Glendinning Coupon Code RVGEEKS saves $70 on the same CRRA50 power cord reel we installed in this video! glendinningprods.com/store#!/RV-Cablemaster-Model-CRRA50/p/109677624/category=3979038
Your ingenuity is as elegant as your design. Details: (1) The fact that you killed the breaker before removing your 50A connector, Bravo! (2) The fact that you lined your electrical cord alongside and parallel to your sewer hose, Bravo! Felix Unger would be proud, as am I!
HaHa! Love it. Thank you. My nickname should be Felix! Actually, if you want to know how anal retentive I REALLY am..., I went back after shooting that scene and tidied up the cord so it laid perfectly straight along the sewer hose. And no... I am not kidding. 😂
Both of you are moving the rv industry into the next generation. And we are the beneficiary of all that you do. We are thankful everyday for you two. We just hope that one day we can thank you in person. Brendan & Lena
My advice, wire the cord reel to a receptacle and mount it within easy reach of the access hatch. That way, you can still use a low end cord set in the event that the cord reel fails. And, I always like to carry a cord set, just in case the cord reel fails. Wire the cord reel into a twist lock receptacle and the surge protector into a twist lock inlet and use a 4 foot twist lock extension cord to connect everything together. This allows for you to disconnect the cord reel and use a cord set if the cord reel is broken.
Hi John & Peter. Your new power set-up is absolutely beautiful 👍😍 I'm a tech-geek so I haven't stopped grinning since I started watching this upgrade series. I'm so glad I found your channel, because you always try to show the proper and safe way to do DIY projects. I would totally buy an RV from you if I could. From what I've seen so far, you both take excellent care of your rig. The fact that you've owned the same RV for over a decade also shows how you've maintained it over the years. Just a reminder, please wear eye protection and a mask when working where dust and debris are flying into your face. Having asthma and being nearsighted makes me very aware of anything that would bother either/both conditions. Stay safe 😁
You two are WAY over the top with your projects. From the planning stage through finished product. It's no wonder companies like Xantrex prototyped with you.
More! More! More! Although not an RV'r (YET!!) I am anxious to see MUCH more on your recent electrical upgrades, especially since you so proudly support so many "maple leaf" brands. On this especially, and as I've noted, other projects, too. Feel absolutely FREE to post as much and as often as you can as you learn, and live with, your very forward thinking system(s)... Cheers from hard by Georgian Bay... ;-)
Thanks so much, Robert! Always great to hear from a fellow Canuck! You'll be happy to know that we'll be doing a follow-up fairly soon about Vancouver-based Acuva! Cheers from Nova Scotia! 😊
That power cord rocks! Great addition to your coach. Those cords can be a real pain in the butt. Mine seems to love to pick up sand, grass, mud, pebbles when I reel it in. Now you need a power water hose reel.
Hi Lucy! We absolutely LOVE the new reel. One of the finest pieces of gear we've ever had. We always keep a rag in the electrical compartment and hold the cord with it while retracting it. That wipes it clean every time we retract as it goes back on the reel. We'd like a power water hose reel too. For now we'll have to stick with our spring-loaded one. Maybe it's best not to mix power and water anyway! LOL
I just spoke with the folks at Glendinning. They seemed very capable and competent and are were very helpful in identifying a solution that would work for my needs. I'll keep you all informed on how that goes.
You guys have so much good information. I really enjoy every one of your videos. I'm hoping to get an RV sometime next year and the information you have put out has been so helpful to my narrowing down what I want. Thanks so much.
Thanks so much! Other than lining the eight bolts up with the holes in the reel as we held it up to them (which was a bit of a challenge), it wasn't actually too bad. Lots of planning though! 😊
. . . and the winner for the most informative and entertaining TH-cam videos is . . . I guess no one here is in suspense because we all know the answer. By the way, I was watching a short Medicare video on how to choose a doctor and the narrator sounded identical to your professional voice.
Great reel and very nice compartment layout! I like it. Nice and neat. Makes a huge difference mounting to the top. I wish I had room for a nice reel like that. But...nope.
