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.

[SCVJeff]

jamnw wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
I would think all battery systems have fuses near the battery to prevent such fires from short circuits..... did yours? Looking forward to posters findings....if any.

Yes, there are two "fuses/circuit breakers" at the battery. One connected to each post. The one at the "negative" post is in bad shape. The negative "bolt post" also blew off with the cell cap on that side.

lacking a dead short I suspect you can get quite a fire going well before that fuse blows, if ever. Do we think the flame ignited the battery gases, or was this an internal spark from a post failure or low water?

[jamnw]

Ed_Gee wrote:
I would think all battery systems have fuses near the battery to prevent such fires from short circuits..... did yours? Looking forward to posters findings....if any.

Yes, there are two "fuses/circuit breakers" at the battery. One connected to each post. The one at the "negative" post is in bad shape. The negative "bolt post" also blew off with the cell cap on that side.

[jamnw]

ScottG wrote:
I don't think it has anything to do with the slide. I think the battery shorted internally. Nothing else, short of jumping the battery backwards would cause it to explode.

Interesting. I was thinking the same thing about a shorted battery. I have had a battery short before on my diesel truck, but it didn't cause this kind of damage.

I have full coverage insurance on the camper and the warranty. So either way this should be covered by one or the other.

I would imagine that if the repair shop can't find a "shorted wire" that it might be a battery issue.

[ScottG]

I don't think it has anything to do with the slide. I think the battery shorted internally. Nothing else, short of jumping the battery backwards would cause it to explode.

[MrWizard]

This might have been a battery failure
A slide motor failure/burn out, should have burned at the slide motor not at the battery wiring

Sounds like you safely minimized the damage
Good for you

[BB_TX]

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.

[nickthehunter]

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

[Ed_Gee]

I would think all battery systems have fuses near the battery to prevent such fires from short circuits..... did yours? Looking forward to posters findings....if any.

[jamnw]

Lwiddis wrote:
Oh my. Fire in the 12 volt system is just something I haven't thought about. I will add a second fire extinguisher.

I'm not sure if the slide caused this, its just what I was doing at the time. I had already put down the landing gear.

The wiring at or near the slide motor is not "burned/melted". My speculation is that a feed wire or something near the battery grounded out. Maybe something got pinched while the slide was moving?

I will do my best to keep this updated.

[1968mooney]

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.

Roundup all your maintenance invoices to present the extended warranty co. They will require you followed all printed instructions in the contract to be covered. :S

[Lwiddis]

Oh my. Fire in the 12 volt system is just something I haven't thought about. I will add a second fire extinguisher.

[2oldman]

Please update us on what the cause turns out to be. Slides are supposed to have safeguards for that sort of thing.