RV Technical Repair Tip

OK, so you have a problem with your RV.  First step, if it is leaking, turn off the source.  If it is sparking, turn off the power.  Okay, now take a deep breath and get a cup of coffee or a cold glass of something to drink.  The first order of business is to stop the problem from doing any more harm so you will have time to think.  The second order of business is to do no more harm to your RV than has already happened.  After you have finished that coffee or cold drink and have taken time to calm down, look at the problem.  Lots of times it is easy to overlook the obvious.  If it is electrical, is it plugged all the way in?  If it is powered by 12Volt DC, go to the battery and make sure you have 12 volts; then a step at a time follow the power.  RV repair is not magic or Voodoo.  About half the time it is a simple problem of rehooking or resecuring to make something work.  So Calm down and Stop, Look, Listen.  A lot of the time the solution becomes simple with a little bit of logical investigation. GOOD LUCK and Happy Stress Free RVing!

                                            4/9/2008

First things first

Care for those Battery's

Most of the systems on an RV rely on 12 volt direct current.  The attitude of many RV owners is out of sight, out of mind.  Well, regular preventive maintenance will extend the life of the battery and prevent all kinds of related problems.  First look at the battery -- does it have corrosion built up around the terminals?  That is a sure fire sign of a problem around the corner.  Take the terminal apart, being careful around the positive terminal that you do not allow the wrench to contact the positive terminal and any other metal.  Clean it up real good using a wire brush and then put it back together tight, and spray with some battery maintenance sealer.

 

Now carefully take the top battery caps off, being very careful because you are dealing with battery acid here, and if the liquid does not come up to the  line or 1/2 inch to the top, fill with distilled water.  For those rigs with multi-battery banks, I have found that buying a pump-up insecticide plastic sprayer makes things easy by filling 1/2 full with distilled water. Buy a new one for this and do not try to be cheap and clean an old one.  If you run your inverter as you are running down the road, check the batteries after you set up camp; otherwise ,check them monthly and a few days before you hit the road again.

 

Happy Camping  4/19/2008