Thanks Brian! We're VERY happy with the results, and the reel itself. An earlier commenter mentioned that he called Glendinning this morning and learned that they have a compact low-profile 32' version coming out. Since it was designed with 5th wheels in mind, we're not sure it won't still be too large for a Class C, but thought we'd mention it just in case: bit.ly/glendinning-low-profile-32
Cool. Unfortunately, I have a 30 amp (which they no longer do) and no space so it's the old-school coil and stuff method for me which is fine. I mostly just use an extension anyway and leave the main cord in the compartment.
Thanks Hector! We'll be providing an update on all the new gear after spending some more time with everything. In the meantime, we have a few other videos on tap that we hope will provide a "fix" for you. LOL
Great video always very informative I have noticed even though I don’t have a class a i always seem to learn something from y’alls video thx for the time y’all spend providing this content
Excellent conclusion to Phase 1 ... I really enjoyed this series. We will be purchasing a new RV very soon and I am making a list of anticipated upgrades. Our RV will be much smaller than your wonderful rig but I am convinced that a Hughes Autoformer will be a useful addition to our spec sheet. Thanks! 👍of course 👏
RVgeeks look it up will save weight and performance is ten times better and it's sole job is starting the RV better maitnace as well since only thing hooked up with the starter.
The irony of installing the Lithium battery bank so you can spend more time off grid but then have the extra long, 50 amp power cord fitted so you can reach the bollards on sites....... Still, some amazing upgrades being made, exciting times for the geeks! (and us)
Is it selfish for us to want the best of both worlds? 😂 We've considered plugging into shore power just to use the reel... and then not turning it on! 😁
Searching Glendinning's web site doesn't bring up that model. Your link brings you right to it. Strange. Nice install. Perhaps next year. I like your attention to detail. On my coach, the previous owner had the basement floor replaced, and now I have no good way of passing the 50 amp cord thru to lock the door, and like your's.... can that be purchased aftermarket ?
Hi Bob! The CRRA50 is so new, that we had to wait for Glendinning to add it to their store before we could take the video live! We'll remind them to add it to their main products page, too. Not sure there's a way to purchase an aftermarket cord opening in the floor/door. There are a number of them on the market (we know that Newmar & Winnebago both feature different styles of it). You might try contacting their parts departments to see if they sell the piece that's needed (although it might be a structural part of the RV). There are also some RVs that have a small, round deck plate in the floor of the compartment with a screw-in cap for when it's not in use. Of course that doesn't seal as well when it IS in use, and requires passing the entire cord through the opening when extending or retracting it. But that might be your only option, which would be better than leaving the door ajar.
Another great video. Thanks very much for sharing this. The cord reel looks very durable and easy to use. I will be looking into getting one as well. Question: When you retract the cord, are you worried about that nice plug dragging on the ground or pavement and possibly getting damaged?
Hi Boris! It is indeed an amazingly good cord reel. One of my very favourite pieces of equipment on our RV. Make sure you use our discount code when you buy yours! As far as the plug goes, I never let it drag on the ground. I always disconnect it from the pedestal and walk it over to the cord reel so it sits next to me as the cord retracts. Way too nice to be beating it up on the pavement!
Great videos both and such an interesting subject - having seen you tie everything down withing the external compartment - whats stopping the Hughes Autoformers: from moving around the compartment ? Safe RVing both
Thank you! There’s not enough room for the Hughes unit to move around, and its thick cables also hold it from shifting. If needed, placing a piece of no-skid underneath it would do the trick, as it’s quite heavy.
Thanks Jerry! It's 19.39" tall x 12.08" wide x 14.5" deep (that's the mounting footprint... including the roller assembly adds another 2.21" to the depth, as it sticks off the front and guides the cable in). The CRRA50 is so new, that we had to wait for Glendinning to add it to their store before we could take the video live! We'll ask them if they can add it to their main products page, too, hopefully with the same type of specs listed as on their other products.
