at the breaker or on the neutral buss ....just a tip...great video
Same, agree. You can look up torque specs for some of these things, and if not for a specific component then possibly general guidlines by size of connection. But basically when you feel it get tight, you tighten just a little more, thats it. The screw can actually pinch right through the wire. If it goes too far cut it off and start over... I'd prefer stranded over solid wires in an RV becuase of the vibration.
Indeed! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
@@ChangingLanes great to bring attention to the problem chad. Was trying to get info out to everybody that you can over torque and strip out lugs to help everyone. Great video...keep it up
Main culprit, besides the earthquake, would be the use of electric space heaters. Most are 1500 watt. To find amps, divide watts by volts and anything that runs over 4 hours, you multiple by 125%. 1500/120 is 12.5 amps. 12.5 X 1.25= 15.625 amps. Those outlets and wires ate rated for 15 amps.
Such a good reminder to check these especially after taken RV out of storage. Thanks for the information.
Thanks for reminder. Will do it tomorrow
Thank you for some good advise. At 3:10 into this video, you were tightening a wire bolt with a socket wrench on your MultiPlus-II. I noticed your wrench shaft was very close to the MultiPlus-II cabinet which is very well grounded. This happened several times in your video. I always cover the open metal parts of the tools I am working with with some electrical tape to prevent the tool from making a hot to ground connection by accident. You did recommend turning everything off and/or disconnecting everything supplying power, but you did also mention there were a few things you left on. Sometimes that is necessary. Sometimes we make mistakes.
Thanks for all of your hard work on your videos. I know you are always very safety conscience.
Oh, I've arced a socket before for sure! 👍🏼
There’s no such thing as accidental arcs. I call them pop quiz welding test.
😂🤣
Great maintenance video!!! This practice can start after the first shake down trip. We just picked up our new fifth wheel and was installing some Battle Born batteries. During the instal discovered the main ground stud on the frame was completely loose!!! We were very fortunate to find that. It could have cause major issues down the road.
Good catch! 👍🏼
I’m a master auto technician for 43 years and recently sold my shop after 29 years
And I’m a Ford master auto technician
And you my friend are the real deal
I like spending time with you through your videos
Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge
Dennis
Lenoir City Tennessee
We were at an RV show in Dallas last week and Cooper from the NRVTA had a seminar class discussing the exact thing. Great minds think alike. 😉
We really enjoy your videos and find them very helpful!
Good reminder. Thanks
My brother is a Master Electrician and I ran the office side of the Electrical Contracting business he owned, for many years. It always amazed me that customers (commercial and residential) were so unwilling to spend money on the electrical portion of their builds. “I can’t see it so it doesn’t matter” is a very dangerous mentality. This was a great video and VERY important!
Good info Chad. I’ll do some checking.
Great info! Should be a part of everyone’s maintenance.
Yet another great and helpful vid. I have watched many of your vids. I just came here today searching for one of the vids where you showed some "stick fire extinguishers for electrical." Am I correct that it was you that showed them in several compartments, especially where there was some electrical? I didn't see them in this vid, instead I saw regular extinguishers. I thought you had placed some that sort of automatically went off if there was an electrical fire? I even checked your Amazon store to no avail. Maybe you could do a vid on the subject if that wasn't you. The vid I recall wasn't dedicated to these fire extinguishers, they were briefly mentioned. The vid was similar to this one about safety but did quickly mention the stick extinguishers.
Yes... We have extinquishers all over the place but we also have PROTENG: changinglanesrv.com/rv-fire-safety-thia-proteng/
I would also check for double taps on the neutral bar on the 120 side. I had a problem with a neutral that had 3 wires going into it. Fortunately I found it because the GFI tripped but had overheated and burned one of the wires. The reason I say this is that I saw a double tapped neutral in your distribution panel. Keep the good stuff coming guys.
