Need some Power Center help!
Greetings Everyone! Right to the point: I was having trouble with the AC tripping the 15amp breaker (in the home) where we were staying in Florida this past summer. So I jumped on RV.net and searched...
Forum Discussion
There is a reason that aluminum has a shaky reputation and you found it. Aluminum used in electrical has to have coating of tin over it for it not to surface oxidize (aluminum oxide) which has horrible conductivity and turn the aluminum into a toaster-oven faster than you can yell "Where the hell is the fire extinguisher?"
A buss that burned a wire (even if the fault was a loose or overloaded wire) should have the repaired wire switched to an empty hole. If none exist, I recommend changing out the buss.
When things are repaired perfect and are ready for assembly, use NO-OX a solution sold in Electrical Supply houses and Home Depot. Follow directions.
Use the rig for a week, shut off all power or disconnect, then re-tighten ALL set screws in the power center. The re-tightening is a must.
Because I live where the very air is toxic to electrical connections (hundreds of meters from the pounding tropical pacific ocean) I have to coat exposed conductors with a protector spray. WD40 is useless. LPS-3 (not 2, or 1) is a good protector.
But copper wire ends must be shined to resemble a brand-new copper penny. I use a new utility knife blade and rotate the wire.
Every single wire in that cabinet should be pulled one-at-a-time and examined. The slightest hint of overheated insulation means the device the wire is connected to must be replaced. Oxidized aluminum buss bars and connectors CAN NOT be shined-up and re-used. They have to be replaced with aluminum parts that have the tin coating.
Hope This helps.
A buss that burned a wire (even if the fault was a loose or overloaded wire) should have the repaired wire switched to an empty hole. If none exist, I recommend changing out the buss.
When things are repaired perfect and are ready for assembly, use NO-OX a solution sold in Electrical Supply houses and Home Depot. Follow directions.
Use the rig for a week, shut off all power or disconnect, then re-tighten ALL set screws in the power center. The re-tightening is a must.
Because I live where the very air is toxic to electrical connections (hundreds of meters from the pounding tropical pacific ocean) I have to coat exposed conductors with a protector spray. WD40 is useless. LPS-3 (not 2, or 1) is a good protector.
But copper wire ends must be shined to resemble a brand-new copper penny. I use a new utility knife blade and rotate the wire.
Every single wire in that cabinet should be pulled one-at-a-time and examined. The slightest hint of overheated insulation means the device the wire is connected to must be replaced. Oxidized aluminum buss bars and connectors CAN NOT be shined-up and re-used. They have to be replaced with aluminum parts that have the tin coating.
Hope This helps.
