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RE: running refer on inverter full time
Personally, I would not attempt to run a compressor type refer using a ProWatt 2000 (actually rated at 1800w continuous) since this inverter is not robust enough for this type of load. The ProWatt 2000 is intended more for electronics needs. wow I am going to have to disagree with you. As I said the refer draws about 360 watts on start up and a 100 watts while running. my inverter is rated for a surge of 3000 watts I don't see a problem.
Well in that case I gladly stand corrected, I had no idea a compressor type refer could draw that small amount :S what kind of refer and model is this?
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3 tons
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04/30/13 12:50pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: running refer on inverter full time
Personally, I would not attempt to run a compressor type refer using a ProWatt 2000 (actually rated at 1800w continuous) since this inverter is not robust enough for this type of load. The ProWatt 2000 is intended more for electronics needs.
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3 tons
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04/30/13 11:14am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Custom campers in Australia
I'd say you sure have some mighty fine Craftsman down under!
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3 tons
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04/27/13 09:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Centering devices - how much slop to you allow?
would'nt it be better to use a non-slip rubber mat under the camper?
I can tell you from experience that a rubber mat alone will not solve the problem. Furthermore, we never experienced this problem with our previous 9-6 camper, but because our present camper is longer (and it's C/G is a bit more rearward) on certain roads surfaces (also, speed & wind gust dependent) the more rearward C/G causes the nose to occasionally lift slightly, thus shift in the bed from side to side.
However, the easy solution was to simply notch-out a 2x4 to the width of TC basement, and with the length just slightly narrower than inside bed dimension. The board rest (on it's side) atop the forward bump stops and keeps the TC centered at all times. With the front now centered, the back remains well centered too. Has worked without a fault since 2009.
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3 tons
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04/20/13 11:27pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Ladder To Cabover
I saw that particular interior ladder while at Camping World.
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3 tons
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03/25/13 11:28pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: How many see actual 12.6- 13.6 after driving 6 hrs.??
I had a similar problem in January 2012. While camper was parked storage yard, batteries would no longer accept a charge from solar panels. Went camping and two days in a row ran the genny for about 8 hrs (an attempt to recover from previous nights usage) but still not much luck...When we got back home, I took the batts out, pulled off the caps and using a 'dumb' (vintage 1976) Craftsman 10a/50a charger/booster, preformed about a 15-20 min 15.3 volt (per volt meter) 'equalization' charge (e.g. 'to make all cells equal in charge'...) to the batts. While charging, volt meter showed 15.3 volts at batt post, and lots of bubbling activity at the cells ....Presto! Have not had a reoccurance since. Every since (per LinkLite meter), batts have resumed their normal recover to 100% state of charge (SOC) whether in storage or camping.
The fact that this worked indicated that the plates most likely became sulfated during non-use (causing resistance to a normal charge). The applied 15.3v short period boost was all that was needed to drive the crystalline-sulfate back into the chemical soup.
3 tons
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3 tons
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03/17/13 11:19pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Choosing the Right Inverter
Another point is that not all inverters of an 'advertised' equal watt rating are the same, thus the need to choose the inverter based on the kind of loads it will see.
An air conditioner (particularly upon compressor start up) is a very reactive type of load requiring a substantially powerful inverter, or at least an inverter having a high enough 'surge' watts rating to overcome this difficult reactance. These (typically motor) surge watts can often be (though momentarily...) 4-6 times an appliances normal watts rating. The length of time (i.e. sustainability) an inverter can maintain it's given surge rating (typically brief; varies by model and cost) also plays a role (the longer the better).
A hair dryer is mostly a resistance type load (primarily heating element based) so having a high surge rating is of far less importance for this particular type of appliance.
Case in point: The Xantrex ProSine 2.0 has a very respectable 4,500 surge rating, whereas the ProWatt 2000SW (seemingly equalivant; actually rated at 1,800w continuous load) has only a 3,000w surge rating.
The ProSine 2.0 would be better suited for the air conditioner load, whereas the ProWatt SW 2000 would seem a good candidate for less reactive type loads.
3 tons
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3 tons
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03/11/13 01:03am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Trip report, Lopez Lake, Morro bay
Great report and photography...A real treat for the eye!
