TSB: Inverter Ground to Chassis

[MDuncan]

IMPORTANT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

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ISSUE

Technical service bulletin for trailers equipped with optional inverter potentially with improperly installed chassis ground wire or missing chassis ground wire.

MODELS IMPACTED

Oliver Legacy Elite and Elite II models built on or after January 1. 2014.

INFORMATION

Oliver Travel Trailers was recently alerted that some of it’s trailers may have left the manufacturing facility with an improperly installed or missing chassis grounding wire installed between the optional inverter and the chassis. This presents a potential shock hazard. To our knowledge as of this writing, no person or equipment has suffered injury or loss due to this condition.

RESOLUTION

Owners with installed optional inverters should stop using their inverter (leave switch in OFF position) until such time as a proper inspection and, if need be, subsequent corrective action is performed in accordance with the following procedures. Inspection and corrective action are only to be performed by qualified RV service technicians. For assistance in locating a qualified RV service technician or for any questions regarding this Technical Service Bulletin, contact the Oliver Travel Trailer Service Department using the information provided. Oliver Travel Trailers will reimburse up to a total of $150 once a completed inspection and corrective action work order has been submitted. Work exceeding $150 must be pre-authorized by contacting the Oliver Travel Trailers Service Department.

INSPECTION PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THE INVERTER IS MISSING A CHASSIS GROUND OR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED

1. Go to the main circuit breaker panel located below the dinette and turn off the main 30-amp circuit breaker.

 

2. Unplug all 30-amp power cords from the camper, including the optional 30-amp convenience connection.

 

3. Locate and disconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire from the battery bank.

 

4. Locate the inverter in one of the lower street side compartments.

 

5. Check whether there is a ground wire connected to the chassis ground terminal on the inverter. (Note: See image below)

 

 

6. If there IS a ground wire connected to the chassis ground terminal on the inverter, check that the appropriately-sized ring terminal has been installed and that the ring terminal DOES NOT have a flat washer between it and the chassis of the inverter.

 

7. If the ground wire IS installed with the appropriately-sized ring terminal and there is NOT a flat washer installed between the ring terminal and chassis, the issue is not present in your travel trailer. Please fill out the inspection card included in the mailing or click here to fill out the online inspection card.

 

8. If there is NOT a ground wire connected to the chassis ground terminal on the inverter, please follow the... CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING A MISSING INVERTER CHASSIS GROUND WIRE

 

9. If the ground wire was installed improperly using an ring terminal that is over-sized, please follow the... CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPROPERLY-SIZED RING TERMINAL INSTALLED ON CHASSIS GROUND WIRE

 

10. If a flat washer was installed between the ring terminal and chassis, please follow the... CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLAT WASHER INSTALLED BETWEEN 1/4” RING TERMINAL AND INVERTER CHASSIS

POTENTIAL ITEMS NECESSARY FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION

These items should be commonly available at qualified RV service centers. If needed, Oliver can provide the kits on request.

 

 

1. 8 AWG minimum yellow or green stranded copper wire & split loom

2. (2 qty) ¼” stud copper ring terminal appropriately-sized for grounding wire

3. (1 or 2 qty) ¼” flat washer (stainless recommended)

4. (1 or 2 qty) ¼” lock washer (stainless recommended)

5. (1 or 2 qty) ¼”-20 nut (stainless recommended)

6. (1 qty) vacuum cap

CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING A MISSING INVERTER CHASSIS GROUND WIRE

1. Go to the main circuit breaker panel located below the dinette and turn off the main 30-amp circuit breaker.

 

2. Unplug all 30-amp power cords from the camper, including the optional 30-amp convenience connection if installed.

 

3. Locate and disconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire from the battery bank.

 

4. Locate the inverter in one of the lower street side compartments.

 

5. Locate the chassis ground terminal on the inverter and remove the nut, lock washer, and flat washer from the inverter chassis ground terminal.

 

6. Crimp an appropriately-sized ¼” copper ring terminal to the minimum 8 AWG yellow or green copper wire and slide the attached ring terminal onto the inverter’s chassis ground terminal. (Note: Ensure a flat washer is not between the inverter chassis and ring terminal)

 

 

7. Install the flat washer, followed by the lock washer and then tighten the nut onto the terminal. (Note: See llustration above for proper hardware configuration)

 

 

8. Locate the trailer’s main chassis ground which is a threaded ground stud on the trailer frame in one of the two street side dinette compartments. (Note: For assistance in locating the chassis ground stud, please call the Oliver Travel Trailer Service Department at 866-205-2621. Attaching the inverter chassis ground to the ground bus bar is also acceptable)

 

9. Remove the nut and washer from the stud and discard it as a new hardware is recommended.

 

10. Run the new ground wire to the chassis ground stud, trim to the adequate length and crimp an appropriately-sized ¼” copper ring terminal to the ground wire.

