Heat Pump

[drifterpilot]

I have been on a RV trip since 05 May 2014.
Two days ago, I stayed overnight in a parking lot. The next morning I started the generator. I then selected "Electric Heat" on my heat pump. My generator started to "bog" down slightly as it took on the load of the heat pump, it recovered and then started to bog down again. About this time, I detected an electrical burning smell odor. I immediately shut down the heat pump. I also noticed at this time the house batteries were not charging.

I had just installed two brand new Exide batteries last week.

Fearing a big electrical problem and not wanting to be stuck with no charging capacity and/or no shore power working, I made an appointment with Camping World, Syracuse, NY 200 miles up the road along my intended route. When I arrived, Camping World pointed out that one of the generator 30A breakers was "tripped". Resetting the breaker restored the generator to charging the house batteries.
While still running the generator and the Camping World guy watching, I again put the heat pump to "Electric Heat". The generator bogged down again and the breaker tripped again.

Camping World then removed the heat pump cover for observation. The heat pump circuit board and wires were blackened. It appears there had been arcing and sparking and quite possibly a fire or two.
I didn't have time to stay there for a lengthy repair. Camping World assured me shore power would work and battery charging from the engine and generator would work also.
I plugged into their 30A shore power for the night; house batteries showed charging, everything was fine.
I departed the next morning and noticed on the house electrical panel the engine alternator was not charging the house batteries, however the chassis battery was charging at 14.2V.

So, right now one concern is what to check for to get the engine alternator to charge the house batteries going down the road.

My other concern is finding a place to get my heat pump running.

Thanks for reading this lengthy narrative and looking forward to comments and questions.

[ferndaleflyer]

Mine has a basement heat pump and you all are making me nervous------

[bobbyly]

Had the same thing happen, Had to replace all electronic parts with updated circuit board. they will need to rewire to accomodate new style board.Had it done in N.C. Cost around $700.

[Coyote74]

just had a similar problem, the smell was the compressor capacitors not storing voltage properly to assist in the starting of the compressors. then one blew apart, the oil from the capacitor was all over. stinking, it melted 3 wires together causing more damage to printed circuit , fan capacitors and wiring harness all had to be replaced with the unit pulled out by shop here in NC 1200.00 bucks. reason either low voltage or a bad capacitor , who knows?
Good luck and turn both breakers off comp 1 and comp 2 if its a coleman-Mach.
website for them is RVP products, or Airxcel.

[Cuffs054]

Wa8, I'm thinking the burned wires/ circuit board might have caused the smell...

[wa8yxm]

Are you sure that is a heat pump and not an Air conditioner with a heat strip? On the latter, after a period of non-use, that burning smell is .. common.

On the former, not so much.

[drifterpilot]

I should have added that I'll be in the southern NH / northeastern MA area during the month of June and just south of Boston during July.

If anyone knows of a repair facility that I could check with, please advise.

I'll be checking with Winnebago on Friday 06 June for the same info.