Glad you noticed, John! There was a LOT of discussion about that, and in the end we figured better too strong than the other way around. 28 huge screws was over the top, too. That thing’s not going ANYWHERE! 😁
Other than we’re loving it (which we are), we’re not ready with an update just yet. We’ll be providing lots of detail in an upcoming video. Thanks for your interest and stay tuned! 😊
Thanks Corey! The surge protection actually has to go AFTER the autoformer. That's because if we put it first in line, it would cut power completely if the voltage fell too low. That would prevent the autoformer from doing its primary job of boosting poor voltage. The downside is of course that the autoformer isn't protected, but we've been using it continuously with this setup for year with no problem. The current version of the Hughes autoformer (newer than ours) includes a replaceable surge protection module, so if it took a hit, it could be easily repaired.
The HAF is also a surge protector. I have this product. Very heavy but supposed to be excellent. I am a full-timer and am a full time IT guy. I have computers, laptops, monitors, wifi and cell extenders, TVs, etc. I do not want to replace all if there is a brown out, or surge.
We love our Hughes autoformer, and protecting all our sensitive gear from low voltage is indeed what it's all about. As we mentioned in the video, the reason we installed the Hughes Internal Mounting Kit was to make things more modular. Our primary intent is to make it as easy as unplugging two plugs when we get around to upgrading to the the latest Hughes unit. 😉
FWIW, Hughes has versions that do include the surge suppressor. I think that they realized that folks might prefer an all-in-one solution. Mine is the "Hughes Autoformers RV220-50SP Voltage Booster (with Surge Protection)" from amazon.
No worries, Luis! In a nutshell... an Autoformer boosts low power in order to protect your onboard equipment & electronics. Lots of RV parks suffer from low voltage (particularly during the summer months), and running things in those conditions causes extra wear & tear. The Autoformer helps in those situations. You can check out or original video about it here: th-cam.com/video/E2NdhNa-ZTQ/w-d-xo.html
RVgeeks thanks for the link...just watched the video...the rv industry should add your channels info on their product material for new owners...y'all stay safe
Or... if you're OK with some DIY work... you could buy replacement 50-amp cord from Glendinning ( glendinningprods.com/store#!/RV-Power-Cable/p/16319238/category=3154060 ) and put the missing outlet on the other end so you could use it as an extension cord (the cable comes with only the male plug, with bare wires on the other end).
Thanks for the reply. I'll check in to that. I was told that it's good to carry an extension cord because some campsites may not have their power receptacles placed in a convenient spot. I think the cord on my '05 Monaco is 35 ft. I would have thought ALL campsites would have considered that but maybe I'm a little naive.
Some of the need to carry an extension cord is dependent upon where your power cord comes into your RV. The most common problem is power pedestals that are too far back behind the RV, so if your power cord is all the way at the back near the rear of your rig, 35 feet will usually be enough. Our electrical compartment is in the center of our motorhome, which leads to problems in those situations. We carry both 50- and 30-amp extension cords!
WOW! $253.98 for their replacement power cord and you still have to add a connection on one end. The 50' CAMCO is only $114.99 and I just noticed they have a 15' cord for only $59.15. I'm wondering, with my existing 35' cord wouldn't just another 15' be plenty of length? A few days ago I remember finding another extension cord on line that had some sort of similar yellow connector that had a handle that appeared like it might 'cam' the plug out of a receptacle, or maybe it was just a handle that would swing out for you to grab a hold of to pull on. For the life of me I can't find it now. :-( Many thanks for all of your very insightful videos. Greatly appreciated. Your two videos on setting up mirrors and turning corners are the best.
My current 50Amp cord is all twisted badly as it goes in so I want to undo the Stop Collar, unwind the cord and re-attach. Is that a simple task? Thanks!
Hi Steve. Is your cord on a reel like ours? And if so, we’re guessing that pulling it out as far as it will go, then rewinding it isn’t fixing the problem?
