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RE: AC/DC Frame Grounding. Need help.
For those interested, this is what Xantrex has to say about bonding with their ProSine 2.0 Inverter/Charger (pg 3-13)...
"The PROsine provides an installer-defeatable system that automatically connects
the neutral conductor of the inverter AC output circuit to safety ground
(“bonding” it) during inverter operation, and disconnects it (“un-bonding” it)
when the PROsine has connected to AC shorepower. This system is designed to
conform to installation codes that require single-phase AC sources such as
inverters and generators to have their neutral conductors tied to ground in the
same way that the neutral conductor from the utility is tied to ground.
These same codes specify that the neutral can only be connected to ground in one
place at any one time. Any AC source feeding the PROsine is required to have its
neutral already connected to ground. Therefore, to keep from connecting the
neutral to ground in a second place, the PROsine transfer relay breaks its own
neutral ground connection when connected to shorepower.
This automatic neutral-to-ground bonding system is suited for installations in
which the AC shorepower source is known to have a bonded neutral. This will be
the case in most situations: in a utility feed after the AC source panel, at an RV park hook-up, at a marina’s shorepower hook-up, or with a generator with a
bonded neutral.
In some installations, however, the AC shorepower source will not have a bonded
neutral. This is true on some generators and it is true in certain utility-feed
situations. To accommodate these situations, the PROsine automatic neutral
bonding system can be defeated, so the PROsine will not bond the neutral in any
mode of operation. This allows the installer to bond the neutral in the AC load
panel to provide the required single-point bonding of the neutral".
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/23/12 11:30pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: AC/DC Frame Grounding. Need help.
My trailer came OEM with 120v ground and battery negative attched to the frame.
Fuses and switches on the 12v positive.
No bond (connection) between 120v neutral and ground in the trailer.
I would only have it this way. RVIA standards.
X 2
NEC considers an RV to be a secondary panel, thus no 120v neutral to ground bond allowed.
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3 tons
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05/23/12 03:55pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
So who is the government working for here? They are protecting us peasants from those low prices? Ha ha.
Maybe China?? :)
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3 tons
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05/22/12 11:27am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
Labor cost are but just one componant of overall cost. Where manufacturing is highly automated (this, we know how to do...), labor cost alone are generally not 'the' driving reason to expatriate entire operations...Burdensome 'across the board' policies discourage domestic job creation and help steer us in the direction of service providers. Endless gov't subsidies (e.g. Solyndra in California) do not treat this malady.
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3 tons
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05/22/12 09:24am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
Seems a bit odd...On the one hand we're consistantly reminded of the national importance of 'going green', yet now a wopping 30% sur-charge IF one opts to do so??...Well I suppose theres always coal provided power!!
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3 tons
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05/22/12 08:25am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
And the biggest dumper of all is WALMART with all the junk they bring in from China, so don't blame a couple little solar maker's for all this.
Can't say I really blame Wallmart since its the consumer who decides what to spend on. Wallmart simply provides a needed service...Protectionism (e.g. trade wars) is no subsitute for competitive domestic policies. Ultimately, Free trade is the only true wealth generating machine. I too would well perfer North American manufactured Solar Products, thus the need to examine why we can't compete...JMO.
3 tons
It just plain cost us more to live here than in China, so unlest we are willing to lower are standard of living, it will be hard to compete with them in manufacturing.
Jim
Jim, 'Willing' or not, our standard of living will continue to faulter unless we collectively choose a different economic model. 'Survival of the fittest' applies in national economics as well, and a healthy economic model should also include a manufacturing and industrial base. Volumes of excess regulation (redundant fed, State, County, City regs & taxation, by numerous competing gov't agencies...) has proven to not always be in our best national interest, since firms merely adapt and overcome by expatriating their operations. This, mostly a self inflicted matter..I see no valid reason why we can't compete.
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3 tons
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05/21/12 09:58pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Two generator questions
I use my H-2000 to run my 11k btu Coleman Mach 1 P.S...It may help to first shut-off onboard converter/charger to reduce load.
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3 tons
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05/20/12 06:48pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
And the biggest dumper of all is WALMART with all the junk they bring in from China, so don't blame a couple little solar maker's for all this.
Can't say I really blame Wallmart since its the consumer who decides what to spend on. Wallmart simply provides a needed service...Protectionism (e.g. trade wars) is no subsitute for competitive domestic policies. Ultimately, Free trade is the only true wealth generating machine. I too would well perfer North American manufactured Solar Products, thus the need to examine why we can't compete...JMO.
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/19/12 12:13pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Need Advice on Generator
A single Honda 2KW generator will be plenty to charge your batteries. Heck I for years carried a 1KW Honda and it did just fine. Now days, I rarely use my generator as my solar panels more than take care of battery charging.
X 2...Never had a problem with the PD 9245 in boost for extended periods with Honda 2000...2-6v batts @ 232 a/hrs.
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3 tons
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05/19/12 10:10am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Gauge of wire for paralleling 12 Volt Batteries?
My situation (due to inverter size) is different than yours, so this is only anecdotal.
