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Topic: Inverter location on 2007 31' TB (Read 455 times) previous topic - next topic
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Inverter location on 2007 31' TB
Dear Group,

While solving my circuit breaker issue, I came across these one or two black boxes behind the bottom drawer in my 2007 30 TB.  I thought they might be an Inverter?  They appeared to me to be factory installed so I called Vince at the factory and he said if it was an Inverter that they put in it would be yellow in color.  He said it must be something that the first owner put in aftermarket.  He refused my offer of sending a picture but said for me to drive it by when I am in the area and he would gladly take a look at it.  Before doing that, I thought I would ask the group.  Any ideas?  Sure looks to be factory installed to me.

Best,

Gary
2007 30' TB
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #1 –
Quote from: jakester1201  - 
While solving my circuit breaker issue, I came across these one or two black boxes behind the bottom drawer in my 2007 30 TB.  I thought they might be an Inverter?  They appeared to me to be factory installed so I called Vince at the factory and he said if it was an Inverter that they put in it would be yellow in color.  He said it must be something that the first owner put in aftermarket.  He refused my offer of sending a picture but said for me to drive it by when I am in the area and he would gladly take a look at it.  Before doing that, I thought I would ask the group.  Any ideas?  Sure looks to be factory installed to me.

It's hard to tell where this spot is, what's around it.
The bottom black box looks like the rear of the battery compartment.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #2 –
Quote from: jakester1201  - 
Dear Group,

While solving my circuit breaker issue, I came across these one or two black boxes behind the bottom drawer in my 2007 30 TB.  I thought they might be an Inverter?  They appeared to me to be factory installed so I called Vince at the factory and he said if it was an Inverter that they put in it would be yellow in color.  He said it must be something that the first owner put in aftermarket.  He refused my offer of sending a picture but said for me to drive it by when I am in the area and he would gladly take a look at it.  Before doing that, I thought I would ask the group.  Any ideas?  Sure looks to be factory installed to me.

Best,

Gary



The bottom black box is the top of the battery box. The top box is the inverter for the entertainment center. In our 06 it is a Xantrex XS400 inverter.

Jim
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #3 –
That makes sense Jim.  When I talked to Vince, he had said that they don't put anything in that area.  I think he might have had a short brain lapse moment.  It makes sense since I have a standard factory entertainment center in the 30 footer.

Gary 
2007 30' TB
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #4 –
"It makes sense since I have a standard factory entertainment center in the 30 footer."

Blow my mind! I've got a 2004 30'IB including the Entertainment Center they all come with and I have NO knowledge of having an Inverter on board! I don't recall seeing anything like that (although truth be known I wasn't looking) when I had to repair the drawer slides on both drawers over the years.   :o  Just shows how subtle the changes are year to year.

"He refused my offer of sending a picture but said for me to drive it by..."

Does the Mothership use e-mail?
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #5 –
Quote from: jakester1201  - 
That makes sense Jim.  When I talked to Vince, he had said that they don't put anything in that area.  I think he might have had a short brain lapse moment.  It makes sense since I have a standard factory entertainment center in the 30 footer.

Gary 


When we started having a problem with our inverter I spoke with Vince and I recall him telling me that they don't install one any longer but I don't know when they stopped. I can tell you they don't make that model any longer. FYI our problem is that it trips every now and then for no apparent reason although it has been doing well lately. The front faces to the left where you can't really see it. It has a GFCI outlet on the front and that is what has been tripping on ours. I suspect that its due to its age.

Jim
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #6 –
Gary,
Do you have a better picture of that top box?

I agree that bottom box looks like the back of the battery bin to me.

The top box - you have a cord coming from that which looks like a phone cord but bigger.  I remember those back in the days (80s) as Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors  (way before Cat 5E).  I can't imagine what an Ethernet cable is connected to your inverter for .... but it might just be going past that box, not connected to it.  Jim, do you have one of those cables on yours?

Maybe you can get your phone in there to take pictures of the side or tops of that box on top.

Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Jane and Scott  - 
Gary,
Do you have a better picture of that top box?

