Circuit box cover
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=4665
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2025 at 10:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Circuit box cover
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Subject: Circuit box cover
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 4:37pm
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Does anyone have any idea if the little latch can be replaced on the 12/120v circuit box? You know how you press it to open and then press it to close? Mine won't stay closed at all anymore. I have it duct taped shut. I suppose I wouldn't mind buying a whole new front panel, though that would be overkill. I've looked at it but not too carefully. If anyone knows how to fix it with an incantation or just banging it a certain way that would be even better. Thanks, TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 8:12pm
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maybe stick a small spot of velcro inside the cover? ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 9:16pm
Yup I think we've seen folks do the velcro trick a time or two. Ours pops open all the time, won't be long before the little clip just breaks I imagine. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 9:45pm
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Thanks for the thoughts. I don't know if velcro or duct tape is better. Best I can tell, nothing is broken, i.e., there are no apparent broken bits -- it's all there. Maybe something is worn down. I haven't tried googling the manufacturer and it may not be worth worrying about. Like a lot of things that you ought to be able to fix for > $3 this may not be fixable. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2014 at 9:48pm
| I have a WFCO convertor on another camper that the latch broke on. I drilled an appropriate sized hole straight through, tapped it 6-32 and use a thumbscrew to secure. |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 01 May 2014 at 8:20pm
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So I looked up the number for WFCO's distributor, called, John answered the phone. As soon as I said "latch" he interrupted and told me to email my address to him and he'd send me a replacement! TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Bred Flink
Date Posted: 01 May 2014 at 10:34pm
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Now that that's solved...should a WFCO electrical panel hum? Plugged in shore power (in my backyard) to my new 2014 178 With no appliances running, there is an audible hum, like a small fan working. ------------- Sailing and camping Western Canada and US-NW |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 01 May 2014 at 11:25pm
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The convertor does contain a small cooling fan that will run when the convertor is supplying a significant load. With no 12V appliances and no lights on the fan should not run unless it is charging a discharged battery. Make sure the fridge is not set to run on 12V. Let it charge for a day and check it. If the fan is still running there is a problem. In a very quiet environment you may be able to hear the convertor hum by putting your ear to the box or a hard surface. The convertor does run on 60Hz power and you might hear it, but you have to be quiet.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Bred Flink
Date Posted: 02 May 2014 at 12:10am
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I didn't know that it would charge a discharged battery from shore power. Thanks, that appears to be the reason for the fan running. ------------- Sailing and camping Western Canada and US-NW |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 02 May 2014 at 10:16am
Awesome! thanks for sharing this!! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 02 May 2014 at 10:27am
For proper battery maintenance, make sure you install some type of battery disconnect (a fuse, or disconnect switch) and charge the battery every 30 days. You must disconnect the battery from the pod when the pod isn't plugged in, or the LPG detector and the fridge control board will kill the battery in a week or two. Then every month plug the pod in and and reconnect the battery, overnight. An alternative is to leave the pod plugged in all the time, but the converter/fridge/detector are a fairly significant load over time. It would be better to buy a good "battery maintainer" for this, just be sure to disconnect the battery from the pod since ,many maintainers only have enough amperage to keep the battery charged - not enough to run the fridge and detector, too. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 02 May 2014 at 3:51pm
That's a great idea! My cover was popping open quite often last year - velcro will be the perfect fix. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |