Tighten lug screws on converter

[Hobos3]

After reading and seeing the photos of melted wires on a couple of Intetilipower converters I disconnected batteries, screened off my solar panel, unhooked shore power and started tightening the wire lugs. ALL of the lugs were very loose. I tightened and waited about an hour went back and tightened again. I found more tightening needed. Did this three times until they were secure. Electrician informed the stranded wires used which are correct can do this. The factory does set them tight but they slowly loosened up from heating and cooling and road shaking.. So everyone should at least check their converters for loose wires. It's easy and eliminates at least one possible melt down or fire hazard. Our Big Sky is 4 years old and has about 50,000 miles including to Alaska and back. Lots of road shaking. Yep, lots of other "stuff" has loosened, broke or fell off. It's just maintenance and parts. We're still as good or better than new. So dig out the screw drivers and have at it.

[swanny]

Warning just don't tighten the screws!!! remove the wire from the connection and check that enough insulation was removed. I did mine when new and found so little insulation was removed that some of the connections were tightened down on the insulation or part of it. I found some where only about an 1/8" was removed.

[DonandJudy_12]

how do you access the lugs? I have never tried to access the converter in any rv I've owned so I am really I the dark- any and all pointers appreciated- Don

[shovelhead86]

Where would I look to find the converter on my 2007 3475 Montana?

[rohrmann]

You don't need to get to the converter, just the panel that has the 120 volt and the 12 volt connections. The breakers have screws where the wires are attached that need to be tight and at the 12 volt fuses, those wires should be checked tight.

[Hobos3]

The wire lugs are all on the front of the Intellipower convers. You remove the cover (after disconnections get both 110 shore power and battery power) and the lugs are visible. My converter has 5 screws on the cover; 4 on the corners and 1 in the middle. Your converter is usually a black panel with a pop open cover to access the fuses.

[kozzy]

good tip, when I reomoved my cover to install my EAS, I found a few there were loose, and just tightened them all to be safe.

[Art-n-Marge]

I have an '06 3500RL and found my converter behind one of the removable panels in the basement area. I'm sure each floorplan may differ. When looking into the basement there is a wall that is at the rear of the opening. There are three panels and they are held in place by some plastic catches that can be rotated to clear the panel so the panel can be removed. The converter was in there as was a whole lot of manufacturing debris (sawdust, loose papters, pieces of wire, etc.) I did find most connectors needed some tightening down as did many of the outlets and I took a shop vac to clean up. I'm sure a combination of manufacturing carelessness and vibrations of the rig in tow all add to things coming loose. I am due to get into every crevice and panel and tighten things down once again.

[kdeiss]

tightening breaker terminal screws in you residential breaker panel is also a good thing to do! Remember to turn off the main breaker first!