Voltage monitor

Topic: Voltage monitor (Read 1540 times) previous topic - next topic

Voltage monitor

December 25, 2015, 10:48:51 am

I have searched the forums old archives and never found out if the voltage monitor that displays line 1 and line 2 is anything more than a voltage gauge. The one thats in the coach we just bought has not worked in that the voltages just float around on one and read zero on the other. I removed the face an can see it had lights at one time that are all burned out. There is plenty of information on the forum about changing resisters and the bulbs, but nothing about what the monitor does other than show line voltages and light up bulbs if there is a problem. I could not find a replacement board on the internet nor anything that showed both lines voltages. What has anyone done to replace this device?
The motorhome is a 1999 U320

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #1 – December 25, 2015, 12:00:31 pm

If yours is like mine then behind that voltage monitor panet there is a duplex outlet.. Leg 1 is plugged into one outlet and leg 2 into the other. When mine went a bit wonky I unplugged them for a bit and plugged them back in. Then they worked. If one leg is on and one is off then check your circuit bepreakers at the foot of the bed. Right side bottom breaker powers leg 2 to the meter.

I Added a couple of panel volt meters in the same area that connect to the same outlets. They now all work.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #2 – December 25, 2015, 02:09:06 pm

Roger, I read about that plug on the search I did. It stopped the random numbers but now both lines read one. Reading the voltage behind the face shows 124 volts on both lines. The circuit board shows signs of the transformers inside getting very hot at one time. Everything works on the coach now the Xantrex reads fine also. I was hoping to find something that would show both lines as this one did at one time and fit in the cabinet.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #3 – December 25, 2015, 02:41:22 pm

Thank's to Krush for the information, I had mine rebuilt at Generator & RV Controls Repair and Replacements, Engine Monitoring, Idle... they troubleshot the unit for no charge and completely rebuilt the unit for $150.00. Now I have all the LED'S working again. If it is electronic they can fix it. David

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #4 – December 25, 2015, 03:09:11 pm

Early analog 120 VAC monitors are very different from the digital "two hots" monitors on later coaches.

And, Mike, your battery monitor on forward wall of refrigerator is custom to your coach.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #5 – December 25, 2015, 03:20:05 pm

Quote from: mike leary – December 25, 2015, 02:59:44 pm

Color me confused, are the "polarity check" indicators factory correct as shown in the pic, or has something fried some of them? I see both legs have a "trickle charge" number, as our's does, but do the numbers not change when lights, etc., are applied? How do you monitor your starter battery bank?

These monitors are for my a/c inputs The Xantrex monitor reads the house batteries and my dash volt meter is the only thing that reads the starter batteries.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #6 – December 25, 2015, 03:21:25 pm

Quote from: Retired Navy Chief – December 25, 2015, 02:41:22 pm

Thank's to Krush for the information, I had mine rebuilt at Generator & RV Controls Repair and Replacements, Engine Monitoring, Idle... they troubleshot the unit for no charge and completely rebuilt the unit for $150.00. Now I have all the LED'S working again. If it is electronic they can fix it. David

Did you have to send them the whole assembly or just the circuit board with the led's

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #7 – December 25, 2015, 04:01:58 pm

Quote from: mike leary – December 25, 2015, 03:46:15 pm

So, forgive me, but I'm still learning: When you refer to the "Xantrex", is it part of the module in the pic you posted or is it dash-mounted or somewhere else?

It is the control panel of the Xantrex 3000 inverter charger.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #8 – December 25, 2015, 04:02:37 pm

Quote from: craneman – December 25, 2015, 03:21:25 pm

Did you have to send them the whole assembly or just the circuit board with the led's

I unplugged removed 4 screws and sent the entire unit wrapped in bubble plastic. As I recall turnaround time was 10 days or so. David

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #9 – December 25, 2015, 04:13:22 pm

Quote from: mike leary – December 25, 2015, 03:46:15 pm

So, forgive me, but I'm still learning: When you refer to the "Xantrex", is it part of the module in the pic you posted or is it dash-mounted or somewhere else?

Xantrex is the manufacturer of your smart charger and monitor: http://www.xantrex.com/documents/Discontinued-Products/TC20_40%28445-0050-01-01_Rev-A%29.pdf

You should have the manual on it.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #10 – December 25, 2015, 05:18:09 pm

I am confused. Did Mike delete one or more posts? The picture of his monitor is not in the list of recent attachments anymore, either (although that might be a system function when a message is deleted?).

I was interested because I thought I had seen one of those monitors on eBay, but not associated with Foretravel IIRC.

Trent

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #11 – December 25, 2015, 05:31:18 pm

Craneman, Trent,
I ran out to the barn, well "ran" might not exactly describe it, but here are pictures of my power monitor and the two digital volt meters I installed. This was after my original meters started reading in the 140-160 range. So I pulled the panel, added the two new meters, plugged everything back in and original meters started reading in the range they should and the new meters worked as well. The actual voltage (DVM) is always between the two sets, both of which are adjustable so that if I needed to I could make them read what the DVM voltage but why. Terrible pictures, sorry

Volt meters came from China, $10-$12 each.

The panel to the left of the Powerline Monitor is the Inverter/Charger control and display panel.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #12 – December 25, 2015, 06:21:02 pm

Quote from: craneman – December 25, 2015, 10:48:51 am

I removed the face and can see it had lights at one time that are all burned out.

