Voltage 3905-Electric panel face...hate it!!! - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Brand RVs > Fifth Wheel
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-05-2013, 07:00 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Eagle
Posts: 109
Idaho
Voltage 3905-Electric panel face...hate it!!!

Just wondering if others feel as I do. I am referring to the panel faceplate that has all the switches for lights, heaters, status checks, etc. Depending on the lighting, the crosshatching makes it virtually impossible to read the labels for the various switches. Anyone else feel that this was a very poorly thought-out design??

Mine is a 2013 3905 Voltage
__________________

PNGento is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 07:10 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Nana & Poppy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Old Forge
Posts: 886
New York
Hey on the Rubicon - it is behind the LEFT panel door which is partially covered by the slide......and I have a large enough right panel cabinet....now that is poor design......go figure!
__________________

__________________
Kathy & Leo ~Adirondack Mtn. Region of NY
2013 Rubicon 2900 Toy hauler
2010 Ford F-350 4x4 Lariat Dually Super Crew Diesel
Nana & Poppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 07:18 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Tanman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
A real poor design. I tried lighting the panel from the rear. It would take a flood light I believe to see it well with back lighting.
Tanman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 07:21 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNGento View Post
Just wondering if others feel as I do. I am referring to the panel faceplate that has all the switches for lights, heaters, status checks, etc. Depending on the lighting, the crosshatching makes it virtually impossible to read the labels for the various switches. Anyone else feel that this was a very poorly thought-out design??

Mine is a 2013 3905 Voltage
Mine was that way also. look here this is what I did

Voltage 3200 upgrades
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 07:23 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNGento View Post
Just wondering if others feel as I do. I am referring to the panel faceplate that has all the switches for lights, heaters, status checks, etc. Depending on the lighting, the crosshatching makes it virtually impossible to read the labels for the various switches. Anyone else feel that this was a very poorly thought-out design??

Mine is a 2013 3905 Voltage
Here is what I did to alleviate the problem
Voltage 3200 upgrades
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 09:48 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 183
Oklahoma
I tried the backlighting, but this worked much better. Lights the whole panel.

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Toy Haulers: Switch panel lighting
macman83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 10:34 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
Her are the LEDs I used
http://www.nteinc.com/LED_tubing/pdf/LED_Strips_01.pdf
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 04:54 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Eagle
Posts: 109
Idaho
Quote:
Originally Posted by eightydo View Post
Mine was that way also. look here this is what I did

Voltage 3200 upgrades
I haven't tried taking off the faceplate, so need to ask...are the labels translucent so that the light shows through? Or did you have to do something else in addition?

I've thought about just using a label maker to put individual labels on each item, but like the look of the LEDs you used, but need more info on how you did that. I saw the LED tape you used, but not sure my electrical skills would be up to this.
PNGento is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 05:58 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
Quote:
Originally Posted by PNGento View Post
I haven't tried taking off the faceplate, so need to ask...are the labels translucent so that the light shows through? Or did you have to do something else in addition?

I've thought about just using a label maker to put individual labels on each item, but like the look of the LEDs you used, but need more info on how you did that. I saw the LED tape you used, but not sure my electrical skills would be up to this.
Yes the labels are translucent.
I got power from the 12volt power plug +/- used a micro switch in series with the hot side of the lights Red wire on the lights. I will draw a schematic and post it.
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 06:22 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
line diagram | Voltage 3200 upgrades
Lets see if it works
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 10:19 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
With a NC, normally closed switch, the LEDs will be bright until you open the door and the switch becomes open. Wouldn't the switch requirement be NO, or normally open?
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 03:12 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
If you look at pictures there is a micro switch that is open/ off when door is closed, closed/on when door is open. door activates switch. Normally closed means closed when switch is not activated, neutral position.http://pinterest.com/pin/298645019011106006/
eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2013, 08:11 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
I would have thought a 'closed' switch would have the contacts made, therefore creating a continous circuit. Whereas an open switch would be a broken circuit and not continous.
Must be my left handedness took over while looking at the schematic.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2013, 11:18 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
eightydo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 600
Nevada
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
I would have thought a 'closed' switch would have the contacts made, therefore creating a continous circuit. Whereas an open switch would be a broken circuit and not continous.
Must be my left handedness took over while looking at the schematic.
your thinking is right door closed = switch open, door open = switch is closed
__________________

eightydo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×