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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Starting the Solar Power System
Hi Bohecan,
I chose to power the whole RV from the inverter. I simply plug the shore power cord into a 30 amp female outlet that is powered by the inverter.
The one item I don't power is the converter and I got around that by having an auxiliary shore power cord for just the converter. I can plug that cord in separately at the pedestal, or I can change back to the OEM configuration of the thirty amp service in my RV. The "default" setting is plugged into the auxiliary shore power cord.
I don't think you need to De-energize anything else. It is easy to refrain from turning an item on.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 09:19pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: external fridge fan
Hi SMK,
Yes, the fans are under the vent cover to suck warm air out.
I wanted to be able to adjust the thermostat. It was a *tight* fit as it is about the same size as a standard surface mount electrical box. My fridge is on the passengers side so I managed to get the box secured to the rear wall (orientation direction of travel) and then wiggled the top cover on. I got it screwed in place. It is about 8 inches up from the bottom of the compartment and the activation sensor tube is another 4 inches above that.
The switch has a light on it to let me know the circuit is powered up, and of course, I can hear the fans when the thermostat cycles.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 09:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: external fridge fan
Hi cmarq,
There are at least two ways to do it.
One is to put fans under the vent hood on the roof and mask the opening so they draw the hot air out (and cool air in). That is the route I chose.
The other way is to place the fans strategically on a particular part of the fridge.
Could anyone post some pics of installation? I would like to do my Pace Arrow, Thanks
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 07:41pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: external fridge fan
Hi Bit Bucket,
No problem so long as temperatures are above freezing. Below that one needs to be cautious.
I didn't realize it bothered anything when the temps were down, I too should probably put a thermostat in.
Or is un-necesary power consumption the issue?
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 07:39pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: external fridge fan
Hi all,
Mex--no infra red gun. I do have a remote sensing thermometer monitoring temperatures at the moment.
The thermostat is adjustable from 0 C to 50 C. It does have mechanical contacts but is an old "bulb" style unit. The limit is fixed--and I'm not sure what it is, but it is narrow enough to allow the fans to cycle. It is in series with the switch so I can still manually turn them off if need be.
The issue is not power consumption but rather noise. One of the fans turns at a slightly different RPM than the other...and so there is a rather annoying "surging" that happens. I don't hear it while driving, but at night...well let's just say it is a nuisance.
The other reason is because I run my RV a lot at well below freezing--so in winter time I actually have to heat the outside of the fridge. I'm pleased that the "mask" and fans restrict the heat going up the chimney in winter time. I now have a cube T3 thermostat that operates a light bulb for the winter situation.
I was hoping one of you fine gentleman would have "the ideal temperature". I guess I'll have to wait until the summer arrives (if ever) and dial up a useful temperature.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 07:37pm |
Tech Issues
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external fridge fan
Hi all,
Last year I added twin computer fans at the top of the fridge chimney. This year I put an adjustable thermostat in series so I could prevent them from running in cold weather.
Does anyone have a suggestion about what temperature I should have them "cut in"?
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 06:00pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Tankless water heaters
Hi Jeannie,
I just checked mine and the temperature is 140 F.
The only timing that would be different is recovery time to 115 F. It would be a bit longer, as the delta T numbers are too high. For gas it would be correct at 3.33 F per minute and for electric 1.11 F. That gives a recovery time to 115 of about 17 minutes.
It still come back to who is paying for heating the water. If it is the campground which includes "free" power then the electric tank wins hands down. If it isn't then tankless may save money over the long run--assuming there is no extra cost for one.
Of course there are also the units that use waste engine heat. They are the cat's meow. I'd love to have one of those.
Hi,
The "Precision Temp" tankless is set at 115 F. The water in the tank type may be 180F...
Only the Atwood Exotherms are set for 180F. They are designed to give the equivalent of a 16 gl water heater in the same space normally occupied by a 10 gl water heater. The 180F water is tempered with a mixing valve that blends the hot water with cold water to prevent scalding. I have seen several reports of problems with the mixing valves. Since it takes more energy to raise the water temperature that high and heat losses are higher than at lower temperatures, The Exotherms aren't as efficient as more conventional tank type water heaters. The trade off is 60% more hot water and less initial cooling as the water is used (as long as the mixing valve is working correctly).
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 05:51pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Winter RV camping
Hi safn,
If running with no water that's even easier. Just keep enough electric heat on to keep the provisions from freezing. You could even get "sexy" and have a way to have a phone system to trigger the heat up to living temperatures a day before you arrived at the trailer.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 05:35pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Winter RV camping
Hi safn,
I think when the fridge is turned off the water is all recombined into the ammonia. Ammonia freezes at -77.7 C (-107.86 F). If it is that cold, you will have other problems.
