Stonedog03
New member
Hello Pop fans! This is my first post here at EP. The wife and I recently purchased a 2002 Northstar TC650EC. It is in really good condition. All the lights have been converted to LED. We have been looking at the Northstars for awhile now and had the opportunity to meet Billy Mackaill at a local RV show. What a great guy and what a great product. Anyway, we are planning some mods to the camper and I thought I might document them here.
First, the driveway shot:
And our first trip out to Grover Hot Springs (near Markleeville, CA):
Mod number 1: A super simple mod I read about somewhere on this forum I believe! Swap out the stock analog thermostat for a Honeywell digital one. Two screws, two wires and done. Came in super handy on that first trip. It got down into the 30's that night!
Mod number 2: I added a 4 position Blue Sea battery switch (part #6007). Switch positions are 1=camper battery, 2=truck batteries, 0=all off, 1+2=both batteries. Not too difficult of a mod, you just have to pull out the converter to get to the wires you need. The intended purpose is to allow easy separation of truck batteries from the camper systems without having to unplug anything. I tried just unpluging the trailer plug, but then I would forget to plug it back in and be driving around without tail lights. I placed the switch in the cabinet access to the water heater above the converter. The panel is oak stained with a danish wood oil and attached with 3M VHB tape.
Well, that is all the mods completed so far. Planned mods are a complete solar system consisting of Morningstar PS-30M controller, (2) Grape Solar GS-160 panels and a Trimetric 2030RV monitor. Stay tuned for those mods!
First, the driveway shot:
And our first trip out to Grover Hot Springs (near Markleeville, CA):
Mod number 1: A super simple mod I read about somewhere on this forum I believe! Swap out the stock analog thermostat for a Honeywell digital one. Two screws, two wires and done. Came in super handy on that first trip. It got down into the 30's that night!
Mod number 2: I added a 4 position Blue Sea battery switch (part #6007). Switch positions are 1=camper battery, 2=truck batteries, 0=all off, 1+2=both batteries. Not too difficult of a mod, you just have to pull out the converter to get to the wires you need. The intended purpose is to allow easy separation of truck batteries from the camper systems without having to unplug anything. I tried just unpluging the trailer plug, but then I would forget to plug it back in and be driving around without tail lights. I placed the switch in the cabinet access to the water heater above the converter. The panel is oak stained with a danish wood oil and attached with 3M VHB tape.
Well, that is all the mods completed so far. Planned mods are a complete solar system consisting of Morningstar PS-30M controller, (2) Grape Solar GS-160 panels and a Trimetric 2030RV monitor. Stay tuned for those mods!
