pnichols wrote:
Ron,
You've sure gotten a lot of response on this project!
I solved the problem long ago very simply: I just bought a 12V single-to-dual pigtail at a truck-stop or auto parts store (can't remember which). The male end I plug into the lower dash female receptacle shown in your photo (my 2005 dash is the same as yours). A couple of pigtails about 8-10 inches long dangle down from this male receptacle with a female 12V receptacle on each - hence giving me two 12V female receptacles from the the single male receptacle in the dash. This arrangement of two pigtails dangling down laying flat against the dash does not interfer with my shift lever, while at the same time permitting two 12V sources to be available for use from the single dash 12V receptacle.
P.S. Into the upper dash 12V female receptacle I plug a jointed 12V digital meter with a readout window head that can be bent down 90 degrees after plugging it's male receptacle into the upper dash 12V female receptacle. Tilting it's head down 90 degrees makes it lay flat against the dash (with it's readout facing right at me) so it does not interfer with the shift lever either - just as the pigtail extension in the lower 12V dash receptacle doesn't interfer with the shift lever. I use this 12V digital readout to provide me with a constant monitor of how much voltage the alternator is presenting both to the chassis systems - and to the coach systems via the chassis/coach alternator connection solenoid. Also Velcro'd onto the dash I have another voltmeter that shows how much DC voltage is actually on the coach systems. Comparing these two DC voltages whenever the engine is running tells me a lot about how effectively the coach/alternator connection solenoid is transferring current from the alternator to the coach batteries as the solenoid's contact surface gradually becomes corroded over time - which affects how well (amount of contact resistance due to corrosion) the alternator can deliver current to the coach batteries to keep them topped up whenever traveling or providing quick boost charges via idling the V10 when parked in camp. (I also have an ammeter Velcro'd onto the dash showing me how much current is either entering or leaving the coach batteries at all times.)
Didn't happen without pictures,:W
