Doug Hoegh

MODERATOR EDIT This new topic was merged, mistakenly, into the WRONG existing one. Housekeeping is now complete and it is in the one that had morphed into "NEW THREE PHASE CG Pedestal Wiring". Sorry for the confusion....Surge Protection, Open Neutrals, AC Electrical, etc. issues have recently dominated the topics. END EDIT Recently we had a discussion about three phase power and our coaches. I thought I would share this link to Mike Sokol's Substack discussing the new code approved use of three phase power for campground pedestal wiring. Hope you enjoy. https://open.substack.com/pub/rvelectricity/p/3-phase-campground-power-service?r=1upktj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

I have not had any issues with either my Intellitec EMS load shedding system or my Progressive Industries EMS (hard wired) when connected to my garage’s 208/120VAC 3 phase system.

Split phase is a type of single phase power. That’s all.

I have a two pole 50 amp breaker no different than with a single split phase system. And I might add I’m seeing new campgrounds with three phase systems being used for pedestal installations. Mike Sokol, the guy behind RV Electricity and other websites has discussed it at length. Seems to be a more efficient way to handle the install as long as it’s correctly balanced.

Tom are you confident it’s against code to use a three phase system for RV installations If wired correctly. I have a three phase 120/208 system without the high leg at my personal storage garage condo and it passed Colorado and the NEC when installed without any problem.

I hope you are popping and not pooping Aleve. Hehe, just a little Thanksgiving humor. All the best..

Chris at C-Low Fab is another source for the surge tank. I’ve heard it is well done. https://clowfabandperformance.com

Obviously my photos are upside down. Not sure what's going on. When I save to file they are correct. 62638725-C7A3-482C-A748-0482ECF9C986.heic

Jeff im using the Polk Audio RCi60’s. I had to hog out the ceiling round hole a bit, but install went quite easy. Monaco glued in a second piece of 1/2” plywood above the ceiling plywood and on most I still had a slim piece of the backer. Regardless they snugged up tight with wood screws. For the time being I’m running without a subwoofer. Sound is still quite good. I’ve contemplated a couple of ideas for a sub. A 12 volt driven mini sub mounted behind the double doors in the center console. Pull out the drawers and you’ll see a lot of room. Or put a 120 volt powered sub left of the driver chair. It would be stored during travel. For ventilation I added a couple of computer fans in the back of the cabinet and I bought a fan unit that sits on top of the amp, but I still had my first one act up from the heat. I’ve now replaced the first with a new amp and I’m still kicking around ideas to dissipate the heat. I’m thinking about adding holes with vents on the leafy, right, and bottom of the cabinet. I few years ago I knew a guy that added 4 all thread rods with a wood shelf hanging below the cabinet to hold a very large Sony amp with success. Here’s a photo of my setup without the added fan unit sitting on the amp. It’s tight. By the way I also have a 06 Diplomat but a PBT three slide unit.

Jeff I’m late to this party, but curious where you placed your new AV amp? I use the compact Marantz that fits in the cabinet, but found that it was overheating from the tight enclosed space. Now considering other location options. And you are correct, the Magnadyne speakers are 6 ohm and a not very good product. I changed mine to Polk Audio 8 ohm speakers and very happy.

Very similar situation. We are stuck in third, but will start in first if shutting off the coach. And the expenses are piling up and still not at the shop. Arrive Washington Friday morning

Alaska Marine Highway leaves Monday night so we have two more wakeups to go. The small town of Haines gets a little smaller every day but we have had wonderful weather since the fourth. We attended the local parade, town picnic and fireworks display. Salmon are starting to run so every night we look for grizzlies and eagles. Did see four bears Thursday night. It still hard to grasp being out at 11:00 and it’s still light. Looking forward to the boat ride and getting the coach looked at in Washington. Trying to ignore the cost. Lemonade from Lemons as they say. Best to all. Doug

Jim. Once the coach is fixed we are headed home to Colorado. We have commitments that can’t be missed latter part of July. Hope Freightliner NW can get on the job soon and it goes well. We will see. Life is an adventure. And thanks so much for the turn by turn directions. I’ll get over to the clubhouse where we are staying with my computer and google map it to confirm I’ve got it correct. I’m also going to check again with Good Sams, hoping to get a different agent. It was interesting when talking to the guy. He was not a Good Sams employee, instead worked for their contracted company that makes the arrangements with towing companies and garages.

