Really bad news from Dale & Bea Frahm

[Ken H.]

Ken,

You're probably right about the flames having already progressed by the
time the photos were made. But I do STILL intend to move my battery
cutoffs, or at least parallel switches to beside the exit door. Since I
put those dumb keyed latches on the front hatches, I'd probably be out
there trying to find a way to get to the switches.

Ken H.

>
> I noticed that but I assumed that the pictures were not taken when the
> fire started. Mine would have looked like that if I let it burn for a
> while.
> I think your pull cable would have been accessible when the fire first
> started.
> --
>
>

 

[jim wagner]

Our battery shutoff switchs are by the door. The solenoids are easily mounted by the batteries. It is easy to test the system.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/battery-slide-26amp-3b-shut-offs/p20029-manual-shut-off-switches-in-the-on-position.html

Jim Wagner
Brook Park, oh
76 GMC500
71 Vega355
69 Vette383

 

[Ken B]

> Ken,
>
> You're probably right about the flames having already progressed by the
> time the photos were made. But I do STILL intend to move my battery
> cutoffs, or at least parallel switches to beside the exit door. Since I
> put those dumb keyed latches on the front hatches, I'd probably be out
> there trying to find a way to get to the switches.
>
> Ken H.

I do not understand how you would do that without running some longer heavy cables and introducing some additional voltage loss. I realize that you
have a 23 and the door is closer to the batteries than on 26 ft coaches. I would not run something electrical like a switch and solenoid to the door
because you want something that does not require electricity to maintain the battery disconnected state as things burn. Maybe a long mechanical cable
at the door pulling on the battery disconnect switch near the battery.

An electrical short is what kept things burning on mine. I had an electrical safety circuit designed to shut off the electric fuel pump when the
engine was off. What I did not count was the wiring melting and starting the electric fuel pump running again.

Laurie heard the pump running while I was fighting the fire and told me. I opened the passenger hood and killed all of the engine side 12 volt
electric in the coach. That stopped the pump that was feeding gasoline on the fire. The pump did not cause the fire, but it kept it going.

I really like your AFFF extinguisher installation. It is pointed at the best area for deployment and has enough capacity to cover everything in the
engine area. It also uses the best suppressant for oil and gasoline fires (AFFF) and does not require any electricity to deploy it.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[Ken B]

How about something like the with a non-conductive link in a cable attached to it. They are available for both side and top post batteries. The ones
I have are much bigger and heavier but I have never been able to find them anywhere. They were installed by a now deceased PO.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Battery-Disconnect-Cut-off-Knife-Blade-Switch-Side-Post-HEAVY-DUTY-SHUT-OFF/32842089901.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000014.4.37d8e61cZJz2ks&traffic_analysisId=recommend_3035_null_null_null&scm=1007.13338.98644.000000000000000&pvid=6a30a1dc-6837-4f9c-87bb-0bbae4d8a567&tpp=1

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[dave king]

In the latest LMC truck catalogue, disconnect switches are on page 138 of the
Chevrolet & GMC pickup and SUV catalogue.
You do know who LMC are, don't you?
Six different styles of disconnects. You may choose to NOT use the one
with the bypass if you only use it for EMERGENCIES
If you don't know who LMC are, look them up and get on their catalogue mailing
list. They have TONS of neat stuff, applicable to all makes and models
of ANYTHING (including Race cars) and of course motorhomes.
--
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

[jerry burt]

You can access the catalogues online also. I haven't found any motorhome specific listings but there are a lot or interchangeable parts and
accessories.
http://www.lmctruck.com/gmc/
--
Patti & Jerry Burt
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands -
77 Palm Beach
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS

 

[Ken B]

Dave, I have heard of LMC. Located in Kansas or Iowa I believe. I have been over there before but navigating their catalog and web site was a real
pain. After screwing around a while I did find their disconnect switches. They had the same ones that I have seen on Ali-express, ebay, and Amazon.
Thanks for the site reference.

The ones I have are on my coach are about 6" long made of porcelain and the lever looks like it was made out of 3/4" hard copper tubing with the ends
flattened.

