A Fire Waiting To Happen

[Zepp]

I posted this on my back in the UK thread but I think it should have it's own thread as a heads up / warning.

Our satellite dish stopped locking on while we were in Spain, we have just been to a dealer to find out what the problem is.
Turns out that the wire loom with the satellite cable runs above the high level dometic oven and has been damaged by excessive heat, also damaged the oven flue vent and pipe which has a hole in it!

Looks like the cables were suspended from above the oven with cable ties which have disintegrated due to the the heat and the cables were directly on top of the oven, just grateful that the motorhome hasn’t caught fire!

 

[maison]

Wow!

 

[Boringfrog]

Was it factory fitted?

 

[Zepp]

Was it factory fitted?

Yes factory fitted by Carthago

 

[Clarky]

That was a known problem 3-4 years ago.
I asked our dealers to fit additional insulation above our oven in case we had the same thing happen.
I remember one member on Carthago Owners UK fitting a vent into that pull off panel above the oven to help keep it cool.
Just to be sure I have just had a look at ours and all seems good and safe..............thank goodness.

Are you still under warranty @Zepp?
Even if not you probably should get it fixed for free by the dealer.

Richard.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[two]

Think those ovens are just for show
You're not expected to use them
They're made especially difficult to use as a deterrent

 

[Zepp]

Yes I know the person your talking about Richard and Ive seen pictures of the vent it looks good .

Still under warranty , we took the van to a teleco agent who is also a carthago dealer and they did not want to do the work incase they did not get paid off Carthago for doing the work ( their words not mind ) . To be honest they were good and I cant blame them for not wanting to do the work for nowt.

Also just read on carthago owners , after reading my post they checked there's and one of the cables had started to melt it was stuck to the flue pipe

Warranty claim has gone in

 

[MikeD]

Wow - lucky to have not had a more serious problem.

Can't think why the installers thought that was a good idea.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

Bugger me!! Professionalism at its best....NOT!

 

[Mikey RV]

Wow, can’t beleive that from such a so called professional company. So glad you got it sorted before it was to late. Makes you wonder how many more are travelling round not knowing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[SpeedyDux]

Is that a screw hole in the flue itself?

 

[Dorset Diver]

Okay guys I think I need to have a look at mine so how do I access the area and from where?

 

[Zepp]

Is that a screw hole in the flue itself?

Yes it’s a hole we were so lucky

 

[Richard n Ann]

The latest wiring regulations for buildings sometimes require stainless steel cable ties so that the cables don't drop on your escape route in a fire. (I'm not a sparky but I talk to them at work)

I bought some pizza oven insulation on ebay for our oven, mainly so it uses less gas.

 

[Lenny HB]

Been thinking about insulating above my oven to improve performance, will definitely be doing it now.
There is a plastic wiring tray full of cables that runs across the back of the space above the oven. That gets quite warm with the oven on. Also I ran my sat cables in above the oven but they are well clear of the flue.

What is worrying is where the flue goes through the roof it looks like it has seriously over heated.

Also just read on carthago owners , after reading my post they checked there's and one of the cables had started to melt it was stuck to the flue pipe

Are you saying there is no vent in the panel above the oven?
We have had 3 Hymer's with TecTowers all have have a full width vent in the panel above the oven.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Dorset Diver]

Help please. I feel I should check mine but how do I access the space. Do I have to remove the panel above the oven door and if so how is it secured?

 

[TinaLes]

I think its the same in all Carthago's with the tech tower oven.
I needed to find the "Pre wiring for solar" & the "Pre Wiring for Sat & TV" well I did find one end of them by removing the wooden fascia above the tech tower oven. Its attached each end with Velcro so removes and goes back easily.
All the cables were bound up very tightly & neatly then cable tied together, but they are sort of protected as the bunched up cables are all placed inside a length of aluminium flue pipe with is slit from end to end,cables inserted then that is cable tied to just below the roof with P Clips to hold the cable ties.
We dont use the oven much for cooking, maybe warming up plates, or doing a Pizza which I dont class as "Cooking"
There are no vent strips fitted in the wood fascia, Carthago obviously dont think they are necessary
Was hoping to use that fascia to fit the display when I get around to doing the Fridge Fans mod, rather than placing inside a cupboard.
Got a roll of that aluminium heat shield reflector stuff that you supposedly fit behind wall radiators at home to reflect the heat out from the wall behind, might try a bit of that, if I can find it
Les

 

[Zepp]

Been thinking about insulating above my oven to improve performance, will definitely be doing it now.
There is a plastic wiring tray full of cables that runs across the back of the space above the oven. That gets quite warm with the oven on. Also I ran my sat cables in above the oven but they are well clear of the flue.

What is worrying is where the flue goes through the roof it looks like it has seriously over heated.


Are you saying there is no vent in the panel above the oven?
We have had 3 Hymer's with TecTowers all have have a full width vent in the panel above the oven.
View attachment 292621

We do not have any vent that I can see

 

[Zepp]

Yes ours is attached with Velcro we just put the handle of a spoon in the side and prized it off

 

[Lenny HB]

I think its the same in all Carthago's with the tech tower oven.

I think my mates (@JonP ) E-Line has a vent but his previous C-Tourer didn't.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Dorset Diver]

Thanks for the help, I will take the cover off tomorrow. My C-Line definitely does not have any form of vent. Maybe a bit of modification is required.

 

[TinaLes]

Thanks for the help, I will take the cover off tomorrow. My C-Line definitely does not have any form of vent. Maybe a bit of modification is required.

Yes take the Fascia wood off above the oven, you should then see a large lump of alu ducting, cables are inside, careful though bloody sharp edges on the ducting
Les

 

[Clarky]

A tea spoon makes an excellent lever to remove the small panel.
As others have said, it’s just held in place by Velcro.
We do use our oven a fair bit and so far I can’t see any problems on ours.

Richard.

 

[Zepp]

Quick Update

Carthago have authorised the work to be done how quick was that . Well done Carthago and Chris at Reliance Service Centre for dealing with the claim so fast for me .

Not sure how much damaged has been done , I'm not even sure what half the cables are

 

[Anthea M]

.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Robert Clark]

On our van I think there were solar and satellite cables pre installed above the oven

 

[grumps147]

I knew there was an advantage to the Autotrail fire prevention system.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Had a look at mine and there does not appear to be a problem. All cables held up well above the oven and protected in a silver foil tube. That said I like the idea of covering the top of the oven with ceramic fibre mating to provide extra insulation and help reduce heat loss from the oven. Can anyone see any reason that this should not be done?

 

[skylinersi]

I knew there was an advantage to the Autotrail fire prevention system.

beat me to it

 

[Sundowners]

Seems to be hotter up there than in the oven

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}