50A Glendenning power cord reel Failed again

[Buly]

The coach is in covered storage beside the house. Today went inside to check the dehumidifier, and noticed there was no AC power on L2, and batteries down to 9.5V. In a minute found out that the power reel brushes failed again.
What bugs me is that the brushes are not a replaceable component. Even if you send the reel to GD they will not do it.
Only option is to buy the whole reel with cable for around $700. My reel and cable are like new. We are not full timers.
I never move the reel while powered.
Imagine if you develop two bad spark plugs on your car, and they tell you only choice is a new engine??
Always something......

 

[Neal]

I wonder if this is related to your low voltage issues from the OASIS testing?

 

[Buly]

I thought about it too, but have no idea

 

[redbaron]

This is a design issue with how newmar installed power reels prior to 2016. It has nothing to do with moving while plugged in, but rather the side to side motion while driving.

The full history of this issue is documented here:

Warning: potential fire hazard in Newmar power reels - iRV2 Forums

There are a couple of posts here recently about the faulty GlennDinning power reels ( CRR-50 - Glendinning Products, LLC. ) used by Newmar in late model motor homes. I had posted on this topic a few

www.irv2.com

Once you get the new reel make sure to secure it from side to side motion. Like you, I had gone thru several in short order. It wasn't until GD sent a tech to my home that they discovered the faulty installation method that newmar had in the line.

After that fix, it never failed again.

2019 DSDP 4369 * Active Air * NHSO

 

[Buly]

RedBaron, I did read the discussion before I posted, but did not see a solution. Can you be more specific on the fix?
Photo if you have one.
Thanks.

 

[Just George]

My fix was to replace the cord reel with a Glendinning RLC Cablemaster. https://www.glendinningprods.com/products/cablemaster/. This is a cord "coiler" and has no slip rings. I built a mount on the electrical bay wall for the "coiler" and a box on the electrical bay floor to keep the cord in a contained space.

 

[Buly]

I liked the coiler idea for the lack of moving parts. I have to decide on the right model.

 

[redbaron]

Newmar uses 2 lag bolts into wood to secure the reel at the front. When grabbing it from the top, I could move it from side to side enough that it would eventually wear out the contacts.

The fix is to dril thru the floor, and use a long bolt, washers and nut to securely fasten the reel base to the floor.

When properly secured, there is no side to side movement.

2019 DSDP 4369 * Active Air * NHSO

 

[Buly]

Thank you redbaron. I was looking at it and was thinking installing a brace from the top of the reel to the side wall.

 

[RKins]

I still have the original coiler in my coach. I've not had a problem with it.

 

[Buly]

Thank you Rick. I will get in touch with Glendenning on Monday and see which coiler I can install. It will be nice if I can use the cord from the existing reel?

 

[Golfer Guy]

I just sent my reel back to the factory last Thursday. Should be there today for repair. $85 freight from AZ. I like the idea of securing this to the wall to keep it from moving sideways. If this thing fails again I'm thinking of getting the bucket style cord storage like I had in my last coach. No problem with that at all. No moving parts. KISS

 

[Buly]

I ordered a new power Glendenning RLC power head assembly from eBay for $350 incl. shipping. All I need is to make a mounting bracket, and find a cord storage pail for the cord.
Also I'm using the cord from the failed reel.

 

[Neal]

Why does this have to be brand specific such as Glendenning? Why not just some type of retractable cord system as you have the 50A cable. Why are we locked into this vendor? @redbaron knows everything on the Internet and probably can think of alternate solutions. Hopefully most of us won't have an issue but for those that do why repeat the problem?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Sometimes, I long for the simpler days. Our 2014 Ventana LE just had a 50A cable that I manually coiled into a shallow pan I found at a farm supply store. It never failed me and wasn't that big a deal. If our powered cable reel in the MADP ever quits, I will just remove it and use the existing cable to coil on the floor of the electrical bay.

TJ

 

[Buly]

TJ,
Now you are telling me? Too late ??

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

TJ,
Now you are telling me? Too late ??

Yeah, @Buly; that's me...a day late and a dollar short! Good luck getting your power cable setup sorted out.

TJ

 

[RKins]

I am not sure that the coiler actually turns the cable to coil it. I think it is the bucket that coils the cord and the mechanism just pumps it in til you tell it to stop. When we bought our rig I said let's go for a drive and I saw the seller gather up the power cord and stuff it in the power bay. Hmm. I had seen the tub and coiler in there. It ended up being a popped CB on the wall behind the tub - love those easy fixes.

 

[Just George]

Well regarding the "coiling "function here is my experience. I bought the same power unit that @Bully has purchased. I mounted the unit on a bracket about 9" from the side wall and as high in the electric bay as I could put it. I also used the power cable that was in the reel. I built a box that is about 15" square using the bay side wall and back wall for two of the sides. When the cord is run in with the RLC "coiler" it naturally coils up under the unit. I agree with @RKins the power unit is not doing anything other than "pumping" the cord in, i.e. it does not have any "spin" or "coiling" action in the mechanism. The "box" I built does not appear to be doing anything to contain or force the cord to coil up. It does keep me from putting any other items in the area where the cord will be coiled. I have a pretty big electric bay in my 2015 Ventana but it appears to me the coiler should work just fine in a smaller bay. You might want to give it a try without any bucket or box below to see how the cord behaves.

 

[Buly]

SC,
Thank you for your post. It makes me feel better. I will try a 16-17 inch shallow plastic pail to collect the cable to keep any garbage contained? Will let everyone know how it goes.