I agree that bottom box looks like the back of the battery bin to me.

The top box - you have a cord coming from that which looks like a phone cord but bigger.  I remember those back in the days (80s) as Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors  (way before Cat 5E).  I can't imagine what an Ethernet cable is connected to your inverter for .... but it might just be going past that box, not connected to it.  Jim, do you have one of those cables on yours?

Maybe you can get your phone in there to take pictures of the side or tops of that box on top.

Jane

That is a phone cable that runs from the inverter under the fridge to the entertainment center up front and connects to an off/on switch for the inverter.

Jim
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #8 –
Jane,

Here are two more photos that were in my phone that I took last night.  There is a three prong standard outlet to the right of this top box that has one thing plugged in.  I think this outlet might be where this box plugs into.  The refrigerator plugs into a more accessible outlet reached from the outside refrigerator compartment.  I am still at work and have a meeting tonight.  I can try more  pictures tomorrow, if needed?

Gary
2007 30' TB
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #9 –
Quote from: jakester1201  - 
Jane,

Here are two more photos that were in my phone that I took last night.  There is a three prong standard outlet to the right of this top box that has one thing plugged in.  I think this outlet might be where this box plugs into.  The refrigerator plugs into a more accessible outlet reached from the outside refrigerator compartment.  I am still at work and have a meeting tonight.  I can try more  pictures tomorrow, if needed?

Gary


The converter does plug into AC power and has a built-in bypass so that when you switch to either generator or an external power pole that will power the single plug in the entertainment center. If you don't have it here is the owner's guide for the inverter. Xantrex | Power Inverter, Inverter Charger, Battery Charger Manufacturer(975-0054-01-01_Rev-B).pdf

Jim
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #10 –
Makes sense to me...……………….

Gary

PS Thanks for the link
2007 30' TB
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #11 –
Jim, so they are Just using that phone wire for a low voltage wire?  Easier maybe to require a readymade wire rondo the install so hardwiring is not needed.   Especially for RY owners DIY.

I have never seen telephone wire including  the old bigger Ethernet wire used for for a switch - but wire is  wire.

I might have to go peak at that manual myself.

Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Jane and Scott  - 
Jim, so they are Just using that phone wire for a low voltage wire?  Easier maybe to require a readymade wire rondo the install so hardwiring is not needed.   Especially for RY owners DIY.

I have never seen telephone wire including  the old bigger Ethernet wire used for for a switch - but wire is  wire.

I might have to go peak at that manual myself.

Jane


That is its only purpose as far as I know. If you order a remote on/off switch for that inverter or some other Xantrex inverters the phone cable wire is what comes with it.

Jim
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #13 –
"I can't imagine what an Ethernet cable is connected to your inverter for"

It's common nowadays for inverters to use RJ11 or RJ45 cable and connectors to connect to a remote on/off switch. It's just a convenient way to have a multi-wire cable with inexpensive, easily crimped on connectors. Similarly, many thermostats (such as the Dometic one used in modern Lazy Dazes) are wired with RJ11-type cable. My Airstream's WFCO inverter was set up that way, as was the Xantrex inverter I replaced it with. As Jane said, "wire is  wire."
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Help Identify these two or one big electrical component(s) behind bottom drawer
Reply #14 –
We were considering a 31' when we purchased our 17 MB.  One reason we decided not to go with the 31' was lack of a true entertainment center up front which would require an inverter to power the sound system.  In the new 31' LDs, it is very hard to hear the sound of the tv when the air conditioner is running.  This can be a problem in the MB as well, but not as severe.  To overcome this challenge, we purchased a small rechargeable Bose speaker that works well.
Ross Taylor
2017 MB
 
Re: Inverter location on 2007 31' TB
Reply #15 –
Thx so much for this discussion.  I "wonder as I wander" through various places in the LD "what's that...where does it go...where did it come from...what does it do?"  I'd not explored behind that bottom drawer under the fridge (I just keep putting the drawer back in after it wiggles out traveling various bumpy roads   :P).  Guess it's time for an expedition...   :)

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm