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06-09-2009, 03:53 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1982 28' Airstream 280
Venice
, California
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 73
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Time to fabricate a new 'Control Center'
I don't know about you guys, but the black glassy control panel above my fridge is a source of constant frustration. Water level meters with ambiguous faintly glowing lights at 1/4, 1/2, etc. Useless. Ditto for the battery monitors and propane level. Time to bring my 83' 280 up into the new millennium and fashion a gauge bar and control system that is more useful and verbose.
I was thinking of using the equivalent of a fuel gauge for each of the three water tanks and propane and using voltmeters for the two batteries with an ammeter to show current load. Going the other direction, I could use digital displays and even a %full display for the tanks and batteries.
Has anyone taken on this project before? Any particular suggestions on how to get started and what the input ranges might be for the tank floats?
/dale
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06-09-2009, 04:00 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1971 21' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,530
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I've heard good things about the Seelevel monitors
SeeLeveL RV Gauges by Garnet Technologies Inc.
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06-10-2009, 06:51 AM
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#3
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Jamie
1984 31' Limited
1983 31' Airstream310
Oriental
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 180
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Good project - I've thought about it many times but never actually started. I like your ideas about replacements for the screwball light system. Pics please, both during and after.
Jamie
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06-10-2009, 10:30 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
1969 25' Tradewind
1971 18' Caravel
Berkeley Springs
, West Virginia
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 423
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07-06-2009, 07:04 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
1983 30' Airstream 300
Weatherford
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
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Got that control center done yet?
__________________
1983 300 Classic.
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08-04-2009, 09:46 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1982 28' Airstream 280
Venice
, California
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 73
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Ha! Not yet
I purchased the SeeLevel monitors. Looks like a great system. Have the Trimetic Battery Monitor already. Love it. Just waiting for the free time. Been focused on upgrading the bones lately--four new airbags, new radiator ($$$$), two new bell crank arms, etc. Suspension work is the only thing I outsource, because I can't lift this girl up in the air. But at $4500, it was a big pill to swallow!
I'll keep you posted on the new control center. It will probably happen sometime after Burning Man.
/df
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03-21-2011, 06:04 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Jamestown
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 577
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Hello Dale
So how is the gauge install project going ?
and How do you like your new air bag system.
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03-24-2011, 12:39 AM
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#9
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Maniacal Engineer
1971 25' Tradewind
Lopez Island
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,244
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Last weekend I installed the 2025RV Trimetric unit from Bogart Engineering; this provides ammeter, voltmeter and time-integrated amp readings (e.g. % actual charge in battery). I'm quite happy w/ this unit, and it satisfies the need I felt to replace the non-working meters in the Airstream "Central Control" panel. I can recommend this as much nicer than having only instantaneous amp and volt readings....
A water level sensor would still be a nice addition, though.
- Bart
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