We started our trip out with a stop in Asuncion (still here) and when we arrived we went to take off the camper and had no power at all. I started
investigating and found all of the wires to the hot water heater had melted and 2 15 amp fuses were blown, not real fun so far. I have spent the last
1 1/2 getting the burnt wires for the hot water heater out, cut them off and capped them then re assembled the camper. Fired everything back up and
all works except for the slide out. I pulled out the switch hit the button~smoke and melting wire again. Everything else works but that so I am
thinking the switch may have went bad with the problems. Anybody have a recommendation for a good DC wireman? We have just started the trip so I need
to get it fixed, I am okay with someone in Asuncion, Mulege, Loreto, La Paz or Cabo. Help please! SteveDavid K - 12-13-2012 at 04:20 PM
This is DavidE's area of expertise... and he lives in Bahia Asuncion (last I heard).. He has been posting on Nomad today... so go see if he is there
(Shari knows where).absinvestor - 12-13-2012 at 04:28 PM
If you don't get it fixed in Asuncion and you're heading south go to Marcos in Mulege. His shop is next to the Los Equipales restaurant in town. He is
excellent, inexpensive and will definitely get you going.shari - 12-13-2012 at 04:48 PM
I can send Melo over...he's a pretty good electrician....or go to the CFE office on the main drag by where all the segunda trucks are set up ...the
electricians there will moonlight on other jobs....anyone speak spanish there with you?Russ - 12-13-2012 at 05:23 PM
FYI Some auto mechanics are very good at chasing down DC problems. Just something to think about...mulegejim - 12-13-2012 at 05:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by absinvestor
If you don't get it fixed in Asuncion and you're heading south go to Marcos in Mulege. His shop is next to the Los Equipales restaurant in town. He is
excellent, inexpensive and will definitely get you going.
Ditto, the best I have found.
camper wireing..
captkw - 12-13-2012 at 05:56 PM
Hola,,on newer camper the white wire can be + or neg..depends on who was working in indana that day..do not assume that black is
neg.....Rv's,,boats,,campers are not cars..DUH !! dont assume that black is negative...now days YELLOW is negative for that reason the 110V black is
HOT and has enough to kill you..A car guy will make this mistake again and again and again...alot of newer lance campers the black wire is POSITIVE
!!!!(12V/side)... I understand all guys think they are mechs/eletrician's but you really need to know your chit if you want to get paid for
it............K&T:cool.......PS I love the folks in baja,,,but when it comes to electrical....NOT !!!!!..make sure you tell the guy that black is
positive and white is ground..Love my job !!!!!!
[Edited on 12-14-2012 by captkw]
[Edited on 12-14-2012 by captkw]
[Edited on 12-14-2012 by captkw]castaway$ - 12-13-2012 at 06:16 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by shari
I can send Melo over...he's a pretty good electrician....or go to the CFE office on the main drag by where all the segunda trucks are set up ...the
electricians there will moonlight on other jobs....anyone speak spanish there with you?
That would be good send Melo over, I only speak a little spanish I am not conversational and I would have a hard time explaning the problem. I got
everything else fixed but this one isn't quite clicking with me, I just wan to get it fixed so maybe I can go fishing with Juan and start having fun.shari - 12-14-2012 at 09:53 AM
Melo will be there around 1:00...see ya thenHook - 12-14-2012 at 10:00 AM
Just relay to him what cappy says. The RV industry did a changeover quite a few years back and black is positive and white is negative in lots of
cases. Sure hope he has a VOM and notes the leads to the battery and traces accordingly.
Still, why there werent fuses or breakers preventing the wires from burning is very troubling............vacaenbaja - 12-14-2012 at 07:00 PM
A lot of times electrical problems with melted wires can be the result of
loose connections under load. They start to arc and can generate enough
heat to burn the insualtion to a crisp.
Castaway$..any update ??
captkw - 12-14-2012 at 07:14 PM
shari - 12-14-2012 at 08:04 PM
Last time I saw him, he was polishing off yet another langosta perched on a cliff overlooking yellowtail rock...with a big a$$ grin on his
face...perhaps the problema will wait till manana....or pasada manana....or.....
SHARI..you rock !!
captkw - 12-14-2012 at 08:13 PM
A Baja Lady !!!!castaway$ - 12-15-2012 at 06:03 PM
Ok I'm back and happy to say my DC problems are basically solved thanks to DavidE, my extreme gratitude to David and his vast knowledge. I eneded up
having 2 problems, the hot water heater shorted out and fried all of the wires going to it which I removed all of the burnt wires and we are so lucky
the whole camper didn't burn while we were on the road. The second problem with the slideout David found another set of wires with a direct short to
the wire that supply power to the motor, it took out the switch and there isn't anything like that available here in Asuncion so David bypassed the
switch and we can manual/electrically move the slide in and out, I'll get the switch when I get home.
After spending the day with David it is very apparent there is a lack of parts available and he has a fund to bring some parts in, I was more than
happy to donate to the cause and I will help get what I can down here for future stranded travellers, if you can help contact David, I know how
grateful I am. Hopefully the negative is over and on to the positive~fishing with Juan tomorrow if the weather cooperates Good vibes, good vibes.David K - 12-15-2012 at 06:38 PM
What did I tell you? Great right? Glad it worked out.DavidE - 12-16-2012 at 01:19 PM
Can't have folks broke-down in paradise.
