Wired!

All of the gear on what I've taken to calling the "communications shelf" is powered by USB adapters. With up to four more components looking for power, I decided to install a power distribution location in the area at the top of the cabinet. I had the small five-post buss bar in stock and ended up with a ten-post overkill buss bar for the ground side based on availability.

The buss bars are fed from a separate fuse in the trailer's stock AC/DC breaker & fuse box. The power lead is routed along the back of the cabinets and through the refrigerator enclosure. The ground ties into a buss bar I installed below the closet when I installed the Doc Watson power meter last year. Both new leads, plus the heavy ground leads for the Doc Watson, are routed up the back corner of the closet.

Used a Bestek "four way car splitter charger" from Amazon to provide a source for all the USB feeds. Cut the cigarette lighter plug off it and wired it directly to the buss bars. Turns out it draws about .5 watt when idle, so I'll install a kill switch for it one of these days.

The Bestek device hangs in a cradle bent from a piece of 3/4" aluminum strap attached to the wall with some of that multi-purpose 3M Very High Bond double faced tape. The wires in this view are associated with the Doc Watson power meter installation.

Tried to keep the wiring somewhat neat, but it was a challenge given the space and location.  Velcro does wonders for keeping all the extra lengths out of the way. The adapter on the right powers the Wilson Sleek 4V. The two USB cords plugged directly into the four port adapter power the MP3 player and the Novatel 4620 MiFi. The spare cigarette lighter port will be used for an adapter to recharge our phones.

The shelf is now powered, nearly populated, and fully functional.

Antenna Installation

I've become a very happy fan of the Millenicom 4G MiFi that we've been using for several months now. While it was intended for use while we travel, it's now our default Internet access at home as well.

For the trailer, I wanted an external antenna feeding a Wilson Sleek amplifier, but the antenna needed to clear our garage opening and not require running a feed wire through an open window screen. I seriously considered a temporary style mount on the back bumper, but couldn't find a weatherproof coax fitting for the feed-through so I went a different direction.

The mount I elected to use is a Shakespeare 4186U Nylon Rachet Mount from Amazon, designed for marine use. It's also available in a chrome plated model and a stainless model, but the nylon version was the most affordable and looked like it would fit our needs. I fabricated a 42" extension from 1" Schedule 40 PVC.  It was 42" because that was the length of the piece I had.

The mount was positioned over the cabinet above the closet to provide an easy run to the amplifier. It was positioned on the slope to take advantage of the refrigerator vent when the antenna is in the stowed position. The mount is attached with stainless bolts, large area washers, and nyloc nuts. The insulation and "rat fur" goes back in place when the installation is finished.

I wanted to use a bulkhead seal suggested by a very experienced RVer but it was made in Italy and both US distributors were out of stock. Ended up using the Blue Sea CableClam which is just as functional but a bit more bulky. It was another Amazon purchase. These are available in various sizes - I used a 7/8" version but could have used a 5/8" version based on the diameter of the connector on the antenna.

The CableClam base was installed just inboard of the antenna mount base. It came with stainless wood screws for installation of the base plate, but we used stainless machine screws through the fiberglass shell. The upper section consists of a tapered rubber piece, compressed and held in position by the upper retention ring attached to the base with stainless machine screws.

The Maximum Signal "Super Trucker Antenna" came with a stainless mount, U bolt, and hardware so that it could be clamped to the top of the extension. In the travel position, the extension "snaps" into a saddle fabricated from a short piece of 1.25" PVC pipe that was cut so that slightly more than 1/2 of it is used.

I think it makes a pretty clean installation in the stowed position, and doesn't impact garage clearance. It does require a ladder to access the mount to move it to the vertical position, but I carry the ladder for stowing the canoe anyway. We typically only haul one canoe which is loaded on the curb side of the trailer, so the antenna location won't be an issue with the canoe.


With just over a month until retirement, we're getting ready but won't have an operational report for a while.

Put it on the Shelf

But first you have to have a shelf. The Wilson Sleek 4G amplifier for the Scamp arrived and needs a home. Since we're slowly turning the top of the cupboard above the closet into an electrical distribution center, it seemed the Sleek and the Novatel 4620 MiFi from Millenicom should be located somewhere nearby but accessible.

I decided to build a small cantilevered box shelf above the bathroom door. Of course, that meant a trip to the lumber store since I had alder, ash, and oak in stock but no birch. Pieces of 1/4" Baltic birch will form the top and bottom of the shelf.

Some glue and clamps and the first phase is done. I left the ends long because they were easier to cut off after the glue dries.

The bottom of the shelf is flush. The top has a lip around the shelf.

The cleat screws through the wall and into the frame of the bathroom ceiling. The caps were popped off the factory screws and then the back side of the cleat was relieved to clear the original screws.

The shelf isn't designed to hold lots of weight. The Sleek and MiFi will go on the left end. The MP3 player will go on the right end, held on the shelf by velcro. Five volt DC for both unit will route from the wall on the left.

The shelf is finished with satin polyurethane.

It was nice to spend some time messing with wood for a change.