Guess what we found when we took up all the carpet in the Barth?
It appears to be and an electrified grid (12V??) The two wires that can be seen exiting next to the couch disappear into the massive wiring loom under the couch. The metal grid is encased in heavy clear plastic and is just duct taped to the plywood subfloor. that sub floor is 1-1/2" thick! Directly beneath the floor between the frame rails is the fuel tank.
The plan was/is to lay Allure Ultra vinyl flooring over the subfloor. Not sure what to do about this and have no idea what it's purpose is.
Looking forward to an expanation.
Don

That is a Cootie Catcher. Everybody knows that Cooties are negatively charged. That catcher is a positive charge. That way it attracts all the Cooties in your Barth. Be sure to empty it at least once a year. When the Cootie Catcher breaks down, it ain't a pretty sight.

quote:

Guess what we found when we took up all the carpet in the Barth?
It appears to be and an electrified grid (12V??) n

Don I would say floor heat. Radiant heat is a great way to heat but with 12 volt I would think a huge drain? That is my guess but where is the switch?

1) Have you ever seen a magnet on a fuel line? This is an electrified magnet for the fuel tank.

2) It was original made by Nikola Tesla and hasn't been seen since the days of the Philadelphia Experiment.

3) An ultra thin bass speaker.

My real guess is it's a big floor heater for a spoiled dog. After that, I'm out.

I'm glad you've shared this and would really like to know what it is too.

Don
Looks like Bill agrees with me on my best guess. I would hook it to a 12 volt battery and see what happens. If it beams you to the mother ship I was wrong. If it generates heat I was right.

I wonder if it is some kind of antenna. Who previously owned your Barth? If it was CIA then it's definitely an antenna.

Seriously, was your Barth always an RV, or did it start life as something else?

It's hard to imagine not feeling this when you're walking on it.

A heating pad is one possibility, but two oddities make me think otherwise:

1. The wiring pattern is very unusual for a heat pad, and there's no reflective/insulating surface underneath, and

2. The supply wires appear to be too small for a 12VDC resistive heater; I would hope that no one would install a 120VAC device exposed like this.

My WAG is that this is a strangely-located pressure pad (trigger) for a security system.

It is a pressure pad for your alarm system if you still have one. It's creates a closure when stepped on. I had one in mine. If you are not using your alarm, no worries just rip it out. If you are using an alarm chances are it has been disconnected already or you would know about it.

quote:

It is a pressure pad for your alarm system

Why is this alarm positioned only in front of the sofa? you might ask. Well, very old demented Granny slept on the sofa and it was to let the guardians know when she got up in the middle of the night.

I love the replies! Actually I was expecting some of them!
I was guessing a foot warmer too or, in Rusty's case, a dog warmer.
No Bill, you wouldn't know it was there due to the thick carpeting and underpad.
The coach has a Nobi alarm system with contacts on all exterior compartments, the entry door, and panic buttons under the drop down kitchen counter extension, and in the bedroom. Never thought of that though.
BTW. I know why Barth eventually went bankrupt. They spent all their money on bloody staples to hold down the carpet!
Don

WHOA! Not so fast guys. I found the same thing in my 1984 Regal Royal. There was one at the same place in front of the sofa and also back in my hallway outside the bathroom (in front of the wardrobe). I thought the previous owner had installed them to keep feet warm while sitting on sofa and to warm the floor outside the bath while dressing. Mine were also wired into a large wire loom and I couldn't figure out how you turned them on.

Now it looks like it might have been a factory item.


K&E

quote:

My WAG is that this is a strangely-located pressure pad (trigger) for a security system.

I agree, I think it probably is a pressure pad for a floor contact sensor.

The wires for a floor heater would be much larger than those.

Put an ohmmeter across the wires and step on the pad.

Yup! Definitely was installed at the factory, this carpet is the original.
Don

quote:

Originally posted by K&E:
WHOA! Not so fast guys. I found the same thing in my 1984 Regal Royal. There was one at the same place in front of the sofa and also back in my hallway outside the bathroom (in front of the wardrobe). I thought the previous owner had installed them to keep feet warm while sitting on sofa and to warm the floor outside the bath while dressing. Mine were also wired into a large wire loom and I couldn't figure out how you turned them on.

Now it looks like it might have been a factory item.


K&E