Missing Pump Switch
Dear RV Doctor:
Where can I find the water pump on/off switch on a 1986 Dolphin 22-foot motorhome? I was told the water pump in my RV had an indicator, but I have been unable to locate it. Help!
David Culver
Via Email
If I remember correctly, back during that time frame, manufacturers provided only one master switch for the water pump. It typically was located on the monitor panel itself, not as a stand-alone switch. There’s probably a battery indicator function on that monitor panel, as well as the liquid levels for the fresh water, gray water, and black-water holding tanks, and perhaps a level indicator for the propane container. On your coach it is likely mounted on a cabinet in the galley, or close to it. Be sure to check the ends of the cabinets as well as the cabinet face.
If it’s not on the monitor panel, then the pump switch might be conveniently located somewhere on the galley wall or perhaps just under the countertop edge. There’s also the possibility the original wiring has been modified sometime during the last 30 years, so it might involve a little deeper investigation if you simply cannot find it. Any RV service facility worth its salt should gladly help you locate that on/off switch. If the coach still has a water pump, it must still have a switch somewhere!
Deeper Education Sought
Dear RV Doctor:
First, I appreciate the very useful information you shared during various seminars at the recent FMCA Family Reunion in Perry, Georgia. It was my first time at an RV rally, and I can assure you it will not be my last. What a wonderful experience! Can you recommend a list of books, publications, or other media that provide good information regarding general maintenance and upkeep for various systems found on a typical RV?
I own a gas-powered 2011 Tiffin Open Road, and I have an interest in being equipped to perform general maintenance on the motorhome. I am also very interested in learning more about becoming a certified RV technician, which could assist in generating revenue as my wife and I travel in our RV. Specifically, I am interested in receiving certification training via online courses. I have an extensive information system design background as well as the ability to quickly learn operational techniques and principles associated with mechanical systems.
George Sledd, F421954
Williamsburg, Virginia
I’m glad you fully enjoyed your first Family Reunion! I hope to see you at many, many more!
Since you have a desire to become certified, I’d highly recommend the 14-volume RVIA Education Textbook Set as your starting point. RVIA publishes the textbooks. They are available by visiting http://goo.gl/Sfptwr. These are the books I used (and helped to write) to teach students at Pennsylvania’s Northampton Community College, which is another potential source for your RV training. The program I created at Northampton is an online, distance-learning program of 13 individual courses. One of my former students, Ron Donachie, is now the instructor there.
I also authored a consumer book, Woodall’s RV Owner’s Handbook. Unfortunately it is now out of print, although as of May 2016, copies were still available on Amazon.com.
If you aspire to become certified, I’d recommend that you order the RVIA books and consider enrolling in the Northampton courses. For information about the Northampton program, contact Ron Donachie at ronsrv@ptd.net or (484) 225-8211.
Warmer Propane Desired
Dear RV Doctor:
In the April 2016 “House Calls” column (page 24), Tony Radice described a furnace problem. He said that when outdoor temperatures fall and he puts a significant load on his furnace, it works for a number of cycles but then quits after a few hours. I have the same problem. One of your solutions was to wrap the tank and regulator with a heater blanket. I called six RV shops and no one was familiar with or had information about heater blankets/strips for the propane tanks. Where can I find them?
Larry Kohl, F407270
Bernville, Pennsylvania
Propane container heaters are easily obtainable online. It could be that the dealers just didn’t find the product in the RV distributor catalogs. To get you started, here’s a link to Powerblanket products: www.powerblanket.com/propane-tank-heater. Be sure to bore down deep in that website. It’s possible you may require a blanket and a separate section of heat tape to wrap the regulator as well. You also can simply use a holding tank heater to wrap around the ASME tank. It’s very doable even if the installation has to be modified somewhat.
Sizing The Battery Charger
Dear RV Doctor:
I attended all of your seminars at the Family Reunion in Perry, Georgia. All the information was very helpful. I have a gas motorhome with a converter. My battery bank consists of two 12-volt Interstate batteries rated at 210 amp-hours. The most I would install would be four 6-volt batteries for coach power. I am going to purchase a Xantrex Truecharge2 Battery Charger as you advised in your seminar. The least expensive is a 10-amp charger, and they go up from there. Do you feel the 10 amps would be sufficient for my application?
Steve Gibbs, F436794
Daytona Beach, Florida
In the seminar I mention that the best formula to use when “sizing” a battery charger is C/5, with “C” being the total amp-hour capacity of any given bank divided by the constant number, five. The Truecharge2 can be wired in parallel to your existing converter, perhaps allowing it to provide some charging amperage, but more importantly to continue to perform as a converter when AC is available.
All battery charging voltage flows from the highest source to the lowest source, so it’s possible that the converter, at a given snapshot in time, might be the higher voltage source. But chances are the algorithms built into the Truecharge2 will dictate that it become the dominant charger at any point in time.
So, add up all the amp-hours in your total battery bank and divide that number by five. The result would be the minimal size output you’ll need for the Truecharge2. You can always go larger, or even connect two together if necessary, so plan accordingly for however many batteries you may end up with. Also realize the Truecharge2 has three separate outputs, so the engine battery bank also can be charging when shore power is available.