 |
|
|
| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: "Solar" Sub-Forum
I, for one, have never found the sub-categories useful in any of the forums that have them. The Travel Trailer forum requires a category when posting, so I have to select one (always General Q&A), but I have never utilized the categories when reading. When reading, I don't want to limit myself to only Vintage, or only Small TT, or any other single category.
|
Bobbo
|
10/27/21 07:35pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Laptop battery stored in a cold car...?
I presume if he's worried about the battery freezing, it presumes he's taking the battery on the plane with him so he can keep it warm (the rest of the laptop stays in the truck).
Presume away.
I will have my laptop with me but won't be taking it on the plane.
Correct. I am not taking the laptop with me, but Valhalla's comment is good advice if one were to take a device where screening might be necessary.
I will take the OP at his word.
|
Bobbo
|
10/26/21 07:36am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: No power to house batteries?
I am assuming the main circuit breaker in the RV and the circuit breaker for the converter/charger are turned on.
Start at the house. Check to see if the outlet the RV is plugged into has power.
If that outlet has power, next check to see if the main breaker in the RV has power both into it and out of it.
If power is coming out of the main RV breaker, check to see if power is coming out of the breaker to the converter/charger.
If power is coming out of the breaker to the converter/charger, check to see if DC power is coming out of the converter/charger.
Report back for further narrowing down of the possiblities.
|
Bobbo
|
10/25/21 08:51pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Laptop battery stored in a cold car...?
I'm not sure if they are doing it lately but lots of destinations require you to turn on electronics...so a battery may be an issue going thru security as there is nothing to turn on.
He is leaving the laptop in the car. It won't be going through security.
|
Bobbo
|
10/25/21 07:44am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Loading generator
Two of the 1500 watt space heaters if it is a 4000 watt generator in the winter. The air conditioner in the summer.
Nothing will go wrong with the generator if you don’t put a load on it this winter or next.
Main reason to run it is to run some gas through it and keep the carb from gumming up.
Sounds like you have it all ready for winter!
And to keep the brushes from corroding, which is why you need at least a 50% load on the generator. While nothing may go wrong this winter or next, letting it sit without running WILL eventually make it non-functional.
If you leave water in the water heater when you winterize, another option is to turn it on - It draws a nice chunk of AC power.
After 20 minutes, the water is hot and the heater cuts off. If running the generator for 2 hours, you need something that lasts longer.
|
Bobbo
|
10/25/21 07:29am |
Beginning RVing
|
|
RE: Boondocking and working with no electricity
How long will the RV battery last boondocking?
There is a different answer to this question for every RV. As an example:
In 2011 we spent 2 weeks boondocking in Yellowstone National Park in September. The days were warm enough there was no need for a jacket, but the nights got down into the mid 20's. Cold. We got there with a fully charged battery. The first night, we set the furnace thermostat at 65 degrees. About 3am, the battery was dead. The next morning, we used the generator to charge the battery back up to an estimated 80% SOC or 90% SOC. Every night thereafter, we set the furnace thermostat at 50 degrees, and slept under 2 comforters. First thing in the morning, we set it back up to 69 degrees, and in 15 or 20 minutes, the RV was warm. We got 2 nights out of the batteries doing that.
So, on that one trip, we had 6 hours and 48 hours on the same batteries in the same RV. It depended on our usage.
|
Bobbo
|
10/24/21 07:59am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Windows license scam
Blocking numbers CAN help. I regularly block numbers on my land line. My landline frequently displays the message "Blocked call" in the caller ID section. One of the numbers that I had already blocked tried again. If it was blocked because of the call screening, it just displays "Missed call."
|
Bobbo
|
10/23/21 12:07pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Windows license scam
My Mother, may she rest in peace, once got a call from "Microsoft Support" telling her they had found a problem with her computer. For a fee, they would be happy to fix it. She let them tell their whole spiel (she had nothing else to do) then asked a lot of questions. A LOT of questions. When she got tired of the game, she said she didn't understand, because she didn't own a computer.
He hung up on her.
|
Bobbo
|
10/22/21 08:18pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: I want to run a microwave on an inverter
If you regularly use that kind of power and don’t have a recharging source like a generator or solar, you likely won’t get them recharged while towing. The generator is still the way to go.
Not true if you are using a DC-DC charger !
I suspect if he had the knowledge and skills to install a DC-DC charger, he wouldn't be asking this question. A DC-DC charger is not a stock item.
|
Bobbo
|
10/19/21 09:00pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Solar sale
Just doubled the solar on our roof a month ago. After next season I will decide if I want to double it again.
In the process, I discovered that the original solar (installed by the dealer) was wired wrong. I bought the stuff to double the solar because I was getting insufficient charging. I discovered that I was getting NO charging, but already had the stuff to install the second panel. (The dealer had hooked both the positive and negative wires from the solar to the hot terminal of the battery. He also didn't install fuses. While in there, I added a disconnect switch between the solar panels and the solar controller.)
|
Bobbo
|
10/19/21 08:55pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Latest project...parking pad for our cargo trailer
{mas y menos}
Ummm, mas o menos.
Y means "and"
O means "or"
I do pick nits.
|
Bobbo
|
10/19/21 08:50pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Latest project...parking pad for our cargo trailer
I see the image. Check your settings.
|
Bobbo
|
10/19/21 07:57am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Generator runs fine, but no electricity in coach
Bobbo...I wouldn't know where to plug that tester in. My generator and shore power are hardwired to the automatic transfer box.
