| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Led Lights
*Current draw-The main reason these were purchased , was to increase my dry camping time. The old bulbs had a draw of roughly 1.3-1.5 amps each when lit. The LEDs are .02amps each. Not counting the 2 florescent fixtures and the stove lights(which will be done as well) I have knocked back the power amazingly.
Nice work bcrewcaptain -- very sanitary looking install!!!
There is an error in the amperage rating of the LED panels you used.... those LED disks use roughly 0.2 amps each instead of 0.02 amps. You used two to replace one incandescent bulb, for a total of about 0.4 amps per side. The original incandescent bulb used about 1.5 amp, so you are using about one forth the power, but you have a lot more light with those two disks.
For anyone that is interested, here is a little technical information. The disk LED panels bcrewcaptain used have twelve 5050 smd leds each. Each 5050 SMD LED actually contains 3 individual LEDs inside their package (if you look closely, you can see 6 leads soldered to the circuit board -- 2 for each of the 3 LEDs), while the 1210 SMDs used on the most common 36 or 48 LED rectangular panels have only a single LED inside their package. So the panels bcrewcaptain used put out about the same amount of light as a comon 36 LED rectangular panel. Since bcrewcaptain used 4 disks in each of his double sided fixtures, that is equivalent to 4 of the 36 LED rectangular panels. That is putting out nice light for sure!
I will have to measure those panels to be sure. The numbers I pulled were from the 3rd batch that I whipped up(this set uses 9 emitters per disk). I've wired up about 75 of these discs so far between 3 camper restos and a couple vehicles and home accent lighting, and each batch I have ordered has been a different design.
I will wire up 2 more sets over the next couple days and give a better reading for both current draw and light output.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
04/23/12 05:38am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Led Lights
The LEDs are .02amps each
The current I see for my 6x6 panel, 36 LEDs, is .25 amps. Do those 12 LED ones really only take .02 amps?
Thanks,
Tom
By the way anyone interested in 27 incandescent 1141 base bulbs :B
well,I'm seeing .025 each, but that is at about 15 volts too, but yeah, time to trash the old ones, well worth it, I can't wait for a good boondocking trip in 2 weeks to try them all out
|
bcrewcaptain
|
03/20/12 06:20pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Led Lights
So on the eternal quest for making life easier/cheaper, as well as attempting to satisfy my light fetish...I dive back into the land of LEDs. This time for the main lights inside the camper.
Here is what I used
img.tapatalk.com/aefe44b1-832d-591c.jpg height=360 width=480
ebay specials, came out to roughly $1 each shipped. 140 lumens and a "warm white" color, so none of that lousy/harsh blueish light.
I kicked around a number of different ways to do it, but this seemed like the easiest way. Being the packrat that I am, I had some of the old bulbs that had burned out, and decided to use those as the "adapter/plug" for the system. Broke the glass from the bulb and wired the leads from the LEDs directly to the prongs from the old bulb.
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefe44b1-82dd-004a.jpg height=360 width=480
I decided to go with 2 LEDs on each side, better safe than sorry, I like it bright. SO from there a small harness was made.
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefe44b1-8303-f7ae.jpg height=360 width=480
and then attached to the fixture with double sided tape
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefe44b1-8369-981b.jpg height=360 width=480
TAAADAAAA!!!
http://img.tapatalk.com/aefe44b1-839c-b702.jpg height=360 width=480
I only bought 10, so I haven't completed the camper by any means, I'm ordering 20 more to go ahead and finish them off.
My findings are this.
*The color is a tad bit yellower than the stock incandescent lights.(keep in mind my 1976 inverter is running about 15 volts with just the lights on, so the higher voltage also keeps them brighter/whiter), but either way, the light is still far better than the hospital look of the cool white bulbs.
*Two bulbs on each side is comparable in output to the single stock bulb. Price wise, it's a wash, so for cost and long life the LEDs obviously take the nod.
*no more melted lenses. I ran the bulbs with the covers on for 2 days, according to the temp probe I used, the lights were at about 95* with it being 80* inside the camper.
*Current draw-The main reason these were purchased , was to increase my dry camping time. The old bulbs had a draw of roughly 1.3-1.5 amps each when lit. The LEDs are .02amps each. Not counting the 2 florescent fixtures and the stove lights(which will be done as well) I have knocked back the power amazingly. Before with all the lights on(not that , I was looking at a current draw of roughly 17amps. My 36 yr old converter didn't like that. Now with all fixtures on, and dual bulbs in each section, I'm looking at a total of around .5 amp..I can deal with that.
