Installed instruments today

[Ozz]

Spent the better part of the day installing the Inverter instruments and starting the wiring, had to move an Amp meter to the new location, it is redundant, but I already had it.

Slideshow photo's of both electrical panels and routing of the wiring:
http://tinyurl.com/Ozzinstruments

[HamRad]

Ozz,
OK. That's it. Send me your address or at least tell me where you are going to be. I will move to wherever you are so that you can work on my rig too! Better yet hook up your rig and drag it out to my place! I've already got a full hook up site ready for you!

Love the way you have the instruments laid out. Beautiful wiring job. Now I want to know why it is I can recognize "great" work but can't do it myself!!

You're going to have the "most modified" Montana ever! Fantastic. Can you tell I like your mods and the clean job you do. Keep up the great work. Dennis

[7.3Ford]

Great job Ozz.

[Ozz]

Thanks guys, I do appreciate it.
Maybe when I retire...again, I will do classes or something.
The main thing is don't be afraid. Most screw-ups can be fixed.

[ole dude]

Maybe rename "The Ozzmobile".

[Illini Trekker]

Thanks OZZ for for taking the time again for the write up and pic, I know when I do an install my focus is on what I'm doing and the next step to getting done. Look forward to your progress!

[brenkco]

Great job Ozz,
The wiring maze behind the panel is interesting. Be thankful that the panel is at eye level on your 3400. Only thing I didn't like on our new 3455 is the panel is under the desk, floor level. Anything you want to do is on your belly. With my size, it's a challenge!
Ken

[Ozz]

Ken, wow, that would be tough. I am not a small person myself.
I got frustrated today working in that panel and called it a day... Chair time..

[Bill-N-Donna]

Ozz, maybe you should check with the “Guinnes World Records” I bet you’d have the most modifications on a Montana!

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by Bill-N-Donna

Ozz, maybe you should check with the “Guinnes World Records” I bet you’d have the most modifications on a Montana!

I wouldn't care to meet a person with more
A spooky dude indeed....

[bncinwv]

Gee whiz Ozz, I haven't even finished installing the Autoformer that I started on last fall!!! Your work inspires all of us......at least in our minds!!! I will try to get the Autoformer installed before your countdown expires! LOL!!
Bingo

[Ozz]

Ha! I know it is hard when the trailer is so far away, and you are a young man with a family, there isn't enough time in the day it seems, just to deal with what pops up in our lives.
My trailer is 35' from the front door, I just walk out there, take boxes of tools and materials and get to it!

[bncinwv]

Wow, I appreciate the young man reference. Oh, that's right, I forgot that I just celebrated my 29th birthday for the 23rd time in December. That is my story and I am sticking to it!! Hee Hee. Keep up the good work, and I will keep up on the planning on my part!!
Bingo

[markwick]

Hey Ozz - I have been following your mods for quite some time, very impressive and thanks for all the tips. I have one question though.....what are you going to do when you trade up your Monty?? - a new one is going to look pretty bare with no mods, but then again I am sure there are some mods that when you completed them said "next time I would do that differently!"
Thanks for all the ideas and "keep on modding"!

[Ozz]

I appreciate the kind words Mark, my wife and I have pretty much decided this will be it. I am not getting any younger and expect the Monte will outlast me. From the looks of the cost of fuel, I probably won't be wearing it out on the road...
Yes, I would probably do a few differently, what I hate is the ones I did that are outdated now, like the Movin View Dome...no H.D.
Take care, Ozz

[Ren]

Hey Ozz,

Let me say that I really enjoy reading your mods your doing... almost daily it seems! Id like to ask a few questions on this project.

Coming from sailboats, most of them are wired as such that the inverter is the charger and the shore power comes into the inverter to either charge the batteries and or provide power to the 110v recepticles. If no shore power is present, the inverter powers the recepticles from the batteries. Is this the route your going to take?

Im just a dreamer at this point and have no monty, but I think that the recepticles are dead (on a stock monty) unless your plugged into the shore power... correct?

Also are you going to use a shunt to measure how many amps your using?

Thanks,
Ren

[Ozz]

Hi Ren,
What we have today is the result of our past dreams, so you are right on track.
I got my Mod training rebuilding a 65 Owens plywood 28' cruiser. Loved boating. That was 'then' this is now..
Yes, the Inverter/charger will be doing both of the duties.
Some have just an Inverter, the trailers' Converter can do the work of charging batteries and supply of the 12 volt power.
It's best to have a mulit-stage charger, some of the older Converters were not so talented. My Iota came single stage, with the addition of a 'Charge Wizard' their trademark, it became a 3 stage.
Now the latest is a 4 stage, 'maintain' is the 4th. I really don't know if that is just Ad hype and the old 3 stage also maintains, probably just splitting hairs.
I actually have 3 shunts, one for the small black digital amp meter, one for the Trimetric, and one for the Magnum Inverter/Charger Battery sensor monitor. I already had the first two, so I am using them.
Thanks for the interest, and forge ahead with your dreams.

[Ren]

quote:Yes, the Inverter/charger will be doing both of the duties

So you have to connect all the recepticles to your inverter charger yourself as this is not done at the factory, correct?

Thats probably what you showed pictures of, but without me being there its hard to tell.

Wow.. 3 shunts. Theres no way to wire all those to 1 shunt? Coming right off the batteries before any breaker panels or any other gear? Im probably missing something by asking that one...

All I have is my little Yamaha Jetboat! Gets me out in the water! My Dad (way back when) had a 33' Morgan sailboat that educated me to the finer points of "you'd better be a good do it yourselfer" or pay up!

Thanks,
Ren

[ragdoll]

Ozz do you go though the backside or laundry room to get all those panels on and wiring? Thanks Jack

[Ozz]

Ren, we had two Yamaha Waverunners had a blast! Love the Jet-drive, ride along and make Shark chum...
I am feeding the main panel, so all outlets are hot. I use automatic switcher to transfer back and forth. I have a Bridge rectifier (shunt) up by the main panel, the Battery monitor will be down by the batteries. I may tie the small amp meter in with the Trimetric, but always afraid of electronics not being compatible sharing a power source and the Bridge rectifier, you have to have a very small fast-blow fuse to protect them.
Jack, just the wall to the inboard side of the laundry room, I now have it crammed full of wires.