New Trailer, New Slide, New to Slides, New Problem

[tragusa3]

1 month old Surveyor 285BHS. The slide has worked fine for about a dozen uses. I went out this evening to extend it for the first time in a week and got nothing. I push the switch and there is no noise at all.

From online reading I suspected an inline fuse. However, I can not find one. There was an access panel just behind the A frame that opened to reveal an electrical junction area, but no fuse in there.

I also suspect the batteries aren't at full charge. The panel in the bathroom says the battery was 3 of 4 lights. All the lights in the trailer come on nice and strong. And, I plugged to shore power with no luck. I will leave plugged all night to see if the extra charge overnight will change things.

The main fuse box is fine.

Another curious thing is that the LED lights on my power tongue jack are on constantly, even after I use the switch to turn it off. Maybe these things are related? Probably.

I'm under warranty, and I plan to take to the dealer Saturday, but it will ruin a weekend trip, and possibly more if the dealer needs time.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Dave_Monica]

I can't find the model you indicated on-line...is it a 2015 model?

When you were in the access panel by the A frame, did you see a resettable circuit breaker...if so push the button on the side.

Dave

[tragusa3]

Dave, I may have seen something like this. I'll look again when the sun comes up. I didn't expect it to look like that, and I would not have recognized that black tab as a "button".

Here's hoping. Thanks for your response. Hope I return with good news.

[tragusa3]

BTW, it does seem to be a brand new floorpan. Even the Forest River brochures have blanks in some of the specs. I'm having a hard time finding specific info myself.

[tragusa3]

Okay, I got a chance to investigate further. That undercarriage service panel does have a box that looks exactly like that, but no buttons.

I called the dealer and they spent 20 minutes on the phone with me trying to find access panels that might contain in-line fuses. Finally, a tech came on that asked if I had one or two positive wires going to my battery. I have one. He said that means there is no inline fuse. The only fuse is in the breaker box by the fridge, and those are okay.

He said the only other thing it could be is the motor and asked me to make an appointment. They are SIX WEEKS out!!! Crap...that eats up a big chunk of our first year of camping. I told him I was disappointed and he "found" an appointment for May 10th. A little better, but still not acceptable. Besides, he'll likely need to order parts and it will take another month. Hope it doesn't come to that, as I will get ugly about it.

I've been on shore power for 24 hours now, and the LED on the tongue jack has started working correctly. Electric gremlins?

Praying this is the only issue we run across... Haven't used it enough to discover others.

[tragusa3]

I've been snooping around the trailer all morning and think I've located the problem!

There was a blown fuse in the fuse box. A 30 amp. The box was not labelled right, and there are warning lights on all the other fuses. This morning I decided to pull all fuses regardless of how they were labelled.

I am a bit embarrassed for not catching it sooner, and 600 people have read a thread that went nowhere, but hopefully this can serve as a lesson to someone down the road.

Thanks for your input Dave. It has been a learning experience either way.

[Jim in Halifax]

I drew up a electrical diagram for my CC 29RE Silverback.....One breaker labeled wrong and fridge was not connected as shown

[tragusa3]

How typical is it to blow slide fuses? Did I do anything to cause it? Or is it the nature of slides?

[Slideguy]

It is not uncommon to blow fuses when your battery is not fully charged. Low voltage = High amp draw. All slide systems are 12v and designed to operate with batterries at 12v. Be safe!

[TURBS]

I blew my slide fuse "once" after that all my high draw fuse were replaced with auto reseting curcuit breakers.
No problem since.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[TURBS]

This.


TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[tragusa3]

I don't know anything about auto resetting circuit breakers. If this happens to me once more, I'll look for one.

I did just pay $20 for a large variety pack of fuses.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by tragusa3

I don't know anything about auto resetting circuit breakers. If this happens to me once more, I'll look for one.

I did just pay $20 for a large variety pack of fuses.

Any "good" automotive store carries them.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Timex]

Hey Turbs, do the tabs on the fuse break off to adjust the length?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Timex

Hey Turbs, do the tabs on the fuse break off to adjust the length?

Yes!

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Timex]

Any chance(fear) they might break off in the fuse junction(where the fuse plugs into) itself?

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Timex

Any chance(fear) they might break off in the fuse junction(where the fuse plugs into) itself?

There scored for break off but I don't think there's any fear of it breaking off.
I've not had one break off.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by tragusa3

I've been snooping around the trailer all morning and think I've located the problem!

There was a blown fuse in the fuse box. A 30 amp. The box was not labelled right, and there are warning lights on all the other fuses. This morning I decided to pull all fuses regardless of how they were labelled.

I am a bit embarrassed for not catching it sooner, and 600 people have read a thread that went nowhere, but hopefully this can serve as a lesson to someone down the road.

Thanks for your input Dave. It has been a learning experience either way.

I just read this thread this morning and it seems you have found your issues. But in the future you should always hook-up to shore power if you extend your slides or to your tow vehicle with the engine running.

I have had two other 5er's and now my new CC34 RL and they all have said the same thing in the owners manual. Connect to shore power before extending your slides the on board battery may not have enough amperage to move the slides.

See attached note from the Forest Rivers owners manual that I have attached this is from page 22.

NOTE:

We recommend that your unit be plugged into a 120VAC

receptacle or have the generator running, during jack

and slide out operation. This will help ensure that the

battery maintains proper voltage during operation.

[tragusa3]

Thanks for the tip on being plugged into an additional source. I was on straight battery when it blew. I do have a new pair of GC2 6v batteries that were charged at the time. I'll try to make it a habit. Good to know it doesn't indicate a problem!