| Pages:
1
2 |
castaway$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
|
|
DC electrical HELP!
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! Steve
Live Indubiously!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 11-28-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
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
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6742
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
FYI Some auto mechanics are very good at chasing down DC problems. Just something to think about...
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
mulegejim
Nomad
Posts: 470
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
camper wireing..
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$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
|
|
| 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.
Live Indubiously!
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
Melo will be there around 1:00...see ya then
|
|
|
Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
|
|
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
Senior Nomad
Posts: 643
Registered: 4-4-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
Castaway$..any update ??
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13052
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
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.....
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
SHARI..you rock !!
A Baja Lady !!!!
|
|
|
castaway$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
|
|
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.
Live Indubiously!
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65411
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
What did I tell you? Great right? Glad it worked out.
|
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
Can't have folks broke-down in paradise.
Señor Castaway's donation and a goodly splat from my next pension check is headed to
http://www.delcity.net
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.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
David E
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
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
Umm,,OK
willard guy... a proper crimped butt ...oh..nevermind !!!
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