Future locations will be step lights, I think I will be adding a few underneath, and of course replacing the porch light and the light over the storage box on the tongue.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
03/20/12 09:40am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Is this scary?
meh...would be fine, I don't always even keep mine cranked down all the way. Of course from those pics you can't see if there are any other jacks/stabs in place either;)
|
bcrewcaptain
|
10/13/11 12:33pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Heater for RV???
What about not working with my 10# tank? I should not have needed a regulator for the Buddy. I had the "California" model. Was it just a bad one and I might have better luck with a regular model?
I know they work with 20# tanks but I bought the 10# for size and weight. I put it on the floor in front of the kitchen sink and vented just above with the fantastic fan and our over cab vent was open and one side window was cracked. I was pretty sure I had it on low too.
It was a hard starter with even the 1# tank. I like the lower cost, although I did find a Wave 300 for under $150 last year and it has more BTU's. Thanks for your advice.
I have looked at the options for gas heaters for hours but having had to return the Buddy meant that I was hesitant to try again. I have beefed up the batteries and maybe we can get through a couple of nights with the furnace now. Don't need it that often camping here in AZ!
from my experience, and most others as well, if you're not using the 1lb tanks, you need to use the filter. Too many contaminates floating around in the larger tanks. Only thing I can think of is possibly with the unit you had before, the crud from the tank had passed to the heater, and kept it from making a "clean burn"
Spend the $10 on a filter, you'll be good, my inlaws use the same setup in their 32'Class A with no issues as well.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
09/09/11 08:33am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Heater for RV???
I've done the research and tried a Buddy. The Buddy would not run from a 10# tank, but they do run from a 20# I guess and of course a 1#. I returned it because it twice set off our CO alarm . That is with the vent and window cracked open. So don't know how people can use them safely. And it could not run a whole night on a 1# tank either.
I read all about the Wave's and even found a decent price on one 300 size unit, but I worried about running it from the 10# tank without a regulator. Could not find any data that said it would work and didn't want to plumb it from the main tank. Guess I could have bought a regulator for the 10# tank?
The Plat Cat seems to be the best regarded because it vents, has a thermostat, and the fan runs on 12v not 120v. I read somewhere about what they cost, although it is not on the website and I've forgotten.
I'll put in my .02 on the buddy heater. I have used one the last few yrs in a pop-up and in my older travel trailer that is sealed tighter than a bank vault.
I camp down to the 20's, yes I run the buddy heater all night on low. 20lb tank, inline filter.
I have monitored the air quality with a multi-gas detector from my firehouse. Zero issues.
If your CO detector was going off, you weren't venting enough.
The other heaters work well, but you're going to be hard pressed to beat a Buddy heater for portability and ease of use.
Plus you're not going to find one of the others for under $100...EVER
So you have had no alarms as to gases. Good news.
Does the Buddy have a Low Oxy Level sensor/alarm/shut off, as well? From the little I know the Catalytic burning does not produce much CO2. It's problem is the Oxy depletion? Is my thinking straight on that?
It does have the low O2 feature built in.
It will obviously use some O2 as part of the combustion and CO of course is a byproduct.
Common sense will dictate the amount you need to vent. I simply open a roof vent in the rear bathroom about 2", the heater is in the middle of the camper, and I open one of the windows over the bed about 2". I have made a bracket that mounts a 12v computer fan to the buddy heater to blow the hot air. (it comes with a built in fan, but eats batteries and is not quiet) That fan circulates the heat all over, as well as mixing the fresh air and exhausting the old.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
09/09/11 07:41am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Heater for RV???
I've done the research and tried a Buddy. The Buddy would not run from a 10# tank, but they do run from a 20# I guess and of course a 1#. I returned it because it twice set off our CO alarm . That is with the vent and window cracked open. So don't know how people can use them safely. And it could not run a whole night on a 1# tank either.
I read all about the Wave's and even found a decent price on one 300 size unit, but I worried about running it from the 10# tank without a regulator. Could not find any data that said it would work and didn't want to plumb it from the main tank. Guess I could have bought a regulator for the 10# tank?
The Plat Cat seems to be the best regarded because it vents, has a thermostat, and the fan runs on 12v not 120v. I read somewhere about what they cost, although it is not on the website and I've forgotten.
I'll put in my .02 on the buddy heater. I have used one the last few yrs in a pop-up and in my older travel trailer that is sealed tighter than a bank vault.
I camp down to the 20's, yes I run the buddy heater all night on low. 20lb tank, inline filter.
