Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Gauge Panel

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Gauge Panel

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14345
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 8:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Gauge Panel

Posted By: D-Pod
Subject: Gauge Panel
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2021 at 1:23pm

I have a 2020 R-pod 180. The gauge panel showed the black tank was full even though the tank has never been used. Unfortunately I was 200 miles away from the dealer when I noticed.
Took the Pod back to the dealer when I was camping in the area. Technician said it was a bad panel and ordered a new one. Since it was suppose to be a "plug and play" installation and the dealer was 200 miles away I had them mail me the panel. After installing the panel now none of the tank level lights work or the water pump. I have checked all the fuses in the box and there was a blown fuse. Changed the fuse out and still no luck, I had taken pictures of the wiring before I changed the panel out. The separate switch for the hot water heater works that is on the panel. Any ideas ?

Replies:

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2021 at 5:16pm

My suggestions: try putting the original panel back and see if that gets things back where they were. Disconnect the battery and shore power when you do so you don’t accidentally short anything else out. If the original panel works as it did before then leave it alone, the black tank sensors are notorious for unreliability anyway. It’s highly unlikely that you can fill the black tank faster than the gray tank anyway so just drain them both when the gray tank is full and you’ll be fine.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: D-Pod
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2021 at 6:39pm

Thanks offgrid. I did try putting the original panel back but no success. Still no power to tank lights and pump.

Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2021 at 9:24pm

I can't remember; is the pump switch on the panel, or are you saying the lights don't work for the fresh water tank?

Sounds like it could be a bad ground at the panel. I'd check that, but Offgrid is right, those lights are a bad joke. I haven't paid any attention to mine for years. If you do get them working they still won't work reliably. It's never been any inconvenience to ignore the lights, once you get used to the idea.

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2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2021 at 8:41am

Dumb question, but when you replaced the blown fuse the new fuse didn’t blow too did it? I’d go with TT’s bad ground theory except for that blown fuse, which sounds like it’s more likely a short to me. Whatever it is, it’s unlikely to be the panel since now neither panel is working.
Get a multimeter if you don’t have one, and confirm you have +12v out of the fuse to that circuit. If you do, pull the panel, find the power wires to it, and see if you have 12v there. If not, then work both the +12v and -12v (ground) wires back to the fuse panel to find where the bad connection is. You can make up a jumper wire to connect to and loop back from each of the supply wires so you can use the multimeter continuity test mode to see if you have an open circuit. Pull the fuse when you do that though.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: D-Pod
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2021 at 10:47pm

No tank lights (gray, black, fresh). Pump is on the same side of the board that also does not work. On the other side of the board is the water heater switch that does work.