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RE: Built in quiet inverter generator for truck camper?
Fill the generator space with a stack of lithium batteries and inverter for some true quiet power.
Cover the roof with solar and you will rarely need the portable.
How much are you into solar to run your AC??
And do the batteries store enough to tun it after sundown??
This would not work well in desert areas, but for a small A/C (15), you could run several hours, at night, on 4 LiFePO4 batteries.
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theoldwizard1
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04/01/20 07:20am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Built in quiet inverter generator for truck camper?
Fill the generator space with a stack of lithium batteries and inverter for some true quiet power.
Cover the roof with solar and you will rarely need the portable.
True !
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theoldwizard1
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04/01/20 07:13am |
Truck Campers
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RE: The numbers were too good to resist
If I can get 0% for 60 months, they might lure me in !
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theoldwizard1
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04/01/20 07:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Quarantine Mods?
More storage ! Always a problem. Food storage need to be in hard plastic container to keep vermin out !
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theoldwizard1
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03/31/20 05:56pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Built in quiet inverter generator for truck camper?
One problem with the small 2,000W-2,500W inverter generators is that they run hot under that plastic housing. Placing it inside of a compartment is going to make it run hotter. Taking the plastic sides off will make it louder.
Also, they are not designed to be bolted down. Driving with one running will likely cause the oil to "slosh" and it will kick off because it thinks it is low on oil. For TT or Class A, they are probably too small.
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theoldwizard1
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03/31/20 05:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Ford 7.3 gasohol engine 700HP! ?
Could a 7.3 EcoBoost turbocharger kit be far behind?
Why ? This is a TRUCK engine. Truckers (or the people who buy the trucks) want the "best bang for the buck" from initial purchase through maintenance with a long life.
Supercharging get instantaneous boost. Turbo, irregardless of how well it is done, still has some lag.
Direct injection does very little to improve power or fuel economy. The 5.0L "Coyote" engine now has 16 injectors, 8 direct, 8 port. Most of the time it operates on the 8 port injectors.
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theoldwizard1
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03/29/20 05:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
It is a Ford E350 chassis.
It may or may not have a smart charging system. Ford phased it in over a period of years.
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theoldwizard1
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03/29/20 04:29am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
That is why a DC to DC voltage boosting device works better. You will still need a solenoid so that the starter battery is isolated from the house batteries when the engine is not running.
I have NEVER seen a DC-DC charger that will allow the house battery bank to send power back to the chassis battery without some kind of "bypass" being applied.
(FYI - A DC-DC charger actually first converts the incoming DC voltage to AC, runs it into a transformer (or some kind of inductor). The resultant AC is then converted back into DC. Current can not flow "backward" because DC current can not flow through a transformer/inductor.)
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theoldwizard1
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03/29/20 04:28am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
If you want to charge your house batteries while driving, you need a DC-DC battery charger.
This technology is all new to me. I didn't realize that I could add a DC to DC charger to the BIM (Battery Isolation Manager). I thought the BIM was doing that job.
Your BIM is a fairly simple device. It allow the vehicle charging system to send whatever voltage is available from the alternator/chassis battery to the house batteries when there is "adequate" voltage available (ie. the engine is running). It does not allow the house bank to send voltage to the starting battery unless you press the "emergency start switch".
With modern "smart" charging systems ADEQUATE IS NOT SUFFICIENT ! You will NEVER restore a proper, full charge to a house bank without a DC-DC battery charger.
A DC-DC charger takes the voltage available from the vehicle system (somewhere between about 11.5V and about 15V) and raises or lowers that voltage to the appropriate amount for the "stat of charge" of the house bank.
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theoldwizard1
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03/29/20 04:22am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery: AGM vs. Flooded Cell
So for these AGMs the charging voltage is the same as for Trojan 6s and for some other 6s too.
Trojan recommends 2.47V/cell on flooded batteries ans 2.45V/cell on their AGM batteries.
EDIT--here is an interesting review of that above battery, comparing it with some others for deep cycle usage.
https://www.deepcyclemarinebattery.com/reviews/upg-ub121000-deep-cycle-agm-battery.html
Trojan does make a 12V deep cycle AGM, the T1275-AGM. It is rated at 140 Ah vs 100 Ah UB121000. Also 81 lb vs 63 lbs. More lead, more weight, more better !
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 09:11pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Battery: AGM vs. Flooded Cell
Make sure your battery charging system(s) can handle AGMs. Slightly different charging voltages compared to flooded lead acid.
