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RE: Generator questions!
How difficult is it to change out the converter? How is the wiring connected to the converter?Five wires.
120v side is Hot, Neutral, Ground. Attach new same as you remove the old.
12v side is just Positive and Negative. Again connect same colors same as you remove.
Maybe a few screws to gain access removing the trim.
Sounds do-able. Thanks!
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coolmom42
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09/22/17 11:56am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
Thanks for all the input folks. Right now I am leaning towards the Champion 3400 watt inverter instead of the Predator, mostly because of the included warranty and the established track record of the Champions.
Am going to find out the details of the converter and take it from there.
How difficult is it to change out the converter? How is the wiring connected to the converter?
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coolmom42
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09/22/17 11:18am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
Does my reasoning make sense? Any big flaws in my logic?
It sounds great and your numbers are reasonable. Even more, you will have a lot of fun. Now our "Experts" can explain that you need more equalization and the adjustability of a zippity doo da 1100xx charger with a bifold exchanger shunt. Not to mention six six volt batteries and a thousand dollar monitoring system.
Have fun your way.
I do understand that it's important to get the batteries fully charged fairly often, and will take a long time on a basic converter. I will get some more info about the furnace usage and the converter model, and evaluate at that point.
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 09:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
From what I can gather a furnace blower typically pulls about 7-10 amps, depending on size. I'm picking 8 amps without knowing the model of the furnace (RV is in IL right now and I am in TN.) So if the furnace runs say 8 hours out of 24 (very generous estimate), that would be 64 amp-hours.
Our other battery usage is very low---no big inverter for microwave or coffeepot or hairdryer. We run the water pump and LED lighting. We have a 12V outlet that we use with a 400W inverter to charge electronics, but that is often done in the tow vehicle while out and about. Very little or no TV use.
I'm going to estimate 80 amp-hours/day and I think that's generous based on our habits.
So we need a converter that will replace that 80 amp-hours in a reasonable amount of time, say 4 hours or less. That means a converter with a bulk charge mode of 20 amps or higher. So a 30 or 40 amp converter should serve us well.
We will likely be at an electric site at least once a week, for 24 hours or longer. So if we get the batteries up even close to 100% otherwise, during that time frame they should definitely get maxed out and be just fine.
Does my reasoning make sense? Any big flaws in my logic?
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 09:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
Would not this be like serving an Eggo breakfast on Bone China?
Or playing McIntosh amplified music through a drive in theater speaker?
Or rolling a Rolls Royce on Wal-Mart cheap-O tires?
The WFCO id designed as a never-unplugged to RV park pedestal battery maintainer. I can think of no poorer converter for generator use. The batteries will suffer terribly.
These batteries have been plugged in probably 80% of the time they are in use, with frequent water level checks. My significant other takes them off in the winter, or when the RV is plugged in at his seasonal site (there have been some thefts.) We've probably not gone unplugged more than 2 nights in a row while travelling, and have never had to run the furnace.
But I am retiring in the spring and longer trips are in the picture! :D
I will verify the type of converter. Or we could just go with a direct battery charger and not go through the converter. Would that work better?
NO. Upgrade to a converter that will do at least 14.4 and better yet 14.8 volts. The problem with WFCO is the are not heavy enough to be used as a boat anchor.
Not clear what you mean here. Are you saying NO there is no way to do this with a portable charger?
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 03:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
Would not this be like serving an Eggo breakfast on Bone China?
Or playing McIntosh amplified music through a drive in theater speaker?
Or rolling a Rolls Royce on Wal-Mart cheap-O tires?
The WFCO id designed as a never-unplugged to RV park pedestal battery maintainer. I can think of no poorer converter for generator use. The batteries will suffer terribly.
These batteries have been plugged in probably 80% of the time they are in use, with frequent water level checks. My significant other takes them off in the winter, or when the RV is plugged in at his seasonal site (there have been some thefts.) We've probably not gone unplugged more than 2 nights in a row while travelling, and have never had to run the furnace.
But I am retiring in the spring and longer trips are in the picture! :D
I will verify the type of converter. Or we could just go with a direct battery charger and not go through the converter. Is there a good PORTABLE charger that could be used for this? We may sell this RV in another year and don't plan to put much in the way of upgrades into it before then.
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 02:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Generator questions!
Never heard of the Predator but doubt you'll need AC at much elevation over 5000. We were at 8300 all last summer with zero shade and only ran the AC 3-4 afternoons now the heatpump at night came in handy as it cooled down considerably as the sun went down.
Oh I know we won't need AC that high. But there is a lot of low elevation between TN & Wyoming!
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 02:41pm |
Tech Issues
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Generator questions!
We are looking at buying either a 3000W Honda inverter generator, or the 3000W Predator brand inverter from Harbor Freight. Will be using these to intermittently charge 2X 6V Trojan golf cart battery setup, or running a 13.5K BTU AC unit. (I do not know details of the converter/charger, except that it is a WFCO unit.)