Jim I appreciate the ideas. We will have our Jeep to run around in and if the repairs take a few days and we can’t stay with the coach we will grab a nearby hotel. I’m still contemplating whether to limp it down or find a tow company. My roadside is Good Sams and I had great service from them in 2016 when they hauled me 375 miles from outside Watson Lake Yukon to Ft Nelson BC for a radiator damage issue. But this time when I called, they offered to haul me 84 miles from Haines to Juneau. I just could not get through to the agent that there wasn’t a road, only ocean. If I do decide to limp it in to Mt Vernon are there back roads? I can only go 30 miles per hour.

Jim. The ferry lands in Bellingham and from what I can see on google map that will be about 26 miles north of Mt Vernon where Freightliner NW is located. I have talked to them from here by phone and they seem to be a decent place. Reviews are also decent. Do you live in the area or know anything about them?

Patrick. We confirmed through additional codes on the keypad that I have a stuck second gear valve in the valve body. The Allison dealer in Whitehorse is 2 plus weeks out and even then they could not confirm when we could get a heavy haul to come to Haines and retrieve us so we’re now scheduled to put the coach on the Alaskan Maritime Ferry to Washington. We were able to get a cabin so we are making lemonade out of lemons. Life goes on. I’m just glad I have reserved funds for these kind of days. I can’t imagine for those that do not. It would be devastating.

Update our situation. After talking with my Allison dealer in Denver they showed me how to receive additional codes through the keypad. So I have three. 1. 6th gear not synch’d 2. Second gear not synch’d 3. Second gear valve stuck closed. The last code sunk my hopes for a quick fix. This valve is in the valve body assembly accessed by dropping the pan. So started to call around for help. Dealer in Whitehorse is 2 1/2 weeks out and couldn’t guarantee even then when they could get to me plus it’s a 250 mile tow round trip because there isn’t any heavy towing or trucks in Haines. Next option was Anchorage. If it’s even further away. So we made the decision to abandon Alaska and we a loading the coach on the Alaskan Ferry System and sailing to Seattle. Even that isn’t easy with the next open scheduled ship July 10th. So we are hanging in Haines until July with an appointment with Northwest Freightliner an authorized Allison dealer in Mt Vernon Washington.

06 Diplomat with ISL400/Allison 3000. On our way to Alaska my transmission went into limp mode and is stuck in third. When it does this the two digit display on the shift pad indicates the right digit only as three and the check transmission light comes on. If I stop and turn off the coach the check transmission light will go out and the keypad goes back to 6/1. But then if accelerating goes back to the single 3 and check light returns. From the research I’ve found it either points to a sixth speed ratio issue or a speed sensor issue. We are in Haines and I can’t find any help so far but still looking. I’m going to confirm the connections at the twenty pin connector is tight and. It damaged. Looking for any other ideas. Thanks. Doug

I used a vice while I drilled with a hand drill. The bushing I found at Lowes only needed a very little bit. Slow and steady

The problem is most of our coaches are on the Roadmaster Chassis now gone with the demise of Monaco Coach Companies acquisition by Rev.

Totally agree. We were careful not to let the weld get too hot, but Nitrogen would have been a whole lot safer. 50 years ago in the service we would throw our cigarette butts in the open diesel fuel bladders and think nothing of it. Bit I was a whole lot younger and probably a bit crazy at the time.

Like Dwight, mine was also leaking at the drain plug bung. We drained the tank and used a steady stream of shop air blowing through the fill neck welding in place.

There is a hack i've seen in a you tube video where a guy sells a kit to make your own macerator with a household garbage disposal. Doug 06 Diplomat

Look behind the dash air conditioner condenser roadside by back tires. Use the round key to unlock and to swing the condenser assembly out of the way. You’ll find it behind along with one of your fuel filters and your jack systems pump and reservoir.

After the install did you set the poppets?