The high-beam/low-beam headlight switch on the floor of most of your motorhomes looks like an ordinary pushbutton switch. However, unlike most "momentary" -- OFF-(ON) -- pushbutton switches, this switch is a "latching" -- ON-ON -- switch.
It can easily be replaced by an ordinary ON-ON toggle or rocker switch on the dash, as they are operationally the same, with the difference being a pushbutton versus a toggle or rocker.
(Never mind the joke about people getting their leg tangled in the steering wheel when trying to "dim" the headlights on new vehicles.)
1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A
Maya.215 wrote:
Ok I have a question I'm looking for a generator and would like to know a good brand or what watt generator would be best my 1979 dodge cruise master I'm running a surflo 45psi water pump, ac, a domatic fridge witch has 12v,gas and 110 hook up and there are 7 outlets
Ok I have a question I'm looking for a generator and would like to know a good brand or what watt generator would be best my 1979 dodge cruise master I'm running a surflo 45psi water pump, ac, a domatic fridge witch has 12v,gas and 110 hook up and there are 7 outlets
I'd recommend a 4000-6000 watt (4-6 kW), especially with an AC unit.
Look at the labels or owners manual (if you have them) for what each device requires in terms of watts or amps and add those up. Alternatively, add up the amperage of all your 120/240VAC circuit breakers. Then, add 25 percent to the total. (Multiply the total amps or watts by 1.25.)
For your purposes, amps times volts equal watts. (Pay attention to whether the AC is 120 or 240 VAC.)
Your AC will have the greatest demand, followed by your refrigerator and furnace. Lights and most things you plug into outlets don't draw a lot. Outlets on a 15 amp circuit breaker limit plugged-in devices to 1800 watts. Two 15 amp circuit breakers means 3600 watts maximum demand, and so on. (Tandem circuit breakers, with the trip levers tied together, indicate a 240VAC circuit. So, a 30 amp tandem circuit breaker means 7200 watts maximum.)
One of your circuit breakers is likely the "main" and protects/limits all the 120/240VAC circuits in your motorhome. If so, you can simply use the amperage rating of the main circuit breaker, multiplied by 1.25, to determine how big your generator should be.
If you can email me a picture of your 120/240VAC breaker panel, I can tell you easily what you have and need.
By the way, we live for most of decade with a propane refrigerator when we were "off-the-grid" and it served us just fine. Along with some propane light fixtures and a direct-vent propane heater meant we only need a generator to run the computer and TV/VCR. (I also had a 12VDC adapter for the laptop computer so we need the generator even less often.)
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
I keep thinking of things to add after I post things ...
The high-beam/low-beam headlight switch on the floor of most of your motorhomes looks like an ordinary pushbutton switch. However, unlike most "momentary" -- OFF-(ON) -- pushbutton switches, this switch is a "latching" -- ON-ON -- switch.
It can easily be replaced by an ordinary ON-ON toggle or rocker switch on the dash, as they are operationally the same, with the difference being a pushbutton versus a toggle or rocker.
(Never mind the joke about people getting their leg tangled in the steering wheel when trying to "dim" the headlights on new vehicles.)
I keep thinking of things to add after I post things ...
The high-beam/low-beam headlight switch on the floor of most of your motorhomes looks like an ordinary pushbutton switch. However, unlike most "momentary" -- OFF-(ON) -- pushbutton switches, this switch is a "latching" -- ON-ON -- switch.
It can easily be replaced by an ordinary ON-ON toggle or rocker switch on the dash, as they are operationally the same, with the difference being a pushbutton versus a toggle or rocker.
(Never mind the joke about people getting their leg tangled in the steering wheel when trying to "dim" the headlights on new vehicles.)
Switch out the floor button????? But that's HISTORY!!!!
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
It's amazing how many people don't know what it is.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
pyoung47 wrote:
I'm a Dodge veteran; my last motorhome was equipped with a 413 four barrel. 6-7 MPG. About a month ago, I observed three youngsters climbing under their elderly class C on a Dodge chassis in a parking lot in Banff. It had to be an early 70's at best. They were from Quebec. After a bit of a language barrier, I discovered that they were coming down a long steep grade, and their brakes began smoking -- wonder why? After a long examination, he had discovered a loose piece of rubber which he removed, thinking that was the issue. I explained the smoking issue, gave him a quick lesson on descending hills, and pointed out that the rubber was on one of the drag links. Why was it loose, he asked? Because the vehicle is worn out. Anyway, I suggested that he grease it as soon as possible, and take it easy on the brakes. I was young and daring once too.
I'm a Dodge veteran; my last motorhome was equipped with a 413 four barrel. 6-7 MPG. About a month ago, I observed three youngsters climbing under their elderly class C on a Dodge chassis in a parking lot in Banff. It had to be an early 70's at best. They were from Quebec. After a bit of a language barrier, I discovered that they were coming down a long steep grade, and their brakes began smoking -- wonder why? After a long examination, he had discovered a loose piece of rubber which he removed, thinking that was the issue. I explained the smoking issue, gave him a quick lesson on descending hills, and pointed out that the rubber was on one of the drag links. Why was it loose, he asked? Because the vehicle is worn out. Anyway, I suggested that he grease it as soon as possible, and take it easy on the brakes. I was young and daring once too.
It's old-timers like you, way back when, that helped me get where I am today.