Another Bird fire

[Pete Masterson]

I think it should be pretty obvious that all high-amperage, unfused battery cables ought to be checked carefully.

That would include the house batteries -- in a '95 those are contained in the rear-most curb-side compartment and on a tray by the engine. In addition, there are 3 engine batteries above the 2 house batteries near the engine.

The house batteries are wired to a general distribution panel on the curb side of the firewall. The engine batteries are wired to the engine -- but also have a connection to the house batteries (as you can tie them together with a switch on the dash).

The Bakersfield fire _might_ have been caused by a short from the house batteries and/or the firewall distribution panel. (We await further word from the fire inspector and/or insurance adjuster.)

Randy's fire was caused by a dead short in the front most, street side compartment, where the battery cable (running 40-some feet from the curb-side rear to the street side front-most compartment) that serves the generator starter motor. Apparently, from the report of the fire inspector and insurance adjuster, it appears that the insulation had been compromised where the heavy cable passed over a frame rail.

We all may have been a little complacent over the 12v systems, since 12 v current rarely causes much of a fire or electrocution issue. It's easy to forget just how much potential amperage that the batteries can release in a dead short.

The suggestion to install a high-amperage (slow acting) fuse on the batteries makes a lot of sense. A slow acting fuse is required since things like the engine and generator starter motor can draw a brief, very high amperage burst -- and you don't want to blow the fuse. But a short would cause a longer drain, and would blow the fuse.

Of course, a careful inspection of all the high-amperage wires is called for. Unfortunately, wires may pass through areas where visible inspection is difficult or impossible. (Mirrors mounted to extension handles and flashlights would be quite useful.) Even so, it's likely that there are places where thorough inspection will prove impossible. (Which simply increases the importance of fusing the batteries.)

Another 'wise' modification would be to install a high-amperage switch to completely isolate the batteries from the coach. Marine supplies sell such switches for boats and they can be adapted to motorhome use quite easily. The added advantage of such a switch would be to ensure that all phantom loads (which BBs have in abundance) would be cut off, allowing longer storage periods without a charger on the batteries.

In the Bakersfield situation, it's hard to discern how the fire might have been avoided. The owner reported that he'd inspected the wires (as best as he could) after hearing about Randy's fire. It is unlikely that any of us would have shut off all the batteries while in a nearby restaurant for dinner -- but fuses _might_ have saved the coach, had they been installed. (Then, again, pending a final determination of the cause of the fire, it might not have been effective.)

Pete Masterson

(former) '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Nov 26, 2009, at 6:31 PM, Ernie Ekberg wrote:

Where I observed was the batteries on the curbside, close to the firewall of the engine compartment Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx 817-475-3991 http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- OnThu, 11/26/09, SteveQ<"smquandt@yahoo.com">wrote: From: SteveQ <"smquandt@yahoo.com"> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Another Bird fire To:"WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com" Date: Thursday, November 26, 2009, 8:27 PM Ron, Ernie Are you refering to the house batteries or the three engine batteries when you say main battery bank? I looked at everything after Randy's fire but will give it another CLOSER look when I get back to Texas next month. Steve Quandt 1993 PT-40 Cold in Iron Mountain, Mi Coach enjoying warm weather in Marble Falls TX --- InWanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "ronmarabito2002" wrote: > > > Sorry to hear of the loss of anyones coach. I warned the forum after mine to check these cables and apparently it just went right by everyone. What a shame. I sure hope everyone gets out there and checks these cables now. > > R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40 > > --- InWanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, "Ernie E" wrote: > > > > I am wondering, since there have been 3 fires with the 90s coaches, that if the battery cables are being chaffed behind the main battery bank. Since the coaches involved were 92, 94 and 95 models, those with coaches of this era might want to check the routing of these cables. > > This is too much of a coincidence and may have taken these many years to wear thru. > > Fortunately, nobody in all 3 coaches were hurt. > > Ernie- 83PT40 in New River, Az > > >