Bmpro and power issues

jetlag · 06-08-2023, 05:44 AM

This happened yesterday here at Hilton head natl. RV resort, and the old Mr. Murphy, what can will go wrong. First trip out without the Tablet. it is stuck in the boot loop sequence. I have been charging it in the house before the last few trips, and it works for 2-3 weeks after, but not this time, so we depend on the phone APP. yesterday we went to the pool, great day here. We were gone for 3-4 hours. We leave our 2 small toy poodles in the camper, and yesterday being warm, all 3 AC's on. Typically when we are gone to the store, or the pool yesterday I check on the camper through the APP and the cloud. Upon returning from the pool, my bride was freaking out as all AC units were off and thankfully, although warm, it was only 85F inside. The Hughes Auto Transformer Power Dog had detected an over current on line 2. It has never happened before, and of course, it happens when the tablet is on the blink. Power was back once the condition self corrected, but the AC units had to be manually turned off and back on. This is a nearly brand new resort, first class all the way, and truly surprised at the power spike. Had it been much hotter, last year same place and time, we were looking at 98-99F for 3-4 days, it would have been dangerous. Now I am spooked, although the weather will be in the low 80's next few days, about leaving them alone without a working tablet. I am waiting on a new one under warranty, but i am going to open this one and replace the battery anyway. Same thing with the Power Dog, I will order a replacement surge module, in case it decides to die while on a trip. This one did reset, but you use up some of your safety every time you have an event.

Nevr2late · 06-08-2023, 06:30 AM

Yea, that could have been scary; glad it wasn't tragic. You can see the AC status and temp through the App right, but I think with mine if I lose power it will just say disconnected and give me the last reading it received although I'm not positive of that. Of course both the phone and BMPro need to be online for them to work and even then mine isn't 100%. Going on our 2nd trip with the new Jayco so we are learning more every time we go out.

jetlag · 06-08-2023, 10:22 AM

Yes, but to see any camper info away from the Bluetooth range, you need the cloud connection, and with a tablet stuck in the boot/loop cycle it is not an option.

Nevr2late · 06-08-2023, 11:28 AM

Ahh, so without the tablet you are Bluetooth only. I was wondering if the BMPro could connect to a previously connected wi-fi emitter, like a hot spot phone or something, but I guess not, that's a tablet only connection. Well that's not good.

jetlag · 06-08-2023, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevr2late

Ahh, so without the tablet you are Bluetooth only. I was wondering if the BMPro could connect to a previously connected wi-fi emitter, like a hot spot phone or something, but I guess not, that's a tablet only connection. Well that's not good.

Yes, that is the way it is designed. The big issue with it is the battery/charging setup BMPRO designed with the system. other threads here discuss it in great detail. moral of the story seems to be that the tablet needs to be powered to remain charged. If the battery discharges to a certain level, the logic/charging setup BMPRO designed with the system is not strong enough to charge the battery and restart the software at the same time. That is when you will read here about the Boot Loop sequence, where it continuously flashed the BMPRO screen and then dark over and over. You can remove tablet from camper and connect to a wall charger at home. An I pad/ I phone charger at 12W does a great job. If it comes back, and you are lucky, you will be good to go. Mine let me do this a good 5-6 before it decided it had had enough, and we are depending on the phone APP to get by on this trip. Don't expect great help from BMPRO. Their typical answer is contact your dealer for a replacement! If out of warranty they charge an outrageous amount for what amounts to be a $40 tablet

jetlag · 06-09-2023, 07:51 AM

Went head and ordered a replacement surge module for the Power Dog from Amazon for $38, as well as the battery and JST connectors to repair this one. It dawned on me, that if the surge module failed on a trip, I would have no protection. I will also try to find out if I may have to return this tablet. Would hate to modify it and then get turned down for the replacement tablet.

Nevr2late · 06-09-2023, 09:46 AM

I've read here that you can turn the tablet off while it's in storage and that may help buy time for the battery in the panel to not get critically low. I know on my panel I can power it off. It's a bit weird, I have solar but Jayco recommends removing the batteries and covering the solar panels if you store it in cold weather. That would seem to alleviate the panel problem as the batteries and solar will have way more than enough charge to keep the panel up and running...even in the winter. But I guess the cold temps do not help battery longevity so you're screwed either way. I also hear that if you remove the panel they may not warrant it if they see that it has been removed. This sucks.

jetlag · 06-09-2023, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevr2late

I've read here that you can turn the tablet off while it's in storage and that may help buy time for the battery in the panel to not get critically low. I know on my panel I can power it off. It's a bit weird, I have solar but Jayco recommends removing the batteries and covering the solar panels if you store it in cold weather. That would seem to alleviate the panel problem as the batteries and solar will have way more than enough charge to keep the panel up and running...even in the winter. But I guess the cold temps do not help battery longevity so you're screwed either way. I also hear that if you remove the panel they may not warrant it if they see that it has been removed. This sucks.

Yes, I can turn it off but it doesn't seem to help for long. I have yet to cover the solar panels, never heard of that. Ours stays plugged in to 50A 24/7, but we have a shed for the camper, so no solar when home. Removing the tablet from the wall will not void any warranties, but tearing into it might.

Nevr2late · 06-09-2023, 02:13 PM

Wait, you store the camper on 50A and still have a panel battery issue on a 2 Y.O. 5th wheel? Sorry, but that's ridiculous. BMPro needs to get their s*@t together and provide a decent tablet. I have an 8 year old Samsung that still holds a charge to about 80% and I run that battery to zero all the time.

jetlag · 06-09-2023, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevr2late

Wait, you store the camper on 50A and still have a panel battery issue on a 2 Y.O. 5th wheel? Sorry, but that's ridiculous. BMPro needs to get their s*@t together and provide a decent tablet. I have an 8 year old Samsung that still holds a charge to about 80% and I run that battery to zero all the time.

Amen to that

jetlag · 06-09-2023, 06:46 PM

We are at Hilton Head, SC. Met our neighbors 2 campers down with a '21 Pinnacle, same model like hours. he has had zero issues with his tablet! go figure

Bob Pope · 06-18-2023, 06:29 PM

I am tired of wrestling with my BMPro too! Had it replaced once already. It keeps rebooting and screen going back to tablet home screen!
I'm going to have all Bluetooth switches replaced with the old manuel switches and the thermostat replaced with a standard house thermostat. To heck with technology!

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