Our old reel was probably the same as yours..... piled the cord up into a round plastic tub below the motor that retracts it. If that's the one, we'd suggest removing the screws that hold the tub down into the floor (ours had three screws). That has to be done with the cord mostly, or fully, out/extended to allow you to see/acce3ss the screws at the bottom. Once you remove them, the tub will be loose... only held in place by the cord going through a small hole at the bottom/rear. If you then begin retracting the cord a little at a time, it will give you enough slack to begin pulling the tub out of the electrical compartment, feeding it through the little hole as you go, as needed. Once you have the tub out, it will allow you to see where and how the RV end of the power word is attached... probably directly into the transfer switch. You may not even need to do any more than that to be able to untwist the cord. But if you do... the cord connects to the transfer switch with 4 colors coded wires, and should be very easy to disconnect, if needed. Hope we understood correctly which reel you have, and that this helps a bit.
@@RVgeeks that is a terrific answer...just what i was looking for. But, that new cord motor is too expensive, even though i like it. Thank you very much!!
UGH, I missed first commenter!!!! I claim fourth!!!!! I love Andre's custom handles on his drill press. That looks like a GREAT reel and thanks for showing us how it freewheels to get the cord off the real when hooking up to a campsite pedestal. The LED and how the handle works on the plug were well thought out by Glendinning. I assume you used a multi-meter to make sure your wiring of the socket was correct. One note, I cant be 100% sure but it looks like your drill bit was dull on one flute. I could only see one chip being formed, not two. Keep the great videos coming!!! I am glad you are getting your electrical system upgraded! I wish that Newmar would put lithium batteries in at the factory but I was told that they will not, even as a custom order. So when are you going to make more RV driving instructional videos?
4th is just fine! We still see it. 😊 Thanks for the great comments and questions. Yes... mutli-meter used. Might be a dull drill bit... even though they were brand new, they weren't expensive ones. Lithium will eventually make its way to OEMs, but it will take a while. Glad you like the driving videos! We have another one mapped out, but they are REALLY difficult to produce. We'll try to get another one together, but sorry it's not imminent.
Glendinning Coupon Code RVGEEKS saves $70 on the same CRRA50 power cord reel we installed in this video! glendinningprods.com/store#!/RV-Cablemaster-Model-CRRA50/p/109677624/category=3979038
Your ingenuity is as elegant as your design. Details: (1) The fact that you killed the breaker before removing your 50A connector, Bravo! (2) The fact that you lined your electrical cord alongside and parallel to your sewer hose, Bravo! Felix Unger would be proud, as am I!
HaHa! Love it. Thank you. My nickname should be Felix! Actually, if you want to know how anal retentive I REALLY am..., I went back after shooting that scene and tidied up the cord so it laid perfectly straight along the sewer hose. And no... I am not kidding. 😂
YOU. ARE. MY. HERO! :-)
Both of you are moving the rv industry into the next generation. And we are the beneficiary of all that you do. We are thankful everyday for you two. We just hope that one day we can thank you in person.
Brendan & Lena
You two are so kind! Thank you so much for the supportive comments. Hope to see you on the road sometime. Safe Travels - Peter & John
After all that anticipation...now I'm a little disappointed that this project is complete!!
Great work guys! Superbly done!!
Thanks Jim... and don't worry... when we get to Phase 2 (solar), you'll get an additional fix! 😃
RVgeeks oh my!! Now I’m all amped up again!
Can we get a rim shot please!? 😂
RVgeeks Only if you’re in charge!
My advice, wire the cord reel to a receptacle and mount it within easy reach of the access hatch. That way, you can still use a low end cord set in the event that the cord reel fails. And, I always like to carry a cord set, just in case the cord reel fails. Wire the cord reel into a twist lock receptacle and the surge protector into a twist lock inlet and use a 4 foot twist lock extension cord to connect everything together. This allows for you to disconnect the cord reel and use a cord set if the cord reel is broken.
Hi John & Peter. Your new power set-up is absolutely beautiful 👍😍 I'm a tech-geek so I haven't stopped grinning since I started watching this upgrade series. I'm so glad I found your channel, because you always try to show the proper and safe way to do DIY projects. I would totally buy an RV from you if I could. From what I've seen so far, you both take excellent care of your rig. The fact that you've owned the same RV for over a decade also shows how you've maintained it over the years.
