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Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: frig problem ventilation?
A guess.
Self defrost cycle?
Post make and model of fridge.
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landyacht318
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10/06/08 06:03pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 12 volt fan speed controls
I finally got around to purchasing the fan I posted a link to above.
It is as advertised. The speed control does go from low to high in just half it's range of movement, but not a big deal.
It seems to draw about .1 amps as minimum speed and slightly over .4 amps at full speed.
It is a large improvement over the fans it replaced.
I say fans as I had 2 counter rotating fans. The second lower rpm fan significantly increased the output of the primary loud high RPM fan. At night I'd turn off the loud fan and the blades would still be pushed from the secondary. 2 fans inline that are not counter rotating are worthless. Loud and move less air than 1.
When I add this lower RPM fan to the new fan the increase in flow is slight to non existent at full speed and markedly louder.
The wires running from the speed control to the fan are about 5 feet long so I extended it a few feet.
If your looking to increase your ventilation I highly recommend this fan. Moves a lot of air for little amp draw and takes up little space.
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landyacht318
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10/01/08 12:05pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Help with conversion..
I converted my conversion van into a camper.
Long story short I rebuilt the bed in the same place where the sofa bed was, with maximum storage space underneath.
I also removed all the frou frou velour lining and insulation along the walls to maximize head and foot room, as I sleep side to side, not front to back.
I have kept the captains' chair behind the front passenger seat but the one behind the driver is gone with a cabinet containing a fridge, a computer table, a sink, closet, ect.
I'm really happy with the ergonomics.
In California I'm only legally able to carry 2 passengers as everyone needs a seatbelt.
PM me your e-mail address and I'll send photos if you want
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landyacht318
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09/26/08 12:46pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Home insurance photo requirements
I'm curious.....why did the insurance company ask for photos and video, and if they asked your friend, did your friend ask them what they needed?
J
My 'friend' is actually an older lady whom I do handyman work for.
She is not quite sure what the requirements are as she has not looked too deeply into it yet.
She said she needed stills and video and I thought I'd ask here for the knowledge pool available.
I appreciate the responses
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landyacht318
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09/25/08 01:50pm |
Technology Corner
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Home insurance photo requirements
A friend wants me to do a photo and video walk through of her home for her insurance company.
Anybody know if they require photos and video to on film instead of digital?
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landyacht318
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09/24/08 05:22pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: antenna design for new digital frequencies
I was wrong about the narrower frequency bands. SIRW Since I remembered wrongly.
I just wanted a smaller rooftop (stealth)antenna I could change the angle from bed and forget about. Meaning I could drive away without dragging my rabbit ears behind me. They don't seem to like that.
A quote from a winegard link.
currently, 91% of broadcasting DTV stations are on UHF. A few cities, such as Chicago and Las Vegas have DTV stations on VHF as well as UHF. While Many DTV stations are now occupying UHF broadcast channels, the plan may allow some broadcasters to move back to their original VHF or UHF TV channels once the transition to DTV is complete. However, this may not occur for another 10-15 years.
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landyacht318
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09/18/08 04:13pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: antenna design for new digital frequencies
Television antennas are designed for a wide range of frequencies, no need to purchase a new one for digital.
That's my point. The new digital frequencies are IIRC in a much narrower range, opening up all the old frequencies for other use.
One could assume that an antenna can be designed and sized to receive these narrower digital frequencies instead of being designed to cover the wide unused range.
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landyacht318
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09/18/08 03:28pm |
Technology Corner
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antenna design for new digital frequencies
I know my old antennae will pick up the new February digital signals and that no special antenna is needed for this.
Currently the lower the VHF channel the shorter the rabbit ear length.
The higher vhf channels like longer di pole lengths
Uhf channels like the bowtie set up the best.
I'm guessing new the digital signal will have a narrower frequency and thus an more Ideal antenna length/ size and shape than the current designs.
Being a cynic and knowing all the antenna companies have a large stock of antennas designed to work best for the soon to be obsolete analog frequencies, one cannot rely on their opinion as to what will be best on Feb 19.
Let the opinions fly. Links to knowledgeable sites appreciated.
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landyacht318
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09/18/08 02:44pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: 12 volt inside fridge fan for norcold
I added a 1 inch 12 volt dc muffin fan to my small 1.7 cubic foot Norcold compressor fridge. I mounted it on the top rack, horizontally, behind the cold plate aiming down. It is completely out of the way. The fan itself is pretty loud, but cannot be heard with the door closed.
http://www.buyextras.com/20mmfans.html
I did not want to mess with the spot(nor is there room) where the tubes go inside the unit so I ran the wires through the door seal at the top. I stripped an unused telephone line for the thinnest wire. My laser IR thermometer indicates no significant temp differences near the entry point.
The fan runs 24/7 and has been going continously for over a year now.
It more than makes up for the extra electricity it uses. If I turn it off the duty cycle raises by 10 to 20%, and the fridge area of the interior temp raises 3 to 7 degrees. The freezer section stays a little warmer. If I need to freeze something I block off the freezer section with some styrofoam.
Size the fan accordingly for the size of the fridge. Mine only moves 1.3 cfm but the fridge is only 1.7 cubic foot. I don't think I'd benefit from any more cfm.
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landyacht318
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09/18/08 02:07pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Filon vs. Gelcoat
I've fiberglassed hundreds of surfboards and have worked in a boatyard where I made lots of gelcoated fiberglass molded parts. There are many ways that something can be built structurally deficient and still appear structurally sound.
I found the most common way for a gel coat to fail is because the guy laying down the cloth into the gel coated mold was not able to work out all the bubbles before the resin started to " go off". Once resin starts to "go off" it should be left alone. After the bubble is hard enough to be cut with a razor then it should be cut off flush, and scuffed rough, and another layer of fiberglass cloth or matt applied over.
