| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G*
Sure would like to see that 200GB plan for $50.00...
AT&T Data Plans
|
vermilye
|
02/09/12 08:22am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: WEB sites and Revenue?
I have a large collection of links to blogs, journals & travelogues that are RV related, as well as links to technical information and my own travels. I often post references to the web site, however I don't make any money from it. I do have a link that lets someone make me a few cents if they use it to get to Amazon, however it has been on the site for a number of years & so far I haven't made a cent!
|
vermilye
|
02/09/12 08:17am |
Technology Corner
|
 |
RE: Double towing (other states)
You need to follow each state's requirements:
Towing World
NSA RV Products
|
vermilye
|
02/08/12 04:23pm |
Beginning RVing
|
|
RE: L.E.D. noise-Interference
It is my understanding (and wish to confirm or learn) that the RF does not come from the LED cell itself but from electronic circuitry allied with the LED in order to control voltage, output, etc. Is this correct?
True. Not all replacement LED lamps contain VR circuits - those that do can be engineered so that they don't produce much RFI, but not all manufacturers bother.
I have been told that more light can be obtained by pulse-width modulating a higher voltage supply to an LED than by operating on a continuouspresumablysumeably at a lower voltage).
Also true, however poorly designed PWM will also cause RFI.
One solution is to purchase inexpensive non regulated LEDs directly from China. They are inexpensive enough that if they are damaged by over voltage, just throw them out & put a new one in the fixture. I've used these and haven't lost one yet...
|
vermilye
|
02/08/12 01:11pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
|
|
RE: Bonding a generator
Regarding your statement "In a split phase generator (120/240V) there is a neutral and bonding of the neutral to the generator frame is required by both the NEC & OSHA", could you by any chance point me to the article that says the split phase generator has to be bonded, but doesn't also require the grounded conductor in a 2-wire system? When I first started looking at this in the 2005 NEC it was easy to find, but I'm having a hard time with the 2008 and 2011 editions Wish I could help, but I'm working from a 2005 code book - If I keep butting in on these discussions I suppose I should break down & buy a new one, but since retiring I don't use it all that much. I'm not clear on what you mean by "but doesn't also require the grounded conductor in a 2-wire system" As far as I know, the definition of a neutral requires a split phase system & a 2 wire, 120v system doesn't have a neutral so any rules for neutrals don't apply.
A discussion of bonding/grounding of portable generators at the Mike Holt Forum may shed some light on the bonding/grounding question. It also points out that even among electricians there is quite a bit of confusion...
|
vermilye
|
02/07/12 04:44pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: HELP POWER ISSUE!! AND ITS COLD
If it was me I'd check all connections to insure they are tight (including the breakers & neutrals) inside the distribution panel. Sometimes a heavy load will burn/oxidize the wiring so that the connection becomes intermittent...
|
vermilye
|
02/07/12 02:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
|
|
RE: Cell signal booster, property wide
I'd have to agree with George's (Mr. Wizard) solution - a combination of products. If you know where your local tower is located, a yagi antenna aimed at it feeding the Verizon Home Connect connected to a non cell wireless phone would probably be the least expensive solution, and I suspect, will offer far more range than any repeating cell system. My 2.4GHz wireless phone stays connected 300 - 400 yards from my house.
When I was working we used a non cell wireless system from EnGenius that covered a 10 acre area. Although the model we used is no longer available, their DuraFon 1X model states it covers 12 floors, 250,000 sq ft, and 3000 acres!
I'm currently using a repeating cell system in my trailer ( a Wilson Vehicle Booster Kit) that requires the cell phone or data card to be within 5'-7' of the inside antenna. I'm sure there are more powerful systems available, but something that will cover more than a few 1000 square feet is going to be very expensive.
|
vermilye
|
02/07/12 02:01pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Bonding a generator
I determined stray capacitance from the Yamaha EF2800i generator added only a fraction to the total capacitance. Most of the capacitance came from the EMI capacitors located at my converter 120V input.
