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Old 05-26-2014, 07:24 PM   #1
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Inverters / extra plugs / customize

The power distribution sucks, all interior plugs are on basically one breaker, and no pre-wire for invertors

It wasn't fun, but invertor power has been run to all 3 TVs and an outlet beside the bed
Also, an Extra plug-in below the main 12v control panel

Now for extra cup holders
Has anyone drilled the plastic dash to accommodate a "marine" SS cup insert?

Outdoor starlight porch light installed

Next will be to put rod hanger & shelves in

Had to put in some carpet for driver & passenger to reduce engine noise
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Old 06-03-2014, 08:33 AM   #2
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Noticed the late 2014 and early 2015 models have basically no carpet in them. After our first trip I started planning to add more sound dampening material to the dog house cover and possibly around the generator area. I so far run the gen full time when using the RV. as DW is having the hot flashes and likes it very cool at all times. We added a center console on the dog house to provide her cup holders and am adding a flip down one to the passanger seat side wall below window. Havent popped a breaker or fuse yet but worry that i will. I likes my gadgets. i got my 25DS without the bedroom tv as the stock unit was too small. have a samsung 32" coming and tilting wall mount. (total weight tv and mount is 14lbs). Hopefully the bathroom wall studs will support it. Mount is very thin to keep leverage on wall/screws as low as possible. Thanks monoprice.com !

How big a pain was it to run the new wiring to outlets and inverter?

Got shower door and fanstastic fan for bathroom but havent had time to install them yet.
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Old 06-03-2014, 11:34 AM   #3
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We love the fantastic fan.

Can you post pictures of the center console? I am usually the passenger and right now I have a Rubbermade caddy resting at my feet to hold my beverage and other things I like to keep close at hand.
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Old 06-04-2014, 09:47 AM   #4
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The only invertor area I really care about is the Kitchen TV as I want to run that as we roll down the road. For $25, I bought an invertor at Amazon that plugs into the cigarette lighter plug by the entrance door. It has multiple outlets as well as 2 USB spots. I ran the wire behind the Audio/Video System and mounted the invertor with heavy duty velcro on the wall next to the outlet behind the TV (out of site). This invertor is plenty for the TV to run and gives me some extra charging capability for cell phones.
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Old 06-04-2014, 09:08 PM   #5
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Auntie,

Here is the first iteration of dog house cup holder. Acquired at aWuAL-MART during our maiden voyage to N. Ga. Mountains over Memorial day. It really needs to be raised up but first i need to support the center console as it gets to squeaking running down the road. Got brown flip out cup holder for under DW window...only need her to decide where she wants it exactly.

On a up not got the beast license plates today...only took 2 hours....and i had the good clerk! Who doesnt love the DMV?

(And no it didnt take the photo in that orientation....will work to improve my posting skillz)
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Old 06-04-2014, 11:10 PM   #6
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[QUOTE=svwc;619754]

Next will be to put rod hanger & shelves in
/QUOTE]

We checked out a newly delivered FR3 at the dealership last weekend and they have hanging racks installed in both closets. They are not the typical rod, but a metal bar that is mounted to the top which has a series of holes in it to put hangers in. It would have been nice to have that in ours, but we made do with a stand alone rack from Ikea.
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Old 07-24-2014, 10:42 PM   #7
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a few more mods........

- 3rd brake light, LED at the back
- dash board LED switch now only turns on the headlight LEDs
- switch by the others switches by the door now turns on the awning LED lights
- another light in the storage by the power cord
- 150W invertor wired into the 12V plugs at the front
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Old 07-25-2014, 09:33 AM   #8
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Svwc,
Do you have pics of the new mods I would like to try them!
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Old 07-25-2014, 02:18 PM   #9
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SVWC,
Like you, I could never understand why the Headlight LEDS were in line w/Awning LEDS. Can you supply any more info on the LED separation mod? Thanks
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Old 07-27-2014, 12:07 PM   #10
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- took the cover off where the awning wires go from the interior to the outside
- found 4 wires, 2 large dia for awning power, 2 smaller for lights, one is power, other was ground
- the awning led light power wire was red/black and connected to a gray wire that ran down & headed back towards the coach batteries
- found the wire in the plastic protective casing behind the steps, cut gray wire
- run a fused wire from the + battery side to a switch I mounted beside the other switches inside, then connected to the cut gray wire running to the led awning lights


