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Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Solar options for a Fun Finder/TT
dr_trousers,
Solar can be as complicated, or as simple, as you want it to be.
Unless you only plan on a low power system used solely to maintain battery charge while the unit is in storage, it is a bit more than just buying a panel and hooking it to the battery.
If you don't like fussing around, learning about wire sizes and voltage drop, controllers, panels, etc., etc., then I suggest you find a good installer and trust them to make these decisions for you. There are folks who specialize in RV solar installations.
If, on the other hand, you don't mind spending hours studying and learning a fascinating topic, then read and ask lots of questions. There are folks on this forum who have lots of experience in this topic and they can help you a lot if you desire.
No matter who does the work, before you start any solar (or similar) remodel, I suggest you first determine how much energy you need. (Your conservation efforts are a part of this.) Once you know what your usage is, then you can look at having adequate storage (battery capacity) to provide for that usage when the sun isn't shinning or when you don't want to run a generator. After you have answered the first two questions (usage and storage capacity) then you can look at means to generate this power, be it solar, wind, or just a simple generator. If you don't want to go through this effort, then again, just ask and you will get lots of "this is what I did" responses that you can follow if you wish. Just remember, these responses are only what has worked for others, with different usage requirements and locations (i.e.; "latitude" which effects solar efficiency)
I hope this helps ...... some,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/18/13 01:43pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: specific LED question
LED lights produce much less heat than incandescent lights with similar light output (lumens) do.
To provide sufficient light outside the RV, though the yellow and perhaps opaque diffuser, I would put in the brightest LED light you can get to fit the fixture.
An added benefit to putting in a LED in this location is that if you forget to turn the light off at night, your battery won't be run down in the morning (assuming dry camping).
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/18/13 08:31am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Oregon between Westfir and McKenzie Bridge
My curiosity got the better of me.
According to Google Maps, the route out of Westfir is 51.5 miles and would take 2 hours 37 minutes (I bet longer with a trailer).
Backtracking down to hwy 222, it is 78.2 miles and 1 hour 33 minutes to McKenzie Bridge.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/18/13 08:26am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Oregon between Westfir and McKenzie Bridge
I tend to agree with Paul,
It's a nice (but slow) drive in a car or truck, but I am not sure if I would go that way with my travel trailer or not. I guess if I was not in a hurry, and wanted to camp along the way, I might consider it. Otherwise, I would just head west to hwy 222 in the valley and cut north that way.
The road is one lane in places and isn't very fast. But since it was built for logging trucks, there is "enough" room. It is paved most of the way. I believe there is a bit of a climb out of the N. Fk. Middle Fk Willamette River canyon. There are some nice camping spots at the upper (southern) end of Cougar Res. and also not too far out of Westfir (along the river).
Have fun,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/18/13 08:13am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Central Oregon to Bozeman then Tetons.
Welcome.
My first thought is that, if you haven't already, you may want to take a short weekend trip first to work some of the kinks out of the trailer and your camping system. I doubt you will have any problems finding great places to go here in Central Oregon.
As for campsites, you may want to look at this website for ideas.
If you like state park type camping, Three Island Crossing State Park, in Glenns Ferry Idaho would be a nice, cool, place to spend a night or two.
Have fun and safe travels,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/18/13 07:50am |
Family Camping
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RE: newbie with generator questions
yankeeslover,
Congratulations on your new trailer.
Yes, a generator is one way to run the TV and coffee maker. Another is solar and more batteries, combined with using your propane stove to make the coffee (like in the old days......).
Since you only anticipate dry camping about 10% of the time, does it really make sense to pay $1000 (or more if you go solar) just for TV and coffee maker use on those rare nights? Of course, only you can make that decision.
If you do get a generator, I suspect that you (and your neighbors) would be happiest with a low noise unit such as Honda or Yamaha. The Honda 2000 watt inverter generator is very popular and will run your outlets (not the Air Conditioner though) with enough power to spare to charge the battery. However they are not cheap at about $1000 each.
Have fun and remember, it's just camping.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/17/13 02:36pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Winterization: wet or dry?
J,
No "wisdom", just what I do.
As I frequently camp (and then return home) in sub-freezing temps though out the winter, I use the "dry method".
Drain everything, blow air through the lines, and dump a little anti-freeze in the sink and tub traps.
No "fancy" fitting, just a device that allows my air hose to connect to the pressurized water inlet which I suspect you can get it at RV stores.
Takes about a hour which includes dumping the tanks (as long as the dump valves aren't frozen....)
