Voltmeter, USB, socket multi-panel |
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k4fcp
Newbie Joined: 16 Jan 2013 Location: Blacksburg, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 25 |
Topic: Voltmeter, USB, socket multi-panel Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 10:13am |
I like it except it would have to be mounted where you could see it. I put a 12v plug in the side of the dinette nearest the refrigerator (easy to pull power from) and use a Vector monitor. It can be turned,twisted, etc. so I can easily glance at my battery voltage. A Y plug is great for charging two
devices or charging one and still monitoring the battery. |
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Rich
2013 R-177 2013 Ford F 150 4X4 (yeah, bought a new truck)! |
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Podster
Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 9:11am |
Wow, nice set up. It looks like you know exactly what your AC feed is doing. I use a plug in surge protector at the feed point, but it doesn't provide any performance data except for some LED lights that indicate ground and polarity status.
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 31 Oct 2014 at 8:47am |
Our surge protector monitors the incoming 120v feed, and has a remote display. We added two 12v charge points and a 120v plug with built in USB points. I built my own 12v monitor panel for $3 from ebay parts.
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 8:26pm |
I unplugged the pod for the afternoon until the voltage rose again.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Luv2Q
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Location: Central TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 309 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 4:28pm |
Or fire up the generator.
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John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
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Podster
Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 3:33pm |
Ok, so if it's bad what do you do? Shut it down and go without? Or pack up and leave the campsite.
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 2:22pm |
Correct on the voltage - once you get down about 10%, or around 108 volts, you can start damaging equipment in the pod like the A/C compressor. Like on a hot summer day when everyone has their A/Cs on high. I've only found one campsite where this was a problem, but I'm glad I caught it. Same goes on the other end, once you get above 132. It is easier to just remember 110-bad 120-good 130-bad.
As long as the 30 amp breaker on the power pole doesn't trip, you are fine.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Luv2Q
Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Location: Central TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 309 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 12:18pm |
From what I've been reading, the voltage in different parks can vary quite a bit, ranging from spikes down to brown outs & worse. In other words, you can't just plug into a 30-amp outlet and know you're getting 110 (or 120 or whatever it's supposed to be). Bad mojo for A/Cs, computers & Lord knows what else. I don't know how to test for whether the line is delivering 30 amps or not. Maybe that new Kill A Watt gadget will tell me. Doug?
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John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3 |
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Podster
Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 10:25am |
I use my TV to charge and maintain my low voltage gizmos. I also have a 400w power inverter for other stuff.
Question: Why do I need to monitor my AC feed? A little off-topic but Dang! I do like the mutli-panel device and wish I would have know about it when I built my Solar rechargeable 24 Amp Hour QRP field battery power supply for operating on High Frequency Radio. |
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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |
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fwunder
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Posted: 30 Oct 2014 at 9:46am |
Bonjour, if you search the forums for 12 volt socket or voltmeter, you'll find lot's of different ways we have done installs.
I preferred to keep them separate. You may click the link in my sig to see my voltmeter and 12 volt socket installs. Hope that helps. fred
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2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
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