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Old 08-05-2014, 04:45 PM   #11
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SVWC I am planning on adding an inverter for the back tv as well. Would love to see how you did it or the steps you took. I see the romex behind the wall but that is as far as I can go. I did attempt to pull out the main control panel but it was difficult to distiguish what is what.
Any advice or steps would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
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Old 08-05-2014, 11:10 PM   #12
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Hi sev
I'm out working, will be back this weekend. I'll write up what I did / and wish what I would do different, with pictures


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Old 08-11-2014, 10:22 PM   #13
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Hey sev
I also looked at tieing into the existing wiring, but realized that the wire is daisy chained to the outlets, not what I wanted

All I wanted was a few plugs, like the TVs to be on invertor power

I installed a pure sine wave invertor, installed it on the floor under the sink. I would now installed it behind the wooden grate that hides the furnace

The invertor has a on / off button
I did not add any new receptacle, as I split the existing, top is invertor, bottom shore power

The real problem is to run new 120v wire to the main tv & bedroom tv

Main tv, I was able to fish a wire between the walls, left of the tv and closet

Back bedroom, went into the rear storage, then up the inside of the wall to the tv

Outside tv just unplugged from wall & plugged into invertor

I also installed a DVD player above the bed, ran invertor power & hdmi cable inside the wall on the right side of the fridge, over to the bedroom, following the power wire

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Old 08-12-2014, 12:06 AM   #14
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Thank you svwc.
I plan on mounting my inverter next to the house batteries.
I ended running romex from underneath, up behind the battery switch, up to the stereo and added a plug behind the tv.
I got lazy and placed it on the left side instead of the right side where the microwave plug is. Couldn't figure out the clean run to the right side.

I then ran another piece of romex from the battery compartment underneath over the gas tank through the box where the power converter is. I then carefully measured and drilled underneath the shower. Continued to run the romex out next to the lower plug behind the shower and up the wall next to the cable outlet. I decided to leave the stock plugs and added a second set of plugs just for the inverter. The bottom plug I bought one of those half power/half USB plugs for the phones and iPads at night.

Should have pictures up tomorrow.
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Old 08-12-2014, 02:22 PM   #15
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here are the photos

I plan on placing the inverter next to the batteries. I ran this romex pretty much straight up to the t.v. over the sink.
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Old 08-12-2014, 02:26 PM   #16
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bedroom t.v.

Now this one was a little more difficult as I ran the romex from the battery underneath the rv, over the gas tank and through the rear storage.
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Old 08-12-2014, 08:59 PM   #17
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Nice job sev

The inverter I bought, I don't think I would want it in the elements

This FR3 is our first MH, & I know it's an entry level model, but for a few bucks, these mods, pre wiring could easily been done at the factory

Another one would be the porch light

We do like having a DVD player for the bedroom tv, as we camp away from cities with tv reception

Off topic a bit, on the dash light dimmer switch thumb wheel, when it clicks over to normally turn on interior lights, nothing happens ????
Is this normal for the FR3 ??


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Old 08-12-2014, 11:53 PM   #18
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Yes first MH for me as well. When I pulled the radio out I found the two wires for the porch light in there. You may be able to utilize them. I have plans on swapping that out as well. Maybe a motion sensor light have not decided yet.

I was more worried about the heat from the inverter than the elements. I may end up installing the inverter inside the lock box next to the battery compartment. We will see.

Definitely adding a t.v. In the bedroom and I am looking at the samsung HT-H5500W for blu-ray and speakers.
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Old 08-13-2014, 10:13 AM   #19
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My inverter is in the storage compartment (lock box) next to the cabin batteries. That compartment gets warm normally with no inverter, but not enough to cause a problem.
__________________
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(and 2 200cc Scooters)
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Old 08-13-2014, 10:57 AM   #20
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I forgot to mention, the inverter is protected by a 100 amp fuse, and a manual shutoffClick image for larger version

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