I suspect you will find many others who prefer the "wet method".
Safe travels,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/17/13 10:28am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Solar Panels
That would be the easiest and lowest cost option.
However, I would question if the manufacture really put in adequately sized wire. So if you want the most power possible (watts per $), then you may want to take a second look at the wire size used (between panel and controller AND between controller and battery). Post those sizes and lengths to the forum and you will get more help than you know what to do with.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/17/13 08:43am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Anybody driven Cottonwood Canyon Rd in Southern Utah?
Mike,
The first time, we took several day, camping and hiking along the way. The second time, it took about four hours, but we were just motoring along.
On edit, I now recall that we spent about a hour poking around the fossilized shell beds in the southern part of the route on the second trip. So one-way time for that trip was closer to 3 hours.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/17/13 07:55am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Anybody driven Cottonwood Canyon Rd in Southern Utah?
Mike,
We have with our truck and large canopy (small camper). There are some nice hikes as well as some nice places to camp along the way. As long as it is dry, the road is fine for all types of vehicles (not towing) However, I wouldn't go anywhere near that road if it has recently rained (or if rain is in the forecast).....
Have a nice trip,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/17/13 06:48am |
Truck Campers
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RE: The trials of a nw camper.
You may want to try getting your tires balanced.
When I went in for this, the tires were so bad (square) that I got new ones....which solved the problem.
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SteveAE
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06/16/13 09:56pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Canoe
The foam blocks (either homemade or store bought) "work" for a trip or two. But if you intend to carry the canoe much, I would strongly advise a good commercial rack. Yakama is one such manufacture. Yes, they are expensive, but it sure beats having a canoe blow off the roof.
Safe travels....and paddling,
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/11/13 05:11pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Dual Cam ripped out of frame now what?
I had two of the Reese dual cam self tapping bolt mounting threads strip out. Wound up replacing all four with through bolts (5 grade) through the frame with a large washer and Nylock nut on the end. Worked great.
Steve
Was your frame a box/tube type?
Yes
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SteveAE
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06/10/13 10:13pm |
Towing
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RE: Dual Cam ripped out of frame now what?
I had two of the Reese dual cam self tapping bolt mounting threads strip out. Wound up replacing all four with through bolts (5 grade) through the frame with a large washer and Nylock nut on the end. Worked great.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/10/13 10:15am |
Towing
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RE: Overnight stop between Twin Falls and Salt Lake area
The "River Rock Grill" in Twin Falls. It was very good and reasonably priced too. It was late by the time we got to Snowville.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/03/13 09:01am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Vancouver Island and the "Sunshine Coast"
Gary,
Thanks for the reminder on the BIG logging trucks you guys have up there.
jehunt,
Great tips. Thank you.
Steve
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SteveAE
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06/03/13 08:52am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Vancouver Island and the "Sunshine Coast"
Gary,
Thanks. That is nice to know about the Gold River to Woss road.
Steve
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SteveAE
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05/31/13 09:08pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Wiring an Inverter to Run a Small Fan in Bedroom
John,
I have the Endless Breeze, by Fantastic Fan. It is a 12 volt fan that easily plugs into a 12 volt accessory outlet. It is "reasonably" quite (for a fan) and still moves quite a bit of air.
Mine draws ~2.2 amps on medium speed (or about the same as two 12 volt incandescent light bulbs). The size of battery bank you have will determine how long you can run it, but a typical ~200 Amp hour battery can run it for about 45 hours before you get down to 50% charge.
Steve
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SteveAE
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05/31/13 04:07pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Vancouver Island and the "Sunshine Coast"
Thank you all for your many suggestions. Now now have several more days of research ahead of me to sort though it all. Paul, gravel roads are just fine with me....and am presently looking at the road north from Gold River to Vernon and Woss as a way to make a partial loop trip.
Steve
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SteveAE
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05/30/13 12:08pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Campgrounds near "day-hike-able" glaciers in BC?
I don't blame her. After years of minimal gear camping (sometimes even a bivy sack was a lot), the trailer sure makes a nice base camp from which to stage hiking and paddling trips. Getting old I guess....
Used to surf at Torrance, Redondo, and Hermosa beaches (and around the rocks of PVP). Now, I just surf on waves in rivers where the ride can last.....forever.
Back to your trip. Another reference book you may want to get if you don't already have it is "Pacific Northwest Camping Destinations", by Mike and Terri Church. Mainly RV park stuff, but still a good reference....especially if looking for a place with laundry facilities after a week at more remote sites.
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SteveAE
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05/30/13 08:38am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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