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strange odor - David Brady - 10-23-2008 07:12 Folks, After a long drive (500 miles) I detect an electrical odor from the bedroom area of the bus. It smells like an overheated transistor, but I can't identify it's origin. Everything seems to be operating normally, no leaks, smoke, or overheating. The inverters are at normal temp, the alternator is normal, nothing is overly hot. Any ideas? Thanks, David Brady '02 LXi, NC strange odor - Pete Masterson - 10-23-2008 08:52 From time to time, I encounter that "electrical smell" in one part or another of the coach. There are electrical distribution panels (12vdc) above the windshield and in the rear closet (as well as below the driver's window on newer coaches or across the front of the coach on the wide body models). Several times, when I smelled "the smell" I've searched and checked high-and-low but have not found anything clearly identifiable as the source. (Although I note that the last electrical smell was coming from somewhere near the inverters and one of my two is apparently no longer inverting -- I'll find out tomorrow when I disconnect and hit the road.) So, I don't really have any suggestions -- and it is likely not a good thing going on -- but it may be weeks (months or years) before something actually occurs. Indeed, it took two years from the time that my Kool-o-matic started having some odd symptoms until it actually failed (and I've now clearly determined that the K-o-m motor is dead). There wasn't (much) smell to the fan going out, if only that any smell it generated went out the vent when the fan was running... I've also determined that appearances can be very misleading. For example, in the case of the Kool-o-matic, I'd have sworn (after inspection) that the thermostat was defective (due to a considerable build up of 'crud' on the back side of the lower 1/3 of the circuit board) -- but after a very thorough troubleshooting session, I proved to my satisfaction that the thermostat works just fine, despite the appearance. Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 aeonix1@... On the road at Edinburg, VA On Oct 23, 2008, at 3:12 PM, David Brady wrote: > Folks, > > After a long drive (500 miles) I detect an electrical odor from > the bedroom area of the bus. It smells like an overheated > transistor, but I can't identify it's origin. Everything seems to > be operating normally, no leaks, smoke, or overheating. The > inverters are at normal temp, the alternator is normal, nothing > is overly hot. Any ideas? > > Thanks, > David Brady > '02 LXi, NC > strange odor - Fred Hulse - 10-23-2008 11:39 David
Just be certain you don't have an exhaust leak at or near the bends and swivels of your coaches exhaust system..
I have been told by a couple others that the odor from the engine room insulation will emit that electrical burning smell.
Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown Arizona 1997 Wanderlodge WLWB41 strange odor - David Brady - 10-23-2008 11:48 Thanks Pete, I neglected to mention that the smell is only apparent when underway and dissipates when the coach is parked (regardless of shore power or generator operation). I also noticed that my right turn signal on the toad isn't functioning, the brake lights on the toad do work, which tells me that it's not the bulb. Prevost Car told me that the trailer light module that I use is prone to meltdown and catch fire, so I purchased a draw-tite module for replacement. I haven't installed it yet. This could be the cuplrit. David Brady '02 LXi, NC Pete Masterson wrote:
strange odor - David Brady - 10-23-2008 12:48 Thanks Fred, That's good information. I'll take a second look at the exhaust system for leaks and at the insulation for signs of burning. David Brady '02 LXi, NC Fred Hulse wrote:
strange odor - Pete Masterson - 10-24-2008 06:51 That's a real possibility. I've had the diode for the right turn signal on my toad apparently 'die' and I need to get another one to replace it. It seems that these components are made particularly cheaply -- which means they don't work very well or for very long. Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 aeonix1@... On the road at Max Meadows, VA On Oct 23, 2008, at 7:48 PM, David Brady wrote: > Thanks Pete, > > I neglected to mention that the smell is only apparent when > underway and > dissipates when the coach is parked (regardless of shore power or > generator > operation). > > I also noticed that my right turn signal on the toad isn't > functioning, the brake > lights on the toad do work, which tells me that it's not the bulb. > Prevost Car > told me that the trailer light module that I use is prone to > meltdown and catch > fire, so I purchased a draw-tite module for replacement. I haven't > installed it > yet. This could be the cuplrit. > > David Brady > '02 LXi, NC > > Pete Masterson wrote: >> >> From time to time, I encounter that "electrical smell" in one part >> or another of the coach. There are electrical distribution panels >> (12vdc) above the windshield and in the rear closet (as well as below >> the driver's window on newer coaches or across the front of the coach >> on the wide body models). >> >> Several times, when I smelled "the smell" I've searched and checked >> high-and-low but have not found anything clearly identifiable as the >> source. (Although I note that the last electrical smell was coming >> from somewhere near the inverters and one of my two is apparently no >> longer inverting -- I'll find out tomorrow when I disconnect and hit >> the road.) >> >> So, I don't really have any suggestions -- and it is likely not a >> good thing going on -- but it may be weeks (months or years) before >> something actually occurs. Indeed, it took two years from the time >> that my Kool-o-matic started having some odd symptoms until it >> actually failed (and I've now clearly determined that the K-o-m motor >> is dead). There wasn't (much) smell to the fan going out, if only >> that any smell it generated went out the vent when the fan was >> running... >> >> I've also determined that appearances can be very misleading. For >> example, in the case of the Kool-o-matic, I'd have sworn (after >> inspection) that the thermostat was defective (due to a considerable >> build up of 'crud' on the back side of the lower 1/3 of the circuit >> board) -- but after a very thorough troubleshooting session, I proved >> to my satisfaction that the thermostat works just fine, despite the >> appearance. >> >> Pete Masterson >> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 >> aeonix1@... >> On the road at Edinburg, VA >> >> On Oct 23, 2008, at 3:12 PM, David Brady wrote: >> >> > Folks, >> > >> > After a long drive (500 miles) I detect an electrical odor from >> > the bedroom area of the bus. It smells like an overheated >> > transistor, but I can't identify it's origin. Everything seems to >> > be operating normally, no leaks, smoke, or overheating. The >> > inverters are at normal temp, the alternator is normal, nothing >> > is overly hot. Any ideas? >> > >> > Thanks, >> > David Brady >> > '02 LXi, NC >> > >> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG. Version: >> 7.5.405 / Virus Database: 270.8.0/1715 - Release Date: 10/9/2008 >> 12:00 AM > > |