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RE: No hot water
Well Guys: Those of you who said check valve were right,
Being on vacation, we got in a hurry, and I went to a dealer in Davenport, Iowa
Thompson Rv. Explained the probalem,and what I thought it was.
$ 224.00 later I came out with a $7.50 valve installed.
I had recieves Mile Highs post, but still was unsure. I didn't get Beachboys Post in time. Afool and his money is soon parted. :-) Right Guy's
Seriously Thanks so much guy's. You are the best. Jim
Been there and done that...lost the lift crank for my popup camper on the road once...ouch! Cost of lift crank delivery...$150, plus two cases of beer. Cost of family's well being and my sanity -- Priceless! lol.
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stacaz822
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09/12/11 10:18pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Improved fridge cooling with fan
This is the setup I had in my popup. The switch simply turns one or both on for high-low:
Use the existing 12V that is already wired into that compartment.
Those are old computer fans that I had. Cools it down from ambient of 90 degrees in 3 hours vs. 24 hours...just put some frozen water bottles in first...
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/stacaz822/fridgefan.jpg
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stacaz822
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09/12/11 10:05pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: wiring on batteries
If your planning on dry camping quite a bit go with 2 GC2 golf cart batteries. There about $90/each at Sam's. They will last longer due to being more forgiving/designed to take a larger drain down. They are true deep cycle whether than hybrid batteries (the standard Marine/RV 12 volt)
I second that recommendation. GC batts have MUCH larger lead plates, and are heavier, but will take a deep discharge better than the others mentioned, and last a lot longer when deep cycled (drawn down due to extensive use without recharging right away).
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stacaz822
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09/12/11 09:59pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Is Slide-out Window Damage Common?
When you push it in, make sure you have the walls hanging OUTSIDE, and make sure all Velcro fasteners are free. Don't push all the way in, leave about a foot or so, then check again. The wind can blow and shove things into the track. Push in again, and leave a couple inches, and check again... Then you can pack all the way in. You have to move from side to side for the whole process. It works. ;)
I suppose damage could be common if you don't follow that process...
Also, previous owners could have opened the slide against branches and poked holes when they put the poles in to expand that area.
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stacaz822
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09/12/11 09:44pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: RVs and ground rods
Suckers are born every day...gotta pound them into the ground!
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stacaz822
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09/08/11 11:53pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Yes, good for you to post that. You gain back some lost points. Your pal seems to be grounded in reality. Go with those who have actually done it as opposed to theoretical airy-fairy stuff.
Keep in mind though, that the guys who design those things ARE educated in the theoretical airy-fairy stuff...that's what allows those devices to exist at all...just saying... ;)
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stacaz822
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09/08/11 11:39pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Yes, good for you to post that. You gain back some lost points. Your pal seems to be grounded in reality. Go with those who have actually done it as opposed to theoretical airy-fairy stuff.
True hero's are hard to find...I count my dad as first and foremost in that regard.
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stacaz822
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09/08/11 08:14pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Thank you for the sharing your experience. Everyone, including me, appreciates it. Seriously. ;)
I emailed an old veteran EE of mine (with 40 yrs experience AND with a huge boat) a couple days ago, and he finally got back with me.
Seems that I was potentially correct with theory, but WAY off in practical applications. Here is his response, Enjoy!
*****************************************************************
Multistage chargers use the rate of change in voltage to determine the state of the battery. And they factor in the amount of charging current as well. So putting more than one on a battery at a time will confuse the logic inside each charger since neither one knows the other is there and makes its decision on charge mode based on the charge (current) it is supplying and the characteristics of the voltage versus time.
Putting two or more chargers on at the same time should not hurt either the chargers or battery and will give a faster charge rate since in practice all chargers would start at a high rate and taper off as they detect the battery charging. And when the battery is charged each would switch to float mode, probably at different times due to manufacturing variances in detection point, and one would remain effectively managing the float charging.
You are potentially correct but due to minor circuit tolerances causing each charger to change modes at a different point, running two or more in parallel works without harm. They all work until float time and then one prevails.
Dad
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stacaz822
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09/08/11 07:57pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Power failure
Thanks for posting your resolution. We can all learn from that.
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stacaz822
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09/08/11 07:49pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
This thread is getting quite thread-bare. The consensus here is that two converters are OK, as long as you can switch one or the other to off. Both at the same time is ok, as long as the batteries are at about 50% SOC, or less. Beyond that, who knows....
;)
That is all incorrect and misleading information of no help to anybody.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2a0j8e0.jpg]http://i54.tinypic.com/2a0j8e0.jpg
Showing five batteries at approx 550ah that day being charged all at once with a converter and some portable chargers of differing voltages and amp "sizes" totalling 166 amps at first, where the Honda is running 133amps worth (at its max) and the inverter hanging off the truck battery (under tarp for rain protection) is running another 33 amps (with a 35amp charger)
Charging was a Paramode 4455TC (60amps), a Vector 1093DBD (40 amps), and two Vector 1092As doing 33 amps each.
How much time between battery replacement? ;)
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 11:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Installing a new thermostat in my starcraft
The 12V mentioned is what runs the heater. One of the two red wires has 12V positive on it(call it wire A). The other red wire is hooked to the heater relay(call it wire B).
When your old thermostat turned on the heat it just essentially hooked the two wires together and the 12V flowed from wire A into wire B turning the heater on. You can see this for yourself by just touching the two wires together and hearing the heater fan start.
