Actually, that amber lamp is now green.  While at the hdware store I
realized it signifies power avail, not power lost, so I exchanged it while
buying me GFCI.  As for your comment, not a problem.  The reason I value the
lamp is because if I lose heat or lighting in the middle of the night I can
easily determine via a small indicator lamp on the GFCI if a ground fault
was the issue and if it's deasserted I can do as you describe to check to
see if the power avail to my rig was lost.  Either way, I am able to do a
quick troubleshooting without getting out of me bunk!  The alternative is to
pay more $$ for the factory breaker, not have a lamp, and a new GFCI with
it's own indicator.  Now I just need to find a cover that will house the
lamp.  I know if I try to drill the plate it'll shatter.

On 4/2/08, Mike <mbucchino@charter.net> wrote:
>
> That amber indicator light is not normally on. It only comes on when you
> have AC power applied and then you press the test button to 'pop' the GFCI,
> and only goes out when you reset it.  You'd have to test and reset, to know
> if you've lost shore power.
>
> Mike B.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Crawford" <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:27 AM
> Subject: Re: 12v outlet switch?
>
>
> That tool (forget the name) is very handy (quick to use), small,
> > lightweight
> > and inexpensive.  I used them years ago, in another life.
> >
> > I revisited the hdware store y'day after interjecting in this thread and
> > found a less expensive ($12) GFCI (with cover plate) AND an amber
> > indicator
> > which I plan to install.  Hope to place the outlet on the bottom where
> > it
> > belongs and the amber indicator (in a new ivory plate) where the outlet
> > is
> > now.  This indicator should be handy to inform me if I lose shore power.
> > Liked a spiffy-er GFCI with a night light but it was twice as expensive.
> > Westy owners have to watch the cashflow ya know!
> >
> > All the best!
> >
> >
> > On 4/1/08, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > OR, rather than just 'poke around and measure voltage' ........
> > > A friend recently gave me a great little device- he had a spare.
> > > I'm sure they sell them at hardward stores - you plug it into any 110
> > > VAC
> > > receptical, and the LED lights on it tell you if the hot side is good
> > > or
> > > open,
> > > if the other side is neutral or open, of if the hot side and the other
> > > side
> > > are switched, and if they neutral connection is good or open.  Really
> > > handy
> > > device, and it's nice to know your 110 VAC is wired right !
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > > Behalf Of
> > > Paul Guzyk
> > > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 7:34 PM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: 12v outlet switch?
> > >
> > > If the outlet is on the left wall just in front of the rear seat
> > > (mounted low) and looks like a household outlet it is probably the
> > > factory setup.
> > >
> > > The "switch" adjacent to it on a separate wall plate is supposed to
> > > be a 110v circuit breaker.
> > >
> > > The factory setup:
> > > The 110v outlet has no power unless you are hooked up to shore power.
> > > The circuit breaker may be broken, sometimes you need a pencil head
> > > or similar to press in the reset button.
> > >
> > > However, if a previous owner modified things who knows what you have.
> > >
> > > Best to get a cheap mulitmeter and as others have suggested, poke
> > > around and measure voltages.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > > Checked by AVG.
> > > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.4/1355 - Release Date:
> > > 4/1/2008
> > > 5:37 PM
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Neil Crawford
> > '82 Diesel Westy
> > Me other car is Swedish
> >
>
>

--
Neil Crawford
'82 Diesel Westy
Me other car is Swedish