It's important to use a torque wrench and/or screwdriver. When humans "check" all their connections like you did, they will turn every screw/bolt, at least a 16th or 32nd of a turn, even if they're tight enough already. Doing this on a regular occasion means you're going to eventually way over tighten all of 'em. A torque driver can prevent that by letting you know when you're checking a sufficiently tight bolt.
Indeed! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
Great video Chad, you nailed this one, me and my wife mainly boondock I have friends that had to deal with mice getting into their camper and wreaking havoc on their wiring, we even had troubles while camping with a pack rats get into our camper (i had inadvertently left the front compartment door open) and played hell with getting him out, (Luckly we heard him chewing at 1:30 in the morning) found some wires that he chewed on, didn't cut through any of the copper but exposed the wire, (landing gear wire)it was in such a tight area i couldn't use electrician tape to cover the wound but i carry liquid tape and that seem to work very well, to make a long story short that pack rat ended up making a nest in my truck engine compartment in which he chewed on my battery post covers, and didn't touch the wire harness ( thank you Lord)
Good video, well done. Always nice to have someone talk through these types of maintenance items. Thanks.
Great information. I like theses shorter to the point videos 👍
Watts on wheels did a similar video on those boxes on the frame rail after they had a fireplace issue. We have about 75k miles on our Luxe 5th wheel and I've never checked any of this. I am now. Thanks....
I actually had my 30 amp breaker keep popping while we were on full hookup the wire was loose and arcing on the breaker I checked all the rest had a few loose ones my wife works for a electrical supply warehouse so we got a new breaker and swapped it out great video chad
Definitely one of my favorite channels. Great video and thanks!
Haven't done this in a while. Something to add to my dewinterize check list.
Scott is currently a teacher’s assistant at the NRVTA. Too bad we missed you. Great information. 👍❤️
Really good information. Everyone should check their systems.
Love the maintenance videos you do !! Thank you and Safe Travels guy's 💙
Just got a toy hauler, extremely helpful tips. I'll be doing this as soon as it warms up.
Nice safety video, Andrew Steele just had his Newel burn up when on the road. It is very good advice to check all connections you can get to. Hope you all are safe and healthy.
Great video Shipmate. CRC sells the equivalent to electrical amlguard that we used on aircraft in the Navy. You can use that to both protect electrical connections and hinder their loosening. You can also carefully apply torque seal also known as torque stripe (or a bright colored fingernail polish) to connections for a quick reference as to whether they've loosened like we did in the avionics bays.
EDIT: THE ABOVE MENTIONED TORQUE SEAL OR TORQUE STRIPE OR FINGERNAIL POLISH IS NOT THE SAME AS LOCTITE! LOCTITE OR ANY TYPE OF THREAD LOCKER ON YOUR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THREADS IS UNSAFE TO USE AND ILLEGAL.
Thanks for the video. I have some additional wiring with 2 fuse boxes for accessories in the car... Will definitely check those connections now...
Great information thanks. I will one day soon
be purchasing a Class A motorhome. This
information will help me when I do purchase one.
We have a 99 Newmar 36ft Kountry Syar. The original owner had the Moride IS suspension back in 2002, we just replaced 1 of the sheer springs last month. I noticed 1 of the tires had bottomed out in the wheel well and the rubber was starting to separate. Called Moride, ordered the spring , had it in 2 days. Jennifer at Moride was a great nelp.
I like these short informative videos the best. You guys are great. Probably watch you and RV odd couple the most. Al though all about RVing is a great information channel also. Just started watch the Hank's because of you guy's. If your ever in the St. Louis area we would love to meet you.
Excellent suggestions and insight. Thanks
Excellent video and advice. Thanks for addressing this important topic. I'm new to RVing and take delivery on our new 5th wheel next month, but have been boating for many years. Same electrical and connection issues apply to any vehicle, trailer or boat that is subject to constant pounding, movement and flexing. In the boat I was amazed at how much wiring was run unprotected. Connections and terminals everywhere . . . I installed maybe 100 feet of split wire loom tubing to cover the wire bundles to protect them from chafing, pinching and accidental puncture/damage to the insulation. Also, rodents seem to savor the taste of plastic wire insulation and love to chew on them. I saw your video shortly before I heard of Andrew Steele's Newell fire which might have been due to an electrical issue under the dash.