Just a reminder, please wear eye protection and a mask when working where dust and debris are flying into your face. Having asthma and being nearsighted makes me very aware of anything that would bother either/both conditions. Stay safe 😁
Hi Lina! Thanks so much for your very kind comments... and got looking out for our health and well-being. 😊
Classy all the way guys. Attention to detail makes it look so organized and the fit 👌🏻
Thanks so much, Nancy! We did a lot of measuring and planning and we’re very happy with the results. 😊
You two are WAY over the top with your projects. From the planning stage through finished product. It's no wonder companies like Xantrex prototyped with you.
Thanks! Being anal retentive has got to have SOME benefits, right?! 😁
More! More! More! Although not an RV'r (YET!!) I am anxious to see MUCH more on your recent electrical upgrades, especially since you so proudly support so many "maple leaf" brands. On this especially, and as I've noted, other projects, too. Feel absolutely FREE to post as much and as often as you can as you learn, and live with, your very forward thinking system(s)... Cheers from hard by Georgian Bay... ;-)
Thanks so much, Robert! Always great to hear from a fellow Canuck! You'll be happy to know that we'll be doing a follow-up fairly soon about Vancouver-based Acuva! Cheers from Nova Scotia! 😊
That power cord rocks! Great addition to your coach. Those cords can be a real pain in the butt. Mine seems to love to pick up sand, grass, mud, pebbles when I reel it in. Now you need a power water hose reel.
Hi Lucy! We absolutely LOVE the new reel. One of the finest pieces of gear we've ever had. We always keep a rag in the electrical compartment and hold the cord with it while retracting it. That wipes it clean every time we retract as it goes back on the reel. We'd like a power water hose reel too. For now we'll have to stick with our spring-loaded one. Maybe it's best not to mix power and water anyway! LOL
My OCD approves of that new compartment layout. Very nice!
Excellent! Our OCD was in full swing for this one! 😊
I just spoke with the folks at Glendinning. They seemed very capable and competent and are were very helpful in identifying a solution that would work for my needs. I'll keep you all informed on how that goes.
That's awesome, Pete! Please do keep us informed.
Yes. Another well documented video. You guy's rock.
Thanks so much, Ian! 😊
You guys have so much good information. I really enjoy every one of your videos. I'm hoping to get an RV sometime next year and the information you have put out has been so helpful to my narrowing down what I want. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Linda! It means so much to hear we've been helpful. You just made our evening. 😊 Happy RV shopping!
Great series of videos on this upgrade. While we will never have an RV in this class it's great to see how things should be done. Thanks
Thanks Eric. 😊
You make it look like an easy task. Beautiful work. Looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! Other than lining the eight bolts up with the holes in the reel as we held it up to them (which was a bit of a challenge), it wasn't actually too bad. Lots of planning though! 😊
Another fantastic video. You guys always find the neatest products.
Thanks Ken! So far, we’re ranking this as one of the most beautifully designed pieces of gear we’ve ever added to our rig. We love it! 😊
Great project! Thanks for the step by step process. A really comprehensive overview as usual.
Thanks Wayne! 😊
Simply the best better than all the rest thank you nice
Well done, guys. Sweet install!
Thanks Lar! 😊
. . . and the winner for the most informative and entertaining TH-cam videos is . . . I guess no one here is in suspense because we all know the answer. By the way, I was watching a short Medicare video on how to choose a doctor and the narrator sounded identical to your professional voice.
Thank you so much, Scott. Very nice of you. And it’s great to hear that I’ll have some productive work to look forward to in my golden years. 😂
Great job on the install.
Great reel and very nice compartment layout! I like it. Nice and neat. Makes a huge difference mounting to the top. I wish I had room for a nice reel like that. But...nope.
Thanks Brian! We're VERY happy with the results, and the reel itself. An earlier commenter mentioned that he called Glendinning this morning and learned that they have a compact low-profile 32' version coming out. Since it was designed with 5th wheels in mind, we're not sure it won't still be too large for a Class C, but thought we'd mention it just in case: bit.ly/glendinning-low-profile-32
Cool. Unfortunately, I have a 30 amp (which they no longer do) and no space so it's the old-school coil and stuff method for me which is fine. I mostly just use an extension anyway and leave the main cord in the compartment.
