Convenience Center modifications

[BruceMc]

Since we picked up our new 2250LE Forest River Sunseeker late last fall, I've been busy with various projects. The latest one was the addition of a meter and moving the slide switch from the wall next to the slide to the convenience panel.

A position was provided for the slide switch, why they put a dedicated switch panel elsewhere is beyond me. In the process, I moved the slide control box so it was more accessible & visible in the event troubleshooting was needed.

There were three empty switch spots in our panel; I filled all three:



Yes, it does look odd that the meter is sideways, but I mounted it that way for two reasons: One, I could cover the existing nomenclature (Drivers side light?) and it took less cutting to match the meter size. Two, the center is mounted above the dinette seat, so to access it, I stand to the side of the seat. Looking at the center, the meter faces me...

We do not have an arctic pac, so that position was filled with a switch for the meter. I added an additional push button just below the switch for times when I want to check the voltage but not leave it on. (Yea, I could have done the same with just the switch....) I'll add new labels to describe the correct function and to cover the text "Arctic Pac".

The slide switch was smaller than the cutout in the panel, so I cut a hole in the blank-out panel. The meter + is wired into the slide power, which is routed to the fuse panel in the step well. Turning off the house power does not turn off power to the slide, and subsequently, the meter.

Project complete.

I'll report on other projects as I feel inclined.

[time2roll]

RJsfishin wrote:
Its so hard to believe RV Mfgs will save 2 bucks by not adding a digital voltmeter. And a digital combo amp/volt meter off the converter would be better yet.
Nice job

The meter is cheap. The cost is answering the phone inquiry every time the display changes.

Same reason automotive gauges are dumbed down.

General public can't handle the truth or make an intelligent decision based on the facts. Most members of RV.net excepted.

[DrewE]

n3eqf wrote:
Very nice! Does anyone know of a guard that could be placed over one of these rocker switches on the panel? My rig has the slideout switch in line with other rocker switches that are identical. It's easy to hit the wrong switch in the middle of the night and hear the slide begin to move! I'm thinking of a hinged flip-up type of cover, similar to what's in an airplane cockpit to guard emergency switches.

One possible solution, not necessarily the best, is to add a separate slide master power switch of a type not readily turned on inadvertently such as by having a molly guard or (my preference) a big red push-pull emergency stop switch.

(A "molly guard" is a common name for some sort of switch protector, supposedly named after someone's young daughter who liked to play with switches that should not have been played with.)

[Almot]

Good. Now I know what "convenience panel" is 🙂

n3eqf: find a suitable size cap and put it over the button with a piece of scotch tape. Caps from milk jugs will probably fit. I covered water heater switch (rarely used) that was too close to the pump switch that is used often.

Not a good idea grouping all the switches in one small space, IMO. Switch should be placed logically - ex, pump switch in kitchen/bathroom area, lights switches - on the individual fixtures. There isn't much need in a general switch for all bedroom or living room lights, and if you do need one, the most convenient location would be near the entry door. Breakers is another matter, those are grouped together.

[n3eqf]

Very nice! Does anyone know of a guard that could be placed over one of these rocker switches on the panel? My rig has the slideout switch in line with other rocker switches that are identical. It's easy to hit the wrong switch in the middle of the night and hear the slide begin to move! I'm thinking of a hinged flip-up type of cover, similar to what's in an airplane cockpit to guard emergency switches.

[mlts22]

A friend of mine took an Arduino and a color touch screen, some ammeters (using shunts), some volt meters, and has a display next to the panel showing stuff in color. If the battery voltage drops to 60% SoC, it goes yellow, 50%, red.

Eventually, I might get around to doing something similar. It would be nice to see at a glance battery voltages and amps used, the voltage and frequency coming in from shore power, and the voltage/amps being pushed to the batteries by the charge controller and converter, all on one screen.

[RJsfishin]

Its so hard to believe RV Mfgs will save 2 bucks by not adding a digital voltmeter. And a digital combo amp/volt meter off the converter would be better yet.
Nice job

[mlts22]

I like that idea. Especially moving the slide switch.

You gave me a few ideas. One of which is definitely having a voltmeter, since knowing the battery status can make or break a trip.

[BruceMc]

The panel had an existing opening for a switch, just like the one for the slide. Both of those openings had the blank-out plates, and as you can see, I modified one to fit the switch for the slide.

Using a surface mount switch backer plate, I initially cut the the opening to fit the meter at the workbench.
Then, I mounted the plate on the convenience panel with the bottom openings aligned using the two black screws. With that in place, I used a 3/16" drill bit in my cordless drill, and drilled several holes through the panel just inside the opening of the black backer plate. After drilling the holes, I used a small hand saw to cut between the holes, then used a course file (rasp) to smooth the opening to fit.

The panel is plastic and perhaps 3/16" thick, so it was pretty easy to enlarge the opening to fit the meter.

Help that hopes!

[RelaxDave]

This looks very nice. I want to add a volt meter to our (on order) camper and have been debating where would be the best location. The panel seems the natural spot.

How did you cut the hole and was it difficult? I have no problem with the electrical part, but am moderately challenged mechanically.

We just sold our older Jayco class C and don't have the replacement yet so I have been spending way too much time planning changes to the new camper but don't have anything to look at! It only had one battery so I got pretty good at estimating battery level by voltage. I'm afraid if I got a full-fledged battery monitor I would spend too much time fiddling.

[tvman44]

Cool. looks good.