Scamp Electrical - How it Works - When it Doesn't

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

CORRECTION: The battery cutoff switch does NOT need to be in the on position for the trailer battery to charge. The battery will charge via the 120v cable, the tow vehicle, or a solar panel even when the main cutoff switch is off.

[@Jquattills]

You are a fantastic teacher. Thank you so much. I’ll definitely be watching this one again a few times.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@Jquattills ty for the kind comment 😊 I'm glad to know you found this helpful. I hope it helps all your adventures go smoothly. Have fun out there.

[@MollyLarson]

I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you for the great content presented in an easy to understand style.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

My pleasure Molly, I'm happy to help. It sure can be confusing. I'm glad to know my videos have helped you understand things a little better. TY for the comment ☺️

[@talkandeattv]

THANK YOU so much for this video ! you answered all of my questions and then some.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@talkandeattv you are very welcome. I hope it helps things go smoothly for you 🙂

[@carmie5881]

This was so informative. My brain has been powered!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Hahaha @carmie5881 happy to hear it helped power you up ⚡✨⚡✨ Hope your brain got the full 30 amps!! Have fun out there.

[@travelmaryrose]

Thank you so much for this informational video! Electricity has always been a mystery to me and you have made it so simple. My sister and I are camping in Black Hills National Forest tomorrow for 3 nights. your video is great timing! 🎉

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Wonderful! It is my hope that this video helps demystify the complex subject. I hope it helps you girls have an extra amazing time out there. Happy Scamping!

[@cindyjalet5874]

New 1984 Casita Patriot owner here. Although I don't have quite the same setup, this was unbelievably helpful. First longer trip will be to Santa Fe and I will be staying at a campground. I'll be ready now. Thank you!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Yay! Congrats on your new trailer! How exciting. I'm elated to know that my video helped you feel more confident and prepared. That's what it's all about. I hope your 1st big trip goes smoothly. Wishing you a lovely adventure out there. Let me know how it goes!

[@jeanpaschke6044]

Another excellent video. You should work for Scamp! I like your videos because they reinforce what I already know and also add to my knowledge - like the fuse puller! You explained the electrical system very well - thank you!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Well thanks Jean! I'm glad you find useful nuggets within the videos. I really appreciate the encouraging comment. Thanks for taking the time to leave it. You're not the 1st to say I should partner with Scamp haha. Scamp are you listening 👀👂

[@Mimis7Hearts]

New subscriber here🎉 I also have a Scamp. It’s a 2023 16ft Layout D Deluxe. I absolutely have been loving your videos. You are so articulate and easy to understand! Thank you so much! I would love for you to do a video on how to back in the camper. I’m learning. Getting better but still a challenge. Have an awesome day!!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Well thank you so much! I do my very best and really appreciate the kind words of encouragement. That is a frequently requested topic. I was trying to save up for a drone before tackling a "how to back up" video. But maybe I can find a creative alternative and get something out sooner than later. Thanks so much for your generous support through my tip jar. When I do finally get a drone it'll be thanks to kind viewers like you. I am so grateful to you. Have a wonderful day on your end too!

Another excellent video! I am so happy I stumbled upon your videos!! I am a devoted follower now. This one is a refresher for me since I've been troubleshooting a few issues by trial and error. Not my favorite way to learn but I've learned all about the electrical system and everything is working perfectly now. Your water heater video was excellent, too. Keep it up. Thank you.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Thanks! And thank you so much for your consistent and encouraging comments. I really appreciate the positivity 🙂 It makes me so happy to know you are getting something out of most of them. I also had to learn through trial and error in the days before KZbin, so I enjoy sharing what I know. I hope it makes it a lil easier for a few people out there.

I've ordered the cover for volt meter. Ugh , that light is so bright! I've had electrical tape over it since night # and the obnoxious green light on the ceiling vent/fan!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Oh good I think you'll be really glad you did. It makes such a HUGE difference. I don't think the people designing the components they put inside RVs have ever spent any time trying to sleep in one lol. I'm so grateful Scamping Co. came up with such a perfect solution cuz I still want to be able to check my meter ya know?

Lol. So true!