 

 

11. Slide the ring terminal onto the chassis ground stud, install a ¼” flat washer, followed by a ¼” lock washer, then a ¼” nut and finally a vacuum cap. (Note: See llustration above for proper hardware configuration)

 

12. Reconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire to the battery bank.

 

13. Please fill out the mailed inspection card and mail using the postage provided return envelope or click here to fill out the online inspection card. If the inspection and corrective action has been preformed by a third-party qualified RV technician, please include a copy of the receipt for reimbursement.

CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPROPERLY-SIZED RING TERMINAL INSTALLED ON CHASSIS GROUND WIRE

1. Go to the main circuit breaker panel located below the dinette and turn off the main 30-amp circuit breaker.

 

2. Unplug all 30-amp power cords from the camper. (Note: This includes the 30-amp convenience plug-in at the front of the camper if one is installed)

 

2. Locate and disconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire from the battery bank.

 

3. Locate the inverter in one of the lower street side compartments.

 

4. Locate the chassis ground terminal on the inverter and remove the nut, lock washer, and flat washer from the inverter chassis ground terminal.

 

5. Remove grounding wire (new wire recommended). Once the grounding wire is removed, ensure there is no additional flat washer remaining on the ground stud.

 

6. Crimp an appropriately-sized ¼” copper ring terminal to the minimum 8 AWG yellow or green copper wire and slide the attached ring terminal onto the inverter’s chassis ground terminal. (Note: Ensure a flat washer is not between the inverter chassis and ring terminal)

 

 

7. Install the flat washer, followed by the lock washer and then tighten the nut onto the terminal. (Note: See llustration above for proper hardware configuration)

 

 

8. Locate the trailer’s main chassis ground which is a threaded ground stud on the trailer frame in one of the two street side dinette compartments. (Note: For assistance in locating the chassis ground stud, please call the Oliver Travel Trailer Service Department at 866-205-2621)

 

9. Remove the nut and washer (if exists) from the stud and discard it as a new hardware is recommended.

 

10. Remove original grounding wire from the ground bar or chassis ground stud.

 

11. Run the new ground wire to the chassis ground stud, trim to the adequate length and crimp an appropriately-sized ¼” copper ring terminal to the ground wire.

 

 

12. Slide the ring terminal onto the chassis ground stud, install a ¼” flat washer, followed by a ¼” lock washer, then a ¼” nut and finally a vacuum cap. (Note: See llustration above for proper hardware configuration)

 

13. Reconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire to the battery bank.

 

14. Please fill out the mailed inspection card and mail using the postage provided return envelope or click here to fill out the online inspection card. If the inspection and corrective action has been preformed by a third-party qualified RV technician, please include a copy of the receipt for reimbursement.

CORRECTIVE ACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLAT WASHER INSTALLED BETWEEN 1/4” RING TERMINAL AND INVERTER CHASSIS

1. Go to the main circuit breaker panel located below the dinette and turn off the main 30-amp circuit breaker.

 

2. Unplug all 30-amp power cords from the camper. (Note: This includes the 30-amp convenience plug-in at the front of the camper if one is installed)

 

3. Locate and disconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire from the battery bank.

 

4. Locate the inverter in one of the lower street side compartments.

 

5. Locate the chassis ground terminal on the inverter and remove the nut, lock washer, and flat washer from the inverter chassis ground terminal.

 

6. Remove flat washer that was between the ¼” ring terminal and inverter chassis.

 

 

7. Slide ¼” ring terminal (with attached ground wire) onto the inverter’s chassis ground terminal. (Note: Ensure a flat washer is not between the inverter chassis and ring terminal)

 

8. Install the flat washer, followed by the lock washer and then tighten the nut onto the terminal. (Note: See illustration above for proper hardware configuration)

 

9. Reconnect the inverter’s 4/0 positive wire followed by the inverter’s 4/0 negative wire to the battery bank.

 

10. Please fill out the mailed inspection card and mail using the postage provided return envelope or click here to fill out the online inspection card. If the inspection and corrective action has been preformed by a third-party qualified RV technician, please include a copy of the receipt for reimbursement.

 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN INSPECTION REPLY FORM