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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Firman W02981- Any feedback?
Since they want inexpensive I'd suggest the harbor freight 3500 with electric start.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 11:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Large camper with single AC
Hemling,
A couple of solutions from most expensive to cheapest
1. Add a double mini split Air Conditioner and replace the existing roof top unit.
2. Add a 2nd roof top unit and an autoformer, combined with a hybrid inverter/charger that does load support.
3. add a window or through the wall air conditioner to the rear wall. Autoformer for sure--but maybe not hybrid inverter/charger
4. add a stand alone A.C. unit, one with twin tubes.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 11:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: From Large TT to Class C
Make sure wheel base to length ratio is near to 56%. 50% works just barely but is far more tiring to drive. Below 50% is a night mare to drive.
If you really need 32 feet--I'd consider a small Class A, or a C that has had the wheel base lengthened.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 10:57pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Switching from 12 volt to 6 volt batteries
But I do believe you can pretty safely discharge the 6 volts down to 20%, right?
You can cycle to 20% or you can have many more cycles by only using 50%. By many more I mean four times as many cycles.
If you want to cycle to 20% the only choices are SiO2 chemistry or LI.
My next bank will be SiO2 because I need to survive -40 and they are currently less than 50% of the cost of LI.
Neither SiO2 nor LI require getting to 100% state of charge, so they are ideal for use with solar.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 09:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
Brettmm92,
Here is what I would do in your shoes.
Since the fuses are "on the way" you can get to the DC amperage that the inverter wants to feed on by "doubling up" on #10 wire.
i.e. two positive cables and two negative cables with dual thirty amp fuses on the twin positive cables (one for each positive wire). The fuses should be as near the battery bank as is possible.
That would allow the inverter to draw 60 amps of DC--far more than it will call for.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 09:37pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Working online while in motion
You need what ever will give the smoothest ride.
I love my class C, but it would NOT fit your needs as it comes from the factory.
I wonder if an air ride could be retro fitted or if there is a class C out there with air ride?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjyQDFcmA-I
before and after
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww5p744ymms
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 03:00pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Melting wires
I think you are fortunate to have come out of this relatively unscathed.
Having to possibly replace a 30 day old air conditioner is not what I'd call unscathed.
I agree he is lucky the RV did not burn down.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 02:53pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Longer closure gathering momentum...
ty for the link Boon Docker. Just one word describes what is happening in USA
MESS
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 02:46pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
Whats the math on the fuse? I can actually change my order. I was going on 30A fuse based from the charge controller being 30 amps.
Brettmm92,
The converter often has 2 or sometimes 3 30 amp fuses on the DC side. Those are 'reverse polarity' fuses. The wire they feed into will have either an "automatic" circuit breaker or another fuse very near the battery bank.
I got a really cheap cobra 400 watt modified sine inverter and want to use it safely.
While a 30 amp fuse with #10 wire would work (360 watts), it would be much better to move to #8 wire with a 40 amp fuse would be better (480 watts). As a bonus there would be much lower voltage drop to the inverter, and the costs of moving from #10 to #8 are not that big.
Maybe I will keep the solar, but I'm thinking about enjoying the solar setup until late in the year. Without it the solar and my current plans I just wouldn't have electricity but me needing to be accessed by phone provoked the whole solar thing. And I actually don't have an RV battery because I junked it (recycled) after realizing it was dead.
By all means--get some solar and if nothing else works, lay it on the ground. 200 watts as a minimum.
ps I loved my cobra msw inverter.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 02:41pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
A 30 amp fuse @ 12 volts = 360 watts
Such a fuse for an inverter may be fairly useless.
You could, in theory, wire several in parallel, but I DO NOT recommend it and it is NOT best practise. (written when I thought it was a 1000 watt inverter).
It is much better to have one fuse that covers the size of wire you are using for the inverter. Carry one or two spares.
If you are selling the RV why are you getting new batteries at all? Use up what you have already. Set up the solar on the ground--and keep it for the next RV.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 10:53am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Electrical problem
Sounds as if low shore power voltage may be an issue. Measure it under load.
Is there a "whole house" inverter on the RV?
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 04:11am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Melting wires
loose wires and low voltage at the campsite.
Time to ask about warranty since rv is new.
Have the dealership "discover" the issue.
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 04:03am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Longer closure gathering momentum...
The US had 105,000 new cases confirmed in just one day, today.
So Canada, please keep the border closed.
I can't find 105k new cases in USA. Where did you get that information?
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pianotuna
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07/04/20 04:01am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
Are you saying that welders used to run off batteries?
