The Audit system is 1950's technology and while it may have a retro look to it, there are so many much better and much less expensive alternatives. Bill Chaplin installed a SeeLevel system (about $200) and many have purchased, either overseas or from a local supplier, a rear camera and monitor. Not much over $50 gives you a far better view of behind the coach and in color too. You also get night vision thrown in for free also.
Pierce
I know that there are numerous threads here about different solutions but am wondering if we could have one thread that might identify the different set ups that the FoFum members have used to solve these two problems:
1. Camera and monitor - source, cost and install
2. Tank sensor - source, cost and install
Just a thought. ;D
Fresh Water Tank: I rely on viewing the level of water in a small vertical transparent tube in the manifold bay. Cost? $5 or so. Monitor sez its empty when its not.
Black or Grey Tanks: When the stock sensor sez one or the other is full, I dump. Cost? Came with the coach.
Camera? I never rely on it when backing. Rarely backup if no one is back there.
Monitor? I still have the stock monitor.
When my ship comes in I'll get the 4 camera solution and a new monitor.
best, paul
Scott, I installed the Sea Level system for tank monitoring which works reliably. I put the readout in the utility bay so it was not that big of a deal to install.
Upgrading the camera system is on the list.
I just want to find a 5" monitor with 4:3 aspect ratio to fit the opening in the dashboard where the CRT is. I definitely don't want a widescreen LCD stuck on the outside of the dashboard... no offense intended to all of you who did that, it's just not the look I want in my coach... I've never been able to find a new monitor that will fit the opening in the dashboard and look good. I'm also not completely sure if the monitor needs to support a reversed "mirror" image or if that is determined by the Javelina system instead of the monitor / camera. Rather than do a hatchet job I'll just wait.
Scott,
Rear View Camera & Monitor Replacement 1993 U240 (http://www.beamalarm.com/Documents/rear_view_camera_and_monitor_replacement_1993_u240.html)
ToteVision | LCD-560LX (http://totevision.com/lcd-560lx-flush-mount-flush-mount-behind-the-mirror.html)
Check with Tim at RV.cams-- he may have one in stock. It is a very high quality unit.
In the writeup he said he had to cut the dashboard to make the monitor fit the opening... so maybe I'll just wait until I find a more perfect solution. My most likely scenario at this point is locating someone who repairs electronics and having him install a new CRT tube into the Javelina system. It would be nice if a color CRT tube of the correct size could be installed, but I'd settle for a new black and white tube with better contrast.
Scott,
The he is me.
Cutting the dash board, at least on the 1993 U240 was no big deal. The important thing was the monitors high quality, aspect ratio and the ability to be flush mounted. With it flush mounted, it had a very good OE "look".
Howdy Scott,
I installed the SeeLevel II Tank Level System. Since our tanks are taller than 12" you need two sender strips for each tank, if you want to measure the full height. I purchased two 709 systems, used two sender strips on each tank, and installed one readout in Coach above the Power Monitor system, and the other readout in the service bay. This was a fairly straightforward job. Costs for two systems $355.
Link: Garnet SeeLevel II 709 Monitoring System - Batteries Boxes & Accessories -... (http://www.dyersonline.com/garnet-seelevel-709-monitoring-system.html)
Still investigating rear camera and monitor solution. Probably go with a wireless system.
Good Luck, Dave A
Brett, do you have photos of the dashboard cutout posted on here? It really bothers me to cut anything that shows. I suppose part of my "do not destroy" mentality comes from owning classic vehicles all my life.
Brett -
Why did you trim the monitor cover? Aesthetics or functionality or both?
Trimmed a little from the dash so monitor would fit. Nothing showed.
So....You trimmed a bit of the back side?
Again, removed a small bit of the dash.
Let me know if you can open this link-- shows it installed in the dash of 1993 U240.
IMG_2228.jpg Photo by dgwolfe10 | Photobucket (http://s588.photobucket.com/user/dgwolfe10/media/IMG_2228.jpg.html?sort=3&o=10)
Thanks for the pic Brett.
I attached a monitor to the outside of the hole and then put in a seal level in the compartment over the door. It works well and I have a larger screen to see the camera in. Pulled the Javilna all together.
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Scott, here's another. Same setup as Brett's, this one in a 95 300. Scott, you may not want to do this if you have the lighted dash. If you cut it, no more lights. I did do the same install in our coach that had the lighted dash but it was already non-operational.
Also installed the SeeLevel system in this 95. Like Dave, I bought two systems so the sensors could read the entire tank. Cost wasn't that far off of just buying extra sensors. I installed one readout in the wet bay and another on the drawer cabinet in the kitchen.
Here's a photo of the monitor and the SeeLevel. SeeLevel readout is the middle one inside and top, outside.
jor
Mine is still a work in progress, but it will replace the Javalina in our 03 when its done. Plan on using the current flip up monitor, but may upgrade that at some point as well, but any monitor with a RCA jack should work fine.
I have all the sensors working, voltage, various tank levels, temperature, compass, etc. Have some calibration routines to work out and need to see what the characteristics of the current wiring is so I take that in to account. Next up is to work on the mechanical packages for a few of the parts.
Couple of quick pics attached.
Steve, what in the world are all those jumper wires and what nots in the bottom right hand corner of your picture?
Thats Javalina 2.0 ^.^d (Its my breadboard of sensors that talks to a raspberry pi)
I installd the "see-level" a couple of years ago. They have a operation close by.
The guy who showed me how to hook it up also saved me the price of two strips.
I mounted the gray and black water tank sensors near the top of the tank ( I do not really care if they are empty ) only when they are getting full.
Reverse with the fresh water tank. Located that sensor near the bottom.
I now have 5 or 6 unused wires from the rear right of the GV to behind the dash.
See Level works for me. I don't need real time info although the black level goes up and down a bit and then settles down after a full and complete accounting of dinner. A quick look once every couple of days is enough for me. It is nice to know when fresh is getting full.
Good idea, Bill, for all of the functionality at a lower price.
Roger
and it works with the existing holding tank pressure-type sensors...
I think it needs a better name than "Javalina 2.0", though ;)
I installed one slight mod to dash plate.
Replace original monitor (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11706.msg60148#msg60148)
The more I look at my dashboard and think about this, the more I think I'm gonna get a new CRT installed instead of an LCD. I don't want to modify the look. LCD monitors didn't even exist when my coach was built so it clearly doesn't belong there. The CRT would work perfectly if I had a new one, especially a color tube. CRT monitors have a lot of advantages over LCD tubes, especially side viewing angle brightness and color reproduction. A CRT tube will be a lot cooler and attract more attention than an LCD, especially many years from now when the LCD looks like an old, dated upgrade. I've had several people remark about the CRT backup monitor being cutting edge technology when my coach was built... So that's what I've been thinking, but I'm always doing the opposite of what everyone else does. It's gonna be a while before I do this so I still have plenty of thinking time left.
Scott,
You are certainly able to do what you like, but the photo both I and jor posted of the Totevision monitor do NOT change the look of the dash. It is a high quality monitor that flush mounts in the dash in place of the Javalina monitor.