How can I get a look at the connections on the front TV in the swing down box?

[Mike Shumack]

I'm trying to trace a couple of wires and I want to see what is plugged into the front TV. I have the swing down TV box.
What do I need to do to be able to see the back of the TV and verify what is plugged into it?

The previous owner replaced the OEM TV with a nice big screen Samsung, but I can't see how the cables are routed or what is plugged into it. I have a bunch of spare cables in the upper right compartment (two HDMI, a bunch of Coax cables, and two sets of composite cables (the R, W, Y cables). I don't have Aladdin displaying on this set and I'm not sure if the other cables are just spares or where they come from (there is no DVD/VCR or Satellite receiver installed).

[Fred Brooks]

Hi Mike,
    Hook up reliable devices to the spare cables and turn them on. Turn on the tv and scroll thru the inputs and find out what is connected to the tv. Fred

[Lee Welbanks]

Mike,
A couple of the coax cables probably go to the rear TV in the bedroom, others to the satellite and air antenna. I had to use a tone tester to find where all the cables went to. Remove the panel that covers the swing down tv and you can see what is connected to it. There will be four screws one in each corner and the rest is held in place with velcro. I spent a whole day just tracing cabling. Good luck.

[Mike Shumack]

Remove the panel that covers the swing down tv and you can see what is connected to it. There will be four screws one in each corner and the rest is held in place with velcro.

Thanks everyone. Lee, that's the info I was hoping to get.

I have traced all the cables I can with a "cable tracer" (but that tracer only works when you can find both ends of the cable). I identified six out of the nine coax cables.

The three coax cables remaining are connected to something. I think (1) the front TV input from antenna (from splitter), (2) the Aladdin display to TV (would have a "coax-to-RCA adapter" on it going to TV Video In), and (3) the coax coming from the antenna on the roof (to the splitter)). I also have two Composite cables (the 3-wire audio/video cable) that are not connected to anything (on the end I can see). Probably for the original VCR/DVD and Satellite.

And there is a powered splitter in that upper right compartment (but nothing connected to it at the moment - I assume one Output goes to front TV and the other Output to Bedroom TV. Now I need to find the Input (from roof antenna).

Once I can get a look at the back of the TV I'm sure I will be able to eliminate a couple of these cables. If I had  "dB meter" I could figure out which cable was coming from the roof antenna, but I don't so I'm hoping to figure this out by process of elimination.

[Stan Simpson]

Mike,
For years, I had no input to the TV from the Aladdin. Every time I wanted to check tank levels, after morning showers, etc., I had to go sit in the cockpit, lift up the privacy curtain, turn on the Aladdin and get my reading.

In the process of installing a new 40" TV, I had to access the box where the rear of the TV would be. A small opening which I have enlarged with a saws-all so I can get my hands back there. This time I searched the compartment thoroughly and found the RCA cable crumpled up in a back corner. I plugged it in to the yellow video in and now have Aladdin on the TV. There is a separate toggle switch on the kitchen cabinet, so life is better now.

[Mike Shumack]

Does anyone know where I can get the manual for this TV lift.  And who makes it?

reading through the old threads on "TV Lift",  I saw a post saying "Lift It" provided the TV Lifts for the 2006+ models.
And earlier model coaches may have used Trimetal Fabrication, Dehco, or Tristar.

I found a manual (but it is too large to attache here. It's 819KB) for 2004-05 Monaco, but I'm not sure if it the correct one for a 2005 Beaver. I have not gotten far enough into my lift to see if any of the components shown match what I have. The manual I found does not have a manufacture's name on it (was written by Monaco).

The previous owner replaced the set so it can't be too hard to access the back (TV mounting screws). I guess I need to pop off those screw head covers and see how things are attached. I'd be more comfortable if I have a manual for the Lift - but that's one of the problems you deal with when you buy an older MH.

[Jerry Emert]

Mike, the TV lift instructions that are commonly available do not work my 2003.  There is a very good chance the ones you have are correct for your 2005.  Mine failed a couple years ago and the company that made it is out of business and no one seemed to have any.  I just fumbled around until I fixed it.  I have a copy of the ones that are probably for your coach.  If you decide you want them just give me a yell.
Jerry

[Mike Shumack]

Thanks Jerry.
I'm going to need to get inside the TV Lift mechanism to see if it matches the pictures in the manual I downloaded. The manual I have says it for a 2005-05 Monaco. I tried to attach it here, but the file is too big (its 819 KB).

The manual shows the motor assembly and adjustments, but doesn't get into how to remove the TV (how it attaches to the frame, how the cover comes off, or how to access/route the TV connections).

I have no fear of disassembling it, but I'd rather have a manual showing how the thing is put together before I start. Since I don't have that, I'll just start poking and prying until it comes apart or I break it.

[David T. Richelderfer]

How I fixed my TV flip down problem:

http://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php/topic,7055.msg50237.html#msg50237

And it's still never been a problem again (as noted in the link).

[Mike Shumack]

Thanks for posting David. But I'm not having any problems with the operation of the TV Lift. It works fine. I'm trying to trace out the mess of cables in the upper right compartment.

There are at least nine coax cables, three sets of Composite cables, and some HDMI cables that are not connected to anything. I know some go the TV but I can't tell which. They go through a hole in the back of the cabinet and disappear.

Some of these cables I think are just abandoned in place from the old satellite receiver and VCR/DVD - which were removed by previous owner.

If I can get to the back of TV I can unplug the cables and use my ohmmeter to find the other end in the compartment (or maybe identify them with a little tugging).

[Mike Shumack]

I have the back panel of the TV Lift removed. It was easier than I thought it would be.

This is the cluster of cables I'm sorting through.

Seeing what comes off the TV will make this sorting much easier - and it looks like the TV install needs some work too.

[LaMonte Monnell]

At least the back of the tv area is nice and neat! My wires were a huge mess and ended up removing them all and reinstalling from scratch. Had quite a few left over that went in File #13! Nice and neat and labeled now.

[Jerry Carr]

Nice job, I did the same thing on our 06 PT