Quote from: mike leary - 2 hours ago
Color me confused, are the "polarity check" indicators factory correct as shown in the pic, or has something fried some of them? I see both legs have a "trickle charge" number, as our's does, but do the numbers not change when lights, etc., are applied? How do you monitor your starter battery bank?

Those bulbs have been problematic. On mine, the center column (important in seeing a "Correct" indicator) are very dim and seem to be blinking rapidly. They look different in a photograph. The attachment shows a picture of mine from some time ago. The right column shows as white in the picture but looks green in person. The middle column shows as dim green in the photo; in person, it looks like a very dim, rapidly flashing green.

The best fix I have seen is replacing the bulbs with LED's. There may be a write-up about it in an old message thread or on Barry Beam's sight, but I am not sure. I do not recall who posted the article and pictures. The second picture shows the PLM after replacing the bulbs with LED.s; the owner is invited to identify themselves.

Hope this helps explain the problem and some clues to the fix.

Trent

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #13 – December 25, 2015, 06:25:16 pm

Thanks, Mike -- color me no longer confused. Well no more than usual, anyway.

Trent

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #14 – December 25, 2015, 06:43:56 pm

Quote from: TulsaTrent – December 25, 2015, 06:21:02 pm

The best fix I have seen is replacing the bulbs with LED's. There may be a write-up about it in an old message thread or on Barry Beam's sight, but I am not sure. I do not recall who posted the article and pictures. The second picture shows the PLM after replacing the bulbs with LED.s; the owner is invited to identify themselves.

Prior to LEDs, there was Dick Mason who posted years ago and here are our photos following his method

Power Line Monitor Is On The Fritz

One owner of the LED version is falconguy

FT Power Monitor

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #15 – December 25, 2015, 06:47:06 pm

Quote from: TulsaTrent – December 25, 2015, 06:21:02 pm

Those bulbs have been problematic.

The best fix I have seen is replacing the bulbs with LED's.

Hope this helps explain the problem and some clues to the fix.

Trent

When they rebuilt mine all bulbs were replaced with LED'S. David

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #16 – December 25, 2015, 08:12:38 pm

These lights are just indicating correct polarity or what part of the connection is wrong. If you have an Progressive Industries EMS power line connection protection any of those faults will prevent connection and be shown on the ems panel and if these small lights on the PowerLine Monitor don't work or don't work well it really doesn't matter.

If the volt meter part doesn't work then a good set of voltmeters will tell you the same thing.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #17 – December 25, 2015, 09:30:26 pm

About five years ago, I also did the Dick Mason upgrade/repair, change some resisters, all lamps, and calibrate the 2 voltage LCD.
Worked like a champ ever since, is very easy if you do small printed circuit boards, solder sucker/wick etc.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #18 – December 25, 2015, 10:18:53 pm

Quote from: Retired Navy Chief – December 25, 2015, 04:02:37 pm

I unplugged removed 4 screws and sent the entire unit wrapped in bubble plastic. As I recall turnaround time was 10 days or so. David

When you say the entire unit are you referring to just the board that unplugs from the part that is wired into the square box? It has two plugs.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #19 – December 26, 2015, 01:23:35 am

CM, I think they are talking about the panel labeled Power Line Monitor as shown in the pictures. In your 1999 there may be something different. If your voltage displays are not working they may not be repairable, the character displays are built into the circuit boards.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #20 – December 26, 2015, 10:21:01 am

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – December 26, 2015, 01:23:35 am

CM, I think they are talking about the panel labeled Power Line Monitor as shown in the pictures. In your 1999 there may be something different. If your voltage displays are not working they may not be repairable, the character displays are built into the circuit boards.

Mine is the same as in your picture and Tulsa Trents. I am just trying to find out how much of the monitor has to be removed to send in for the repair. There is the display board which is easy to remove and the whole assembly with the transformers which requires removing hard wires and removing the conduit box. The voltage display is only showing one on both lines and if that cannot be repaired, just getting the polarity lights to work would not be worth it. I will call the company suggested on Monday and get more information. I guess the one question that remains is, does this device do anything else other than show voltage and polarity?

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #21 – December 26, 2015, 11:11:41 am

CM, I do not think it does anything else other than indicate correct (or incorrect) polarity on each leg and the voltage on each leg. Panel mount volt meters will show voltage.

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #22 – December 26, 2015, 11:17:09 am

Quote from: craneman – December 26, 2015, 10:21:01 am

I guess the one question that remains is, does this device do anything else other than show voltage and polarity?

My question, as well. Right now, with only three overheads on, ours shows 13.4/13.7 on both sides. The middle shows the total charge current at 10, variable. I can observe the up and down movement as we run more lights and see it wiggle around charging, also after we've been off shore power. We've a another monitor that shows incoming & polarity. I sure hope everyone has this sort of lash-up, it's more fun watching it than t.v.!

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #23 – December 26, 2015, 01:16:57 pm

Mike,

Left one is monitor for both batteries (should have paperwork showing which is battery one and which is battery two). If not, turn off breaker for charger and use 12 VDC for a couple of hours. Turn it back on. The house bank will read less initial voltage.

Middle one is 120 VAC polarity/ground and voltage

Right one is your smart charger

Re: Voltage monitor

Reply #24 – February 15, 2016, 05:49:21 pm

Update, monitor repaired by Flight Systems in and working

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