BB Flood-Could Have Been Much Worse-"FIRE"

[jwasnewski]

For some time now I have listened to G. O'Conner's Cause and Affect
theories, have agreed with them because it is how I think. Every
problem has a specific cause. Here is mine. I am a very happy
camper today because it could have been much worse with the family in
the bus.

Pulling into Talladega Superspeedway staging center about 8PM
Thursday evening I smelled a heavy rubber or plastic smell. I
checked out all the systems and everything was normal. So I passed
the smell off to the numerous campfires at the Superspeedway. Who
could have known?

I asked the wife to turn on the waterheater to get the grandkids a
bath while waiting to get into the infield. Genset running everything
A OK. I go outside to talk with people milling around while the kids
take their shower. It is dark thirty and a cold beer will do after a
5 hour drive. Then I hear what sounds like rain. The guy next door
says it's your a/c. I think it sounds like a flood. In fact water
was running out of all the the bays onto the ground. I ran inside,
shut off the water pump thinking that either a line broke at the pump
or the water heater failed. When I walked on the bedroom carpet it
was hot water. I looked at the water heater, an that ain't easy in
the dark an nothing. Pulled up the mattress and the bottom was
soaked about half way across. My hearing is not good so I asked the
Grandson to come back and listen.. Turned on the water pump and found
where the leak was, then took out the night stand, pulled the carpet
and found the problem.

Winter protection strips. I do not know what else these wires could
be. Maybe there are other names, heat tape etc. but true to form in
my Royale conversion these things are not on my drawings, didn't
think I had any because of the Wabasto Hydronic heat but I do. Only
from the water pump to the water heater(I hope) encased in the
insulation that surrounds the Pex tubing. They are 1/4 in width,
copper or brass mesh with two wires inside of that. They have a
vulcanized grey tip(I cut one apart)where the two wires are
connected. Inside of the two 16 gauge wires are a white fiber
substance circular wrapped with hair sized copper wiring similar to
what one would have seen in an early 50's toaster except smaller.
One or more of these wired failed for reasons unknown and fried a two
inch long portion of the Pex tubing with water in it. There was
evidence this had occurred before because one of the strips was
stuck to and had imprinted the Pex tubing all along where I
inspected. As well another wire had been capped off and a patch had
been installed in the Pex. I have cut the remaining wires in half so
this cannot happen again. When I get time I will trace them to the
source and see how they are hooked up.

I wonder this? Why did the fuse system fail?
Why did the system operate at 87 degrees F OAT?

I know this is windy but had to be detailed. I am convinced this
event could have been very serious, burning the bus down and/or loss
of life if it occurred at a different time.

There will never be another heat strip in my bus under any
circumstance.

I will post pictures of the damaged parts when I get them developed.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL
Got the water pipe hooked up with a little help from the good friends
at Talladega. I'll repair it later.