I can only conclude the 5kW gen they say requires bonding has stray capacitive coupling more than 100 times greater than my 2.8kW gen.One point - the 2800i is an inverter generator - don't know what effect that would have on the winding to frame coupling... In any case, I guess you will have to take that up with OSHA - it is their requirement...
|
vermilye
|
02/07/12 12:41pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Bonding a generator
I don't know if this will help or add more confusion, but this is my understanding of the rather complex requirements for bonding generators:
Other than lightning protection, one major reason for bonding in a utility supplied system is that it is already bonded by the utility. They bond at most transformers to prevent a transformer fault from producing high voltages to the household wiring. The utilities also sometimes use the earth as one of the wires in a high voltage distribution system which establishes a bond. Unless you use an isolation transformer, it is impossible to run a utility supplied system that does not have one side of it tied to the earth. There will always be a potential difference between one of the hots & the earth.
If you tie a generator into a household system, a bond already exists at the building's service entrance. Since it is important to prevent current in the ground wiring (which may include everything bonded to it such as your plumbing, heating ducts, even the water in your plastic pipes) the service entrance bond is only one allowed - you cannot also include one at the generator because that would be paralleling the current carrying conductor (the neutral) with the ground.
This means that a home stand by generator that ties into the household wiring cannot have an internal bond.
If the system does not tie into an existing system in most cases the frame of the generator can serve as the grounding electrode, that is you do not need to drive a ground rod each time you set up your generator (and there are good, although controversial reasons not to).
As to bonding of one of the current carrying conductors to the generator frame, it gets interesting.
First, a 120V only system does not have a neutral as defined by the NEC. Because of this there is no requirement that one of the legs be tied (bonded) to the frame of the generator.
The ground is connected to the generator frame. Although there is no NEC requirement for bonding since there is no neutral, there are some exceptions, some required by OSHA, not the NEC. For example, if the generator produces over 5KW, capacitive coupling between the generator windings & the case is high enough to form an effective, but high impedance bond which could present a shock hazard since a fault might not draw enough current to trip the generator's breaker. In this case a physical bond is required to provide a low impedance bond.
To avoid the requirement of adding a GFCI to the generator, OSHA requires that the current carrying wires must not connect to the generator frame. This means that a 120v generator without a GFCI cannot bond one of the conductors to the frame. Technically, you are violating OSHA regulations when you bond your inverter generator to make your EMS work.
In a split phase generator (120/240V) there is a neutral and bonding of the neutral to the generator frame is required by both the NEC & OSHA. This is to prevent the possibility of a 240V shock hazard caused by two faults - one leg shorted to the generator frame & the other leg shorted to the load case (which could be the frame of your RV). This would produce 240V between the load case & the earth (since the generator frame is sitting on the ground).
|
vermilye
|
02/07/12 10:48am |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Traveling with no reservations . . . .
I have the advantage of being retired so I'm not trying to fit travel into a short vacation period and I'm towing a small trailer that will fit just about any site. I hate being tied to a schedule. I find too many interesting things to do & see along the way that reservations would drive me crazy!
My last trip was 111 days & 18,700 miles. I did not make any long term reservations, but did plan to hit campgrounds in popular areas by 1:00PM. I never arrived at a campground after 6:00PM the entire trip.
For popular National Parks, I planed for even earlier stops. For example, at Zion I arrived as the South campground at 10:00AM & there were only two sites left. Did the same at Apgar Campground at Glacier National Park - I had little problems getting a site at 10:00AM over the 4th of July weekend. If you are flexible & don't need hookups, you will usually find a site.
On weekends at popular locations I sometimes started calling campgrounds where I was planning to stop in the morning. A few suggested making a reservation, but many said just show up. The worst case I had on the trip was at a Canadian KOA where they only had one very expensive site left.
|
vermilye
|
02/06/12 01:35pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Sprint vs. Verizon vs. AT&T
I traveled all over the southwest as well as the east coast with a iPhone 4 using AT&T and a Millenicom 3G air card. Although there were a few places where I had AT&T coverage but no Verizon (the carrier for the Millenicom card) it was far more likely that there would be Verizon than AT&T. If you are out in the sticks, you will find some locations with no coverage from any service.
Once you get your iPhone, get the Coverage app for it. Gives street level 3G, 4G, Roaming, etc maps for Verizon, AT&T, Spring & TMobile.
|
vermilye
|
02/06/12 01:17pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Death Valley Campgrounds?
