Quote:
Originally Posted by waninae39
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Just installed one in our new 2018 AS Sport 22FB.
I'm an extreme DIY and was very comfortable with this job. If you can wire a ceiling fan or install an electrical outlet you can do this no prob. If not, you may want to hire an electrician. This installation doesn't require cutting the original power line, only moving it and adding an additional piece of wire. Here's the Cliff Notes version followed by the full text version. be sure to see photos below...
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP: DISCONNECT YOUR 30A SHORE POWER CABLE. SWITCH OFF YOUR BATTERY CONNECTION (located on base of bed.)
Remove the closet floor, then under the fridge remove the breaker panel outer cover (two screws) and the breaker panel itself (four screws).
Looking under the closet floor, locate the orange supply line and disconnect from the breaker panel. Attach the supply line to the line (input) side of the Progressive Industries unit per their instructions. Get a 3 ft piece of 10g wire and connect to the load (output) side of the PI unit. Don't forget to properly position the metal donut on the black output wire. Attach the other end of the piece of 10g wire to the breaker panel in the same way the original supply line was attached. Mount the unit (using short 1/2"wood screws so as not to damage what's on the other side of the mounting area) to the narrow bit of wall that's just under the closet floor on the right. Choose where to mount the display unit (if you have it). I placed mine under the fridge and just to the left of the breaker panel.
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Full version:
1. DISCONNECT ALL A/C AND
12V POWER BEFORE PROCEEDING.
2. In addition to your new PI (Progressive Industries) unit you will need the following: 3ft piece of 10g 3-strand wire (if you can only get 4-strand, pull out the red wire and discard); Four 1/2-inch long wood screws for mounting the unit; cordless drill and a small drill bit for pilot holes; small phillips head for the unit's case cover; screwdriver for the mounting screws; wire strippers; wire cutters; small needle-nose pliers; a second pair of hands to help with holding the unit in place while securing with screws (but then I have lady hands... you guys probably won't need help.)
2. Remove the closet floor. Lots of little wires but you are looking to the right of where the outside shower lines go thru. Locate the thick orange wire (wire bundle actually, the orange plastic sheath has a white, black and bare-copper wire inside.) It leads from the 30a plug on the outside to the breaker panel under the fridge.
3. Remove the outer plastic front of the breaker panel (not the little pop out door, the whole thing held in place with 2 screws). Remove the four corner screws from the breaker panel and slide out. Disconnect the orange supply line from the breaker panel. Install the 3ft piece of 10g wire in its place on the breaker panel.
4. Per PI's instructions, connect the original orange supply line to the supply side of your new PI unit. Then attach the 3ft wire you just placed on the breaker panel to the load side of the PI unit (don't forget the black wire thru the donut with the arrow side facing to the left aka toward the center of the unit). See helpful hints below.
5. Mark and drill pilot holes then mount the unit under the closet floor on the right side. Be sure the mounting screws are too short to contact the side of the fridge.
6. Mount the display unit and connect to the PI base unit. Mine is to the left of the breaker panel. I drilled a hole under the display location just big enough to get the end of the display wire connector through. I wanted a location where the constant readout wouldn't be a distraction while watching TV or sleeping, not that it's bright but it just keeps changing the readout every few seconds. I'd considered inside the closet high on the right wall but figured someone would eventually knock it off when moving things in and out of the closet. (I also tie-wrapped the miles of display unit wire in a neat bundle to keep it tidy for the next time I'm under the closet).
7. Replace the closet floor. Restore power and check your error code readout. You should only see E 0. Consult the PI instructions if you have any other error code.
8. Step back and admire your work.
Helpful Tips:
10g wire is surprisingly not flexible. Pre-position the wire just before securing it to connections or you'll feel like a rattlesnake wrangler.
Keep the stripped wire ends short to minimize exposed wire, only enough to slide into connectors.
I marked the case mounting screw holes with a Sharpie first, then drilled pilot holes. Hand screwdriver was easier to set the 1/2" screws vs. trying to maneuver a cordless driver into position. The mounting location is easy to access but hard to get properly positioned for using power tools.
Place the breaker panel cover anyplace where your legs won't kick it. Same for all the screws.
Use a small board to straddle the closet floor opening; this will provide a surface to support the unit while you are working on it.
Utilize all the slack in the 10g wire by cutting the electrical tape that bundles the wires together. I didn't pull it taut and it gave me an additional foot of wire to work with.
Keep small tool parts, i.e. screwdriver tips, drill bits out of the closet area until needed. Never found a small phillips head tip I dropped in there.