Cyclone: Almost burned it down. Thanks Heartland Q.C.
Spending a couple of weeks at Disneys Fort Widerness. Needless to say its hot, so 2 ACs running, some fans, etc. I was out n about the campground when I get a call from the wife that the breaker panel is smoking, hurry back. Get back and yes its smoking and smelling weird as well. Pull all the******from under the sink, because it seemed like a good idea to put your main electrical right under a major wet area, but other than one waywRd baggie with some sink stoppers i. It, nothing hot gotten close to the backside of the panel. Baggie wasn't melted, but I could see smoke coming from back of the panel as well.pet my hand on the main breaker and boy howdy was he hot.
Eight people and 3 dogs to keep cool in the 95 heat had me reluctant to shut it down but I told the wife to go kill power at the post. I was reluctant to mess with the breaker box till then.
The breaker was never seated properly from the factory. Inside the panel were two metal fingers that were supposed to press between corresponding contacts inside the breaker. Hold your hands in front of your face in a praying position. Those are the breaker contacts. Slide a finger between tose two hands and you get the picture.
One finger was where it was supposed to be. The other finger was bent uup and simply resting on top the contacts and not pressed between them. Enough for "contact" but not a good connection. And of course we all know a poor contact, with some decent amp draw means excess heat. In this case enoguh, over time I'm guessing, to finally melt the top out of the breaker.
When I pulled it out the entire top of one side was gone, and the contacts fell out into my hand. I wish I could get a photo up right now but for whatever reason my cell service is declining to cooperate.
Luckily everyone was awake and they spotted the issue. Everything I care about in the world was inside that camper...wife, kids, mutts. If I had lost them to some schmuck too concerned about "gettin anothern out da door", well, I was a decent hunter back in the day. I'll post the photo first chance.
Eight people and 3 dogs to keep cool in the 95 heat had me reluctant to shut it down but I told the wife to go kill power at the post. I was reluctant to mess with the breaker box till then.
The breaker was never seated properly from the factory. Inside the panel were two metal fingers that were supposed to press between corresponding contacts inside the breaker. Hold your hands in front of your face in a praying position. Those are the breaker contacts. Slide a finger between tose two hands and you get the picture.
One finger was where it was supposed to be. The other finger was bent uup and simply resting on top the contacts and not pressed between them. Enough for "contact" but not a good connection. And of course we all know a poor contact, with some decent amp draw means excess heat. In this case enoguh, over time I'm guessing, to finally melt the top out of the breaker.
When I pulled it out the entire top of one side was gone, and the contacts fell out into my hand. I wish I could get a photo up right now but for whatever reason my cell service is declining to cooperate.
Luckily everyone was awake and they spotted the issue. Everything I care about in the world was inside that camper...wife, kids, mutts. If I had lost them to some schmuck too concerned about "gettin anothern out da door", well, I was a decent hunter back in the day. I'll post the photo first chance.
