Fire in the 12VDC system

[jamnw]

2014 Keystone (camper in my signature)

July 7th, 1pm.
We had just arrived at the cg and getting set up.
Red Gate Campground in Savannah GA
The CG really is nice and helpful. Nice looking place too.

I was not plugged in to AC, and was putting out the slide. The slide stopped, and I smelled/saw smoke from the front of the camper.

The battery wires were smoking! Luckily I had already disconnected the truck. I jumped in the truck and pulled away. Then ran back, got the fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire.

I used all of my extinguisher, and the fire stopped briefly, then came back! I ran to the camper next to us, and luckily he had an extinguisher. We put out the fire again, then the battery cap blew off while I was spraying it. Scared me to death!
I had to get that fire out, I had two full 30lb propane tanks in the compartment! I've seen what happens when they blow.

Luckily nobody was injured, and the neighbor had an extinguisher.

After getting the battery removed, and purchasing some magnetic trailer lights from the local parts store, I was back on the road with no trailer brakes!
Went to a hotel for the night then on the road in the morning.
Just slow and steady, keeping a 5 second distance between me and the cars ahead, always trying to anticipate any sudden stops. Had no issues, but I was worn out after.
Almost 600 miles like that....

I have a new respect for that little motor that runs my slide in/out after having to hand crank it back in with a ratchet. And then again back out when I got home. And the motor that raises/lowers the landing gear!

I purchased this camper in 2015 as new from Camping World in Chattanooga TN, and I purchased the extended warranty. We shall see if it was worth the price.

[time2roll]

In the end... replace the auto-reset breaker near the battery with a DC breaker or a fuse.
JMHO

[jamnw]

I just got the call from CW in Biloxi. The warranty company has approved replacing the wiring in my camper. But NOT the battery....
The service agent at CW is shocked they approved the repair because they can't determine the exact cause.

The wiring is burned from the battery to the converter. The feed wires and a lot of the distribution wires. From what I could tell, the 12V feed wires were run with the distribution wires. They appear to have been loosely zip-tied to the metal cross members of the frame. It appears to me the 12V positive feed wire grounded to the frame causing the wire to get hot and catch fire. Why the protection devices at the battery didn't prevent this is a mystery.

[westend]

The events related shows that batteries deliver a lot of energy. Whether a battery internally shorted or a connection happened to deliver the full potential of the two batteries, it's good that you could deliver enough extinguisher to fight the related fire. There should have been an operating circuit breaker to eliminate the possibility of a runaway power event but we don't have enough details to determine the cause of the battery failure.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

I'm glad you're ok.

Electrical fires are VERY bad. The energy just keeps coming until the batteries are dead or the terminal melts off.

This is why it's a good idea to always have a battery shut off on everything that has batteries. This is the exact reason race cars are mandated to have a battery shut of switch.

Good luck getting things fixed and I hope you get on the road soon.

[pianotuna]

I would take many photos of the inside and outside of my RV. I'd document the problem as much as possible. I'd insist on a date when the RV would be back in my hot little hands.

[jamnw]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

jamnw wrote:
I have an appointment with CW in Biloxi, MS on July 24th. I have the Good Sam Extended Service Plan.

Should I go ahead and call the warranty company or wait for CW to do this? Experienced answers are greatly appreciated.

Don't those 'extended service contracts' REQUIRE prior authorization???

YOU need to be 'LEAD' on getting authorizations be it 'service contract' or Insurance coverage

The contract says "Take the unit to the repair facility." then "Obtain priory's authorization prior to any repair being made."

I would say your are 100% correct that I should call them first.

[Old-Biscuit]

jamnw wrote:
I have an appointment with CW in Biloxi, MS on July 24th. I have the Good Sam Extended Service Plan.

Should I go ahead and call the warranty company or wait for CW to do this? Experienced answers are greatly appreciated.

Don't those 'extended service contracts' REQUIRE prior authorization???

YOU need to be 'LEAD' on getting authorizations be it 'service contract' or Insurance coverage

[jamnw]

I have an appointment with CW in Biloxi, MS on July 24th. I have the Good Sam Extended Service Plan.

Should I go ahead and call the warranty company or wait for CW to do this? Experienced answers are greatly appreciated.

[jamnw]

TurnThePage wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
All the 12 v wiring should have either fuse or circuit breaker protection fairly close to the battery to protect against that type event. I would look for a shorted positive wire near the battery. And/or possibly a circuit breaker that failed to open when a wire associated with the slide shorted. . Happening during opening the slide would seem to point to some relationship there.

I wonder when this came to be? My 2004 trailer has nothing like that.

I had a 2006 TT that had nothing like that either. But this 5r has them mounted to the bulkhead behind the battery box.

[jamnw]

nickthehunter wrote:
I don't believe fire is a extended warranty issue. That's an insurance issue.

If it was caused by a wire grounding out because of worn insulation, then I would think it would be a warranty issue.

I am sure it will be hard to prove.

[TurnThePage]

BB_TX wrote:
All the 12 v wiring should have either fuse or circuit breaker protection fairly close to the battery to protect against that type event. I would look for a shorted positive wire near the battery. And/or possibly a circuit breaker that failed to open when a wire associated with the slide shorted. . Happening during opening the slide would seem to point to some relationship there.

I wonder when this came to be? My 2004 trailer has nothing like that.

[SCVJeff]

wa8yxm wrote:
Propane tanks are designed NOT to blow for several hours. by then the Professionals will usually have knocked the fire down

Suggestion.. Google "Mac the fire guy" and buy some GOOD extinguishers.. He will tell you what you should have instead of that toy the factory installed.

Not exactly accurate.. Go outside and look UNDER your tank. There you fill find what appears to be a capped-off access to the tank. Thats an over-pressure valve that releases a LOT of gas and is REALLY loud, and theres no way to shut it off if it fails

[nineoaks2004]

Years ago we were traveling down the road and on heck of an explosion up front of the GMC Suburban, Dad pulled over and the battery had shorted and blew the fender off the truck, Luckily no one was hurt and the insurance company covered the repairs including the tow to the Dealer. Luckily ya'll got the fire out without too much damage. Could have been much worse.

[wa8yxm]

Propane tanks are designed NOT to blow for several hours. by then the Professionals will usually have knocked the fire down

Suggestion.. Google "Mac the fire guy" and buy some GOOD extinguishers.. He will tell you what you should have instead of that toy the factory installed.

[2oldman]

Replace with AGM. Get rid of the acid tubs.