Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
There is no factory installed DC terminal block in any Aliner I'm aware of.? Some owners have installed terminal blocks, but not the factory.? For the ground, all you have is one or two big wire nuts, and all the negative wires from your appliances go into those.? The ground wire nuts also have the neg battery wire, and neg converter wire going into them.? Those wire nuts are the equivalent of a terminal block, just cheaper and easier for the factory to wire.
?
There will be a wire bolted to the frame that goes into those ground wire nuts somewhere.? But on my Chalet, that was more of a safety feature, and the frame wire could be detached and the appliances would still work due to a wire coming off the neg battery post and going direct to the ground wire nuts.
?
That black wire you mentioned could be the positive power wire coming from the bargman cable, which connects to the tow vehicle.? The bargman wires add a bunch more wire nuts and clutter in the converter area.? If you identify those, the rest of the clutter is a lot more understandable.??
?
If you want to pull apart those wire nuts, and replace them with a real terminal block, you can do that.? You'll need ample space in your converter area, and it will take some time.? Be aware that when you untwist one of those wire nuts, the wires are swirled like soft serve ice cream, and when you untwist them you bend the wires back against the grain, and some of the strands break off.? You will need to cut off and strip another 1/2 inch off each wire before you refasten them.
?
When I upgraded the wires in my trailer, I didn't have the space to put in terminal blocks, so I refastened them with split bolts.? You can get split bolts at home depot.? They go in the same places as the wire nuts, so the install is easy.? You still have to cut off and strip about an inch of each wire, then wrap the whole thing in electrical tape so it looks like a big licorice lolly pop.? Split bolts will not break strands like wire nuts if you unfastened them.? But you do have to unwind the tape, which is more work than if you had a terminal block.
?
That 14 gauge wire should work for your fridge.? They don't list the max current draw in the specs for that fridge, but for other compressor fridges of that size the current draw is far less than 10 amps.? The only question is that compressor startup has a spike in current, and that would be the culprit if a fuse blows.? But if its not blowing 15 amp fuses, your good to go as is.
?
It sounds like you're using the cigarette lighter style DC aux outlet to connect the fridge.? I know on my trailer I have one of those that I use for phone charging. But when the phone was hooked up, the wires are strung across the entry area and countertops, and that's in the way.? So I connected up another DC outlet, did not mount it, and instead stashed it in a cabinet along with the phones while charging, and the outlet and phones are now out of the way.
?
If your DC outlet has wires in the way right now, buy a second DC outlet and use new wires, and hide all the wires and the outlet.? Running new wires is easier than pulling that 14 gauge out of all the zip ties all along its path.
?
On Mon, Aug 26, 2024 at 05:42 PM, <lashru@...> wrote:
DC ground, which I originally expected to be near the converter or right beside the battery on the tongue.
Every source I've found says that each DC circuit should be grounded individually to the ground block (somewhere on the frame).?
As one example of what I'm trying to ... resolve (don't know if it's wrong, but have been told by several electrician types that it is) ... the 12V aux socket pos lead is 10AWG, but the neg lead is just 14 AWG, and ends in this multiple daisy-chained set of wires going somewhere toward the tongue. I haven't been able to trace it fully yet. As dad used to say, gozintas need to equal gozoutas, so I was aiming to replace that 14AWG with 10AWG. Then I discovered all the quick-splicing and now I don't know where to start fixing what.
I do understand the basic idea that if I have up to 15A draw to that socket (this from the reefer mfr), it requires a neg lead of the same capacity to complete the circuit. I had expected the neg lead to run back to the converter (since that is grounded). Instead, there's this white 14AWG wire running into that mess of quick spliced white wires of the same size and thence forward toward the tongue.
Oh. And there's a "spare wire" (black) with a butt connector, but no matching end anywhere in the vicinity. I know it can't be related to the 12V aux socket I'd worked on because the connectors are different.
Aliner has told me unequivocally that they can't supply me with a factory wiring diagram :/
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
DC ground, which I originally expected to be near the converter or right beside the battery on the tongue.
Every source I've found says that each DC circuit should be grounded individually to the ground block (somewhere on the frame).?
As one example of what I'm trying to ... resolve (don't know if it's wrong, but have been told by several electrician types that it is) ... the 12V aux socket pos lead is 10AWG, but the neg lead is just 14 AWG, and ends in this multiple daisy-chained set of wires going somewhere toward the tongue. I haven't been able to trace it fully yet. As dad used to say, gozintas need to equal gozoutas, so I was aiming to replace that 14AWG with 10AWG. Then I discovered all the quick-splicing and now I don't know where to start fixing what.
I do understand the basic idea that if I have up to 15A draw to that socket (this from the reefer mfr), it requires a neg lead of the same capacity to complete the circuit. I had expected the neg lead to run back to the converter (since that is grounded). Instead, there's this white 14AWG wire running into that mess of quick spliced white wires of the same size and thence forward toward the tongue.
Oh. And there's a "spare wire" (black) with a butt connector, but no matching end anywhere in the vicinity. I know it can't be related to the 12V aux socket I'd worked on because the connectors are different.
Aliner has told me unequivocally that they can't supply me with a factory wiring diagram :/
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
I think a self tapping screw is fine if you occasionally back it out and drive it back in to maintain a good contact.?? -- Don DeRyke Sunrise, Florida 2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.? Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine.
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
Eugene,
What type of ground do you change to? ? I also have the self tapping screw for a ground and don¡¯t think it will be good for the long term.
?
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
Hi Gang:
?
I've run heavy stranded ground wires to everything DC. The steel frame is OK, but prone to rust.?