I have monitored the air quality with a multi-gas detector from my firehouse. Zero issues.
If your CO detector was going off, you weren't venting enough.
The other heaters work well, but you're going to be hard pressed to beat a Buddy heater for portability and ease of use.
Plus you're not going to find one of the others for under $100...EVER
|
bcrewcaptain
|
09/09/11 07:18am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Heater for RV???
the drawback is the amount of moisture the ventless units dump into the air, running one constantly is going to keep that moisture level pretty high. Is a vented unit out of the question? won't take much to pop a hole thru the wall. Or even for that matter, finding a furnace from a camper and installing that. We did something similar for a hunting cabin where we took the furnace I had pulled from my shasta, vented thru the wall with a couple 2" holes and built a table over the top of it. Works well for keeping 400sq ft of cabin at a liveable temp.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
09/01/11 09:44am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Home made TT out of Class A - still laughing!
one of the people we used to go camping with had an Class A mounted to a gooseneck. The front had been trimmed flat removing all the engine/windshield area which had been damaged in an accident(he picked up the MH as a salvage for about $1000, it was only 4yrs old with dual slides) He now has a camper with huge underside compartments, a generator, and dual slides. As well as enough room on the back to carry a golf cart, quads or his bikes. Apparently it doesn't meet the standards of some here, but for under a 5K investment for everything...I challenge those people to beat that. I will see if I have any pics of the rig. The MH and gooseneck were also repainted to colormatch.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
08/29/11 07:13am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: 1976 Shasta(the budget build#2)
I'm less than $1500(including new tires/brakes) into a camper I've been using 2 seasons so far.
It's set up the way I want it(which I would have to do to a new one anyway) and comes in a 22ft package with a king bed(real mattress) full dinette/kitchen and bathroom with tub. I can't really complain now that it's done. There may have been some choice works along the way though.
Not quite sure how you put a king size mattress in that space tho. Seemed like a short queen to me, with it in bed mode instead of U shape couch mode.
It's definitely a king... With the mods done the bed area is 88x76 so the king dropped right in with room to spare.. Getting it in there was more of a challenge....
Love the old pic.. Those colors look great!
|
bcrewcaptain
|
08/21/11 09:22am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Carlisle Tires (What a Bunch of Junk!!!!)
I will see if I can find out from one of my buddies what the end result was. It was a new Jeep, factory spare, "Jeep" brand tire cover that went around the whole front and only the top half of the back. What was happening in his has I know was the mist from driving on wet roads would get under the cover, as well as just splashing from the rain. Insert sitting in the sun at his apt all day(took metro to work) and it killed the tire within the 1st yr he had it. He only noticed when he took the cover off to clean behind the tire.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/25/11 08:46am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Carlisle Tires (What a Bunch of Junk!!!!)
Took the cover off of the spare camper tire before hitting the road tonight and this is what I found.
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z387/mahelinski/IMG00020-20110722-1721.jpg
http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z387/mahelinski/IMG00019-20110722-1720.jpg
This was a brand new tire that was put on the back of our camper in June 2009. Tire has never been on the pavement. Tire has always been covered.
I am due for new tires on the rig, I will NEVER put one of these Carlisle tires on our rig. It is about to blow up all by itself!
Carlisle ST225/75R15
Was the trailer covered when not in use? Exposure to the sun?
I have seen 3 other tires(all by diff makers) that have done the same thing. One on a camper , the other 2 on vehicles, all large name makers. All were covered. The combo of the sun/heat plus the cover holding moisture basically pressure cooked the tires. Don't always be hasty to blame the tires themselves.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/25/11 06:55am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: My roof resealing project
The Koolseal works great...my current "project" is a 76 Shasta TT with an alum roof and a lot of patches, pinholes, etc. I put 4-5 coats of the Koolseal on and it looks good, is watertight, insulates and is far quieter. I couldn't have come close to doing anything else for under $100.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/21/11 06:17am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
 |
RE: Campsite Decor
I have to say in all our years of camping I have never even seen a decorated campsite. Well, except for some lights hung from the awning. Maybe different parts of the country? We mostly camp in the northeast... Or maybe it's just a new thing that is going to really catch on. :)
nah..it's there...I guess I need to find the pics from when we were at Rauch Creek a few weeks back.