Welders as we know them today did not exist. So folks who wished to weld would use batteries to do so.
there's a potential risk of batteries malfunctioning and expelling that much energy?
yes--but more of a chance that wires might wear through the insulation and "short out". That is why fuses and circuit breakers are used. What I am saying is there is a LOT of potential energy and it needs to be treated with care and respect.
Is there an easy fuse or breaker setup that won't take any cutting up a wire? Like one that goes from the end of the charge controller wire and bolts to the battery? I'm wanting to not splice or cut up wires if theres another way.
There may be such devices. My catastrophic failure fuse(s) are fastened to the battery and then wired to the house is connected. My system has two battery banks, so I can do either/or/both/none
And I was thinking having a setup of panels that lay flat on the roof but could be adjusted to around 45 degrees when no longer traveling to get better direct hit of sunlight would be superior even though it adds an extra thing to set up.
Studies have been done. The average RV'er who installs tilting panels gives up on doing so after seven times. Imagine a high wind, and rain. Are you prepared to climb on the roof to prevent the panels from being ripped off?
It is far easier, and much less expensive to simply add an extra panel with a fixed flat install. (And no roof climbing needed).
And would the batteries I plan to buy between 300 and 400$ for two high quality GC 6 volts be worth all that money? They are still lead acid and need to have maintenance but I could get three 12 volt 27DC batteries from wally world for cheaper than that (slightly over 300 with core charge). But everything I read seems to point out GC batteries being superior.
I am not a fan of six volt batteries wired in series. However, if there is space for only two jars, it is often cheaper to use golf cart batteries than 12 volt deep cycle units. True deep cycle 12 volt are Expensive with a capital E.
The link you have is to Marine batteries. These are NOT deep cycle jars. It is quite possible to use them, if you are prepared to have many of them. In fact I did so--but I had 7 group 29 12 volt. There was one more for the engine. I chose them because I had a specific need for high amperage draws. They lasted nine years because I had solar and was willing to lay in the snow to service them.
My next batteries will be SiO2. If your pockets are deep enough go 2 of those which would give you 180 amp-hours of usable capacity compared to just 112.5 amp-hours from golf cart batteries.
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pianotuna
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07/03/20 04:53pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Wind noise E-450
Hi,
The noise level dropped greatly after I added Air Tabs. They did little for the mileage. Handling was improved. Before air tabs I had to shout--after air tabs ordinary conversation levels were possible.
Familiar with air tabs at the rear of a coach.
Can you describe exactly where you placed them up front?
I did not put them up front. I did put them on the rear edge of the air conditioner shroud and the rain hood for the fridge chimney. The rest were installed as the maker recommends--at the rear of the RV.
So far, only one has flown away--and that was from the fridge chimney.
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pianotuna
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07/03/20 04:22pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Wind noise E-450
Hi,
The noise level dropped greatly after I added Air Tabs. They did little for the mileage. Handling was improved. Before air tabs I had to shout--after air tabs ordinary conversation levels were possible.
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pianotuna
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07/02/20 09:27pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Reddog1 "Wayne"
Wayne and I did not get along. I'm sure he was helpful to many folks here. I hope his TC in the sky was ready, waiting and defect free.
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pianotuna
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07/02/20 09:22pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 100 watt Solar decision
Brettmm92,
The fuse should be as near the battery bank as humanly possible. It is a catastrophic failure fuse.
Before welders were "plug in" devices, batteries were used for that purpose. You can imagine what dumping 2600 watt-hours of battery in two seconds would do to an RV.
It would be insanely hot, so the fuse is there to protect the wire from melting and catching everything around it on fire. Anyone who goes without a fuse invalidates their insurance, and is taking a HUGE risk.
I find it much better to be a live chicken, than a dead duck.
I am NOT a fan of panels that have to be set up and struck down every time the RV is moved. It is far better to simply add an additional panel to the roof. Then you even get charging while trundling down the road. Remember the panels are the cheapest part of all this tech.
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pianotuna
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07/02/20 08:52pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Longer closure gathering momentum...
You can't live in a bubble forever.
How about living in the bubble until an effective vaccine is produced in quantity?
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pianotuna
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07/02/20 01:22am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Longer closure gathering momentum...
It's the CBC, so it's got to be suspect.
Are you joking? (I hope so).
CBC is pretty good at sticking to the truth. Indications of that are, they have been described as pro conservative, pro liberal, pro abortion, anti abortion, pro party in power, and pro opposition, in the same week.
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pianotuna
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07/01/20 10:27pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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