?
Carl.?
On 08/26/2024 8:50 AM EDT Eugene Breindel <efbreindel@...> wrote:
?
?
My original ground was on the tongue on the inside of the frame under the battery. I have helped another friend with their ground problem and found it in that same location. Just a self-trapping screw into the frame with a terminal lug on the end.? I have created a new ground location because I have a lot of battery and increased the wire size of the ground to 4/0 and my solar? connections/inverter are in the area under the driver's side dinette seat.?
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
My original ground was on the tongue on the inside of the frame under the battery. I have helped another friend with their ground problem and found it in that same location. Just a self-trapping screw into the frame with a terminal lug on the end.? I have created a new ground location because I have a lot of battery and increased the wire size of the ground to 4/0 and my solar? connections/inverter are in the area under the driver's side dinette seat.?
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
Are you looking for the DC ground or AC ground?
?
|
Re: Chasing electrical issues in used 2022 Aliner Ranger 10
Hello again.
Making some progress.
Took some major chasing and a bit of luck, but was able to demonstrate reefer was defective, so (eventually) the mfr replaced it. Original owner had not bothered registering it, but it had already been replaced once as defective and the replacement was a refurb that was also defective. Barely within the warranty extension because of that warranty replacement.
Currently searching for the ground block for the trailer. Nothing in the converter manual suggests it doubles as the ground block. Nothing resembling a ground block visible either in any of the cabinets or underneath the trailer body. Generic trailer wiring diagrams (not the 7-pin harness stuff, the internal stuff running 12V functions) suggest there should be a ground block somewhere.
Asking because, right now, there's a bunch of daisy-chained ground and negative wires inside the cabinets that are substantially smaller than they need to be (as in, 10AWG hot but only 16AWG negative).
2022 (23?) Aliner Ranger 10 dual bunk
Thanks -
lashru
|
Re: two burner stove question
Hello, we have the 2024 Evolution, and it came with the optional BBQ. It is a Flameking YSNHT500 RV Or Trailer Mounted BBQ - Motorhome Gas Grill - 214 Sq Inch Cooking Surface.
?
It works ok, but instead of the BBQ, I mount a board on the rack and use a two burner propane stove instead of the BBQ.
?
I found it on a couple of websites, like Acme Tool for about $100.
?
?
Good luck!
?
Ed
|
Agree.? Remember, the insurance company typically hires an assessor who is familiar with big rigs, Class A and the like, not little trailers. So bargain when they show up to do their work and after they submit their (typically low) assessment to your insurer.? You know your camper best, so make them aware of what yours had that might impact the payout. ? If you decide to part it out, the insurer will let you keep the wrecked camper for a relatively small price.? You will own the salvage, but you¡¯ll be responsible for removing parts as demand requires, and packing and shipping as well¡ ? Dave ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡. ? Every person is different, but I would move on...take the insurance settlement, or sell it "as is" for parts, or to someone else to repair.? As an older single female, I would view it as a very prolonged and stressful situation.? Maybe buy another A-liner. Sarah.
|
Thank you so much for all that detail and the photos.
|
"can you explain what is a stub connector?"
By stub connector I meant just a short 1 or 2 foot piece of battery wire bolted to the battery terminal on one end and with an MC4 connector on the other.? You tuck it behind the battery when not in use, and connect it to your suitcase when you hook it up.? The reason for having a stub is so you don't have to open the battery box to connect solar.? Undoing that battery box strap is sort of a hassle.?
?
Here's my setup. The mc4s of the stubs are in the lower left. I have a solar controller bolted to the side of the battery box, so in my case the two stubs go to the controller.? I hook the panel up to that.??
?
?
I also take half an mc4 connector, put a plug of silicone in where the wire would go, and put that in the stub connector when solar is not hooked up, to keep out water and dirt.? Here's one of the connectors with the plug:
?
|
Every person is different, but I would move on...take the insurance settlement, or sell it "as is" for parts, or to someone else to repair.? As an older single female, I would view it as a very prolonged and stressful situation.? Maybe buy another A-liner.
Sarah.
|
Good to know about the corners.? Just waiting to hear from insurance.? Fair market value for 2011 Ranger.? ??? ?
|
Dan, can you explain what is a stub connector? Or show me a picture?
|
Re: How to transport two e-bikes while pulling my Aliner
No, Don.? The 4K tow package on the Maverick allows you to two 4000 pounds.? Sorry for any confusion.
|
I¡¯m very for your accident. And I understand your pain. This was last week and our Rockwood A213 was less than a year old. Derecho level winds hit with no warning. Today they called it a total loss. But now I have to get the tree removed so the salvage team can move it. Good luck with yours.
|
The corner caps are available, but only in pairs, and in black.? I just bought them as well as the spring covers.
-- Don DeRyke Sunrise, Florida 2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.? Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine.
|
A few points that I think aren't being considered here:
?
All Sharlene has to pay is her deductible.? This is not a financial problem.
?
Sharlene will recoup a lot of the money spent on a pro done repair when she sells the trailer.
?
This is a HARD repair to do!? Not something for someone who hasn't done this kind of thing before.
|
Appreciate all the replies.? I think this repair is above my abilities.? Put a new corner on years ago, but that's about it, but I agree it is worth repairing using whatever insurance co. will cover and coming up with balance.? ?Cheaper than buying new one.? One thing the shop mentioned was that he was told corner pieces might not be available any longer.? When I fixed mine they came as a pair from CN, do I have extra one? but wrong side.??
|
Don DeRyke
Carl
Eugene Breindel
Ed Ford
Michael Galvin
