Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-26-2019, 02:48 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 17
wiring AC ammeter donut on Rockwood popup with 25ft cable

Hi. Could use a little help with the best place to put the donut on my AC amp sensor. I got a 1997 Rockwood Premier 1904 that needed work. Camping ready now, but I just installed a panel to monitor AC and DC, with a relay and sensor for newly installed fans on the refrigerator fins, USBs, and some other cool stuff. My problem: the trailer has a pull-out 25 ft long cable for shore power. I have no idea how to get into the compartment, or where I could find a connection to remove and slip the AC donut on.
Also, I sure would like to see a wiring diagram or something, although apparently there are none. I would have thought it had to be on a sticker on the unit somewhere.
So, can the collective hive-mind of the forum help me out?
Art in Texas
__________________
Roo: 2014 Rockwood Roo 21SS
RockWolf: 1997 Rockwood Premier 1904
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid King Ranch 4WD SuperCrew, 7.2kW
artwolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 03:17 PM   #2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Since you have a pull out cable and not a wall connection the only place to access the single hot leg is where it connects to the power center. You may be able to get the donut in the power center with the breakers.

Post a picture of the power center and we may be able to tell you if there's any room in there.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 03:44 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
chroniekon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
Do you have a manufacture and part number? And like Bama Rambler said, only the hot wire goes through it, not the whole cable

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws...ansformer.html
__________________
2017 Isata 3 24FW
2004 Jeep Wrangler
chroniekon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2019, 11:49 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 17
Found the place to connect the donut

I pulled the wooden cover off under the dinette seat and found all that I needed. There is a converter box (AC to DC?) where the shore power cable goes in. Opened it up and everything I needed was in there. Donut on one lead, ac power to the meter using the leads that had wire nuts. All is good. Thanks.
__________________
Roo: 2014 Rockwood Roo 21SS
RockWolf: 1997 Rockwood Premier 1904
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid King Ranch 4WD SuperCrew, 7.2kW
artwolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 10:33 AM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Indy
Posts: 73
Ac donut

I am not sure what a AC donut does or looks like, can someone make it easy for me to learn something new today?
overeasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 10:59 AM   #6
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
This might help you understand... (note: donuts and coils are the same thing although at one point he calls them meters, which they are not)

__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=86
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 11:20 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Indy
Posts: 73
Ac donut

So it is like the one that came with my end device? Thanks
overeasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 11:22 AM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Indy
Posts: 73
The black box that monitors electrical input and use it end device.
overeasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 11:24 AM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Indy
Posts: 73
Not end device maybe ems
overeasy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 12:02 PM   #10
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
Quote:
Originally Posted by overeasy View Post
I am not sure what a AC donut does or looks like, can someone make it easy for me to learn something new today?
The donut is actually a current transformer. It converts the current passing through it to a much lower value that can be read by the meter. For instance it takes the 0-50 amp incoming current and reduces it to 0-1 amp which is something the meter can handle.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2020, 03:49 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,092
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bama Rambler View Post
The donut is actually a current transformer. It converts the current passing through it to a much lower value that can be read by the meter. For instance it takes the 0-50 amp incoming current and reduces it to 0-1 amp which is something the meter can handle.
I am pretty sure that it's actually an induction ammeter, but the difference in real life is probably just my need to be pedantic.

Basically, the AC power passing through the middle of the "donut" carries with it a small magnetic field. The donut has a wire coil inside that creates voltage when exposed to that magnetic field. When we measure that voltage, we can extrapolate the amperage passing through the coil.
__________________
-Qwkynuf

2003 F150 Supercab 4x4, tow pkg, 3.55 gears
2020 Flagstaff Micro Lite 21DS
Qwkynuf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2020, 02:19 PM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Texas
Posts: 17
My electrical control panel

Thought I would go ahead and show what I did for the electrical control panel. Bought a standard one off Wish (about $25, shipping by canoe from China, I think). Mounted it on the front of the sink panel, between the two doors. I also picked up a small Inkbird thermostat to measure the temp in the refrigerator coils and control some 12v PC muffin fans I installed. Replaced the lower left cigarette lighter plug with a 120v monitor (hence the amp donut post that started this all).
The left toggle switch is main 12v to all the other switches, and the right one is power to the refrigerator fan circuit. It also has 2 USB connections on the lower right. The three middle switches are available - I just need to think of some good 12v things to hook them up to. Might add a 12v pump to the sink. All the toggles are individually fused.
All in all, I really like being able to monitor and control everything, and the fan setup has really helped my refrigerator temps! Note that the temp shown is the rear coils, not inside the fridge.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	popup control panel.jpg
Views:	35
Size:	448.2 KB
ID:	229345  
__________________
Roo: 2014 Rockwood Roo 21SS
RockWolf: 1997 Rockwood Premier 1904
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid King Ranch 4WD SuperCrew, 7.2kW
artwolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cable, rockwood, wiring

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:55 AM.