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DarkSkySeeker's avatar
DarkSkySeeker
Explorer
Jan 10, 2018

Simple Heater "Fix"

I woke up on a cold morning during my last camping trip. The heater in my trailer was not running as I expected. If you are like me, you know that feeling of dread that perhaps a complex problem was about to unfold.

I crouched down to open the fuse box and immediately noticed a red light was on. I assume this indicated a "fault" of some kind. The labels for the various in-line fuses showed me the red light was next to the heater fuse.

I reached out to see if it would be easy to pull the fuse to replace it and my finger bumped the fuse. There was a tiny spark, the red light went out, and the heater came on. I subsequently manipulated all the fuses by pressing them firmly into their sockets.

I guess the heater fuse just worked its way out a little. No big problem, It left me feeling very grateful for small miracles.
  • DarkSkySeeker's avatar
    DarkSkySeeker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    I use the auto changeover feature so I don't have that problem.


    Ia that a gadget I need? My changeover is manual.
  • troubledwaters's avatar
    troubledwaters
    Explorer III
    Jan 10, 2018
    DarkSkySeeker wrote:
    DutchmenSport wrote:

    Fortunate for me, in all the years of RV ownership, the only problem I've ever had with the RV furnace was a propane tank running out in the middle of the night and I'd have to get up and switch over to the other tank.


    My trips have been warm and short enough and my tank is large enough that I have never had that problem.
    I use the auto changeover feature so I don't have that problem.
  • DarkSkySeeker's avatar
    DarkSkySeeker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    DutchmenSport wrote:

    Fortunate for me, in all the years of RV ownership, the only problem I've ever had with the RV furnace was a propane tank running out in the middle of the night and I'd have to get up and switch over to the other tank.


    My trips have been warm and short enough and my tank is large enough that I have never had that problem.
  • DarkSkySeeker's avatar
    DarkSkySeeker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    Chum lee wrote:
    Repair principle #1: "ALWAYS CHECK THE MOST SIMPLE THINGS FIRST"


    And Rule 1B is "don't always expect the worst"
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    Good advise!

    Fortunate for me, in all the years of RV ownership, the only problem I've ever had with the RV furnace was a propane tank running out in the middle of the night and I'd have to get up and switch over to the other tank.
  • Chum_lee's avatar
    Chum_lee
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    Repair principle #1: "ALWAYS CHECK THE MOST SIMPLE THINGS FIRST"

    Good job!

    Chum lee
  • DarkSkySeeker's avatar
    DarkSkySeeker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    go thru your AC Main Panel and tighten up ALL wire terminal screws....Incoming side, grounds, neutrals and load side on the circuit breakers.


    Good tip, thanks. It makes no sense to invite/ignore loosened connections.
  • DarkSkySeeker's avatar
    DarkSkySeeker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2018
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Now that you have 'reseated' the fuses


    "Reseated" - a good word for it.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 10, 2018
    Now that you have 'reseated' the fuses for DC System go thru your AC Main Panel and tighten up ALL wire terminal screws....Incoming side, grounds, neutrals and load side on the circuit breakers.

    Everything has a tendency to loosen from all the shaking/vibration/bouncing going on during transit

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