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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: woman travelling alone
Hi critternut,
You will have a whale of a time. Start with over night trips--Monday to Thursday if you wish privacy--weekends if you want to see lots of other RV'ers.
Here is my favorite site for finding inexpensive places to stay:
http://freecampsites.net/ ($12 and down to free)
Hello all, newbie Canuck just joined this weekend. After tons of research, test-drives and formal inspections, I've finally bought a wee Class B for myself. Any constructive advice for a woman travelling solo? I've heard everything from "you're brave/insane" to "stay in Canada only". I am pushing 50, have common sense and mechanical aptitude, so I don't see what the big deal is. I've chosen Good Sam over CAA(AAA), so that's a start. (A reminder that guns are out of the question here.) Thanks to all!
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pianotuna
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05/18/13 11:00am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Paper about virgin vs. recycled lead in batteries?
Hi Francesca,
Flooded deep cycle batteries are deliberately "doped" to make the lead less pure. Starved acid batteries are a horse of a completely different color.
Value for the dollar, so far, always favors flooded batteries.
Because I tend to charge gently and do not use true deep cycle batteries I find that I need to add fluid but once per year. But then--I have more batteries than most class C folks.
Please bear with me as a complete novice, but the way I read the paper is sorta the other way around- that flooded batteries don't CARE as much about virgin lead as AGMs do, so there isn't as great a loss of life/efficiency/whatever as seems to occur with the AGMs.
Seems like a question of value-for-the-dollar to me....
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 08:39pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Paper about virgin vs. recycled lead in batteries?
Hi Francesca,
I believe this is the thread you want:
Lead purity in AGMs
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 05:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Small Solar - Inexpensive
Hi Tom N,
I think you mean an alternator, not a generator. And charging in a self propelled motor home can be fast--but NOT necessarily so from a tow vehicle to a trailer or 5th wheel. Those might be as low as 3 to 10 amps.
Also alternators can fail if they are pushed past 1/3 of their maximum output for very long. In my case I have a way to limit output. Most folks don't.
Not to mention that when the engine is NOT running--well idling to charge is a poor idea, and fairly pricy. In Canada on my v-10 the cost is $1.23 for 15 minutes.
Yes, I mean Watts. But, my point is your generator will charge batteries much faster than a solar setup. An you already own it.
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 02:28pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Payload capacity for typical class C
Hi,
Mine weighs in at 14,000 lbs fully loaded with full fresh water tank, full gas tank, full propane tank, a rack on the back with about 50 lbs load on it, seven group 29 12 volt Marine batteries and two not small folks sitting in the cab. GVW is 14,500.
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 12:50pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Refrigerator vent duct fans
Hi Gjac,
My time to "first cycle" went from 12 hours to 6 hours. Actual duty cycle of 2:3 remained very much the same. My fans are in a mask and suck from the top. They are set to cut in at 20 c (68 f). The thermostat is at the bottom of the compartment.
Another side benefit was cold weather operation. The run time for my electronic antifreeze protection dropped. Just exactly how much I'm not sure. It is controlled by a TC-3 thermocube and is a 25 rough service bulb (130 volts).
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 12:43pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Charge controller recommendations
Hi fun,
AM solar you definitely pay for what you get.
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 08:24am |
Tech Issues
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RE: NEED MY A/C
Hi,
A 13500 btu air conditioner may draw about 1300 watts. Start up surge would be double that, so a 2500 watt pure sine wave inverter may work. 3000 watts would be better. Go Power and Samlex make units that size.
Beef up the charging path from the engine alternator to the house battery bank with thicker wire. The isolation solenoid may also fail.
Expect to shorten the life of the alternator and when it fails replace it with a larger capacity unit.
Look into after market add on "engine" air conditioners. It may be less expensive than doing the above.
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pianotuna
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05/17/13 06:51am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Can't find thermostat on fridge
Hi,
The adjustment is crude and fairly unreliable--temperatures may vary by 4 degrees F. Many of us keep a remote sensing thermometer inside the fridge. I aim at 42 f for the "high" temp.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 03:57pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Charge controller recommendations
x2 on the temperature sensor. Where I live it should not be optional.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 12:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Wind deflector for van
Hi gbopp,
I emailed that source--I've not heard back from them yet. I surely would buy one, if that were an option.
I do have air tabs and they do help--mostly they cut down on the wind noise inside the RV. I do get between 10 and 11 mpg (US) if I drive 49 mph.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 10:47am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Yamaha EF2000iS Generators
Hi,
I'd look seriously at either twin Champion inverter generators, or the new 3100 watt Champion inverter generator.
Otherwise I'd go for the Yamaha 3000 SEB unit.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 10:43am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Eco-worthy 20a MPPT controller
Hi JimID,
Probably more like an 8% gain. That would have to be balanced against losses for series connections of the panels due to shade.
As an aside, in the first 48 hours of urban boondocking my solar replaced all the energy I used. I'm extremely happy with those results.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 10:19am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Recommendation for Internet Cellular Connection
Hi,
Hard wire is always better--but no phones come with antenna ports any more. My brother uses a Wilson Sleek 3g version and it works well.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 09:28am |
Technology Corner
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RE: Re-use the "pink stuff"
Hi Badlybent,
I'd remove the post in your shoes. What you suggested is at best unsafe.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 09:26am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Charging 12V Batteries in Parallel
Hi hershey,
Yup--and I'll continue to post the BEST possible way to do things.
Go ahead and recommend less than optimal solutions that will damage a battery bank over time. I'd define the original suggestion as poor answer--not "absolutely correct" to quote you. It is safe--but it is not best practice.
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pianotuna
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05/16/13 08:21am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Charging 12V Batteries in Parallel
Hi,
This is what is balanced and best for twin twelve volt batteries.
http://www.rubyorchid.com/RV/images/Pianotuna12V.png
As it often doesn't cost a dime more to do this, I think it is worth the trouble.
If you wish to understand the "why" surf here:
correctly interconnecting multiple twelve volt batteries
Others may say it doesn't matter--but unless there is a compelling reason to not optimize charging and discharging why not do it the best possible way?
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pianotuna
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05/15/13 10:36pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Charge controller recommendations
Hi,
While MPPT is less cost effective it does extract more energy from the panels.
If you can possibly wait for the new Rogue I'd do so.
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pianotuna
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05/15/13 10:29pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Recommendation for Internet Cellular Connection
Hi,
If data use is going to be high look at Mellenicom in the Verizon "flavor". It offers 20 gigs.
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pianotuna
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05/15/13 10:18pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Lead purity in AGMs
Hi,
Another very nice article. Thanks Jim.
BTW for my first 48 hours of semi full time, my solar panels provided enough energy to fully recharge the battery banks.
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pianotuna
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05/15/13 10:14pm |
Tech Issues
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