Got it. At least 30-amp cords aren't so bad to deal with.
I am addicted to you guys... I need a video fix pls... can't wait to see how's the new battery set up is working for you guys.
Thanks Hector! We'll be providing an update on all the new gear after spending some more time with everything. In the meantime, we have a few other videos on tap that we hope will provide a "fix" for you. LOL
Great video always very informative I have noticed even though I don’t have a class a i always seem to learn something from y’alls video thx for the time y’all spend providing this content
Thanks so much K D! Always great to hear. :)
That is awesome. I hope to employ some of your ideas on my build. As always, thanks for posting excellent content!
Thanks Todd! Please keep us posted.
Excellent conclusion to Phase 1 ... I really enjoyed this series. We will be purchasing a new RV very soon and I am making a list of anticipated upgrades. Our RV will be much smaller than your wonderful rig but I am convinced that a Hughes Autoformer will be a useful addition to our spec sheet. Thanks! 👍of course 👏
Thanks so much! Happy RV shopping!! 😄
Nice job, very clean install.
Yes part 5 a video I’ve been wanting for
I wish you guys owned a travel trailer and did these videos!! I’d love to find a way to add this to our TT 👍🏼
Awesome upgrade!!! ♥️♥️
Get a egine start module from Maxwell to replace the agm batteries
We just installed our new Full Throttle AGMs, and they work GREAT!
RVgeeks look it up will save weight and performance is ten times better and it's sole job is starting the RV better maitnace as well since only thing hooked up with the starter.
Excellent video gents!
Thanks Dan! 😊
The irony of installing the Lithium battery bank so you can spend more time off grid but then have the extra long, 50 amp power cord fitted so you can reach the bollards on sites....... Still, some amazing upgrades being made, exciting times for the geeks! (and us)
Is it selfish for us to want the best of both worlds? 😂 We've considered plugging into shore power just to use the reel... and then not turning it on! 😁
So, while you're boondocking you'll have a dummy electric bollard 49 feet away just so you can plug in! hahaa
Exactly! 😂
Searching Glendinning's web site doesn't bring up that model. Your link brings you right to it. Strange. Nice install. Perhaps next year. I like your attention to detail. On my coach, the previous owner had the basement floor replaced, and now I have no good way of passing the 50 amp cord thru to lock the door, and like your's.... can that be purchased aftermarket ?
Hi Bob! The CRRA50 is so new, that we had to wait for Glendinning to add it to their store before we could take the video live! We'll remind them to add it to their main products page, too. Not sure there's a way to purchase an aftermarket cord opening in the floor/door. There are a number of them on the market (we know that Newmar & Winnebago both feature different styles of it). You might try contacting their parts departments to see if they sell the piece that's needed (although it might be a structural part of the RV). There are also some RVs that have a small, round deck plate in the floor of the compartment with a screw-in cap for when it's not in use. Of course that doesn't seal as well when it IS in use, and requires passing the entire cord through the opening when extending or retracting it. But that might be your only option, which would be better than leaving the door ajar.
Yeah, I was afraid of that. I was hoping there might have been a name of part number on it.
We’ll try to remember to take a look when we get back to the RV, but we don’t recall ever seeing one.
@@RVgeeks I'm suspecting it may be a proprietary plug of theirs. I would be interested to know if it's replaceable or molded with the cable itself
Just checked the plug, and sure enough, the plug has the Glendinning name stamped on it, along with “Part #85473”. Hope that helps!
Another great video. Thanks very much for sharing this. The cord reel looks very durable and easy to use. I will be looking into getting one as well. Question: When you retract the cord, are you worried about that nice plug dragging on the ground or pavement and possibly getting damaged?
Hi Boris! It is indeed an amazingly good cord reel. One of my very favourite pieces of equipment on our RV. Make sure you use our discount code when you buy yours! As far as the plug goes, I never let it drag on the ground. I always disconnect it from the pedestal and walk it over to the cord reel so it sits next to me as the cord retracts. Way too nice to be beating it up on the pavement!