Señor Castaway's donation and a goodly splat from my next pension check is headed to
For items that seem to be in short supply anywhere in Mexico. Terminals, breakers, loom, black zip ties, battery lugs, and hopefully rational lengths
of black and red battery cable, 8 gauge and larger. I have fun during the week fixing what I can on Mexican beaters. But loud stereos always seem to
be "unfixable". Ever run up on a black primer pickup with no rear bumper or lamps at eight o'clock in the winter that is huffing and puffing to do 12
mph out on the flats?
Years ago I had a mechanic in Manzanillo sneer at me when I handed him a butt connector to tie three wires in at a battery in a Tsuru. He turned
around, stripped, twisted and taped the wires together. Makes a fellow want to give up trying to help or teach.
David E
captkw - 12-16-2012 at 01:28 PM
Yep..I know what your talking about....the long and short of it. fix it right or forget IT..but they are nice folks !!! K&T...PS I have not had a
roll of electrical tape in my bag/box in over 10 years and I specialise in electrical...my main weapon "Fluke"dvm..Ps nice link!! have you bought
from them before ?? unlike most DC stuff,, marine is a completly different animal and pricey !! every thing is tinned and multi strand and has to be
ether ABYC or CFR rated which makes the cost go up !K&T
[Edited on 12-16-2012 by captkw]
[Edited on 12-16-2012 by captkw]
[Edited on 12-16-2012 by captkw]willardguy - 12-16-2012 at 02:39 PM
some of you old timers will remember when a butt connector was a temporary fix. most still are. when vibration is an issue crimped connections are a
evil necessity. that said, a quality connection can be achieved provided you are willing to spend 5 bucks a connector and 90 bucks for a professional
ratcheting crimping tool.
show up with a handful of auto zone or lowes connectors and a pair of stake-on pliers,i'll take that old mexicans taped splice every time.
I've spent the last 40 years creating quality connections and troubleshooting high resistance opens in resistance protected DC circuits. the usual
culprit? butt splices.
Umm,,OK
captkw - 12-16-2012 at 02:45 PM
willard guy... a proper crimped butt ...oh..nevermind !!!willardguy - 12-16-2012 at 02:52 PM
hey cappy, lets call it an exquisite crimped butt!
Willardguy!!
captkw - 12-16-2012 at 03:09 PM
Hola, I have some spare sunglasses for your Avatar !! BTW in my line of work I have to do wireing on a daily basis...I have found over the years and
with a lot of on the the job training and time that electrical tape will in short time fail........ a butt connector with grease or dieelectric &
properly crimped and with heat shrink will last almost forever even under salt water....Its all in the details..the connector is 100 percnt tinned and
so is the 17 strand (min.) wire..my crimper is the same that I used to use for 1000lb black marlin and that should say something as to the strengh
factor..there is no logic in electrical repair with tape except in 120v hose wire after a wire nut has been used and the newer and better ones all
self sealing...so carry on with tape..my boats get the best connections known to man as at this time........fuel injection and electrical specialist
with 30+yrs in the biz...K&TDavidE - 12-17-2012 at 12:02 PM
Just as a note:
When I place a butt connector, it is bare. It gets crimped. Then soldered with SN63 63/47. Then marine grade adhesive lined heat shrink tubing is
applied. Over that hopefully if I have it is convoluted plastic loom. Just because this is Mexico, I feel it gives me not license to do stuff
Mickey-Mouse if I can avoid it.
I do need "hosses" coming by Vizcaino via I-5 in Chula Vista (cross street L) that would be willing to do a 15-minute diversion and pick up packages.
The burden would be on me to be sitting at the Pemex gasolinera in Vizcaino at the correct time, for a 10-minute handoff. I have both email and a
cellular phone.
I enjoyed myself putting my experience back to work.
Transportation is by far my biggest obstacle. Getting stuff across the border. Even to an ESTAFETA delivery service office.
David E
captkw - 12-17-2012 at 12:14 PM
Hola,,I also carry Liquid electrical tape made for worst Marine. 5 bucks a can and in some apps works rather well...If you still need that "care
package" u2u me. K&TDavidE - 12-17-2012 at 01:36 PM
CaptKW U2U
Vizcano
captkw - 12-17-2012 at 03:26 PM
There is a good auto parts in town and its easy to kill some time there..all kinds of cool stuff and they have a decent machine shop !!!K&TDavidE - 12-17-2012 at 05:11 PM
Yeah but way the hell off the main artery is z-e-r-o. Like anywhere in the rest of México, they won't have what you're looking for but surely
Joselito, down at the other refraccionaria would have it, or maybe chucho his cuñado, or...shari - 12-17-2012 at 07:23 PM
Hey David...go down and get some yellowtail from Ca$taway...they got limits today...a crapload of fish...here is a pile from their boat.
Shari & the Boys
captkw - 12-17-2012 at 07:28 PM
Ur killing us fishing folk's...you make water boarding look tempting !!!Its been cold and wet up here and cant get out of work to back to baja yet
!!!!! and those ar one of my top 5 eating fish !!!!! can they dry ice and fedex overnight !!! LOL tight lines....K&T
Good vibes, good vibes.