I had an issue with my A/C electrical once in my TT. We were out camping and came back to find the A/C not working!. Searching i found that the power connection from the breaker was extremely loose. Tightened it and all was good until the T-stat failed.
Good info as always, hard to know where to draw the line of where to look and not, but from personal experience another hot spot per se is the back of the shore power receptacle. I had mine come loose and melt the hot wire of the 30a connection.
Also do not disregard over torqued connections, again speaking from experience my atc required a 1/2” flat blade with a wrench to bust loose. Factory I assume is using impacts with the #2 square drive. My ADD drives me to want to rewire the whole rig. Safe travels Chad!
Great video! Great info. Just bought an RV last fall. Took it out 2x. Need to check what you said soon. It is in storage now.
Well I thought this morning to do this. I'm glad I did. I had to strip several wires to fit better and had to re-torque multiple fittings. Great suggestion.
Excellent video Chad. This is something that should be on a yearly check list if full timing or when you pull it out of storage. (Depending on how often you do that.)
Great information very good points.
We have replaced all of our outlets in our toy hauler. The outlets used in the rv industry are garbage.
Good advice. I'd love to check mine, but have no idea about electrical no matter how many people try to teach me. Guess I'll have to trust the techs at local rv shop. Thanks for the video!
Good info, when we get ours out of winter storage I'll have to check all of our connections before getting everything powered up for the summer!
Great Video, I had my transfer box burn up and almost caught fire.
Great tips and close shots of very important stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Good reminder that whether in a bricks and sticks or an RV, all electrical connections should be clean, cool, dry and tight.
Great reminder to us all to check those connections before travel season. Good thing to do before putting the battery back in (we store ours in the house).
Oh! I saw you checking electrical while wearing a wrist watch and a ring. Not good! I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes.
Thanks Chad!!
There is a simple test that sometimes works for those wall electrical outlets light switches, check for thermal heat coming off them when on/hot...via resistance?
Thank you, I will use this helpful video to check out all electrical connections in our four year old Lance.
Great tips Chad. I would never have thought of a couple of them.
Great content and good idea to check. We had in our new Reflection one of the Wago 3 port connectors in the over head light in the bathroom come loose. We lost all power to the bedroom.
Great info. I recall my dad doing that same thing. He would also check the bolts on the car as well.
RVing with Andrew Steele just had his rv burn check his site
OH MY God... I just saw and and donated to their Go Fund Me. please help if you can. Nice young couple.
Dash fire burned everything they had as they were moving cross country to Fla. This will made you think before heading out on your next trip, no matter if it’s in a motorhome or trailer.
God bless them.
We saw that! 😞
Thanks Chad. Great tips. Travel safe.
When talking about connections at 5:18. What torq are you using?
Always great information! Thank you 🙏
Great video! Thanks Chad!
Silicone ring? Plastic watch? Sparky tch tch
Great video. All RVers should heed your advice.
Outstanding
Great video. Nice reminder to check that stuff
Please take a look… Andrew Steele …. Part of our RV world. You can see on today’s You Tube..
OH MY God... I just saw and and donated to their Go Fund Me. please help if you can. Nice young couple.
Dash fire burned everything they had as they were moving cross country to Fla. This will made you think before heading out on your next trip, no matter if it’s in a motorhome or trailer.
God bless them.
We saw that also.. terrible! 😞
Great video! Can you provide a recommendation for spare parts for your Morryde IS and disk brakes? Upgrading in March hopefully the weather will cooperate! Keep up the great work!!
