Had a nice trip to Matagorda Bay Nature Park 2 weeks ago. Closing up after a relaxing week, I turned off the refrigerator so we could disconnect - all went well. Drove out of the park and I remembered that I'd forgotten to turn refrigerator back on for LP connection for drive home. Partner walked back to turn on 'fridge and it wouldn't connect. We then remembered the water pump wouldn't turn on as we were closing up - tried the levels control panel - no power there either. The front console had no power either so I had no back camera view of the toad. Then I smell propane inside - and we're already on the road. We pulled over and turned all propane OFF. Smell dissipated within few minutes and we drove home. I'm not a mechanic nor very mechanic-minded. Any thoughts from those of you who are???
2018 Winnebago Vista 32YE 12V Power Loss and Propane Smell
Thread Summary
Original Member Title: Refrigerator, Levels Monitor, etc Issue 2018 Vista 32YE
This AI-generated summary may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the full thread for complete details.
A member with a 2018 Winnebago Vista 32YE reported losing power to the refrigerator, water pump, levels monitor, and front console after a trip, followed by a propane smell inside the RV. Multiple experienced RVers quickly identified that these systems all rely on 12V DC power and suggested the likely culprit was the accidental activation of the “salesman’s switch” (house battery disconnect), which is located in the stairwell on this model. This switch, if turned off, would explain the loss...
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klook
Senior Member
All of those things are controlled by 12v dc. There should have been no propane to smell if the controls were not working. Several things need to happen before the gas valve will open. Sounds like the Storage switch was pushed or a breaker in the DC line tripped or a fuse or 2 blew. Depends how yours is configured.
be happy
Senior Member
Wow you have alot going on. First off we need to know what coach you have. The more information you provide the better folks will beable to help.
In reading your post the first thought was you pushed what is called the "salesmans switch" on the dash. This cuts off most of the 12v stuff. As the frig. works on 12v it would not work also.
The smell of propane could be something as simple as the stove not turned off completely. Before you turned off all propane, did you check the stove knobs. By turning off proplane I am taking it you went and turned off the value at the tank.
In reading your post the first thought was you pushed what is called the "salesmans switch" on the dash. This cuts off most of the 12v stuff. As the frig. works on 12v it would not work also.
The smell of propane could be something as simple as the stove not turned off completely. Before you turned off all propane, did you check the stove knobs. By turning off proplane I am taking it you went and turned off the value at the tank.
SO appreciate your thoughts. The coach is 2018 Winnebago Vista 32YE. The stove and oven knobs were all off, I checked. I did not check the breakers as I was so freaked by the propane smell. I've never heard of the 'salesmans switch' - definitely off to the shop Winnie is going! Thanks again.
creativepart
Senior Member
Site Team
RV LIFE Pro
The “Salesman “Swich” is just a term for the House (or Coach) Battery Disconnect. On older models it was sometimes on the dashboard, but it is in the stairwell of your 2018 Vista.
A trip to the Winnebago dealer may not be needed. Of course, it’s hard for us to know. But it does sound like you turned off the House battery disconnect. Because doing so would yield all the things you mentioned EXCEPT the propane smell. However, if your thermostat was set to run the furnace you might get a temporary propane smell for a minute or two.
If it was my RV I’d wait on the service appointment for now and do more checking. But you should do what you feel best.
Morich
Senior Member
Too many things reported to begin as several are in conflict with other parts of the report.
Propane smell might have been error in ID of the smell if the stove is not a factor. Possibly when stopping odor from the engine exhaust, etc.?
To get the gas valve on the furnace to open, the sail switch has to allow power to go to the gas valve but before that happens, the sail switch has to verify good air flow. Battery disconnect turned off does not let furnace blower start, so no airflow and no gas valve opens!
But when the leveling system will not light up, that doesn't involve the coach but uses chassis battery!
Rear monitor? Is that not also a chassis power item?
But if there is no chassis battery power there is no driving!
Unless there was a massive power supply problem involving both chassis AND coach which then cleared itself, the next most logical idea is confusion!
And that confusion is one that most of us have had at different times. Very easy if the RV is new to us!
I would first suggest checking the manual to get a better idea on operations of any one specific item, as it seems too many problems for it to be mechanical issues.
I would suggest doing some looking first to get a better idea of what to report if you do go to a shop. Suggest pickling one single item that you feel good about knowing what to expect and look for problems on that one item. Something like turn the propane on and check for smell, If none and the propane detector is not honking, try the stove burners to verify good gas flow. If that works, leave the propane on and mark it off as a problem! I don't suggest trying to get the frig to go on propane just yet as it involves a number of things like power that you need to know are good before trying one that involves both power and gas flow!