Other than the campground host sites, I don't believe there are any electric sites at National Park Campground at Furnace Creek. They do have flush toilets, a dump station, and potable water is available at the dump station, not that it matters, since they are closed. I stayed at Furnace Creek in early & late May. Some places worth checking out:
Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes
Zabriskie Point
Depending on your vehicle & road conditions (Racetrack Road is a 25 mile dirt road to the parking lot at The grandstand) The Racetrack Playa is interesting. There are also some interesting drives on paved roads - we enjoyed Artist's Drive.
|
vermilye
|
02/05/12 03:51pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: What is the MPG difference between towing and not
Well, it's not folding, but I do have a small fiberglass "egg". An Escape 17B, 2980 lbs loaded for travel. Tow with a RAV4 V6 with tow package. 40K on the RAV4 so far; 20K towing. 24MPG alone, 15MPG towing.
|
vermilye
|
02/05/12 03:22pm |
Folding Trailers
|
|
RE: Paralleling Honda EU2000i with other power sources
Just thinking out loud - I wonder if a Grid Tie In Inverter designed to work with wind & solar installations would allow you to add from your batteries to the generator? They are designed to sync to the power lines, shut down if AC input is interrupted. Not cheap, but neither are standard inverters that can sync with another AC source...
|
vermilye
|
02/01/12 07:09pm |
Tech Issues
|
|
RE: Letchworth State Park
I've been there to photograph many times & camped last Fall. Beautiful waterfalls, lots of hiking trails, and balloon rides are available. As others have said it is quite spread out; the major waterfalls are on the other end of the park from the campground.
A journal & some photos from my last trip.
|
vermilye
|
02/01/12 06:48pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: Seeing Arizona
If you get to Northern AZ, check out Page. Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend are attractions well worth visiting, as is Monument Valley. You can camp at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River south of Page & have your kayak towed to the base of Glen Canyon Dam & spend a day floating back down the river. A fairly flat section with few rapids...
Some photos starting at 2011 Trip, Day 27.
|
vermilye
|
01/31/12 05:24pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Reservations or NOT
If you are flexible & can plan to arrive at a campground early in the day (at least before 1:00PM) reservations are rarely needed. The exceptions are popular state & national parks on holidays. For example, I arrived at the South campground in Zion on May 11th at 10:00AM & there were only 2 sites left. Within 15 minutes it was full, however there were still sites available at the commercial campgrounds outside the park.
On the other hand, I managed to get a unreserved site at Apgar in Glacier National Park over the 4th of July weekend, and a week later at St Mary campground, a reservable campground on the other side of Glacier.
Again, I prefer not to make reservations. If it is a popular weekend I may call ahead in the morning to a campground I expect to reach be the afternoon, but I'm willing to deal with an occasional difficulty finding the "perfect" campsite for the flexibility of being able to stop & spend time at "discoveries" along the way.
|
vermilye
|
01/31/12 05:19pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: Help me design a new small travel trailer..please
Well, I admit to some bias, but you should take a look at Fiberglass Eggs, particularly the Escape Line. I have an Escape 17B - the company is great in working with customers to build a trailer pretty much to order. Have to admit it will cost you more than the $5K you expect to spend, but there are used eggs available in that price range...
There are a number of other fiberglass trailer manufacturers - I have links to Blogs, Manufacturers & Forums at JV's Fiberglass Trailer Links.
|
vermilye
|
01/31/12 01:29pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: WiFi Ranger Opinions...Any improvement?
I used a WiFi Ranger with the Millenicom Advanced Plan (Verizon 3G network connected through a Novatel U760 USB modem). Although there were some "rough" times when I first started using it early last year, software updates improved connection speeds & smoothness of switching from the cell side to a campground WiFi. Although I have not used the latest software upgrade, it is suppose to offer a major improvement. I'll know more when I restart my Millenicom plan in April.
One point - I did find that I could improve the cell connection speed by plugging the USB modem directly into the computer. This seems to be a problem with all routers - they add a conversion step that slows things down. Most of the time the speed hit was not a problem, but on fringe areas switching to a direct connection helped.
|
vermilye
|
01/31/12 06:56am |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: 15 + mpg with V10 in 29 footer?
On a 1517 mile trip around eastern PA in 2001 driving a new, rented 31' Fiesta V10 I got 7.78MPG.
|
vermilye
|
01/30/12 01:27pm |
Class C Motorhomes
|
|