I think we have a spare rubber shock thing somewhere... But that it for the IS. For the rest, see: ruclips.net/video/BDPKSLSyB9w/видео.html
thank you for giving me the info I needed to keep us safe
OMG we had it happen in our 2018 Jayco Toy Hauler in May. We woke up at 6 am to crackling and a smell burnt plastic in the bedroom plug. Loose wiring arching in the plug. Glad we were there when it happened. Cut power and installed a new plug then checked the rest.
So glad you caught it before it got real bad!
Chad, just curious, around 6:25 of the video, you’re showing the inside of the breaker panel. There is what looks like a CT (current transformer) on the neutral. Is that part of the surge guard or Victron stuff.
Thanks!
I believe that's part of the PCS (Power Control System) that was stock with our RV... But, we have that disabled most of the time because it doesn't know about the inverter's ability to power share...
Good stuff Chad🌝
Great video Chad!
Great tip..thanks
Good advice. Will check asap! Thanks
I’ve been watching your channel for couple years. You just got into my area of knowledge. What you did was the best thing you could have done. Loose connections start arcing and build up heat. The longer they arc the worse it gets. Part of our contracting business was IR checking panels and connections for overheating. I saw many of the reports and infrared pictures. 90% of the time overheating connections in panel boards were on the neutrals. One would think the hots would be the bigger problem are, but they are not. Please make sure I did not see incorrectly. At 7:50 in the video, there looked to be (2) neutrals in the same hole. The lug holes are only rated for one conductor. It is a violation of NEC for two neutrals in single lug hole. Please relocate it if incorrect for your safety. Always be safe, the life you save may be your own! Respectfully, Kevin
I will double check... The 120V AC neutral is the one on the top left... The one at the bottom right is DC Ground.
@@ChangingLanes Correct. It was just above center.
On many 120volt fuses it says the torque settings for the fuses. Even dome of the electrical panels will tell you what the screws in the buss bars should be tightened to. Check to see if they are on any of the panel doors. The make a torquing screw driver for this.
Indeed! Note added to description, pinned comment, and blog post: ⚠️ USE A TORQUE SCREWDRIVER WHERE APPLICABLE. While my main goal here was to just find and tighten any loose connections, I should have taken the opportunity to get proper torque on some items - the distribution panel in particular.
Flir infrared sensor is nice to use on high voltage, heat signatures show loose connections. Something I used in a large commercial building to check hundreds of distros quickly on a slow day.
Oh man! That's a great idea! 👍🏼
Great info... thanks
Too tragic and weird coincidence you post this the same day RVing with Andrew Steele posts about his terrible experience with a fire.
Just saw that! 😞
Chad, how do I purchase products that you endorse through your store? I am a big fan and would love for you guys to benefit.
Thanks for asking! 😊 The links in the video description and blog post are all affiliate links. We also have an amazon store here: www.amazon.com/shop/ChangingLanes 😀
Thanks for this great video. We've had issues with AC plugs not working after a site to site move and also all of our AC plugs in our basecamp stopped working after a move. Ended up being a faulty GFCI breaker...
Thanks for the great info, this was the best!
This is off topic but my wife wants to know what breed of dog Daisy is please. Thanks!
Daisy is a "Morkie", which is a Maltese/Yorkie mix. 🐶
Awesome video, thank you.
Very timely. Headed from IN to FL where it's warm so I think I'll go through and check all my connections. Appreciate the heads up as this isn't something I would have thought to check.
Great tip
Balance the tires on the trailer you balance the ones on the truck why not the trailer and those center balances really work good
We do have our tires balanced on the trailer.. 👍🏼
Gee thanks Chad, now I have another item to add to my list of things to do. Great video thanks for sharing..
Ahhhhh the list! So, now you have infinity plus one! 😉
@@ChangingLanes yep, that just about sums it up. If you haven't been to Fredericksburg Texas yet, you should give it a try. Phil and Stacey can tell you all about it.