Sorry about that. I thought it was a portable generator. If you can get to the wires going from the generator to the ATS, you can use a Non Contact Voltage Tester. Touching the tip to the insulation over the hot wire makes it light up/beep. Touching the tip to the neutral or ground wire does not. If you can get to the wire, touch the tip to all sides of the wire.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gaqxEXnTL._AC_SL1494_.jpg width=160
|
Bobbo
|
10/17/21 08:18pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Generator runs fine, but no electricity in coach
A cheap 3 light tester will tell you if the generator is putting out power, no knowledge needed. Just plug it in. If you have a bonded neutral, then two lights should light up. If you have a floating neutral, then one, and only one, light should light up. Both of those are normal results and show the generator is putting out power. (A floating neutral is reported by this device as an "OPEN GROUND.")
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5143f577xkL._AC_SL1000_.jpg width=160
|
Bobbo
|
10/16/21 07:56am |
Tech Issues
|
 |
RE: 400 mile electric RV
So, if you are losing an argument, say that the argument is wrong? Again, attack, deflect, change the subject.
If it was a reliable grid, there would be no "safety shutoffs."So if you do not understand what is being discussed... just interject something related but not really part of the issue.
It's all "related", therefore all "part of the issue." It is not as simple as you seem to think. You can't just isolate out the part that YOU want to concentrate on, and ignore the rest.
|
Bobbo
|
10/14/21 07:49pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: 400 mile electric RV
Safety shut off is no different than any other cause of the power being off. Power off is power off.
If you need to charge your EV to flee the wildfires, does it really matter just WHY the power is off? I think not.
If it is 100 degrees outside and you need to cool your home, does it really matter just WHY the power is off? I think not.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Power outages for ANY reason are a problem when you have to rely entirely on electricity.The original comment was about overloading the grid with EVs and the follies of renewable energy. Overloading the grid with EVs would cause rolling blackouts.
If you want to talk about safety shut offs due to poor installation and maintenance of equipment that is a different conversation.
Whatever.
So, if you are losing an argument, say that the argument is wrong? Again, attack, deflect, change the subject.
If it was a reliable grid, there would be no "safety shutoffs."
BTW, the lack of maintenance is due to the California state government mandating (there is that word again) that they spend their funds on "green projects." Now, after not letting PG&E do required maintenance, they are suing them for not doing said maintenance.
|
Bobbo
|
10/14/21 08:05am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: 400 mile electric RV
Okay. Haven't heard of PG&E?
Here is a link to an article. These 29,000 people facing blackouts may not think it is a "lie with no evidence."
https://www.kcra.com/article/map-pgande-warns-it-may-shut-off-power-to-29000-customers-on-thursday/37939877#Safety shut off is different than lack of generation and will not be caused by plugging in your 400 mile EV-RV.
Safety shut off is no different than any other cause of the power being off. Power off is power off.
If you need to charge your EV to flee the wildfires, does it really matter just WHY the power is off? I think not.
If it is 100 degrees outside and you need to cool your home, does it really matter just WHY the power is off? I think not.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Power outages for ANY reason are a problem when you have to rely entirely on electricity.
|
Bobbo
|
10/13/21 07:42pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: 400 mile electric RV
(I don't consider "I haven't had a brownout" any more convincing than "I've never had sway so you don't need sway control.")That is the type of reply to an unsubstantiated claim. Much harder to detect silence than noise. The claim of brown out is the noise and yet no evidence was presented for that initial comment. Can only relate my experience of total silence on the issue of brown out or black outs. There will not be evidence as I have not data logged the no issues status.
Just like politics it is easy to throw out a lie with no evidence presented and expect others to spend hours and hours to disprove the lie and some how are expected to provide reams of proof. Then the big lie gets repeated over and over. Does not make it true.
Okay. Haven't heard of PG&E?
Here is a link to an article. These 29,000 people facing blackouts may not think it is a "lie with no evidence."
https://www.kcra.com/article/map-pgande-warns-it-may-shut-off-power-to-29000-customers-on-thursday/37939877#
|
Bobbo
|
10/13/21 09:06am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: 400 mile electric RV
BTW I believe the grid will do just fine.
You mean the grid that has been suffering brown-outs and black-outs for decades in the most populous areas? That grid?
Trampy had four years to improve everything and Make America Great,
why didnt he?
Btw did Mexico sent money for the Wall yet ?
When you can't argue the topic, attack, deflect, change the subject.
Why did you feel the need to get political when discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the power grid? That is not a political subject.
I can mostly only speak for the greater Los Angeles basin and we have been doing just fine thank you very much. Never had a brown out and the last black out was the peak Enron days.
Upgrades are progressing every single day.
I have heard rumors even TX has been making improvements.
While time2roll didn't make a cogent counterargument, he at least kept it topical. (I don't consider "I haven't had a brownout" any more convincing than "I've never had sway so you don't need sway control.")
|
Bobbo
|
10/13/21 07:25am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Need advice on 50 ft cable to portable solar panel
I am going to display my ignorance here, so be ready to laugh. How do I tell what kind of controller I have?? It is built in to the portable panel -- but I bet I could un-attach it, with enough brute force. ;)
I'd be willing to bet it is PWM since it came on the panel. My recommendation, get a good MPPT (I chose Victron SmartSolar) and put it at the batteries. Then disconnect your panels from the OEM controller and run them directly to the MPPT controller.
One caveat. I have not been able to find a good weatherproof MPPT controller. You will need to protect it if it is going to be exposed to the elements.
|
Bobbo
|
10/12/21 08:34pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
|
|
|
|
