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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: 100w panels
Well, I have to disagree with some of the opinions given here. I have two panels with a combined rating of 370 watts. Panels are 11 years old. On a recent trip to Wyoming this summer, I recorded 411 watts output. Of course I had some ideal conditions beyond the standards by which panels are rated. I was at about 9000' elevation and the wind speed was greater than 1 m/s. However, the temperatures were much higher than 20C and though the panels were tilted somewhat toward the sun, certainly weren't perpendicular to the radiation. I often see peak watts greater than rated panel output.
https://i.imgur.com/BgtZZaYl.png
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12thgenusa
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08/23/23 06:27pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: 100w panels
.
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12thgenusa
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08/23/23 06:06pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Compartment door latch
When I first got my trailer, many of the latches were installed as you describe, and one door came open on a trip. I then re-clocked all the latches so that gravity and vibrations would not work against the latch staying locked. There have been no problems since.
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12thgenusa
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04/26/23 10:15am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Maybe when I get a little older
I've been retired for over ten years. So far I haven't been able to figure out how I ever had time to go to work.
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12thgenusa
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04/08/23 11:25am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Decals/Graphics
I removed and replaced all the graphics on my 5th wheel in 2019. The surface was filon not aluminum. A heat gun on low will work, but I found that a hair dryer on low was better as the heat gun will easily heat the decals too much and cause them to stretch and break easily. I removed the glue with Rapid Remover which worked very well.
It's a LOT of work and the replacement graphics were not cheap.
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12thgenusa
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03/24/23 04:47pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: SeeLevel tank monitor system
I've had mine for over ten years. Works great. I can add about 5 gallons to the fresh water tank after it reads 100% and there are probably 5 gallons left after it says empty. The readings jump in 6% increments.
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12thgenusa
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03/15/23 09:00am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Lithium batteries and microwave use
. . . Does anyone have experience operating the microwave with 200 Ah of lithium?Important to note, Ah (amp-hour) and A (amp) are two different ratings.
A 200 Ah lifepo4 battery with a 100 A continuous current rating will not run the vast majority of microwaves. A 200 Ah lifepo4 battery with a 200 A continuous current rating will run most any microwave.
A similar caution applies if you have plans to parallel two 100 Ah lifepo4 batteries to obtain 200 Ah. Make sure *both/each* of these two 100 Ah batteries have a 100 A continuous current rating (*not* 50 A). Two 100 Ah batteries, each with a 100 A continuous current rating, paralleled together, will provide 200 A of continuous current.
That’s exactly what was stated in the OP.
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12thgenusa
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03/12/23 10:43pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Lithium batteries and microwave use
YEP.
Thanks
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12thgenusa
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03/12/23 03:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Lithium batteries and microwave use
I’ll make my question a bit clearer.
When I designed and installed my system 12 years ago, lithium was still a dream for RVs. The battery discussions revolved around whether it was best to use a 12-volt battery or multiples of them, 6-volt batteries in series, or break the bank and go with AGM.
At the time, most agreed that a pair of GC2s in series were marginal to operate a microwave. That convinced me to go with four GC2s (440 Ah).
My specific question is, are the characteristics of lithium batteries sufficiently different from FLAs that 200 Amp hours of lithium batteries with at least a 200 amp BMS will operate the microwave without voltage sag causing inverter under-volt alarm or shutdown?
Should be, is not a helpful answer.
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12thgenusa
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03/12/23 02:25pm |
Tech Issues
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Lithium batteries and microwave use
I am considering replacing four GC2 batteries with two 100 Ah LiFePo batteries with 100 Amp BMS each. My concern is whether they will be able to operate the microwave for light duty use (5-6 minutes) without voltage sag causing problems. The draw for the microwave is about 125 to 130 amps, depending on how much solar is coming in. The wiring is appropriately sized for the loads.
I currently have four GC2s for this reason, not because I really need that much storage capacity. The LAs have served well; they are going into their 12th season and still have very good hydrometer readings. However, I know their time left is limited.
Does anyone have experience operating the microwave with 200 Ah of lithium?
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12thgenusa
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03/12/23 10:55am |
Tech Issues
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RE: not another solar question ??
Mount it such that the controller stays connected to the batteries when the panels are disconnected, otherwise the controller can be damaged. Or have a means of disconnecting the panels first and reconnecting the batteries first.
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12thgenusa
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12/02/22 10:54am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Dumb question
What's the maximum current you can draw from those batteries? A 3,000 watt invverter will draw 30p amps at full load. Those batteries won't support that for even 20 mimutes I'd guess.
More like 280 to 300 amps.
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12thgenusa
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10/17/22 10:45am |
Truck Campers
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RE: dc to DC Renogy charger
Have you measured your input amps? I've read these take 30 amp input to produce 20 amps at the battery.
I'm thinking of installing one for my 5th wheel. Concerned about the extra 30 amp draw on the alternator, long run of large gage wire (at least 6 ga) and an additional disconnect on the tow vehicle.
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12thgenusa
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10/15/22 07:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bedding Brakes
I've heard pros and cons on this for a long time. Doesn't this process happen naturally over time anyway? I recently replaced brakes and rotors on my TV. I did not do any bedding and braking seems just fine. Do they do this on new cars? Probably not.
Back to my days as a Learjet mechanic. The lead mechanic decided he needed to bed the brakes after four new brakes and four new tires were installed. He did several high-speed taxis with max braking, but apparently didn't allow enough cool down time between. Caught all four brakes on fire, burned up the tires and caused damage to the struts. Very expensive.
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12thgenusa
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10/07/22 11:30am |
Tech Issues
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