As far as which wire is which (12V or heater) it most likely won't matter.
That is correct. The digital thermostat only connects or disconnects the heater sensor for temperature. The heater will take care of start-stop, blow-off and such. A nice Honeywell model can be had for about $20 or so, and mount with two screws.
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 10:08pm |
Folding Trailers
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Hi Stacaz,
And now the batteries are a year old. Is their capacity the same? NOPE. It is a moving target. Both temperature and age are big factors.
The Link 10 will track that moving target if you set it up correctly. I live in the desert and camp in the mountains above 5000 ft. It's worked fine for 6 years on cheap batteries.
Are you pulling my chain? lol.
EDIT: Must be Canadian...eh?
"I successfully charge 875 amp-hours of batteries with a 40 amp converter. It just takes longer to fully charge the bank, and when it dies I'll upgrade to a unit with temperature compensation, such as the Truecharger2."
Ah ha! ;)
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 09:33pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Hi Stacaz,
How does the link 10 know how many amp-hours the battery bank is?
Answer--the user has to guess. The capacity is a moving target at best.
I do not have an "Amp-hour" counter on my system. If I were to get one it would probably be either a "smart gauge" on else one from Victron.
When you install the batteries, you TELL the Link 10 the capacity. After that, it will compensate.
Hit SEL and HOLD for 5 seconds, then you are in program mode. Then tap SEL about 6 times--then you can hit SET as many times as you need to set the capacity of your bank in amp-hours. Did you do that??
Instructions
The Link 10 *IS* an amp-hour counter...didn't you know that??
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 09:23pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Hi stacaz822,
875 amp-hours in 7 twelve volt batteries in two banks charged mainly by 256 watts of Unisolar panels via a Blue Sky 3024di controller.
Cost of RV $34,000.00 February 14 of 2009. OEM capacity 3 125 amp-hour 12 volt batteries.
Unless the link 10 is routinely reset for battery capacity it may give a false impression of the number of amp-hours that have been returned to the battery bank. The same, unfortunately, is true of the popular trimetric device. Don't get me wrong, they are useful units.
Battery capacity is a "moveable feast" as well. My capacity when drawing 100 amps from the battery banks is much lower than when I only draw 25 amps.
I am currently boondocking and keeping warm in my RV electrically via a radiant heater.
According to the manual for the Link 10/20, it takes into account:
Peukert's law
That should take into account the draw rate vs. capacity. Mine does very well in that regard. Are all your batteries of the same type and age? I've got 6 years on my two 6V cheapo golf carts batts from Costco. They still have about 80% of original capacity as far as I can tell according to the Link 10...
Link 10 doesn't have temp comp, so that may also be a factor.
I think you can manually adjust the Peukert factor on the Link 10 to compensate for your discrepancy. Should be more accurate after that.
EDIT: Also with that many batts, you also need to keep them topped off with distilled H2O constantly. Do you have an automatic watering system? That's another source of error...
EDIT2: Is your solar wired directly into the batts, or does it go through the link 10 shunt? If not, then there is yo false readings...
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 08:31pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Inverter install
Switched to photobucket. See here:
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/stacaz822/AC_Panel.jpg
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stacaz822
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09/06/11 08:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
This thread is getting quite thread-bare. The consensus here is that two converters are OK, as long as you can switch one or the other to off. Both at the same time is ok, as long as the batteries are at about 50% SOC, or less. Beyond that, who knows....
;)
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stacaz822
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09/05/11 12:14am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
"Straight to the point" is always good. "Correct and True" are two separate things, despite that point...
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stacaz822
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09/05/11 12:08am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
Why is there NOTHING on Google about two converters in parallel? For RV or otherwise? I checked....
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stacaz822
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09/04/11 10:48pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
OFF GRID, is the most likely place for the OP to camp
does any of you "nay sayers", read the post and understand he has a TOY HAULER
and put the two new outlets from the inverter INSIDE the garage section of the toy hauler
sorry if I sound caustic, but multiple chargers work, once the batteries reach a point that only one of the charge systems can supply the amps being accepted, the charging will start tapering off
I would probably keep the old converter in reserve as a backup measure, BUT as long as both are working, there should be NO problem using both at the same time to charge the batteries from the generator
See my earlier wiring diagram for Inverter...
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stacaz822
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09/04/11 10:12pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Double Charging with Converter +Inverter/Charger
...........
What SOC do you need to get to before you shut the doors for the night?
Does not apply. Arrive at off-grid campsite with 100% SOC, takes three or four days to get down to 50%. Recharge to 90% (several chargers, lots of amps, takes two or three hours max.) Go two or three days to get down to 50% (a week has passed--if going home just wait and do a slower charge on shore power at home. If staying more days, do another recharge)
Each RVer has his own routine and a set-up for doing that. Or else he gets on this forum and finds out how to alter his set-up so he can do his desired routine. Usually means getting more batteries and a better charging method.
I suspect you know all that and are just pulling my chain. Isn't there anything on TV tonight?
Not pulling chains...lol. Just suggesting that if you have a gen, you can run it more often than you suggested...duh.
You wrote, "Usually means getting more batteries and a better charging method. "
I wholeheartedly agree with that statement!
Cheers!!
Scott
PS: NFL starts next week, I think...
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stacaz822
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09/04/11 09:51pm |
Tech Issues
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