Rainy day electrical mods
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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=9653
Printed Date: 28 Jun 2025 at 10:47am
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Topic: Rainy day electrical mods
Posted By: McCall
Subject: Rainy day electrical mods
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 6:44pm
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It’s a stormy day in McCall, Idaho, so I thought I would tinker with some electrical mods I have had in mind for my 2017 179. First, I never understood why the bathroom light switch was on the hinge side of the door (left side). It seemed counter intuitive, so after a bit of fishing and poking I snaked a wire pair from the original switch to the control panel. I then moved the switch to just below the control panel. I really think it should have been there in the first place. It was a bit tricky getting the wires from the control panel area down to where I put the switch. There’s very little room due to the lower cabinet. I found I could run the wires between the paneling and the cabinet stud. The panel has a very slight budge now. Second, I have a nasty habit of leaving the outside light on after I take the dog out for a late night break. It’s an LED light, so it doesn’t burn much power, but it does burn some. More importantly, it seems rude to have it on if other campers can see it. So I added a small amber LED light on the bezel. I used a 10k resistor to knock the power down, and a simple 3v LED bulb. Now I can glance up from bed and see if the outside light is on or off. *Sigh* - I’m lazy. Then, I put a digital volt meter above the control panel, with an on/off switch. I like it on during awake hours, but there’s enough LED glow at night that I didn't need to add to it, hence the switch. There, a well wasted day. (Glad the wife didn't come out and catch me drilling into the wall.) Exploring the wiring...
Done, except for a bit of cleanup, like paint the screws.
------------- Gary E McCall, Idaho 2017 RP179 https://www.instagram.com/erttergary/ |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 7:04pm
Well thought out, and well executed. 
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Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 7:25pm
| Where did you get the digital volt meter? Which wires did you hook it to? |
Posted By: McCall
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 7:50pm
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I got the meter from Amazon… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BXTX11Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BXTX11Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I mounted the charger and 12v socket by the heater outlet under the bed. For those I ran a fused line from the battery box. For the meter on the wall I got the power off of the control panels red (+) & white (-) wire. ------------- Gary E McCall, Idaho 2017 RP179 https://www.instagram.com/erttergary/ |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 8:11pm
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Very Nice ! You may get calls from other podders to do some similar mods. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 8:41pm
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McCall pod...get out of my head. Wood River pod here. Working on the same mods this Idaho rainy day. You got a little farther than I did today. I'm moving the bathroom switch to a double switch with the porch light switch. Also doing voltmeter with on/off switch. Putting a plate over the the old bathroom opening. Thanks for the info. Jeff ------------- Smith's in Hailey Early 2017 179 HRE http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Apr 2017 at 9:38pm
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Very nicely done. I want to do this mod. What did you use to cover the hole where the switch used to be?
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2017 at 4:18pm
| What did you use to cut the holes? I got my gauges today from Amazon |
Posted By: McCall
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2017 at 4:30pm
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I used Forstner drill bits. ------------- Gary E McCall, Idaho 2017 RP179 https://www.instagram.com/erttergary/ |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2017 at 5:35pm
| Will do. I forgot I have some. there is quite a bit of space between the wall and the cupboard wall. |
Posted By: McCall
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2017 at 6:22pm
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Behind the lower cabinet there is only about 1", be careful there. ------------- Gary E McCall, Idaho 2017 RP179 https://www.instagram.com/erttergary/ |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2017 at 10:57am
| The voltmeter and phone plug-in have spade connectors labeled plus and minus. The switch has 3 connectors, and it looks like I can see a minus sign between the two silver ones. Can those be combined into one lead? My continuity meter won't help me - I guess the switch needs current to work. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2017 at 11:31am
A bit hard to tell without having the switch in hand, but I'll give it a shot until McCall comes in. The switch has 3 terminals because the LED indicator needs a ground. If you don't need or want the indicator you only need 2 terminals. Using your meter find 2 terminals that show continuity when "on" and no continuity when "off". Connect those 2 terminals, either way, in series with the positive terminal of the voltmeter. The third terminal on the switch is unused. The pictures on Amazon are a bit confusing because the automotive, boating and house wiring color coding conventions are different. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |