Patandlinda Escape modifications

[Patandlinda]

New mods to trailer. Finally changed the hose on outside shower like we already did inside.
Also Ron finally got to on and off switch . Followed your advice on disconnected neg cable first . Now do not need to crawl under table to shut off power . Ended up 30 in further to reach Just bend down now , no more crawling on knees to reach ! Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

New mods to trailer. Finally changed the hose on outside shower like we already did inside.
Also Ron finally got to on and off switch . Followed your advice on disconnected neg cable first . Now do not need to crawl under table to shut off power . Ended up 30 in further to reach Just bend down now , no more crawling on knees to reach ! Pat

Wow didn't post pics upside down or sideways , sorry Pat

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Wow didn't post pics upside down or sideways , sorry Pat

Fixed

[sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Also Ron finally got to on and off switch . Followed your advice on disconnected neg cable first . Now do not need to crawl under table to shut off power . Ended up 30 in further to reach Just bend down now , no more crawling on knees to reach ! Pat

Pat I'm just in the process of installing an off and on switch in the same position. Except I'm also installing duel 12 volt batteries and my switch will also allow me to switch between the two. But that still constitutes "great minds think alike". Right? Of course right (with apologies to Fiddler On The Roof)

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker

Pat I'm just in the process of installing an off and on switch in the same position. Except I'm also installing duel 12 volt batteries and my switch will also allow me to switch between the two. But that still constitutes "great minds think alike". Right? Of course right (with apologies to Fiddler On The Roof)

Good for you ! I think Ron also did your install . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Fixed

Thankyou Donna ! Pat

[Ron in BC]

Good job Pat. Yes, so much simpler to be able to have an easy to reach disconnect switch.

Yes, I have two 12 volt batteries and use them one at a time. Except for the microwave when I use both at once. Nice to always have a battery in reserve and with the easy to reach battery switch no biggie to switch between them for individual charging and use.

Ron

[Greg A]

Very nice, Pat. I really like the outside shower setup. We have the spigot attachment for it, and the stock hose sprayer. If I add the shower setup it will be like my ol Jeep with all kinds of toys to add.
I am going to add the power switch as well, but with the U dinette we have a bit better switch location, just need a better switch installed.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Very nice, Pat. I really like the outside shower setup. We have the spigot attachment for it, and the stock hose sprayer. If I add the shower setup it will be like my ol Jeep with all kinds of toys to add.
I am going to add the power switch as well, but with the U dinette we have a bit better switch location, just need a better switch installed.

Thankyou Greg , the reasoning was trying to use the stiff hoses in bath and outside .don't need to explain the change to on and off . Blue Sea makes strong and sturdy shut offs for our applications . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Pat: Are you asking me or Iowa Dave? Either way, yes, the trailer is a negative ground system. I wouldn’t expect solar to be affected by turning off the battery isolation switch because the solar is wired directly to the battery. The on/off switch I was referring to in an earlier post is the one I see wired into the furnace circuitry by Atwood/Dometic. Might not be easy to access so that is why I suggested pulling fuse.

Thankyou Dave ! Needed to be sure . I am installing a radio in trailer and they said it needs to be a negative ground system to not damage radio . I did change to a new radio in my truck no but was positive it was negative ground but not sure about the trailer . Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Yes, the trailer is wired as a negative ground system.

As to the Victron solar controller & battery monitor, neither draws enough current to require disconnecting unless you are looking at many months of storage with no sunlight striking the panel. With my 17B & the stock Escape cover, I got enough output from the panel to keep the battery topped off all winter.

If you wish, there is no reason you cannot add a switch to disconnect the solar controller, however it is important with most controllers to also add a switch to disconnect the solar panels from the controller, and always disconnect the panels first & reconnect last. They do not like being connected to the panels without a battery.

Thankyou Jon for also responding ! Putting in a radio in trailer and needed to be sure , trailer was negative ground . Hope you are staying well and staying dry . We are getting lots of rain here . Pat

[rubicon327]

Pat: Since you are installing a radio I think it was Jon V. that extended wiring directly to the battery with its own inline fuse. It is annoying that anytime the battery isolation switch is flipped that you lose all your radio settings. Trust me I know. Just something to keep in mind.

[cpaharley2008]

Almost all automobiles and rv's are negative ground....

[Vermilye]

Yes, I did run an individually fused wire from the battery to the radio. While it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to reprogram my radio the way I like it, having to do that every time I use the disconnect switch is a PIA.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Pat: Since you are installing a radio I think it was Jon V. that extended wiring directly to the battery with its own inline fuse. It is annoying that anytime the battery isolation switch is flipped that you lose all your radio settings. Trust me I know. Just something to keep in mind.

Thanks Dave for the tip ! Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Yes, I did run an individually fused wire from the battery to the radio. While it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to reprogram my radio the way I like it, having to do that every time I use the disconnect switch is a PIA.

Thanks Jon ! Pat

[steve dunham]

I installed a auto stereo / CD player in our Casita and in our Escape
In both instances I put a toggle switch ahead of the radio so I could disconnect 12 VDC to the radio and eliminate a phantom load
I realize I lose my presets and time settings but I don’t use the radio as a clock and the stations I listen to at home don’t come in on the road so the presets are of little use

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I installed a auto stereo / CD player in our Casita and in our Escape
In both instances I put a toggle switch ahead of the radio so I could disconnect 12 VDC to the radio and eliminate a phantom load
I realize I lose my presets and time settings but I don’t use the radio as a clock and the stations I listen to at home don’t come in on the road so the presets are of little use

Mine ( a JVC), if started cold goes into the "Display" mode, ie flashing lights and changing colors, etc. I also have some color & brightness settings, eq settings, balance, etc. I don't use the clock, but resetting all the rest is a PIA. The phantom load is around 20 milliamps, not a concern with a pair of lithium batteries.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I installed a auto stereo / CD player in our Casita and in our Escape
In both instances I put a toggle switch ahead of the radio so I could disconnect 12 VDC to the radio and eliminate a phantom load
I realize I lose my presets and time settings but I don’t use the radio as a clock and the stations I listen to at home don’t come in on the road so the presets are of little use

Hi Steve . I really don’t need to worry about the batteries , because I added solar a few years back and the solar keeps the batteries charged . In fact a big drain the detector ,I don’t worry about now , I keep battery cutoff switch on all the time to turn on lights when I go in trailer if needed . Thankyou for the suggestion though ! Pat

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Ed: Can the grounding stud connection inside the trailer affect the trailer brakes? I thought all of the wiring was straight through from the 7 pin with seaparate grounding. The only exceptions being the charge line and emergency breakaway connection.

Dave a question and I think it is ok here because it concerns that grounding post on back of converter . Can I put a stainless grounding ring on there ? It is for a amplified hidden antenna ? Pat