Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that provides
air for the toilet.

I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the positive
wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the wiring
compartment on the side of the coach.

Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor originates. Is
there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just run a
new wire.

Thanks

Lindsay
1996 BMC 40'

Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine has a pressure
switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at determined air pressure
values. Mine also has an on/off switch. Have you looked at the pressure switch
to see if it has power? Power to that probably comes from a relay which is
located in or near a load center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the
fuse is blown, you need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause
other problems.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: lkittel77
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power


I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that provides
air for the toilet.

I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the positive
wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the wiring
compartment on the side of the coach.

Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor originates. Is
there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just run a
new wire.

Thanks

Lindsay
1996 BMC 40'





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have a Microphor pancake compressor that was installed as an "after
market" upgrade. The wiring seems somewhat jury rigged (it is an OK
but not particularly neat installation). I discovered a "hidden"
switch (well, it was a black plastic switch mounted on the black
metal "box" that the compressor sits on). When I stowed some wheel
chocks, I'd turned off the switch without realizing it, making me
think the compressor had lost power. My compressor doesn't seem to
have any other switch. I assume that it's fused to the rear power
center (the closest one) -- but, of course, the fuse isn't marked in
any useful way.

Look around the compartment with the compressor and see if you can
find a similar switch -- you may have one and it may simply have been
flipped without your realizing it.

Failing that, your best bet would probably be to fish a new wire to
serve the compressor -- there's no telling how it originally may have
been wired if it isn't on the wiring diagrams for your coach.

Be sure to install both a switch and fuse on the new circuit to
facilitate servicing and prevent overloads.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Chief Hosa Colorado



On Jun 9, 2007, at 2:27 PM, lkittel77 wrote:

> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
> provides
> air for the toilet.
>
> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the positive
> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the wiring
> compartment on the side of the coach.
>
> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor originates. Is
> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just run a
> new wire.

One other thing. Does a BMC have an electronics Master? If so, do you have
propane, monitor panels,radio, etc. I am not certain but I think my electronics
master cuts power to that unit on my coach. I can check that tomorrow.
Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors'
Niceville, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: Pete Masterson
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power


I have a Microphor pancake compressor that was installed as an "after
market" upgrade. The wiring seems somewhat jury rigged (it is an OK
but not particularly neat installation). I discovered a "hidden"
switch (well, it was a black plastic switch mounted on the black
metal "box" that the compressor sits on). When I stowed some wheel
chocks, I'd turned off the switch without realizing it, making me
think the compressor had lost power. My compressor doesn't seem to
have any other switch. I assume that it's fused to the rear power
center (the closest one) -- but, of course, the fuse isn't marked in
any useful way.

Look around the compartment with the compressor and see if you can
find a similar switch -- you may have one and it may simply have been
flipped without your realizing it.

Failing that, your best bet would probably be to fish a new wire to
serve the compressor -- there's no telling how it originally may have
been wired if it isn't on the wiring diagrams for your coach.

Be sure to install both a switch and fuse on the new circuit to
facilitate servicing and prevent overloads.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Chief Hosa Colorado

On Jun 9, 2007, at 2:27 PM, lkittel77 wrote:

> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
> provides
> air for the toilet.
>
> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the positive
> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the wiring
> compartment on the side of the coach.
>
> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor originates. Is
> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just run a
> new wire.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work around I
put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked all
known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
(Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.

I am still confused.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine has
a pressure switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at
determined air pressure values. Mine also has an on/off switch. Have
you looked at the pressure switch to see if it has power? Power to
that probably comes from a relay which is located in or near a load
center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the fuse is blown, you
need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause other
problems.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: lkittel77
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power
>
>
> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
provides
> air for the toilet.
>
> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the
positive
> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the
wiring
> compartment on the side of the coach.
>
> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor
originates. Is
> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just
run a
> new wire.
>
> Thanks
>
> Lindsay
> 1996 BMC 40'
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Is there power to that fuse?

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, Calif.



lkittel77 wrote:

> Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work around I
> put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
> Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked all
> known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
> (Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.
>
> I am still confused.
>
> -
>
>
>
>

Where did you attach the positive and negative lines of the charger to get the
12v pump to work? Does the pump shut off automatically while attached to the
charger? Are you certain there is power at the fuse for the system?
I don't know anything about a BMC just trying to help.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: lkittel77
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 5:06 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Pancake Compressor Power


Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work around I
put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked all
known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
(Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.

I am still confused.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine has
a pressure switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at
determined air pressure values. Mine also has an on/off switch. Have
you looked at the pressure switch to see if it has power? Power to
that probably comes from a relay which is located in or near a load
center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the fuse is blown, you
need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause other
problems.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: lkittel77
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power
>
>
> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
provides
> air for the toilet.
>
> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the
positive
> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the
wiring
> compartment on the side of the coach.
>
> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor
originates. Is
> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just
run a
> new wire.
>
> Thanks
>
> Lindsay
> 1996 BMC 40'
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The optional air compressor (and switch on the dash board) are for a
compressor that airs the coach when the engine is off. I suppose that
optional air compressor would also drive the Microphor from the main
coach air system rather than have a pancake compressor. It would have
been nice if the same circuits were used for the pancake compressor
option -- but (at least on my coach) that didn't seem to be the case.

It's difficult to know if there's a connection somewhere that is
loose or damaged (corroded) that interferes with the circuit to the
pancake compressor. I've found the wiring diagrams seem to leave a
lot to the imagination and many optional items don't seem to be
documented at all. (At least on the set of drawings I have.)

