Possumpoint
Virginia, USA
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Joined: 10/21/2003
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Talked to Norcold and sent them digital pictures of the damage. They called back and claimed that the fire was caused by a gas leak. I initially didn't believe them and tried to argue the cause was electrical.
We had the cooling unit on the refrigerator replaced last August and Norcold wanted me to take it back to the service center where the work was done and have the gas system tested for leaks. I did my own leak test and found that there is a leak right under where the fire occurred. Sure lost that argument. Now let's see how much success I have in getting the service center to pay for the damages.
2006 30MH24SL Bigfoot Class C
2003 Citation 32' Sky Deck TT
2003 Artic Fox #1140
Rick & Kathy, My best friend and wife for 38yrs
Pepe, Rascal & Peewee(our furry children)
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Reddog1
El Dorado, CA (above the fog & below the snow)
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The short on my Dometic was over 12-inches away from any potential gas leak I can see. My cord definitely had a short, no fire. I will see if I can find it and post photos.
I too had the coils replaced, about three years ago.
I would like to see photos of your cord, if you could post them.
Wayne
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Possumpoint
Virginia, USA
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I have some pictures on this computer but haven't been able to figure out how to attach them to a reply. Sorry.
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Reddog1
El Dorado, CA (above the fog & below the snow)
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Possumpoint wrote:I have some pictures on this computer but haven't been able to figure out how to attach them to a reply. Sorry.
Go to this thread; Posting pictures or graphics within a text message
You will find the how to there.
Wayne
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bigfootford
Fair Oaks, California
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Joined: 12/03/2002
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Reddog1's AC power cord insulation and ground wire was melted from the AC plug to the cable restraint that was anchored about 6 inches from the connections of the Dometic AC,12vdc, gas selector switch assy, his Fridge is a pre solid state controlled era.
Facts:
The insulation and ground wire (green) was melted from the plug to the restraint.
The insulation was not melted from the restraint to the selector switch.
The internal wires were mildly flattened from the pressure of the restraint.
There was no damage to the neutral and hot wire. No nicks no exposed wire.
The heating element was of the 325 watt value. Thus the amperage would be 2.X amps.
The AC cord was 14 ga. Good for 15 amps AC.
All the AC wires from the Selector switch to the heating element were in excellent shape.
A arson/fire investigator did not have a reason for the meltdown.
A mechanical/electrical engineer had no explanation.
No one at the Pacific SW caravan III had an explanation.
One fact stand out as to a possible cause......
If the fridge was in 12 volt mode and lost its ground it would use the AC ground for a return source. The AC ground is 14 ga wire. The 12 volt mode of the fridge is 7-10 amps. The 14 gauge wire of the AC wire should handle the DC current but would run a little warm. If the ground wire was compromised and had broken strands at the restraint that would be a source of heat.....
The AC ground and the - Negative of the 12 VDC are common at the converter/power distribution (tied together), or at least they should be.
I can't confirm via Dometic wiring diagrams if the 120 ground and the - negative lead of the 12 vdc are common inside a 120/12vdc fridge. My fridge is only LP/120.....
Maybe someone can confirm the ground connections inside the dometic for 120/12.
Jim
94 F-250 ex cab,460, E40D tranny,airbags w/pump,bilstein shocks, 2000 Bigfoot 9.6 2500 camper, Progressive Dynamics 9260, Trimetric monitor and an eu2000i honda genny.
Wife and Molly- Ausie,Queensland healer
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Reddog1
El Dorado, CA (above the fog & below the snow)
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Thanks for the post Jim.
Wayne
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bigfootford
Fair Oaks, California
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Here is a link to Wayne's power cord pictures..
Reddog1's Dometic power cord
This will raise some wow's!!!!!
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luv2skyski
Stockbridge, Georgia
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Possumpoint...any luck with the service center? Dave.
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bigfootford
Fair Oaks, California
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I have linked Possumpoint's pictures to this thread. I have noted simularities to Reddog1's GFI/AC power cord meltdown.
Norcold told Possumpoint that the fire was a gas fire, from what I see, and he has said though, something else occured.
I will let Possumpoint do the talking from here and we can chime in.
Possumpoint's Norcold fire pictures
The following is an email from Possumpoint to me.........
Jim
When I used a spade screwdriver to pry the plug out of the outlet the ground prong stayed in the outlet. I had to use a pair of pliers to twist it out of the outlet. Once the ground prong came out, you could see the plastic around it burnt black. The ground prong is laying close to the plug but hard to see.
Took the camper to Keystone RV Center today, to get it fixed, at no charge. They said that the gas leak was so insignificant it would have been difficult to ignite. My assumption is they’re going to take this up with Norcold. They took pictures and kept the burnt parts. All in all, I was very lucky.
Rick
* This post was
edited 05/22/07 11:01pm by bigfootford *
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