Great videos both and such an interesting subject - having seen you tie everything down withing the external compartment - whats stopping the Hughes Autoformers: from moving around the compartment ? Safe RVing both
Thank you! There’s not enough room for the Hughes unit to move around, and its thick cables also hold it from shifting. If needed, placing a piece of no-skid underneath it would do the trick, as it’s quite heavy.
Good info you guys go into great detail on install !! Do you have the dimension of that unit? Thanks
Thanks Jerry! It's 19.39" tall x 12.08" wide x 14.5" deep (that's the mounting footprint... including the roller assembly adds another 2.21" to the depth, as it sticks off the front and guides the cable in). The CRRA50 is so new, that we had to wait for Glendinning to add it to their store before we could take the video live! We'll ask them if they can add it to their main products page, too, hopefully with the same type of specs listed as on their other products.
Nice video rv geeks👍
3/8in steel, DAMN a little overkill
Glad you noticed, John! There was a LOT of discussion about that, and in the end we figured better too strong than the other way around. 28 huge screws was over the top, too. That thing’s not going ANYWHERE! 😁
Do you have any early feedback on the Xantrex e-Gen battery system?
Other than we’re loving it (which we are), we’re not ready with an update just yet. We’ll be providing lots of detail in an upcoming video. Thanks for your interest and stay tuned! 😊
Nice job as usual. No surge protection before Hughes AF?
Thanks Corey! The surge protection actually has to go AFTER the autoformer. That's because if we put it first in line, it would cut power completely if the voltage fell too low. That would prevent the autoformer from doing its primary job of boosting poor voltage. The downside is of course that the autoformer isn't protected, but we've been using it continuously with this setup for year with no problem. The current version of the Hughes autoformer (newer than ours) includes a replaceable surge protection module, so if it took a hit, it could be easily repaired.
The HAF is also a surge protector. I have this product. Very heavy but supposed to be excellent. I am a full-timer and am a full time IT guy. I have computers, laptops, monitors, wifi and cell extenders, TVs, etc. I do not want to replace all if there is a brown out, or surge.
We love our Hughes autoformer, and protecting all our sensitive gear from low voltage is indeed what it's all about. As we mentioned in the video, the reason we installed the Hughes Internal Mounting Kit was to make things more modular. Our primary intent is to make it as easy as unplugging two plugs when we get around to upgrading to the the latest Hughes unit. 😉
FWIW, Hughes has versions that do include the surge suppressor. I think that they realized that folks might prefer an all-in-one solution. Mine is the "Hughes Autoformers RV220-50SP Voltage Booster (with Surge Protection)" from amazon.
That Hughes discount we mentioned in the video is on your exact model! We've been meaning to upgrade, so maybe it's time to get around to that. 😉
I'm not sure if you already addressed this in a previous video, but can you explain what is the purpose of an auto former
No worries, Luis! In a nutshell... an Autoformer boosts low power in order to protect your onboard equipment & electronics. Lots of RV parks suffer from low voltage (particularly during the summer months), and running things in those conditions causes extra wear & tear. The Autoformer helps in those situations. You can check out or original video about it here: th-cam.com/video/E2NdhNa-ZTQ/w-d-xo.html
RVgeeks thanks for the link...just watched the video...the rv industry should add your channels info on their product material for new owners...y'all stay safe
Hi. I was curious, how are you on weight distribution on all 4 corners of your coach
The last time we weighed, we were well within limits on all axles. But with all this new gear, it’s probably time for another weigh in. 😊
By any chance do you know who makes the plug on the end of your cable. I have been searching everywhere for one like that.
Sorry, but we have never seen a plug like that other than on that Glendinning cord reel. Might be a trade secret! 😂
Do you know where you can get a 50amp extension cord with those type of end connectors on it?
We’ve never seen that type of plug anywhere else. The closest thing we’ve seen are the Camco ones, which are pretty nice too: amzn.to/2M1MRGW
Or... if you're OK with some DIY work... you could buy replacement 50-amp cord from Glendinning ( glendinningprods.com/store#!/RV-Power-Cable/p/16319238/category=3154060 ) and put the missing outlet on the other end so you could use it as an extension cord (the cable comes with only the male plug, with bare wires on the other end).
