Loud clicking

[captainmorgan]

My in-laws are staying in my TT at the beach while I had to go back to work for a few days. They called last night around 2am and told me that there is a loud clicking that was keeping them awake. From where they described it was coming from it sound like it is the converter that is clicking.

He unplugged the camper and told me that the noise was still there.

I was reading online that it could be a problem with the battery charging, or a short in a circuit.

Later on he told me he got all the power off and it stopped then he turned everything back on and it is not clicking. I do not know what he did.

I am headed back to the TT tomorrow and wanted to know if there is anything that I should check. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

[ewarnerusa]

To me, clicking sounds like the electric ignition for the propane burner to something like the refrigerator or water heater. Are either of those items set to run on propane and is there propane in the tank? My first suspicion would be the fridge set on gas and the propane tank ran out during the night. It clicked repeatedly while trying to reignite, but could not due to running out of gas. It sounded loud because it is 2 AM and there are no other sounds to drown it out. Although it should have stopped trying after a couple minutes and the fridge control panel would have blinking lights or something to indicate an issue. If this is the case, switch the fridge to electric since it is plugged into shore power.

[captainmorgan]

Originally Posted by ewarnerusa

To me, clicking sounds like the electric ignition for the propane burner to something like the refrigerator or water heater. Are either of those items set to run on propane and is there propane in the tank? My first suspicion would be the fridge set on gas and the propane tank ran out during the night. It clicked repeatedly while trying to reignite, but could not due to running out of gas. It sounded loud because it is 2 AM and there are no other sounds to drown it out. Although it should have stopped trying after a couple minutes and the fridge control panel would have blinking lights or something to indicate an issue. If this is the case, switch the fridge to electric since it is plugged into shore power.

I thought it could be something like that too. The only other thing next to the converter is the furnace. I do not know why the furnace would be trying to light, but the propane was turned off. I was thinking that even if it was trying to light it would eventually stop trying. the sound was loud enough that I could hear it over the phone when they called me. I am still looking into the converter. I saw a video on youtube today where a converter was making the same sound. I know that the camper has a vent in the cabinet there so I wonder if they set anything in front of it causing it to overheat. I have attached a picture that I found online that is link my camper. The arrow is pointing to where they say the noise was coming from. One thing that makes me wonder though is if it is so easy to overheat why is it sitting next to the furnace?

[hddecker]

Captain,

How fast was the clicking? A fast click could be either the furnace or HW trying to light. If memory serves, it would try three attempts and go into lockout mode. That would require a manual reset.

A slower click would most likely be a circuit breaker. The cheap made in China OEM circuit breakers are the cause of many electrical faults. I have replaced all of the OEM curcuit breakers after one felt a part when I touched it. I don't know why it was still working because the bimetal strip was rusted, thankfully it didn't weld it's self shut.

If it happens again I would start pulling the fuses until it stopped, then trace that circuit as best you can. Dutchmen doesn't have the best wiring practices, so you could be looking at a pinched wire that has made contact with ground. I found a 120V wire that has been flopping around in the wall cavity and managed to rub down to bare copper on a way too long screw holding the thermostat on the wall.

Good luck in finding the problem.

[captainmorgan]

I am thinking that it has something to do with the light not working in the bedroom. You have might have seen this on a separate thread that I posted on here, but the bedroom light has power, but voltage drops to 0 when under load. Now just to try looking for all of the wires!

[hddecker]

Yes I remember the light problem. You are probably on the right track, the way the wires criss-cross it could be that. If you can replicate the sound, pull that fuse to see if it stops. Given the symptoms you would think it would blow the fuse.

On of these may help you to get a look in the wall and ceiling cavities.
https://www.amazon.com/Smartphone-En...pection+camera

I hope you can track it down without having take it back the dealer.

[captainmorgan]

Originally Posted by hddecker

Yes I remember the light problem. You are probably on the right track, the way the wires criss-cross it could be that. If you can replicate the sound, pull that fuse to see if it stops. Given the symptoms you would think it would blow the fuse.

On of these may help you to get a look in the wall and ceiling cavities.
https://www.amazon.com/Smartphone-En...pection+camera

I hope you can track it down without having take it back the dealer.

Thanks for the link, I have been wanting one of those anyway.