We are planning to leave in late April/early May for a 4-6 week trip to Wyoming and Montana, with the end point being at Glacier NP when Going to the Sun Road opens. Exact timing depends on our best estimate of the opening date. No doubt we will need heat at some points and AC at others.
Question 1: Does anyone have any experience with the Predator brand? It has good reviews. However, it only has a 90 day guarantee. My vote is to wait until late winter and see if the reviews are still good, after people have used them through the winter.
Question 2: How much does altitude affect the performance of this type of generator? Many of our planned campsites are at 5000 ft elevation or higher.
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coolmom42
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09/21/17 12:54pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Tolls, Pay by plate (from another forum)
TN only has rear plates, and the Denver toll system got us. Seems to get you going or coming.
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coolmom42
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09/20/17 08:29am |
Truck Campers
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RE: National Eagle Cap dealer list? Don't ask manufactuer :/
Lance RV is the same way. It will only show you the one closest to you, even if they don't have the type of RV you want in stock.
The search page has a tiny little map of the entire US with dealers marked, but you can't enlarge it.
Only way to find more than one dealer is to keep putting in different cities.
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coolmom42
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09/19/17 07:35pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: News Article about Good Working Dogs in Wildfire
That's amazing!
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coolmom42
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09/19/17 08:46am |
RV Pet Stop
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RE: Port-A- Potty
Where are you going to dump the port-a-potty? They don't hold much.
Consider doing this---get a used IBC (tote) and a macerator pump. Pump your black tank and/or gray tank into the tote and get a service to come pump it out as needed. Leave the tote on the property.
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coolmom42
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09/19/17 07:57am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Toll By Plate - A Unique Challenge for RVers!
As I travel from place to place, they snap my plate and that's that. I have no way of getting information on what be I owe. They do not contact you at your mailing address, nothing. Actually, Massachusetts did send a bill to my mailing address, but that's it.
How does anyone know what they owe and who they owe if they are a traveler?
If they got your a clear picture of your plate, you will get a bill. Might take a month. Might take 3 months. But you will get a bill.
Yep.
We got a bill in the mail 3 months after cruising from north to east on the Denver I-76 bypass. $26.00 for 4 axles.
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coolmom42
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09/19/17 06:21am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Fuel issues in Georgia
Gasoline doesn't mix with water. Water floats on gasoline. Water is also easily detected in an underground tank. Your chances of getting water are pretty remote from any brand name operation. And if you did, it would be all water not mixed.
Wrong. Gasoline floats on water.
If the tank output is on the bottom (which I doubt) it could get water to the pumps. But if it's being aggressively checked, I wouldn't worry too much.
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coolmom42
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09/17/17 01:31pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Weekend at a "dry" campground
From the MI state park website:
"It is unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages of any kind within the P.J. Hoffmaster State Park Campground Area from April 15 through Labor Day."
Apparently they have a big problem with drunks. If I were camping there, the rule would be fine with me. There's nothing more annoying than a bunch of drunks when you are sober.
From what I could gather on the same website, the firewood policy is to prevent the spread of invasive species.
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coolmom42
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09/17/17 01:26pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: What makes some cell phones worth ten times others?
I prefer to acquire close to top line stuff but I use it until it no longer functions for what I need.
Upgrade a couple times a year? That would drive me crazy right there. Even if it was cheap.
This.
I buy near to top end stuff on a site called Swappa.com. It's a great place to buy the newest or next to newest version of cell phones, tablets, and laptops.
There are lots of people that immediately move up to the newest version and then sell their old phones that have been used a very short time. Others get a phone from work and no longer need the one they've been carrying.
Good deals to be had there.
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coolmom42
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09/16/17 08:31pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Advice on taking an Amerilite 21MB to Alaska
If you are at or over the GVWR you are packing too much stuff. You won't need arctic survival gear, Alaska summer can be quite warm. Long pants and a lined jacket should suffice for cool evenings but you will need bug dope and netting to save your sanity.
Forget packing two months supply of food, supermarkets are available the whole route although you will find them pricey once past Fort St John.
The trailer will be fine as long as you keep the speed down and pay attention to road conditions. If you see signs warning of rough pavement SLOW DOWN, ma nature makes some pretty rough speed bumps. Oh, and upgrade the card in your camera.:B
This.
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coolmom42
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09/15/17 03:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: What do you do about Atlanta?
Prepare yourself for Georgia drivers.
Yep. If you signal a lane change they will speed up to pass so you don't get in front of them. Same in TN (I can say that, I live in TN and it is TRUTH.)
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coolmom42
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09/14/17 11:43am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: I have forgotten the name?
Look on uscampgrounds.info.
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coolmom42
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09/14/17 11:41am |
RV Parks, Campgrounds and Attractions
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RE: Saint Louis to Nashville?
I would do 64-57-24. I think it's a bit smoother than 55. However, 55 is a bit prettier.
This is also much shorter than 55, which takes you quite a ways south to cross the Mississippi.
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coolmom42
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09/13/17 10:43pm |
Roads and Routes
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