3 tons
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3 tons
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03/10/13 11:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 2 Stage Furnace
My Eagle Cap 995 came with a noisy 30kbtu single speed Suburban. Unlike our previous camper, the furnace tended to cycle on and off a lot due to its excessively large size (for a TC), and when on, the fan was also 'annoyingly' loud. Tired of the noise I finally swapped it out for a 15/22kbtu 2 speed Atwood (reqd adding one additional thermostat wire). The difference in comfort level was huge (much quieter, and ending unnecessary/nusance on & off cycling), and the Atwood uses only about 1/3 the amps (when normally running on low - high speed is reserved for initial cabin warm-ups) of the previous single speed furnace.
Also, we discovered that with the previous larger furnace (with its more powerful blower) cold outside air was actually being drawn in from around the slide-out lower wiper gasket causing cabin draftyness (with furnace ON) and which had been contributing to the annoying, near-perpetual on / off cycling, this a waste of LPG & Battery reserves. The 2 speed ('right-sized') furnace pretty much eliminated this as an issue.
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3 tons
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02/28/13 09:40pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Honda eu2000i
My Honda 2000i (i = inverter) runs our 11kbtu Coleman Mach 1 PS without difficulty (but not when on 'ECO') up to about 6,500'. If the going gets tough, remember to switch off the onboard converter/charger.
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3 tons
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02/26/13 07:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: The new "Trike" camper
Dually terratory for sure.
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3 tons
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02/25/13 11:06am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Sad news from Janet Curley...
Very sad news...We'd PM'd a couple of times way back (Dodge stuff...), and it was easy for me to tell that good 'ol Don enjoyed being out on the western trail and sharing his learned wisdom with others. I'd hoped some day to have a face to face with Don, yet I think now a possiblity still, come the next Highest Realm where every 4x4 trail finally gets Perfected!
Respectfully,
3 tons
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3 tons
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02/24/13 10:27am |
Truck Campers
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RE: BRAVE NEW WORLD...
A great techy heads up! Commercial is BRIEF, information on new medical via i-phone exam is fascinating, well worth learning about.
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3 tons
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02/22/13 10:37pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: My first night boondocking
Very nice, I'm most envious...Have a great time for ALL of us!!
3 tons
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3 tons
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02/22/13 10:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: 4 6volt batteries to much or to little
No two situations are always alike, but FWIW, I'm running my 825 RF watt M/W oven, and keurig coffemaker (about 1230w) without any difficulties (one at a time of course). I have a total of 440w solar, two 6v batts and a ProSine 2.0 inverter (4,500w surge). For an operating example (per LinkLite meter), it takes about 2.0% of batt SOC (state of charge) to make a tall cup of coffee, but when bright & sunny, recovery is also fairly rapid to the tune of about one tenth percent SOC (0.10%) every 35-45 seconds or so. Watching metering in real-time has made me a big fan of solar!
Best Regards All,
3 tons
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3 tons
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02/21/13 06:00pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: What can you do with solar?
Sorry, PT no history lesson intended, but based on the limited info provided by tpi;
"I bake in conventional oven and heat water on stove for coffee. No high power inverters or heavy amp draw. I'm at or below the maximum amp hour draw of 15 amps to get the 300 ah"
I don't really see any red flags here with his basic 200w rig (yet, maybe I'm missing something??). Either way, thanks for starting this interesting topic.
Best Regards,
3 tons
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3 tons
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02/19/13 12:53am |
Tech Issues
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RE: What can you do with solar?
Per Pianotuna, "Hi, His problem may be the Heliotrope controller. It was once state of the art, but unfortunately time has passed it by".
In my view, far too little system info provided here by tpi except to conjecture (Solar variables are many). The Heliotrope 22b is essentially of BlueSky 2000e MPPT design, with merely an added bell or whistle (and longer warranty...). Helio's were built under BlueSky 2000e product licensing. The BlueSky 2000 MPPT (though minus computer interface) is still a viable product and well proven single-stage controller.
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3 tons
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02/18/13 10:45pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Sequoia/Kings Canyon Camping Suggestions
We just spent 3 nights at Azalia C/G in the Gen. Grant tree area. A real nice C/G most spots seemed fairly level, potable water and showers available. A cafe/restaurant, market and visitors center just outside C/G...Most other area C/G's were closed due to season. Gas and diesel available a few miles away at Hume Lake. General Sherman tree is about 25mi south, and Moro Rock (a bit further, for a great view of Kings Cyn and of central valley).
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3 tons
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02/17/13 09:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Saw this today!
Looks like part of the mass-migration from California!
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3 tons
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02/12/13 11:19am |
Truck Campers
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RE: atwood furnace
Burner solonoid won't operate if batt voltage is low. Sail switch could be stuck.
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3 tons
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02/09/13 12:30am |
Tech Issues
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