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07-29-2015, 05:23 PM
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#1
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 23,912
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Dutch Star Solar Indicator Light
Well.....mine has burned out for the second time in 17 months, so I gave up on replacing the LED. I bought a digital volt meter (1" x 1/2") for another project and never used it. Today, I just clipped the wires off of the old solar indicator (small circuit board behind round dash cover) and soldered on the digital unit. I enlarged the hole and popped in the digital meter.
I know this isn't a big deal, but that solar light not working makes anal twits like me crazy. The voltage goes up and down with the sun. At least I'll know it's still working.
If you haven't handled the OEM unit, it has a small circuit board, (1"x 3/4" with three resistors. During daylight hours, those resistors are too hot to hold onto. I think their close proximity to the LED could be shortening the LED life. The new digital gauge was under $10.00 on Amazon. Hopefully it will last more than 8-9 months.
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Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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07-29-2015, 05:29 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,266
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Nothing anal , about wanting everything working right, right !
Nice install; can you remember where you bought the display?
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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07-29-2015, 05:40 PM
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#3
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 23,912
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This is the model I bought on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/DROK-Waterproo...lt+meter+green
They have quite a selection and come in red, blue and green. Just make sure you get one that goes to the lowest voltage possible. The above goes from 2.7 - 30 volts. Obviously, it's not telling how many amps are being placed back into your batteries, but it gives you an idea that everything is working. It even went up a smidge when I cleaned the dirt off of the panel.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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07-29-2015, 05:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Don,
Please let me know when you are thinking of a new coach. I can't think of a better used rig to buy than yours.
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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07-29-2015, 05:53 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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Another add to your MOD's in QT's # 3, never had a problem with mine must be a DP problem not hot enough with engine under you.
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07-29-2015, 05:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis45
Don,
Please let me know when you are thinking of a new coach. I can't think of a better used rig to buy than yours.
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Canadian dollar , better be in good shape at that time , or you'd need to be a member of the Canadian Senate to afford it.
Sounds like a legitimate expense to me.
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99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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07-29-2015, 09:22 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 586
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What a great tip! Just ordered mine.
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2000 Newmar Dutch Star 38' Class A, Spartan chasis, MM-2242, Cummins 330 pulling a 2014 Ford Focus.
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07-30-2015, 05:52 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Nor'easters Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 414
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Oh me likely!
I will have been contemplating adding another panel and that mini volt meter would be a great add to the dash. I like that it is led and not lcd.
Steph and Eden
Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum
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Steph and Eden
Miramichi, NB
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07-30-2015, 11:23 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip426
Canadian dollar , better be in good shape at that time , or you'd need to be a member of the Canadian Senate to afford it.
Sounds like a legitimate expense to me.
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Ya, and by the time the dollar improves, they will have abolished the senate. Looks like me and my old DS are in it for the long haul.
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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07-30-2015, 07:53 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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Dennis with all the work you had done in your coach I would be happy to just live with that, some good work was done.
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07-31-2015, 08:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,473
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Great idea. I replaced my light and it still doesn't work. What did you use to prevent the solar panel from draining the battery at night?
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2009 Fleetwood Excursion 40E
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08-15-2015, 10:18 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 586
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I ordered the digital meter from Amazon at the link above and installed it this weekend. I left the old indicator and installed the new meter it in an empty slot on my dash. Fit perfect although it's sideways.
The old solar indicator is connected with two molex plugs. I happen to have a molex crimping tool so I simply connected the digital meter to the existing wire and recrimped. See pic of installed meter. Meter is showing 14.1 in the pic, which doesn't show up very well in the pic.
Question. The solar panel on the roof isn't much bigger than a piece of notebook paper. Would installing an amp meter be useful? Kind of wonder how much charging it's actually doing.
__________________
2000 Newmar Dutch Star 38' Class A, Spartan chasis, MM-2242, Cummins 330 pulling a 2014 Ford Focus.
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08-16-2015, 05:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi Pexring,
The roof top solar panel is rated at 5 WATTS. If you install an AMP meter it needs to measure very small amounts of current. 1/2 AMP and less.
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Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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08-16-2015, 06:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Nor'easters Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 414
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I am just wondering if the wiring harness of the original 5watt panel could accommodate some larger? Like a 55w?
I am strongly considering beefing up the solar system.
Steph and Eden
Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
Steph and Eden
Miramichi, NB
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