Electrical Wire Fire
I was awakened by a strong electrical burning odor around 2:am. The inside of the RV Travel Trailer was filled with smoke. The smoke detectors seem to be working, however, they didn't go off that nigh...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
What seems to be more likely is that a major feeder artery gradually became hotter and hotter, degrading the tin plating on the buss. The rate of degradation went from linear to the square of resistance. The buss became a resistance element heating to above 500F. Such heat is transmitted rapidly, through copper and aluminum. The only heat sink that bus had was the copper stranding attached to it.
One of my neurotic habits is to assemble a bus allowing 3/16" wire strands to protrude out the other side of the buss. If the oxide compound looks like it may have heated excessively (dripping) Houston, you have a problem.
I am sneaky. I want to know how much a 1/2 pint can of colloidal copper weighs in grams. Copper is so much heavier than oil.
Strands that enter a bus bar must be absolutely brand new copper penny shiny. Then coated with colloidal copper. After a few weeks of service I'll go back and re-tighten. Checking every so often (believe me it is done far more often when the rig is subjected to rough or washboard road surfaces) eliminates the problem.
Aluminum buss bars were designed for structures without wheels and resultant vibration.
This does make the most sense. I think I'll stick to that story or theory, replace the unit along with the copper colloidal paste compound (Thomas & Betts). Thanks so much for your input.