Thanks again for reminding me of that web site.

Ken B
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[dave king]

The LMC paper catalogues are good for use in the "reading room" Also known as the
THRONE Room (LOL.
The catalogues are available for Chevrolet/GMC trucks &SUV 1947-2013,
Ford trucks & SUV 1948-2013 and Dodge trucks & SUV
1973-2015.
Although they are not motorhome specific they do carry lots of things that crossover
from trucks to motorhomes.

--
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

[1976GMC]

I had the same concern about having to draw power to maintain ether connect or disconnect battery system state. However, you look at the Intelitec
relay, they do not require power to be in ether ON or OFF state. They only require power when switching between states. I believe it solves the issue
you're concerned about providing power to have the battery disconnected, or having to run a heavy gauge battery wire to and from the door.

https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/electrical-plumbing-lp-gas/rv-electrical-systems-and-accessories/battery-switches-relays/rv-converters_002733?jt=1&jap=1o2&js=1&jsid=36859&jcpid=8a8ae4cd48005458014820e2e0170ec4&jkId=gcp:se_36859p_335804008725:ag_15211804824:cp_194253624:n_g:d_c:cr_52737673584&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs9zUpLm62gIVjsVkCh0FHgKwEAQYAiABEgK0uvD_BwE

--
Vadim Jitkov
'76 Glenbrook 26'
Pullman, WA

 

[Ken B]

> I had the same concern about having to draw power to maintain ether connect or disconnect battery system state. However, you look at the
> Intelitec relay, they do not require power to be in ether ON or OFF state. They only require power when switching between states. I believe it
> solves the issue you're concerned about providing power to have the battery disconnected, or having to run a heavy gauge battery wire to and from
> the door.
>
>
> https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/electrical-plumbing-lp-gas/rv-electrical-systems-and-accessories/battery-switches-relays/rv-converters_002733?jt=1
> &jap=1o2&js=1&jsid=36859&jcpid=8a8ae4cd48005458014820e2e0170ec4&jkId=gcp:se_36859p_335804008725:ag_15211804824:cp_194253624:n_g:
> d_c:cr_52737673584&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs9zUpLm62gIVjsVkCh0FHgKwEAQYAiABEgK0uvD_BwE

That is exactly what I was thinking about but did not mention it because I did not know anyone made such a thing.

Thank you very much. I'll have to study exactly how it works.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[Ken B]

> > I had the same concern about having to draw power to maintain ether connect or disconnect battery system state. However, you look at the
> > Intellitec relay, they do not require power to be in ether ON or OFF state. They only require power when switching between states. I believe it
> > solves the issue you're concerned about providing power to have the battery disconnected, or having to run a heavy gauge battery wire to and from
> > the door.
> >
> >
> > https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/electrical-plumbing-lp-gas/rv-electrical-systems-and-accessories/battery-switches-relays/rv-converters_002733?jt=1
> > &jap=1o2&js=1&jsid=36859&jcpid=8a8ae4cd48005458014820e2e0170ec4&jkId=gcp:se_36859p_335804008725:ag_15211804824:cp_194253624:n_g:
> > d_c:cr_52737673584&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs9zUpLm62gIVjsVkCh0FHgKwEAQYAiABEgK0uvD_BwE
>
> That is exactly what I was thinking about but did not mention it because I did not know anyone made such a thing.
>
> Thank you very much. I'll have to study exactly how it works.


I did some searching and found this it appears to be the same one only cheaper and free shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/INTELLITEC-0100055000-Battery-Disconnect-Relay/dp/B072N8NYN2

And here it is even cheaper with a better explanation of operation and current carrying specs.

https://www.prvparts.com/product-p/41968.htm

Here it a video of the internals of the thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGxJs5XaSWY

Hopefully Colonel Ken will look at these and see if he can use one.
I can see how I could use one for my rear batteries on a 26 ft coach and mount the control switch near the door in the Onan control panel. I need to
f9uge out how to kill the 12 volt side of the converter at the same time. I'll have to think on that one.


--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana