Snake in Fuse Panel ML199 2019

[Catsailor]

Plugged into shore power but the batteries keep going flat. Checked the fuses and they seem to be ok. Decided to dig deeper and removed the fuse panel cover and found what looks like a snake under the bottom. Its been there a least over the winter. Did have a 2 foot Eastern Fox snake enter through the slide I believe last year which my wife found reaching into the shelf under the TV. I grabbed it and escorted it out side.

So how to remove the panel and clean this? Will disconnect from power and batteries before attempting. Any help appreciated. I'll try and add a photo.

[vampress_me]

Hubby says “step 1, grab new shorts. Step 2, Don’t tell your wife about it or you might be buying a new camper”.

On the serious side, I’m sorry I have no help for you, but the rest of the guys that will chime in are good with info to help. But, holy cow that is something I would not want to see in my camper!

[dutchmensport]

Yikes! Finding something like that would totally freak me out! I'm assuming what is remaining is the shed skin. Soooooo?????? Where's the live body????

[Catsailor]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

Yikes! Finding something like that would totally freak me out! I'm assuming what is remaining is the shed skin. Soooooo?????? Where's the live body????

Oh it is the dead body and seems to be wrapped around some components. Tried pulling it out but it is stuck. First thought it was a Five Lined Skink but it’s longer

[jasin1]

YEP! …. time to sell the trailer ….or relocate after removing EVERY single component in the trailer and putting it back together

your probably fine but i hate snakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClwIj3x24Q4

[Max23]

As funny/not funny as this is. There is no way I'm telling my wife about this post. Probably never get her back in our camper again!

[bobbecky]

OK, would you rather have a nice snake in your rig or mice?

[Catsailor]

Originally Posted by bobbecky

OK, would you rather have a nice snake in your rig or mice?

Snake for sure.

This thread is going downhill with snake comments! What I want is fuse panel/inverter advice. I need my batteries to keep the fridge running

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Catsailor

Snake for sure.

This thread is going downhill with snake comments! What I want is fuse panel/inverter advice. I need my batteries to keep the fridge running

Well good luck with your issue but you were the one who brought up the snake first…then without anyone asking you told us about ANOTHER snake that got inside the trailer…is the trailer stored in the woods?…I would remove the converter and look it over carefully..you will probably find the reverse polarity fuses blown or a wire burned off of a terminal somewhere when the snake got electrocuted

[Catsailor]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Well good luck with your issue but you were the one who brought up the snake first…then without anyone asking you told us about ANOTHER snake that got inside the trailer…is the trailer stored in the woods?…I would remove the converter and look it over carefully..you will probably find the reverse polarity fuses blown or a wire burned off of a terminal somewhere when the snake got electrocuted

Well I brought up the snake because I think it is the problem, second snake was an incident around the same time I think. Trailer is at my cottage in a grass area with no trees near.

I'd like to remove the converter and just looking for advice.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Catsailor

Well I brought up the snake because I think it is the problem, second snake was an incident around the same time I think. Trailer is at my cottage in a grass area with no trees near.

I'd like to remove the converter and just looking for advice.

I would start with taking pictures of all the wire connections and mark any wires that you may get confused about later..maybe you could just pulle the entire assembly out without fully disconnecting all the wires to see that back and get to the reverse polarity fuses..it may have shorted 12 volt pos to ground and blown one of those fuses on the back of the converter or wherever they are located

edit : never mind i see them in the picture and you probably checked them already…good luck and hope you figure it out soon

[chuckster57]

The bottom half is the converter. It will have 120VAC wires and 2 12VDC wires. Just follow them. There should be enough slack to pull the entire top portion out.

[markdol1]

Originally Posted by Catsailor

Plugged into shore power but the batteries keep going flat. Checked the fuses and they seem to be ok. Decided to dig deeper and removed the fuse panel cover and found what looks like a snake under the bottom. Its been there a least over the winter. Did have a 2 foot Eastern Fox snake enter through the slide I believe last year which my wife found reaching into the shelf under the TV. I grabbed it and escorted it out side.

So how to remove the panel and clean this? Will disconnect from power and batteries before attempting. Any help appreciated. I'll try and add a photo.

No big deal like folks said, take pictures of things before you start ,get as much of the dry stuff off it with a pick or forceps and get a couple of cans of electro wash cleaner and soak it well and use a toothbrush on the rest .it will be clean as new and wont hurt any components. !MAKE SURE TO DISCONNECT ALL POWER TO THE UNIT FIRST.

[Catsailor]

Thanks. Hope it restores battery charging but I think it may be pooched

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Catsailor

Thanks. Hope it restores battery charging but I think it may be pooched

With bad luck like you have had, here in Texas we would say, "you dun been snakebit". (sorry, can't help myself)

[Catsailor]

Thanks for nothing

[sourdough]

Getting access to the converter has been discussed as well as being sure power (both AC and DC) is off (I've got lots of cabling behind my power center). I've dealt with a "fried" snake (not in the RV) and they can get pretty crispy. Their skin is tough. If it's fried enough it will just disintegrate. Like Markdol1 said, once you get to the back you will probably need to hydrate the piece parts then they'll come off pretty easy. I'm not familiar with the product Mark mentioned but just make sure it's non conductive - dry out whatever you use and then let it dry further. Look for any apparent burn/hot places, check fuses etc. and give it a whirl. I would disconnect the batteries and just check the output then work forward.

On a side note, with an apparent snake problem have you gone through the underside of the trailer to seal all gaps and entry possibilities? They're as "squishy" as a mouse.

[Catsailor]

Thanks for that. I plan to go under when the monsoon lets up. They seem to be tight underneath but I suspect the slide out as an entry point. We have tall snakes here.��

[tallen]

Originally Posted by Catsailor

Plugged into shore power but the batteries keep going flat. Checked the fuses and they seem to be ok. Decided to dig deeper and removed the fuse panel cover and found what looks like a snake under the bottom. Its been there a least over the winter. Did have a 2 foot Eastern Fox snake enter through the slide I believe last year which my wife found reaching into the shelf under the TV. I grabbed it and escorted it out side.

So how to remove the panel and clean this? Will disconnect from power and batteries before attempting. Any help appreciated. I'll try and add a photo.

I am sorry to hear about what you found, but the converter is made to come out of that bottom half of the breaker box. Just look for the screws that are holding it in and remove them and slowly pull out the converter. I agree with others on turning off the power, but if you can't then just proceed slowly. I bet there is a fuse on that converter blown since, everything works but the batteries are still going flat. Best of luck.

[Catsailor]

Ok I got the panel out and the snake. The shelf above the area is poorly cut to fit and a snake could have come in there after getting the slide out. Can't say enough about LACK of QUALITY and PRIDE OF WORKMANSHIP with KEYSTONE. Cut outs and sawdust was left in the walls. Like most installations screws are crooked and the heads stripped out.

Looks like the snake was in there for a while and shed one skin. It apparently shorted out the circuitry judging by the green corrosion and fried the snake.
There is a warning sticker referring to the heat sink being ungrounded but it is upside down and hard to read as you pull the unit out.



four pics attached and I'll add more