If you prepare properly and use the information on this thread you can stay through the entire winter--assuming a "four seasons" Rv with enclosed tanks.
The issues are where to dump and where to acquire fresh water.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 05:21pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: To join or not to join...that is the question
Hi,
I'd start out with Passport America. See how you like it.
I'd also suggest looking at http://freecampsites.net/
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 05:13pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Starting the Solar Power System
Hi Bohecan,
I'd also remove the water heater from the possible inverter loads. Not because you could not run it--but because 2800 watts is pretty limiting from an "available resource" point of view. The microwave and a coffee pot...and bingo if the water heater cycled on you will be over loading the inverter.
What does the Magnum owners manual recommend for the catastrophic failure fuse size? I use 355 amps on mine.
Is this Magnum the one that will share the loads with a generator? If so you might want to still power the entire RV from soup to nuts.
I'm a little concerned about ten feet from the battery bank to the inverter. Is there no other place it will fit that would reduce that distance?
Every connection is one more potential failure point. I don't see how having a breaker between the panels and controller is particularly useful. Even if there were a dead short a 15 amp breaker would not trip as the panels only do 7.81 amps max.
My panels are also not fused.
Because of the size of the inverter I'd lean towards 12 volt jars, or if there is space six two volt jars. I'm not sure about AGM. They cost a "pretty penny".
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 04:57pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Used Class C--maybe
Hi Dakzuki,
I'm glad to hear that at least one class C (assuming you have one) does make use of the space.
My class C has a partial wall behind the drivers seat, so that space is pretty much a dead loss. The passenger's seat could be replaced with one that might twirl around -- but the floor is about three inches lower in the cab than in the rest of the RV. So my cab is only good for temporary storage while stopped. It is a great pity.
I often wonder if the designers have ever gone for a week long trip in what they produce. (I'm betting they don't.)
Hi Coolmon42,
Don't forget you loose the space in the cab as far as living space is concerned.
Says who? I have rotating cab seats which becomes two nice recliners with floor space between them.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 04:30pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Tankless water heaters
Hi,
The "Precision Temp" tankless is set at 115 F. The water in the tank type may be 180F.
A six gallon tank might give you an 8 minute shower. If it has both electric and propane heating, add 30 seconds?
A ten gallon might give you 40% more than the above, or about 12 minutes. My typical shower time at home is well under both those numbers.
Recovery time on gas for a ten gallon unit may be 30 minutes (delta T of 4.666 per minute) for ground water at say 40 F. On electric 90 minutes (delta T of 1.55) and combined electric and propane about 24 minutes.
I suppose if we went with 115 as an acceptable temperature the recovery time would be around the 12 minute mark running electric and propane together.
I can see why tankless would be an attraction for a large family.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 04:05pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Get your propane tanks filled.
Hi SWD,
I'm glad to be wrong! Passing that much gas could be explosive? *grin*
And what do you infer by this comment my dear man? Yeah the 1# bottles I refill a couple of times, otherwise its off to the local Co-op.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:36pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Get your propane tanks filled.
Hi path1,
I don't resemble that remark at all. I've had my new RV for 3 years and have spent $27.00 on propane for it. In that time frame I've driven it 80000 kilometers (50 k miles to the metrically challenged) and been on the road for 150 days.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:34pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: generator question
Hi,
If someone offers you a Boliy at *ANY* price it is too expensive. In fact, I'd not take one for free at this point.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:27pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Battery water level
Hi Mr. Wizard,
Treat yourself to a Popsicle. Save the stick. Fill one cell "perfectly". Draw a line on the stick. Use it to check all the other cells.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:13pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: tube out of the back of the refrigerator
Hi,
At that price, I'll sacrifice part of a plastic pot scrubber.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:05pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Tankless water heaters
Hi Jeannie,
Well, you would be wrong about the recirculation pump. I know of two folks who have retrofitted such a device.
I chose the "poor man's" recycling system and catch the water in a 750 ml container (that's 3 cups to the metrically challenged). That water is used to assist the next "flush" of the throne.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 03:03pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: tube out of the back of the refrigerator
Hi,
I'll be needing a replacement too. There is no "screen" on mine--and on hot days it warms up the fridge. Its good for cold weather though--I hardly need to run the fridge.
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pianotuna
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05/22/12 02:28pm |
Beginning RVing
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