Our fireplace quit working and with what I learned here and the other Redwood forum, I started troubleshooting. I always like to start at the easiest and work my way through the problem. Breaker wasn't tripped, so that didn't fix it. I removed the lockable drawer beside the fireplace and found no power to the outlet that feeds the fireplace. I shut off the breakers to continue on my journey. I took the cover off the 4x4 box and found the wiring burnt up. The wire nut on the hot wire to that outlet was a different type from the rest, so I assume the previous owner had a problem in the past. Previously we had also tried a small heater plugged in by the television, but it tripped the breaker. We never understood why, as we use that heater in our class C with no issues, even with other things running on that circuit. I found the neutral to that circuit was also burnt up. I was an industrial electrician before I moved behind the desk, and have no issues with wire nuts, but they need to be installed correctly. Most of the wire nuts were loose and the wires were not installed correctly. On the ground wire to the fireplace, the only continuity was the wire insert in the wire nuts. The actual wires didn't even touch. That could have been a bad situation on wires carrying a load. I'm not a big fan of the outlets used in rv's, so I generally get shallow old work boxes and replace them with side screw outlets. So that's where I am now. When we sold the house to go full-time, I got rid of most of my shop junk, so I'm gonna have to get a box, outlet, and about a foot of Romex to replace the outlet. I urge everyone to check the condition of the wiring in that 4x4 box if they have one. Just be sure to turn off your breakers and check for absence of voltage before messing with it. I am thankful I didn't have to get at the Anderson connectors. From what I've read, one has to drop the coreplast on the street side rear corner. I have everything blocked up, and would have to jack up with the levelers. Pain in the butt in my situation with septic hard piped in, etc.
Ground wire.
Burnt wiring
Sorry, pic didn't attach.
That blue box was not used by Redwood in the production of your Redwood. That was done later. Redwood would have used the Anderson or amp connector type plugs to join the wires or they would have used a 4 X 4 metal junction box with a metal lid. Notice that the strain relief tabs are broken off when the wiring was inserted. The blue box is actually a nail on type and they wouldn't have used it either. Rookie job at best. I would say you were lucky and glad to have found it yourself.
Chris & Maria
2012 36RL
Thanks for that info. I noticed that the tabs were broken off, thereby actually violating code because of the wires not being secured. I'm permanently parked, so all that shouldn't be an issue. But nothing is forever, so I think I will redo everything, going back to the metal box and using Romex connectors and SO cord strain reliefs. Never know when I get an HDT, hook up and start traveling with it.
I agree that it is definitely an after market job, done by previous owner possibly.. Looks like you are a very lucky person to find that
Blessed, not lucky!
Wow! Just realized I started this topic in the wrong place. I apologise for that. Can a moderator move it to the correct place?
Where is the 4X4 box located where you discovered the wiring problem, for those of us with nominal electrical experience?
On my 36RL, it's behind the drawer on the bottom left of the fireplace. Mine has a lock on it. I assume the lock is factory. You must remove the drawer out of the cabinet, then you can see the box and the outlet for the fireplace against the wall.
But remember, as noted above, his is not original.
