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Dagwood_55's avatar
Dagwood_55
Explorer
Sep 24, 2016

Big Time Wiring Problem..

Just before leaving on a trip yesterday, I checked my battery level with a meter and all was well.

Then after arriving and during set up, I noticed my water pump and air conditioner did not work at all, but the AC lights did work when hooked to my genny.

I eventually opened the battery door where I see the battery wires are totally burnt and toasted. I then go inside where the battery wires go to and see a rats nest of burnt wires, all DC I believe. They are so bad, it is hard or impossible to tell what goes where. I'm really suprised the camper did not burn to the ground.

So, how do I fix this?? The camper is an older Layton 2515 small 5th wheel. Is there a wiring diagram?? Or a generic diagram?? Is it possible to fix without a electrical engineering degree??

Since its an older camper, I'm not willing to put much into it as I've already spent twice what it's worth to date. Possible I need to cut my loses and salvage it out.....

16 Replies

  • JUst for curiosity's sake, did you have a fuse or circuit breaker between the battery and the distribution panel? Did you have the battery cables replaced recently?

    Since a repairer would assume that all DC wiring is compromised, it would make sense to just rewire the distribution panel and replace the larger two battery leads. A fuse or circuit breaker is needed close to the battery on the positive lead.
    If your 12V fuse panel is melted, a good new one can be had fairly inexpensively.
  • Pictures would help. Sounds like a mess with some sort of short to ground. Unfortunately the fuse or circuit breaker did not open. This fuse and short needs to be repaired first. Anything melted needs replaced. I agree one wire at a time as there will be no diagram. Pull a new wire or cut and extend the existing wire. PITN
  • darsben1 wrote:
    Is it insured?
    Call your insurance company


    No insurance on the camper. But it was being towed when it had the burn out.
  • In my worst cases as an electrician, I would replace a single wire at a time. Chose one wire, remove it from both ends, and replace that single wire. Don't pull the whole mess at one time, you will get into trouble that way.

    By replacing a single wire at a time you can be sure of where it is coming from and going to.
  • Enlist someone that has done some wiring, it is not that hard to do.

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