I started out with a 1500w sine inverter and 1/0 (0) AWG battery cable, thinking that things would never need changing. But factory mounted the inverter about 18' from the batts (in rear basement), a real dumb idea...
After that, I switched to a 1800w sine inverter and 2/0 (00) AWG battery cable and moved the inverter to within 4' of batteries (inverter now in slide-out unit) in order to run my new X-mas coffee maker. This, my planned end-all to future changes (LOL)!
After that, I switched to 4/0 (0000) AWG battery cable because of repeated low voltage errors when running my 6.6a vacuum (inductive load issue). 'Error' problem solved!
After that, I switched inverters to a 2000w (4500w surge) Prosine 2.0. due to aquiring a more powerful dirt-devil central vacuum (repeat inductive issue again)...At this point, sure glad I had already had in place the right size cables ($$)!!
Best Regards,
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/18/12 06:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Made In China Solar Panels You'd Better Move Fast!
In the end, trade wars never work (a mere fool's game)...Why not the Washington types simply make it less hostile to do business in the U.S.A?? Create Jobs & American products! (I know, kind'a unrealistic...)
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3 tons
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05/18/12 10:08am |
Tech Issues
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RE: PowerMax PM3B-100 (100 Amp 3-Stage Converter/Charger)
I like the 14.6v but would perfer Progressive Dynamics. A P.D. can be tethered with the optional remote charge wizard controller. With this you can determine and/or scroll thru to control charge stages. A nice feature to have when dry camping.
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3 tons
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05/17/12 11:31pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
Why not try a jumper wire and continuity meter between the refer recept's neutral wire and ground. There should be no continuity. I've been through this before and a long jumper wire and meter are your best friends.
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/17/12 10:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Attention All Electron Chasers
This problem is not uncommon as by design GFI's are supposed to be sensitive...Likely the result of circular ground currents (e.g. having more than one common ground - think competing grounds), thus I doubt flipping RV breakers will be of much help..
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3 tons
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05/16/12 03:51pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Initial Solar Hookup only shows partial watts and amps
The 12v lights may not be a substantial enough load...Do you have an inverter??
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3 tons
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05/15/12 02:06pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Tineed versus Copper only Lugs?
I crimped then silver soldered copper lugs (inserted a small amt of solder into the lugs too) to 4 ought welding cable ends without any difficulty or damage to the insulation. Ten lugs total. With proper torch application, quiet easy actually.
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3 tons
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05/15/12 01:02pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Interstate Battery Absorption Voltage
Ain't life grand?
"Smart Chargers" get introduced. Their algorithm is wrong. Chronic undercharging. Batteries sulfate, pallets of under warranty rejects get back to OEM. OEM over compensates by recommending what they feel is an appropriate value to reduce the number of sulfated warranty claims.
The construction of these batteries is "similar" OEM to OEM. Their chemistry is identical. Yet one reseller (Interstate) feels the need to reduce warranty claims by tinkering with absorbsion voltage limits. No mention of temperature I take it.
Charge batteries just enough to revert the specific gravity of the electrolyte back to original density. No more, no less. I feel a general declaration of using 15.3 volts is a bit rude to positive plate erosion values. I wouldn't do it, and I would not recommend it to a client. Even 14.8 would be high in 35+C environments. Just to be fair however I would say that choosing a 15.3 volt AV limit with a severely limited generator runtime allowance in cold weather is preferable to short shifting the battery with a 14.8 limit and infrequent recharging events. New batteries should require an absolute minimum of watering for their respective environment.
Input amperage differentials also enter into the equation. Allowing a pair of group GC 220's to reach 15.3 @ 15.0 amps is absolutely different than recharging the same pair of batteries at 60 amperes to the same maximum voltage amplitude. kWh, area under curve.
This is the point where an amp hour meter would be very helpful.
I.E. Stay where you're at, and verify with a hydrometer.
Bingo!!
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3 tons
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05/14/12 08:34am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Interstate Battery Absorption Voltage
At least as I understand it, the GC2 is merely a redesignated U2200. I've been charging my U2200's with a Progressive Dynamics 9245 for 3 yrs. It's maximum voltage output is 14.4v, and this at the PD's output terminals (approx 15' away)...I recently checked the sp/gv for each cell and everything checked out nearly perfect (only slight variations)... I first had equalized at 15.1v for 30min on the bench (first time ever) with a Craftsman dumb charger. The latest mfg recommendations are now to charge at higher voltages (> PD's output), yet the sixers seem very tolerant to the lower factory charger's settings. Personally, I wouldn't sweat it one way or the other. JMO.
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/13/12 08:58pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: I'm selling my brand new AF1150 and buying this!
With an EPA mileage estimate of an economical 2 gallons per mile.
Maybe, but it has a multi-fuel engine with various Mil-Spec 'home brew' recipes plaque rivited right to the center of the dash...Tops out at 55mph, IF you're lucky.
3 tons
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3 tons
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05/05/12 10:25pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Vision's and Michelin tires!
Very NICE!
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3 tons
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05/03/12 10:47am |
Truck Campers
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