JHFox
Explorer
Joined 10 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: Battery/solar questions
Hehe, neanderthal quite possibly. No CO2 sensor, no fire alarm, no charger/converter, not even an inverter. Less to go wrong I suppose? But to reiterate, we just take short little trips, charge our phones with the one DC outlet, and watch movies on an iPad that runs for five days while in airplane mode (turning it completely off between movies.) We hope to be full timing it one day though (in the distant future :( ). Regardless, I had no clue leaving the battery below full charge was so detrimental, so I'm going to take everyone's advice and get a 50 or 100w panel and a 10 amp charge controller, keep the battery topped off from now on! Thanks!499Views0likes0CommentsRe: Battery/solar questions
Thanks folks! I had no clue the propane fridge used DC power! :o It's an old system ('77) and the burner runs all the time. I clearly need to redo the energy audit, and I'll probably just go with a more-than-adequate panel (probably 100W) and a charge controller. Was just thinking I could save some $ and use the panel I have, but obviously I have a lot to learn. Much obliged!499Views0likes0CommentsBattery/solar questions
Hi all, We have a 19' TT that we take out a handful of times a year. (Would love to go much more often, employer does not agree. :( ) The longest we've been out for in one trip was six days. The only electricity we use is some LED lights (2 watts each), the water pump (50 watts when running?), and our phone charger (5 watts). According to an online calculator I found (http://midsummerenergy.com/solar_panel_information/solar_panel_calculator.html), based on estimates of how long we use each "load", our total amp-hours a day come to a whopping 3! (37.5 watt-hours.) As for our battery, it's an AGM battery that's listed as having 68 amp hours. Q1: does the fact I use 3 amp hours a day mean I could effectively go about 20 days on my 68 amp-hour battery? (I never would, I'm just verifying that I understand the meaning of these numbers.) Should I even worry about trying to charge the battery on the short trips I take, given how little power I use? If the answer to Q1 is Yes, then on to Q2... Q2: the trailer came with a 5 watt panel attached to the roof and they wired in an on/off switch. In direct sun it puts out 19 volts. Can I leave this panel on without fear of overcharging my battery? I've read a few places that have implied a small enough panel doesn't require a charge controller. Is that true? And if so, what would be considered "small enough"? Should I just install a controller to be safe? Thanks! Hope all of that made sense. James1.9KViews0likes17CommentsRe: Older, white trailer is yellowing
Didn't even think about the fact it could actually be an off white trailer, thank you! Appreciate everyone's replies. After the points about it being thinly painted and having old caulk, I think I'm just going to lightly spray off the dirt and live with it. Thanks again. James511Views0likes0CommentsOlder, white trailer is yellowing
Hi all, New to the site, relatively new to RV'ing. We have a white 78 Wilderness 19' TT that we picked up a couple years ago. I'm wondering if there is a collective wisdom on the forum for cleaning the outside of older trailers. I ask because ours is starting to become more and more beige or yellow as time goes on, and water alone hasn't really helped. There is a DIY car wash near my house that has a tall bay for RVs. Would you trust the soap/cleaner from one of those outfits? Is there an over-the-counter cleaner I should look for instead? Thanks in advance! James3.9KViews0likes19Comments
Groups
Bucket List Trips
Bucketlist destinations you just can't miss. Which spots stick with you?Jan 18, 202513,487 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 21, 202544,029 Posts
