Weird smell

[k_jensen6]

Wondering if anyone knows why there is a weird smell in the breaker box? Kind of smells like ammonia. We tripped a circuit this morning, invertor 2, and when I went to retrospect noticed this odor.

[lakeside013104]

Loose breaker on inverter #2.

Loose wires going in to inverter #2.

Loose ground wire connected to inverter #2.

Seems like this is the place to start looking, around inverter #2 breaker. After you remove it, smell it. Does it smell like what you described in your OP?

Breakers are easily replaced. Turn power main off, loosen screw holding wire on breaker, lift breaker off electrical panel, snap new breaker in its place, re-install wire you just removed, turn power main on, turn breaker on. Good luck.

Lakeside

[Road_Runners]

It could be you have a wire frayed and it is shorting out. The insulation smoldering gives off a definite smell, but I don't recall it smelling like ammonia. This would cause the circuit breaker to pop.

[k_jensen6]

OP: inverter 2, tripped
Had convection oven, coffee maker, tv on. Husband turned on space heater, breaker tripped.

Frig is fine, no residue, continuing to cool.

Batteries fine, water topped 2 weeks ago (with distiller water).

Tanks dumped and rinsed night before.

Panel is at about 5'5 high, yes we do have a dog.

This is the second time I have smelled this when breaker tripped.

Am deducing, we may have a bad breaker.

Is this something a novice can repair?

[Old-Biscuit]

Weird smell.........

Could be cooling unit for fridge has cracked.......look in outside compartment for yellow powdery residue and ammonia smell. Is fridge still cooling?

Could be batteries boiling off due to overcharging, bad cell, low water level

Could be burnt wiring, damaged breaker

Could be grey waste tank smell getting into RV via 'air admittance valve'

Which breaker tripped?
What is on that circuit?
WHY did breaker trip?

[352]

Two things. How low is your panel box and do you have a dog?

[BB_TX]

Description of odors can be very subjective.
If you only smell it when a breaker trips, and only in the space near the breaker panel, the first thing I would check is the breakers themselves and the wiring behind the breaker panel for any signs of discoloration indicating overheating.

[2oldman]

Mouse droppings there?

[downtheroad]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Ammonia smell = fridge meltdown to me....

Yes to this...sniff around your frig, especially through the back outside panel.
Also look for white powdery substance on connections/coils in the back.

If it's this...the frig is toast...:(

[k_jensen6]

Only have noticed it when we trip a breaker. In the back of the coach, really strong when we open cupboard where breakers are.

We have a 2001HR Imperial diesel pusher.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Ammonia smell = fridge meltdown to me....

Now, if it smelled more like rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide) I'd say check your house batteries, which can give off that odor if malfunctioning.