[@monikalenz2559]

The converter plug was constantly unplugging itself (I travel unpaved mountain roads a lot) so a friend configured a hold fast system with zip ties. It hasn't unplugged since. I'm nearly always off grid so battery life is my biggest issue. I'll take a look at your solar video. My Scamp is a 2010 so doesn't have all those wonderful control panels inside. I carry a box of baking soda for cleaning battery terminals. Great information. Love your videos!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Sounds like you found a creative and simple solution! Thanks for sharing that with me. My solar set up was way easier to install than I thought and it's been really great. I don't have endless power, it's only 100 watts but it helps a ton to offset battery drain. If I conserve I can go a long time without hooking up. And with a portable power station I can go for as long as I like. It's very freeing.

[@RGB872]

Excellent video. Thank you very much!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@RGB872 no problem 🙂 I hope it helps your adventures go smoothly out there. Have fun!

[@tcb192]

Thanks, I appreciated your video., well done.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Glad it was helpful! And thank you 😊

[@dstragand]

Another great video, thanks!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Thanks Dave 🙂 I always appreciate your kind feedback.

[@steveavery4453]

I learned a lot from this video . Thank you . I have a question off topic. What do you carry to change a tire, What jack and wrench.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

You are very welcome Steve 😊 I want to do a whole video on emergency preparedness and what I carry so look for that video coming soon. But the short answer is that I use the jack from my tow vehicle and carry this wrench with the key for my locking lug nuts I added as part of my theft prevention system. amzn.to/4cdaWmW I also carry this tire puncture repair kit: amzn.to/45CVii8

[@obiokiutube39]

Ty. Excellent video. This is the 2nd one of yours that I've watched. Well explained. I wonder if you can do one on the furnace? Mine has stopped working.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

TY so much for the kind words. I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. I have a long list of topics to cover. I will try to do a furnace specific video ASAP. Hope you get it working again quickly! Thanks for the comment and suggestion 🙂

[@BabyBackRibs-h3j]

Thank you so much for videos as they're very helpful. I just put my scamp on order last week and was a little curious about the wireless brake controller and how it works?

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

You're welcome. Glad you are finding them helpful. I talk a bit more about how the wireless brake controller works in this video. It's not in-depth, just a brief overview, but it might help ya. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZLae4qJidGegsU

[@pdxraves]

Great info.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Thanks @pgxraves 😊

[@Orscootorswimorcrawldontmatter]

You make good videos

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@Orscootorswimorcrawldontmatter why thank you 🙂

[@Achilles3588]

Shucks this video was golden just for the tip on the battery gauge cover...yahoo!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@Achilles3588 honestly it's life changing 😆

[@mikebarriga]

Someone posted this video for me when I had a question about my rv battery system and I immediately thought “ I know her”. Did you used to skate Vans back in 2002-2003?

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Hahaha Mike this is SO random! What a crazy way to get back in touch after all these years. Are you still in so cal? Still skating?

[@timhager9401]

One again an amazing video that is so helpful to first time Scampers! Thank you so much Mandy for doing these. One question: I have the group 27 battery. Do I have to check the fluid level like an old time car battery? Is there a way to do that?

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Thanks Tim! I am grateful to know you are finding them useful. It keeps me motivated to do more. Lead Acid battery water levels do need to be maintained. But AGM batteries are fully sealed and don't need maintenance. So it depends on what you have. If you aren't sure you can shake the battery and notice if you feel any liquid wiggling inside it. If yes, then it's a conventional wet cell battery. On the other hand, in case you don't feel any wiggle, it's an AGM battery since they have acid trapped between the mesh as absorbed by the fiberglass mats. I wanted to include battery maintenance in this video but it would have made it way too long. So, since my battery is overdue for it I hope to crank out a battery specific video here really soon. But look for a full video coming out on that very subject real soon.

[@Achilles3588]

One point I'd like to add since this vid is specific to the Scamp 13; and apologies if I'm wrong or if you've covered this. We too have the electric only fridge that knows when to toggle from 120V to 12V. I think like most folks we prefer to run our fridge when moving from place to place, but to do so we found that the main electrical switch must be in the ON position for the fridge to pull 12V power. So after we power down everything before travel, switch our main power to OFF and pull the plug, we then hook up the tow vehicle, test running lights, etc. and finally power the trailer back ON to get power to the fridge. Are we doing something wrong here?

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

I don't see anything wrong with your system. The only thing I do differently is that I don't turn the battery switch off when I unplug. I just kill the breakers on the campsite power podium before I remove my 120v cable. Sounds like you are just taking an extra step to be super safe while unplugging.

[@richardjackson3358]

Is there a way to plug in an electric generator inside the camper rather than running 30 amp cord from the outside...mostly for traveling so you can run the refrigerator longer??

