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Powerwatch Panel

I noticed last week that the green light (and I guess the the red!) no longer seems to light up.  Today I started the generator to check a minor AC repair, and I saw the voltage meter was fluctuating from below 90 volts to around 100.

A brief panic, then I checked an outlet with a test meter - a steady 118 volts.  No issues with the power supply.

I didn't find a lot of information about the Powerwatch, other than it is just a passive indicator fed from the AC wiring.

I do use the meter regularly and I think the polarity indicators are a good idea.  Has anyone replaced their Powerwatch Panel?  What did you use?
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #1 –
Matt,

I did a Google Image search for your photo of the panel, and got a result of........nothing.  This tells me there ain't a lot of info about this meter floating around in the ether.  If one of our resident electrical gurus can't help you, you may be S.O.L.

Seems like I remember a post one time saying that the PowerWatch meter only monitors "one leg" of the AC power system.  Here it is:

Powerwatch polarity indicator


1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #2 –
Chuck, that one post was the one I found.  Thanks!

Were these panels not installed much, do they not go bad, or does everybody never look at them?

I did some word searches for similar things and found similar things but no nice "stick it in the hole" replacements.

If no good replacement options come up, I will take it out and see if an amateur component-level repair can be done.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #3 –
I have always used ours (which still works fine) as a general indication of "Yes, we have AC power".  I don't put a lot of faith in the actual voltage measurement, which does seem to bounce around, more or less, at random.

The PowerWatch bulbs are said to be replaceable:

PowerWatch Bulbs

Powerwatch meter
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #4 –
Just an FYI,
They now make that bulb in an LED version but I don't have that number right here handy.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
I have always used ours (which still works fine) as a general indication of "Yes, we have AC power".  I don't put a lot of faith in the actual voltage measurement, which does seem to bounce around, more or less, at random.

The PowerWatch bulbs are said to be replaceable:

PowerWatch Bulbs

Powerwatch meter

i missed that forum thread.  The green light is apparently still available, the red is not.

My curiosity is stronger than my desire for a nap.  I opened the box and took a photo.

So one (green) light will operate when the proper hot is "hot."  If the polarity is reversed, the neutral becomes hot, and the other (red) light comes on.  So any 120-volt lamp should work in either location, the color is the thing, both are otherwise the same.

I don't know where I am going with all of this.  I looked at some voltage meters, and none had three connections.  Do you think the ground on the meter back is just for wiring convenience, and is not part of the meter circuitry?

edit:  added the photo


Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #6 –

Well, I felt emboldened, and bought panel lights and a meter off Amazon.  I could not help myself, and bought a ROUND analog meter, just cause it looks so cool!

If this all works, I will report.  If it does not, I will report.

Still curious about the ground connection on the old meter.  Does it have a function for the meter, or just convenience for the wiring?

Amazon.com: Baomain Analog Dial Panel Meter Voltmeter Gauge SO-45 AC 0-150V...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #7 –
That analog gauge is really cool!
Frank & Connie Williams
1999 U320 '36
Build: 5466
MC: 18335

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #8 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
Well, I felt emboldened, and bought panel lights and a meter off Amazon.  I could not help myself, and bought a ROUND analog meter, just cause it looks so cool!

If this all works, I will report.  If it does not, I will report.

Still curious about the ground connection on the old meter.  Does it have a function for the meter, or just convenience for the wiring?

Amazon.com: Baomain Analog Dial Panel Meter Voltmeter Gauge SO-45 AC 0-150V...

you need all three connections for the reverse polarity light to function,
hot, neutral and ground. If there is a voltage potential between neutral and ground the red light will illuminate.

 
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #9 –
I removed the powerwatch and installed 2 of these in a new panel.  Both legs now monitored as is the hertz M2 AC Multimeter - Blue Sea Systems
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #10 –
Another apparent 120VAC power problem

When my power monitor gave up the ghost years ago, I went a cheaper route.  I bought two voltage/polarity checkers for under $100.  I then cut out the old digital monitor from the Foretravel panel and replaced it with the two voltage/polarity checkers that I bought off Ebay.  The voltage checkers were plug-in type so I had to cut off the back and hard wire them in.  I then glued them to the back of the panel and it looked and worked great.  Last month one of the monitors started acting up and I found that they were still available on Ebay.  So I just replaced the one bad one for under $50. 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #11 –
Thanks all!

I was intimidated by this project.  I thought the panel might be the monitor for some mysterious box or circuit buried deep within.  After I OPENED the panel, and with your help, I realized how simple it was.  It is a meter and two bulbs at the end of an AC circuit.

I ordered a modest AC meter and two AC indicator lights off Amazon and simply reproduced what was there.  I chose a groovy, vintage-looking meter.  Analog or digital would do about the same thing.  The ground connector on the original meter serves no purpose but to allow the connections for the indicator lights.  I did make a plastic adapter for the new meter to cover the old holes on the face plate and to extend the meter out slightly, so there was no chance of contact between the terminals and the metal (I think) back of the box that contains the circuit.

The meter just shows the voltage of the hot and neutral.  The green light connects to hot and ground, and lights up when all is good.  The red light hooks to neutral and ground, and illuminates if the neutral is not neutral!
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #12 –
That is really a cool looking analog meter. 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Jan & Richard –
That is really a cool looking analog meter.
Likely a reaction by an old guy to the stresses of a confusing modern world, but I LIKE analog stuff.  I recently decided to start wearing a wristwatch, after about 30 years of a cell phone being my timepiece.  I bought several thrift store and pawn shop cheap watches, and quickly found that I really preferred dials with numbers and hands.

For a while, I was writing and recording music, and the analog displays of the equipment are so much more inviting and engaging than a computer screen.  It feels more like art, and less like procedure.

A zillion years ago, around the dawn of digital readouts, I remember reading that auto racers and hot rod people loved their analog gauges.  One just loosens the nuts on the back, and twists the gauge until "normal" points up.  Then a person can analyze a bunch of information with a simple glance.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #14 –
Bob & Susan, Those are wonderful meters. For others, one meter can measure both 120v legs taking the place of two meters. Because these meters also measure 120v amps, the meters would be even much more valuable if amperage transformers were put around the two 120v hot legs feeding the main breaker box and 4 small diameter wires are fed from breaker panel to meter location. Transformers could be installed in transfer relay switch. Every limited shore power supply, inverter supply, generator, benefits by knowing 120v amps/leg to keep things in line, like turning off an appliance before turning on another, and knowing which 120v outlets are on which leg, etc.

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #15 –
Quote from: oldmattb –
I remember reading that auto racers and hot rod people loved their analog gauges.
...a person can analyze a bunch of information with a simple glance.
Also old school pilots.

Back in the day, whilst enjoying my (second) all-expenses paid 12 month vacation in SEA, my "office" was a B-52 cockpit.  The engine instrument panel between the pilots was comprised of 32 gauges in a 4 x 8 array.
When airborne, if all 8 needles in each row were pointing the same direction, it was a comforting indication.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –

Back in the day, whilst enjoying my second all-expenses paid 12 month vacation in SEA, my "office" was a B-52 cockpit. 
I must have won the same lottery.  I also got the grand prize of 12 months in U Tapao. 
Jan & Richard Witt
1999 U-320  36ft WTFE
Build Number: 5478 Motorcade: 16599
2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited w/Air Force One
Jan: NO5U, Richard:KA5RIW
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Powerwatch Panel

Reply #17 –
The  blue seas M2 adds various alarm functions if so desired

I admire the ingenuity shown here.
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4