Thanks for the reply. I'll check in to that. I was told that it's good to carry an extension cord because some campsites may not have their power receptacles placed in a convenient spot. I think the cord on my '05 Monaco is 35 ft. I would have thought ALL campsites would have considered that but maybe I'm a little naive.
Some of the need to carry an extension cord is dependent upon where your power cord comes into your RV. The most common problem is power pedestals that are too far back behind the RV, so if your power cord is all the way at the back near the rear of your rig, 35 feet will usually be enough. Our electrical compartment is in the center of our motorhome, which leads to problems in those situations. We carry both 50- and 30-amp extension cords!
WOW! $253.98 for their replacement power cord and you still have to add a connection on one end. The 50' CAMCO is only $114.99 and I just noticed they have a 15' cord for only $59.15. I'm wondering, with my existing 35' cord wouldn't just another 15' be plenty of length? A few days ago I remember finding another extension cord on line that had some sort of similar yellow connector that had a handle that appeared like it might 'cam' the plug out of a receptacle, or maybe it was just a handle that would swing out for you to grab a hold of to pull on. For the life of me I can't find it now. :-(
Many thanks for all of your very insightful videos. Greatly appreciated. Your two videos on setting up mirrors and turning corners are the best.
Also, what is the white box under the new cable?
That's the new Xantrex solar controller... planning for Phase 2 - solar!
My current 50Amp cord is all twisted badly as it goes in so I want to undo the Stop Collar, unwind the cord and re-attach. Is that a simple task? Thanks!
Hi Steve. Is your cord on a reel like ours? And if so, we’re guessing that pulling it out as far as it will go, then rewinding it isn’t fixing the problem?
@@RVgeeks Old school reel....Newmar Mountain Aire 2003. Right at very end of the cord coming out, it really twists !
Our old reel was probably the same as yours..... piled the cord up into a round plastic tub below the motor that retracts it. If that's the one, we'd suggest removing the screws that hold the tub down into the floor (ours had three screws). That has to be done with the cord mostly, or fully, out/extended to allow you to see/acce3ss the screws at the bottom. Once you remove them, the tub will be loose... only held in place by the cord going through a small hole at the bottom/rear. If you then begin retracting the cord a little at a time, it will give you enough slack to begin pulling the tub out of the electrical compartment, feeding it through the little hole as you go, as needed. Once you have the tub out, it will allow you to see where and how the RV end of the power word is attached... probably directly into the transfer switch. You may not even need to do any more than that to be able to untwist the cord. But if you do... the cord connects to the transfer switch with 4 colors coded wires, and should be very easy to disconnect, if needed. Hope we understood correctly which reel you have, and that this helps a bit.
@@RVgeeks that is a terrific answer...just what i was looking for. But, that new cord motor is too expensive, even though i like it. Thank you very much!!
Now that you have 50 feet of cord if you need an extension cord you probably don't have a 50 amp outlet at the site.
UGH, I missed first commenter!!!! I claim fourth!!!!!
I love Andre's custom handles on his drill press.
That looks like a GREAT reel and thanks for showing us how it freewheels to get the cord off the real when hooking up to a campsite pedestal.
The LED and how the handle works on the plug were well thought out by Glendinning.
I assume you used a multi-meter to make sure your wiring of the socket was correct.
One note, I cant be 100% sure but it looks like your drill bit was dull on one flute. I could only see one chip being formed, not two.
Keep the great videos coming!!! I am glad you are getting your electrical system upgraded! I wish that Newmar would put lithium batteries in at the factory but I was told that they will not, even as a custom order.
So when are you going to make more RV driving instructional videos?
4th is just fine! We still see it. 😊 Thanks for the great comments and questions. Yes... mutli-meter used. Might be a dull drill bit... even though they were brand new, they weren't expensive ones. Lithium will eventually make its way to OEMs, but it will take a while. Glad you like the driving videos! We have another one mapped out, but they are REALLY difficult to produce. We'll try to get another one together, but sorry it's not imminent.