Prewire behind Micropulse, indicator light?

[CanoeStream]

The Micropulse monitor is next to the roadside stove hood in my August '05 produced 2006 25 FB SE. My Safari was produced 6 months after the first that I know of (moosetag's) and well before the great majority of this very popular style of Airstream. So things might have changed in later models. But...

There is an unknown prewire behind this panel. My panel functions are as seen; Classics have an additional function for LPG level IIRC.

There is a slot in the frame at the top of the panel. Prying there loosens a spring at the top. Then the panel slides vertically up and disengages from the frame.


In the space behind the panel, phone-type plugs and flat wires attach to the printed circuit board (colors seem to correspond to the tank - black, gray, white). And there is a loose prewire - the blue-wrapped bundle is not connected to the printed circuit board.



Does the Classic LPG monitor function use flat phone-type wires like the other monitors? Or does it use the blue bundle? Does anybody with other varieties of FB units see functions unrelated to the Micropulse installed in this area -- between the sink and stove?

The blue bundle has 4 pairs of wires, each pair loosely twisted together (8 wires overall) -

1. orange & white with orange stripe
2. green & white with green stripe
3. blue & white with blue stripe
4. brown & white with brown stripe

Anyone recognize that type of wiring and possible uses?

[w7ts]

I believe that is part of the Solar prewire. The solar controller's remote panel is right next to the Micropulse panel in my classic. I have the factory installed solar.
Regards,
Ken

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

The blue bundle has 4 pairs of wires, each pair loosely twisted together (8 wires overall) -

1. orange & white with orange stripe
2. green & white with green stripe
3. blue & white with blue stripe
4. brown & white with brown stripe

Anyone recognize that type of wiring and possible uses?

The wires are the same as a network cable. The connector at the end would be an RJ-45 plug which is just like a phone cable, but has 8 pins, not 4.

[Jim & Susan]

Bob, that blue jacketed wire is Cat5e. It's the same stuff your computer uses to plug into your internet outlet (router, cable modem, DSL modem, etc). What it pulls to I have no idea, but just think of it as being used in VERY low voltage applications. Makes sense that it would be used for monitoring something, or maybe a control wire of some kind.

Jim

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

...Anyone recognize that type of wiring and possible uses?

hi bob

05 with MP and solar screens in galley near sink/stove...

i replaced the unit diy ~3 years back.

here is the panel face pulled...



and the rats nest stretched out some...



can u see the wires/colors that interest you?

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

now here is a CLOSE UP...

looks like the green/white are the LP tank wires....



with LP1 as white and LP2 as green.

and here's a painfully OUT of focus shot of their connections TO the panel face...



thinking back, i don't recall ANY loose UNaccounted for wires,

but one can see the SUNEXPLORER face just to the RIGHT in the background of these pics...

so my vote is the extras go there....

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

yes the classic has lpgas 1 and lpgas 2 on the faceplate...

one above and one below the BATTERY label...

from the BACK side this panel face looks this way....



with BW, FW, GW noted as RJ plugs...

and the lp 1/2 connections, as WIRES coming right out of the circuit board...

these has crimp style straight connecters size BLUE as i recall...

the darker green, yellow, purple plug in to the PUMP switch on the face plate

while the on/off wires for the panel are wired into the board as red/black.

cheers
2air'

now GO BACK 2 the stretched out wiring pic...





one can see the GREEN and WHITE circuit board wires for LP1/2...

connected via the blue CRIMP connectors to 2 wires from the wall nest...

a blue wire with RED stripe and a white wire...

ok, that's all i got.

[CanoeStream]

Thanks! Loads of quick info coming in. Sounds like the blue bundle goes to the solar panel.

My real purpose ... I wanted to explore putting in a grain-of-wheat indicator light for when the water pump is on. Perhaps due to a number of pump-on when underway while low on water incidents*, our noisy OEM Aquajet pump died. Thank FSM! Pulling the panel showed me that the water pump switch and wiring are separate. Will have to talk to some HO fans to determine how much heat they put out. Mebbe LED? Still probing...

Thread to come on the water pump replacement. Thanks to Lewster for pointers!

* can't point fingers or mods might rap my knuckles

[2airishuman]

one could put the grain of wheat lights into the black plastic BEZEL/FRAME for the MP display...

with 2/3 holes drilled in the lower surface just below the pump switch.

then wire those lights into the purple/yellow/green plugs.
______________

i replaced the oem pump with the MUCH quieter/higher flow...

'extreme series, 4.0' per lews suggestion.

install was easy but you will need a LARGER prefilter/screen that is NOT in the pump box (~20$)

it is nice BUT "pump left ON" problems are potentially greater since it IS so much quieter and smooth while running...

so my solution was to TAPE 2 OFF the 2nd water pump switch in the lav area...

no more dueling water pump switches 2 confuse me!

cheers
2air'

[w7ts]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

Thanks! Loads of quick info coming in. Sounds like the blue bundle goes to the solar panel.

My real purpose ... I wanted to explore putting in a grain-of-wheat indicator light for when the water pump is on. Perhaps due to a number of pump-on when underway while low on water incidents*, our noisy OEM Aquajet pump died. Thank FSM! Pulling the panel showed me that the water pump switch and wiring are separate. Will have to talk to some HO fans to determine how much heat they put out. Mebbe LED? Still probing...

Thread to come on the water pump replacement. Thanks to Lewster for pointers!

* can't point fingers or mods might rap my knuckles

Bob,
The attachment is copy of the hook up diagram for the Sunexplorer Charge controller. It is very light in the manual so I hope the scan comes Through. Any any case it says the cable between the controller (in my case under the front couch) and the display unit (in the galley next to the Micro Pulse) is a T568A or t568B Ethernet patch cable. That explains most of the wires. However the larger blue wire is a mystery. I wonder if it goes to the water pump power. You could put a volt meter on it and see if there is 12 volts present when the pump is on. I have seen some info on the Micro Pulse that mentions a water pump on light. Maybe a different model. This is what I am doing for a water pump on light. My water pump is under the floor of the wardrobe. Also in there is a Plastic heat outlet into the Hallway. I am installing a red LED indicator light in the rim of the plastic vent. It will be wired to the water pump power wire.
In my trailer this will make it visable from the galley, bathroom, and bedroom. In fact almost anywhere in the trailer. Hope this helps.
Ken

[Minno]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

My real purpose ... I wanted to explore putting in a grain-of-wheat indicator light for when the water pump is on.

Ok, maybe this is a silly question, but can’t you just replace the pump switch with a lighted version? All the trailers I’ve ever had have a lighted pump switch. Am I missing something?

Chris

[Westfalia]

Radio shack may be a good source for that style rocker switch.

Try this link too, can't determine if the switch is LED backlit or not:
http://www.mouser.com/Electromechani...switch&FS=True

[thecatsandi]

My LPG monitor wires are yellow and red. The Fresh, grey and black are flat telephone wire. The orange is hot for the pump.

[CanoeStream]

I started looking at the panel because I'd really like to add a light telling us both if the pump is on or off as we load up for the road, use the bathroom while en route, etc.