[Don]

After checking into it some more, it looks like there are portable EMSs that do have overvoltage protection (>135V) not just surge protection. They should protect from campground related neutral issues. I’d expect this to be the more common case.

These EMSs would not be able to protect us from neutral issues somewhere in our coach wiring though. Devices behind a neutral break on our coach could still see up to 240V.

Assuming our coaches are wired correctly to begin with, a newly surfacing problem could be caused by a burned neutral contact in the automatic transfer switch (typ. caused by transferring power while loads are still applied). So, if your 120V devices go up in smoke, have your transfer switch/relay checked.

[Don]

I finally have my brain around this and thanks to Gerald, Russ and Bob.

Now you all really have my attention because if my understanding is complete and accurate every single one of us has a need to be very much aware of the potential we can all have a smoking mass of charred metal if we are not observant. Not attempting to scare everyone, but before we even get our 120/240 volt power to our electric distribution box we have multiple likely failure points for the neutral connection.

Start at the power cord plug. then go to every connector along the way, possibly at the plug on the side of the coach or the cord reel connection, or at the transfer switch. Knowing the high potential for damage is there any way a coach owner can get an attention getting warning of such a loose or open neutral circuit?

[Don]

Check the “sway bar” bushings. Shocks might be OK and their bushings are shot. You may have one or more shock end broken off, causing the shock to bang around. The adjusting bars holding the rear axle in proper alignment might be loose. If you have stabilizator hydraulic supports, their bushings are likely to be missing or shot. Your trans retarder accumulator attachment bracket might be broken. Due to your coach weight you are obligated to use a very high tire pressure. Your king pin bushings might be shot. Your muffler might be loose.

These are things that I can easily think of that might make suspension noises. Some very likely and others not likely at all. Get it up on a lift and look around they will all be easy to spot.

Pay someone for lift or pit time or go to prevost for an oil change and they will find all above items are good or not in the process. Shouldn’t be any extra charge if you don’t want defects recrified.

If you have IFS you may need bushings there.

JIM

[Don]

Thanks Jon,

I will take another look this evening to see if I can locate it or the threaded hole for one. I will also look inside the power panel for the circuit breaker.

Richard

[Don]

While Jim’s method avoids excessive valve stem wear it does not address the second issue with valve stem extensions. Further, his attention to detail with inspections will not show or prevent the second issue.

For years I have been posting photos that show the condition DKO depicted. Yet folks still opt for the easy answer and they think the rubber grommet keeps them safe. Many years ago during a seminar folks from Prevost made it abundantly clear the problem with valve stem extensions is the extra weight they impose causes flexing right at the bend on the valve stem at the wheel. That extra weight eventually causes a failure due to fatigue and when it does fail it is catastrophic usually resulting in a rapid loss of air to the inner drive tire.

We have enough potential when driving to have tire failures, so I’ll opt for using the standard short valve stem and I reach it with a long straight foot tire fill valve and pressure gauge combined. I use fill-through-cap valve stem caps so all I have to do is put the chuck on the valve stem cap and check and fill that way.

[Don]

Thanks for the reply Tom, I’ll check to see if mine uses the same relay.

Hi
BCO, Sometimes when I’m controlling my decent down a long shallow hill, I
don’t necessarily need or want the brake lights to be on for an extended period
of time. If I need the traffic behind me, in those cases, to know I’m slowing
down faster, I’ll tap the break pedal to flash my break lights.

Fred

[Don]

Hey Tom, why would you want them to “not” come on with the jake engaged, I have never heard of that, and it makes me curious.

BCO

[Don]

Jon: I deleted a message I posted in reply to one of his. While I was composing mine, he deleted the post I was attempting to reply to. After I sent my reply, I found out his was deleted. Since mine was directed at his post and he had removed it, I removed mine as nobody would have been able to figure out what I was talking about.

Hope this clears that up…

[Don]

Some of those boots protect non-greasable bushings (as opposed to ball joints) from dirt. I question the necessity of replacing those.

[Don]

Thank You Very Much !

[Don]

“Nothing that age sits upright?”

It is just a 77 model Jon, hey, come to think of it, now that you mention it, uh, ah, …Thump!

BCO

[Don]

My steering problem has been solved. While attending the Prevost Prouds rally in Branson, the Prevost service techs took the time to check out the ZF control module thoroughly. Connections were checked and then voltages to make sure up to specs. Culprit was a bad ground wire and by moving it to another electronic ( home run to battery bank ) ground solved the intermittent issue. My chassis is an 05 pre- multiplex model. Newer models apparantly do not have this same steering assist. One additional recommendation by Prevost was to replace the old inline glass fuse that powers the module with the newer plastic tab style of equal amperage. Reasoning is that the spring loaded glass case fuse type can lose contact and mimic the problem.

[Don]

Private message to Rocky…….This is just between us.

Some of the manure we are spreading is excellent for tomatoes and roses. If you need any, as you can see from the above, this is the place to get it.

Private not to Okie….That isn’t a Prevost. If it was it would be leaning. Nothing that age sits upright very long. Oops, just noticed…it is all the way down so it must be a Prevost.

[Don]

Welcome Rocky, be sure to let us know how the maiden voyage went. Do you know the secret Liberty handshake?

[Don]

Good luck on your new purchase. Visit often and ask a lot of questions. We will strive to answer every question and on certain rare occasions we have been know to actually provide a correct answer.