It's hard to deal with a nest full of hornets but we can all figure out what to do with one crawling on the floor?
I often treat RV the same way and just deal with the easier problems until things begin to make sense!
And that's where asking the group can help.
Don't feel I'm picking on you when I suggest confusion, as we all get snagged on new things. My cell phone changed a couple weeks ago and I suddenly did not know how to answer a simple phone call!
Propane smell might have been error in ID of the smell if the stove is not a factor. Possibly when stopping odor from the engine exhaust, etc.?
To get the gas valve on the furnace to open, the sail switch has to allow power to go to the gas valve but before that happens, the sail switch has to verify good air flow. Battery disconnect turned off does not let furnace blower start, so no airflow and no gas valve opens!
But when the leveling system will not light up, that doesn't involve the coach but uses chassis battery!
Rear monitor? Is that not also a chassis power item?
But if there is no chassis battery power there is no driving!
Unless there was a massive power supply problem involving both chassis AND coach which then cleared itself, the next most logical idea is confusion!
And that confusion is one that most of us have had at different times. Very easy if the RV is new to us!
I would first suggest checking the manual to get a better idea on operations of any one specific item, as it seems too many problems for it to be mechanical issues.
I would suggest doing some looking first to get a better idea of what to report if you do go to a shop. Suggest pickling one single item that you feel good about knowing what to expect and look for problems on that one item. Something like turn the propane on and check for smell, If none and the propane detector is not honking, try the stove burners to verify good gas flow. If that works, leave the propane on and mark it off as a problem! I don't suggest trying to get the frig to go on propane just yet as it involves a number of things like power that you need to know are good before trying one that involves both power and gas flow!
It's hard to deal with a nest full of hornets but we can all figure out what to do with one crawling on the floor?
I often treat RV the same way and just deal with the easier problems until things begin to make sense!
And that's where asking the group can help.
Don't feel I'm picking on you when I suggest confusion, as we all get snagged on new things. My cell phone changed a couple weeks ago and I suddenly did not know how to answer a simple phone call!
Visited a repair shop yesterday to 1st determine if they were able to pinpoint the problem. A VERY knowledgeable service-lady laid out possibilities that we should check first. That 'switch' was first on her list to check and explained that the propane smell could be residual if the pilot was trying to light but there was no power to the igniter (or something like that). Anyway, it all made sense - just like all y'all's thoughts. Went back to Winnie - the switch was OFF. The simplest things can cause me the biggest problems. The residual propane smell will only be tested this weekend as we start cleaning and prepping for next trip. Thank YOU all. I've learned a lot - which I'll probably forget. So until next time. Safe travels!!
creativepart
Senior Member
Site Team
RV LIFE Pro
Your initial post had you wondering how the fridge was “connected” to these other things. And the thing to know about this is that while the fridge and even the furnace don’t seem to share much in common with the water pump etc, they all have 12v controls or operate on 12v.
So when you’re expecting the fridge to switch to LP operation it can’t do that if you inadvertently turn off all 12v power to your coach, because the fridge’s control board - that controls the mode the fridge operates on - works on 12v.
Seemingly different devices can all be connected via their operating controls, themostats, or motors.
FYI, it’s easy to accidentally turn off that house disconnect switch. I seem to do it repeatedly when I’m turning the stairs on or off. Both buttons are near each other and look alike.
So when you’re expecting the fridge to switch to LP operation it can’t do that if you inadvertently turn off all 12v power to your coach, because the fridge’s control board - that controls the mode the fridge operates on - works on 12v.
Seemingly different devices can all be connected via their operating controls, themostats, or motors.
FYI, it’s easy to accidentally turn off that house disconnect switch. I seem to do it repeatedly when I’m turning the stairs on or off. Both buttons are near each other and look alike.
Morich
Senior Member
And for the mistakes?
Keep in mind that the only folks making mistakes are the ones who are actually DOING something!
The reverse is also true. The only folks who never make mistakes are likely NOT doing much!
There's a good reason why the linemen in football rarely fumble!
But they rarely score, either!
Keep in mind that the only folks making mistakes are the ones who are actually DOING something!
The reverse is also true. The only folks who never make mistakes are likely NOT doing much!
There's a good reason why the linemen in football rarely fumble!
But they rarely score, either!
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