I've seen communications technicians use a signaling device to trace
phone/computer lines. I don't know if similar technology is available
for 12vdc systems -- but that would be about the only way to find the
"far" end of the circuit. The technician would hook this "thing" on a
"known" wire, then use a meter to see if a signal was present on the
"unknown" wires to find the right one. If someone knows what these
"things" are (that is, has a name for it) I'd sure like to get one to
help me find some of the circuits on my coach.

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
on the road outside Evergreen, Colorado




On Jun 9, 2007, at 4:06 PM, lkittel77 wrote:

> Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work around I
> put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
> Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked all
> known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
> (Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.
>
> I am still confused.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> wrote:
>>
>> Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine has
> a pressure switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at
> determined air pressure values. Mine also has an on/off switch. Have
> you looked at the pressure switch to see if it has power? Power to
> that probably comes from a relay which is located in or near a load
> center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the fuse is blown, you
> need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause other
> problems.
>>
>> Leroy Eckert
>> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
>> Niceville, FL
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: lkittel77
>> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
>> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power
>>
>>
>> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
> provides
>> air for the toilet.
>>
>> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the
> positive
>> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the
> wiring
>> compartment on the side of the coach.
>>
>> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor
> originates. Is
>> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and just
> run a
>> new wire.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Lindsay
>> 1996 BMC 40'
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

I just disconnected the wires that went to the compressor and ran a
couple of wires from the temporary 12 volt battery that I put in the
compartment. I checked power to what I presume to be the correct fuse.
All very good questions.

Lindsay
1996 BMC 40'

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
wrote:
>
> Where did you attach the positive and negative lines of the charger
to get the 12v pump to work? Does the pump shut off automatically
while attached to the charger? Are you certain there is power at the
fuse for the system?
> I don't know anything about a BMC just trying to help.
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: lkittel77
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 5:06 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Pancake Compressor Power
>
>
> Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work
around I
> put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
> Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked
all
> known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
> (Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.
>
> I am still confused.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> wrote:
> >
> > Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine
has
> a pressure switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at
> determined air pressure values. Mine also has an on/off switch.
Have
> you looked at the pressure switch to see if it has power? Power
to
> that probably comes from a relay which is located in or near a
load
> center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the fuse is blown,
you
> need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause
other
> problems.
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> > Niceville, FL
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: lkittel77
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power
> >
> >
> > I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
> provides
> > air for the toilet.
> >
> > I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the
> positive
> > wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the
> wiring
> > compartment on the side of the coach.
> >
> > Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor
> originates. Is
> > there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and
just
> run a
> > new wire.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Lindsay
> > 1996 BMC 40'
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Actually, I have been using one of these tracers to try and follow
the wire. I however have lost the wire once it seems to head back
over the wheel well. The tracer is a life saver I use it all the
time. You can pick the toner and tracer up at a home depot.

Lindsay
1996 BMC 40'

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> The optional air compressor (and switch on the dash board) are for
a
> compressor that airs the coach when the engine is off. I suppose
that
> optional air compressor would also drive the Microphor from the
main
> coach air system rather than have a pancake compressor. It would
have
> been nice if the same circuits were used for the pancake
compressor
> option -- but (at least on my coach) that didn't seem to be the
case.
>
> It's difficult to know if there's a connection somewhere that is
> loose or damaged (corroded) that interferes with the circuit to
the
> pancake compressor. I've found the wiring diagrams seem to leave a
> lot to the imagination and many optional items don't seem to be
> documented at all. (At least on the set of drawings I have.)
>
> I've seen communications technicians use a signaling device to
trace
> phone/computer lines. I don't know if similar technology is
available
> for 12vdc systems -- but that would be about the only way to find
the
> "far" end of the circuit. The technician would hook this "thing" on
a
> "known" wire, then use a meter to see if a signal was present on
the
> "unknown" wires to find the right one. If someone knows what these
> "things" are (that is, has a name for it) I'd sure like to get one
to
> help me find some of the circuits on my coach.
>
> Pete Masterson
> aeonix1@...
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
> on the road outside Evergreen, Colorado
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 9, 2007, at 4:06 PM, lkittel77 wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the reply. I know the pump works fine. As a work
around I
> > put a 12 volt battery in the compartment with a trickle charger.
> > Works great but certainly is not a permanent fix. I have checked
all
> > known fuses and especially given the one labeled air compressor
> > (Option) a double check. All is well with fuses.
> >
> > I am still confused.
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Leroy Eckert"
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Do you have a schematic? Totally different coach here but mine
has
> > a pressure switch on top of the pump that cuts it on and off at
> > determined air pressure values. Mine also has an on/off switch.
Have
> > you looked at the pressure switch to see if it has power? Power to
> > that probably comes from a relay which is located in or near a
load
> > center. It is fused somewhere in the coach. If the fuse is blown,
you
> > need to look for the reason. Just running a wire could cause other
> > problems.
> >>
> >> Leroy Eckert
> >> 1990 WB-40"Smoke N Mirrors"
> >> Niceville, FL
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: lkittel77
> >> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >> Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2007 3:27 PM
> >> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Pancake Compressor Power
> >>
> >>
> >> I have lost power on my BMC 40' to the pancake compressor that
> > provides
> >> air for the toilet.
> >>
> >> I have verified that the ground is good. I have traced the
> > positive
> >> wire to the point where it dissapears into slit duct inside the
> > wiring
> >> compartment on the side of the coach.
> >>
> >> Does anyone know where power for the pancake compressor
> > originates. Is
> >> there a switch or fuse somewhere. I am about to give up and
just
> > run a
> >> new wire.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >> Lindsay
> >> 1996 BMC 40'
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>