I wish that people that recommend twin 6V Golf Cart batteries would also caution that the buyer should make sure their charging system will be compatible.
AGMs do just fine with 14.4V chargers. Isn't it common for GC batteries to require 14.8V? And what about the GC equalization charge that can need over 15V?
Never heard of any special requirement for charging voltage of two flooded 6V batteries vs one flooded 12V battery. *
Every good battery charger has a special setting/switch for AGM.
(* The exception to my statement on flooded battery charging are Trojan batteries. For flood batteries, regardless if they are 6V or 12V, their recommended charging voltage per cell is slightly higher (2.47V/cell) than other manufacturers.)
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 09:01pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
This is a 2002 RV.
The existing system used to charge the house batteries. Until it failed, there was no problem. Driving down the highway keep us charged up.
Now, no charge with the engine running.
What chassis ? Ford stated installing smart charging on some vehicles before 2002.
Humor me. Check the voltage at the starting battery in the manner I recommended.
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 05:59pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
I actually like the old way, it seems more simple without these sensitive digital electronic parts to breakdown. KISS is what I prefer and probably what I should have done, but I had to satisfy my curiosity.
The whole purpose for smart charging is to improve fuel economy AND IT DOES ! Not by much, but some.
Charging is controlled by algorithms (programs/strategies) inside the engine control computer. Some of these algorithms look at battery temperature or other special sensors. All of them are based on an assumption of the the size of the starting battery and the amount of energy used by the starter motor plus other information.
The voltage regulator inside of the alternator does the "heavy work" of controlling power to the field coil which is what controls the output voltage of the alternator.
Connecting your house batteries to a smart charging system will NOT TOP OFF YOUR HOUSE BATTERIES, but it will prevent them from going dead if you have DC loads turned on in back.
If you want to charge your house batteries while driving, you need a DC-DC battery charger.
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 05:57pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Battery: AGM vs. Flooded Cell
Make sure your battery charging system(s) can handle AGMs. Slightly different charging voltages compared to flooded lead acid.
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 02:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: It's time for a replacement truck
You really owe it to yourself to test drive a new Ford with their new gasoline engine and 10 speed transmission. Plenty of power and with that transmission, hills will not be an issue.
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 02:13pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Battery Charging Problem ***UPDATE***
Before you start doing anything, you need to find out if you have a "smart" charging system ! With the house batteries disconnected and the engine NOT running, turn on the headlights and leave them on for 5 minutes. Now start the engine.
Check the voltage at the battery. It should be 14.0V-14.5V. Drive for at least 10 minutes. With the engine still idling, check the voltage at the battery. If the voltage is below 13.8V at the engine starting battery, you have a smart charging system.
A smart charging system WILL NEVER FULLY CHARGE A "HOUSE BATTERY BANK" !
If that is what you have, the best bet is to purchase a DC-DC battery charger. Not only does it does it provide isolation, but it boosts the supplied voltage to properly charge your house battery bank.
Likely your house battery bank is dead. Replace those dual Group 24 batteries (in parallel) with two 6V golf cart batteries (in series). They will provide a lot more power.
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 02:09pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Cummins Onan P2500I Inverter Portable Generator
Doubt very much it's designed and built by Onan. Another Chinese knock off.
If you look at the spec sheet, it clearly states
Engine Brand Ducar
That same model is sold in other parts of the world as the Ducar D2500iS
http://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jniRbTTCiTcBNi9y5gynSz8VT27r_Ld9
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theoldwizard1
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03/28/20 07:02am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Cummins Onan P2500I Inverter Portable Generator
Don't get fooled ! I highly doubt it was "Designed and Engineered in Indianapolis, In. by Cummins/Onan."
It is a Westinghouse iGen2500 with different color plastic and labels and slightly different controls. The iGen2500 sells for $599 at HomeDepot.
https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/0e2dffb6-2b3d-4565-a8b3-65c2a0eec3b0/svn/westinghouse-inverter-generators-igen2500-64_1000.jpg height=500 width=500
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theoldwizard1
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03/27/20 06:52pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Small Window AC vs Roof Top Air
There are many different small window A/C units available. Some use significantly LESS power than others ! Buyer beware !! Shop and compare before you buy (unless you are always on shore power and there is no charge for electricity)
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theoldwizard1
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03/27/20 06:03pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Flexible PEX hose.
The flex hoses may have been special made for the RV maker.
Highly unlikely !
Do not use plain vinyl (un-reinforced). Hot weather and mild pressure will make it swell and fail !
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theoldwizard1
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03/27/20 06:00pm |
Tech Issues
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