Even I was impressed.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/14/11 07:00am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Campsite Decor
Irony-the title is decorated campsites. More than half of the people however felt the need to go thru the effort to post why they don't like decorated sites. Would have been easier to just skip the post wouldn't it?*shakes head*
That being said..I have 2yr old, and we like to decorate together. We like other sites that are. Walking around the CG is a normal activity, and if it catches his eye, and keeps him entertained, tis worth it. I gave some thought to your suggestion but have to disagree. A lot of people--some new to RVing--read these threads who benefit from hearing both sides of an issue. There are obviously plenty of RVers who enjoy decorative lights and outside speakers but perhaps an equal number who don't. :)
I would then respectfully suggest you A)re-read the thread title, or B)Re-read what the OP was asking for in the first place. As usual, another thread that should be quite entertaining has been derailed by the "police" and will now quickly spiral down the black drain.
It's your campsite..you pay for it, you do what you wish with it. As long as it doesn't break any of the campground rules, then have at it. If you don't like that type of thing, then don't stay there. It's that easy...just like this post, you don't wish to be a team player, the exit is to the left, don't even have to check out.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/13/11 06:16am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Campsite Decor
Irony-the title is decorated campsites. More than half of the people however felt the need to go thru the effort to post why they don't like decorated sites. Would have been easier to just skip the post wouldn't it?*shakes head*
That being said..I have 2yr old, and we like to decorate together. We like other sites that are. Walking around the CG is a normal activity, and if it catches his eye, and keeps him entertained, tis worth it.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
07/13/11 05:15am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: 1976 Shasta(the budget build#2)
ok, here are the updated interior pics are promised.
The "bedroom"
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0079.jpg
I love the size of this dinette!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0080.jpg
The "vintage" fabric I used on the new seat cushions
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0073-1.jpg
What to do when you need a trash can but are running out of room? Find room!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0077.jpg
This tray is L shaped and goes under the bed, the back corners are on rollers, lift up the front and roll it forward. Easy storage for chairs and such.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0074.jpg
Unfortunately the freshwater tank is under the bed on the right hand side. Checking water level was a challenge before. Added a light behind the tank and put a toggle switch just under the bed. Now just flip the switch and bend down and the level is a lot easier to see.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0078.jpg
The kitchen table was leftover from my old Apache popup, mounted the base to the floor and also mounted a rail to the wall. Now the 2yr can climb over it without momma freaking out. You also see the removed stove/oven and it's replacement microwave, the stove which is stored over it.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a45/bcrewcaptain/IMG_0071.jpg
I think that covers most of the updates
|
bcrewcaptain
|
06/19/11 02:00pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: 1976 Shasta(the budget build#2)
I keep remembering more things as I go.
Since we dry camp a fair amount, water use is fairly important. We were using a standard domestic showerhead, which actually worked pretty well with the beefy pump in the camper. Only drawback was...the wife could fill a grey tank in a day. Ok, well she can do that with just the sink, but that's a different story.
My solution was to lose the showerhead. A little testing and we were in business. The current head was replaced by a standard kitchen sprayer. I built a little extension on it as well since I'm 6'3 and for some reason the hoses are in 4ft sections at best. The sink sprayer puts out enough water for a quick shower, it's small, it has an on/off feature(a rubber o-ring on the handle can be rolled up to keep it on for hands free) and what do you know...I had one in stock*shaking head*
|
bcrewcaptain
|
06/15/11 09:27am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Coleman Hot water on Demand as camper water heater
you want some pics, here ya go!
more updated ones tonight
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25147813/gotomsg/25147865/p/1.cfm#25147865
|
bcrewcaptain
|
06/15/11 07:31am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: 1976 Shasta(the budget build#2)
another addition as this is the current project since I do not have the propane water heater functional right now.
This is when dry camping.
Until now the solution has been a battery powered shower pump/sprayer dropped down in a small cooler of water heated on the stove, not perfect, but certainly functional.
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/portable-shower.jpg
Being as I'm cheap, I've settled for this for the last 2 yrs, but now, a good deal has dropped into my lap for a Coleman Hot Water on Demand system.
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9797/1000076ay.jpg
After reading the reviews, it looks like it'll take about 5 seconds to heat water to shower temp and do about 60 gallons off a single small propane canister. As I have removed the propane lines from the camper, I stick with the small bottles anyway.
The system is designed to bed fed by a 5 gal container, however I will be setting it up to be fed by the campers tank, more water and one less object taking up space in a small bathroom.
Pics will be posted as I go, as well as a parts list.
Obviously this is a mod that is only worthwhile in a few specific cases, but for cheap me, it should work out great.
|
bcrewcaptain
|
06/15/11 07:29am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
