Rear stabilizer sparks, stopped working, now working again

[Timmer]

Hi all,

We are weekend campers with a 1.5 yr old TT stored inside a shed. We are getting ready for our first trip of the season after a long winter - hooking up the battery, getting supplies in the camper, etc. My wife noted we didn't want to forget retracting the stabilizers, so she went to do so. On the rear stabilizers she pushed the button and saw a "big spark" appear on the side of the frame where the wiring comes together inside a red rubber cover. After that the stabilizers wouldn't respond to up or down. I checked all fuses and couldn't find a problem. I took apart the rubber housing where the wires meet and all looked clean and connected properly. Our shed doesn't have lights and I was running out of daylight so I decided to look into it further the next day. When I came back the next day, it worked fine. I'm confused. Any thoughts?

 

[jkwilson]

The thing under the red cover is a breaker that resets after it cools.

 

[Timmer]

The thing under the red cover is a breaker that resets after it cools.

That is interesting. It looked to me like it was just wires connected together. I don't recall seeing anything that looked like a breaker to me, but maybe I didn't look close enough?

 

[jkwilson]

One of these? https://www.wiringproducts.com/short-stop-auto-reset-circuit-breakers-with-standard-mounting-bracket

 

[Timmer]

One of these? https://www.wiringproducts.com/short-stop-auto-reset-circuit-breakers-with-standard-mounting-bracket

I am familiar with those, but didn't see it upon first pass, just what I thought was a wire connection. It does make sense, and as noted it was getting dark, maybe I just missed it. I will have to check it out again.

The greater question might be why did it happen?

 

[jkwilson]

I am familiar with those, but didn't see it upon first pass, just what I thought was a wire connection. It does make sense, and as noted it was getting dark, maybe I just missed it. I will have to check it out again.

The greater question might be why did it happen?

If everything is working now, I’d guess either a scuffed wire or the motor was stuck from lack of use and drew too much current getting free.

 

[geotex1]

There's definitely a self-resetting circuit breaker. Do check wiring insulation for knicks and damage from vectors. Incredible how they love to chew wire insulation and plastics!