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@richardjackson3358 yes you could isolate the refrigerator by plugging it directly into the portable power station for much more efficiency and longer run time. When the power station only powers the fridge you bypass the trailers converter and built-in charging system that get used with the 30 amp cord. So you wouldn't be adding to the trailer's battery charge level or powering things that get switched on like lights, fans, or pumps. All those would still run on the trailer battery. But the trailer battery would last longer with the fridge running on the power station since the fridge would be removed from the 12 v system and plugged directly into the power station. Plus the power station would last longer bc it would only power the fridge and not the whole trailer. It's the most efficient way to do it. Great question.

[@philpjackson3963]

👍🐴

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

🤠

[@alanalipkin3278]

Isn’t the 12V fridge MORE efficient than the propane fridge?

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Not in the context of the trailer's battery life. Refrigerators that can switch to propane can run a LOT longer without electric hookups (just on the trailer's battery/LP) than an all electric fridge that relies solely on the trailer's battery. 12v fridges are much more efficient than 120v fridges but not as sustainable while boondocking as a 3 way fridge.

[@LeslieD-s6d]

Have you figured out which fuse protects which 12V item and which breaker protects which 120? The chart is completely blank in my 13' Scamp. I know I can map it, but I will miss things and there are things I haven't used (and may never use).

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

Mine are all labeled. Idk what year or items you have but I can list the order mine are in. You can try turning on the corresponding item in your trailer when you have hookups and flip the breaker and if the item shuts off you know that's the breaker for it. Then unplug from the hookups and do the same pulling the fuses out one by one and replacing before you go to the next. If your owners manual doesn't have the info and your control panel isn't labeled you can figure it out by process of elimination. Mine goes like this: -Top most breaker (30) = AC Branch Circuits/Main - Next one down (15) = refrigerator/microwave - Next (15) = converter/outlets - Next (15) = water heater - Bottom one (20) = Air conditioner Fuses: -Top 10 - lights - 2nd 15 - 12v outlets - 3rd 20 - refrigerator - 4th 10 - furnace - 5th 10 - water heater - 6th 10 - roof fan - 7th 15 - fresh water pump - 8th 15 - gray water pump - Bottom 15 - utilities The numbers are fuse/breaker sizes. Hope that helps you sort it out!

[@LeslieD-s6d]

@@BackcountryDirtbag Right. Mapping is something I have done in my house, but there are always holes (nothing turns off when a breaker is off; turns out it is the attic lights). I would value a photo of yours. There are some photos online and I will also compare those for things I might have left out. Thanks always.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@LeslieD-s6d I can't post pix in the KZbin comments but you can see all the labeling in this video. If you pause it and still have a hard time making it out there is a link to my FB on the video description. Feel free to send me a msg.

[@LeslieD-s6d]

@@BackcountryDirtbag Wow. I totally missed that. I know your Scamp is pretty close to mine in amenities, but the fuses are obviously not in the same order at all. Probably a year thing. Thanks always. I know quite a bit, but always learn something from your videos and they are engaging to watch.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@LeslieD-s6d aww thank you so much. That's really encouraging. I appreciate the kind words 😊

[@efad3215]

I mean, cable thickness does not always correlate with available amperage, but it's a good rule of thumb! Unless you *know* that you need an x-amp 120v standard house outlet cable from a hardware store or Amazon to power your high-draw workbench or whatever funny edge case life throws in your face

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@efad3215 I know. It was simplified for the water pipe analogy for people just starting their learning journey. I find I learn best when the information chunks are small and can be built on as my understanding deepens.

[@efad3215]

@BackcountryDirtbag Yeah, just saying the analogy generally holds for the most part until you find that one sketchy power cable from AliExpress and it turns out to be thick insulation on actually-tiny wires, or the workbench example above. Edge cases are *fun*...... not :p

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

@@efad3215 yeah that definitely sucks 😔 I'm sorry that happened to you. It pays to invest in quality equipment sometimes. Every time I buy cheap I live to regret it. Just happened with my lawn mower today actually 🤦

[@efad3215]

@BackcountryDirtbag Thankfully not to me, but heard horror stories And the lawn mower....... I hope the mower is ok!

[@pdxraves]

Pay attention scampers!!

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

👆👆👆

[@sueslater832]

Another amazing video! TY.

[@BackcountryDirtbag]

You're welcome Sue! Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for the encouraging comment.