There are also issues with waxed gel coat meant to be sprayed on the exterior as a repair, and the unwaxed meant to be sprayed in a mold, then covered with unwaxed resin impregnated cloth or matt.
Waxed or unwaxed (surfacing agent) resins will not adhere to an unsanded waxed resin surface. If a waxed gelcoat meant for repairs was sprayed in a mold there is no way the fiberglass will adhere to it with any strength. Yet it will pop from the mold and look just fine.
Lots of guys who either have breathed too many fumes over a lifetime or just don't care and will not remove the bubbles or use the wrong gelcoat or resin, and when the part is popped from the mold it looks just fine, but it is structurally unsound and a problem waiting to destroy your peace of mind.
Hope this info helps, lots more could be said. Pm if you want
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landyacht318
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09/12/08 01:56pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: B sized 12 volt lcd tv ATSC digital tuner
Lookee here a 7 inch High Definition ATSC digital portable
http://www.gadgetcraver.com/epoq7widescreenportablehdtvdigitaltv-p-192.html
drooling
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landyacht318
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09/09/08 04:58pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: B sized 12 volt lcd tv ATSC digital tuner
Good link to a 12 v digital tuner but my current TV is on it's last legs.
Still searching
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landyacht318
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09/08/08 12:28pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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B sized 12 volt lcd tv ATSC digital tuner
After much searching I found this TV which would be perfect for My B.
They make a 7 inch and an 8.4 inch.
Wanted to share this, and ask if anybody has one and their opinion of it.
If anybody else has found a similarly sized Digital ready lcd tv, I'd like to see it.
http://www.lcddigital.tv/7_tv_digital.html
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landyacht318
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09/08/08 11:41am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Found my airbag leak, comments please?
My firestone ride rites leaked out of the bottom(same spot as the OP) right from the box. Summit replaced the bags under warranty for me but it was a PITA installing them twice.
I haven't had any problems since, and love being able to somewhat level out my rig when camped on unlevel surfaces.
If I had to do it over I would go with the Airlift brand bags.
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landyacht318
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09/07/08 11:07am |
Truck Campers
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RE: What did you use to attach your solar panels
My curved roof is fiberglass so I fabricated some aerodynamic plywood mounts, one on each corner, and used thickened polyester resin to glue the mounts down and covered them with more fiberglass.
I put some 1/4 inch Stainless steel clevis pins through the frame of the panel and have a locking device on each corner to keep it from easily walking away.
I can tilt the panel 90 degrees to either side of the Van, or remove it completely in 2 minutes.
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landyacht318
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09/03/08 07:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Is 12 feet too far to run cable for a 2nd house battery?
I happen to have 12 feet of 2 awg wire running from my engine battery to my battery switch(1,2,both,off) and another few feet of 2awg from switch to house bank.
With the solar system attached to the house batteries and the switch set to both so that all 3 batteries are in parallel, the engine compartment battery reads .01 volt less than the house batteries. With the engine running all 3 read the same when switch is set to both.
I imagine with thinner wire the voltage drop would be more significant, possible causing the one distant battery to never get fully charged.
Will 10 awg work? yes. I've seen one guy with a truck camper run only the positive 10 awg from battery to battery and ground both batteries right to the chassis, and it seems to charge/discharge just fine. But he does seem to go through a bunch of alternators.
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landyacht318
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09/03/08 06:49pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: 12 volt fan speed controls
Thanks for the info.
I did notice in my experiment with the multi voltage Vector plug that the draw was not linear. The draw was less than .1 amp at 6 volts(6.32 volts) and .6 amps at 12(11.76volts).
When I bypass the Vector and get a full 12.8 or more volts the draw increases to .7 amps.
The fan I did the experiment with claims to move 106 cfm and draws .38 amps @ 12 volts. It is louder than a fan that lists a 43db noise level.
I've no way to test the cfm but the amp draw is way off.
If the mac daddy fan performs as advertised it will really be a case of more for less.
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landyacht318
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08/29/08 02:03pm |
Technology Corner
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12 volt fan speed controls
I have become a ventilation Nazi and have 9 muffin style computer fans keeping my B van at or below ambient temperatures and keeping my fridge as efficient as possible.
Recently I found this mac daddy fan which includes a speed control.
mac daddy muffin fan
It moves more air for less noise and amperage draw than my current roof exhaust fan. The external speed control rheostat seems real simple. Pictures are available in the above link.
My question is: will this Fan draw the same amperage no matter what the speed control is set to, as one friend claims?
I have a Vector multi voltage ciggy style plug (for my MP3 player) and an experiment showed Different amperage draws for each voltage setting when powering one of my fans, as expected.
Is there a major difference in the operation of these two speed control (voltage control) devices?
I've been told by electricians that using a dimmer switch on your AC lights in your home will use the same amount of electricity no matter what the setting. Is this true? DC and AC?
Somebody enlighten me, please.
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landyacht318
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08/28/08 09:15pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: replacement shock absorbers 2005 roadtrek 190
I've been real happy with my KYB gas a just shocks. Not as floaty (removed from road feeling)as the Monroes. Doesn't bottom out as easily over speed bumps/ mexican dirt roads. Probally not as stiff as Bilsteins.
Lifetime warranty
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landyacht318
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08/19/08 06:05pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: reduction in sound quality when charging
Okay I'll admit to being a moron.
When charging the mp3 it turns off the internal equalizer for whatever reason.
If I have it set to neutral/ flat and disconnect the charger there is no difference in sound quality.
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landyacht318
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08/11/08 04:12pm |
Technology Corner
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