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Joined Aug 01, 2005
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Re: My "new" LiFePo battery doesn't seem to be fully charging. Help!
Thank you, Stircrazy. This is what I was thinking, also. The wire damage I found was up in the battery compartment between the hydraulic pump and the outside wall. When I found the chewed wires a few years ago, I got on the forum trying to find the schematic for this 5th wheel, and mostly was told that Keystone is infamous for either not giving out that information or that they just didn't have the schematic in any form. One thing I'm not looking forward to (and never have been) is pulling those belly sections to get to the wire. Although I have noticed that there is a least one long section of wiring that was 'draped' along the outside of the belly panels. Because we do have the 5th wheel in the woods, there are mice and wood rats that get in. (We use a commercial mint spray to deter them, but there's no way to get that stuff between the inside of the trailer and the belly sections). I have the battery at home now, and when I checked it after I got it here, it's still reading 10.5. I will charge it up again and see what happens. I'm also going to have to do a little homework on how to get to the converter, which I'm assuming is behind the electrical panel by the entry door. Kind of strange that I've spent the last few years building our solar set up, including wiring and computing voltage drop off and re-wiring and getting new breakers for some of the equipment, with a lot of emphasis on my two Trace SW5548 inverters. Now I get to learn about converters and go the opposite direction! 😐 I'll let you know what I find out on this. But first, I have a septic system to finish before the weather changes on me. Thank you again! Lee461Views0likes1CommentRe: Dump Station/Septic system question. What's the best dump station cap for 3" pvc pipe connecton?
Thanks, Stircrazy, I appreciate that. I didn't think about the difference between ABS and PVC, but you are correct. I'll consider using the wye, too, but what I was hoping for was to have a dump tank-like opening like at parks, but this is a good idea. bit-time, this is what I picked up at Lowe's yesterday on the way to the property. I thought I'd mount it at the top of the pvc leading to the septic tank at ground level with a small, 2' square concrete pad around it. But Stircrazy does have a good point concerning a second entry into the drain for later use, although being out in the sticks and the projected use of the shed/shop that's going to be there after the 5th wheel will only be used for gardening, I was thinking about releasing any grey water either into a tank or just out into nature. This will be between two gardens my wife is planning. There will be so little use of a sink or shower (probably won't have a shower), that the drainage will be minimal. Thanks, guys! I appreciate your help! Lee487Views0likes1CommentDump Station/Septic system question. What's the best dump station cap for 3" pvc pipe connecton?
I'm building a septic tank for our 5th wheel on our property and plan to use solid pvc pipe from the trailers exit fitting to the septic entrance, which will be run with 3" pvc also. I'd like to put in a small concrete pad around the pipe where the cap will be installed. I plan on this being the future site of my wife's garden shed, which will have water and a toilet after the 5th wheel has been moved, so I've looked at caps on amazon, but I'd like to know from all of you experts what the best way to connect 3" pvc into the septic. We plan on the 5th wheel being there a couple of years, so I didn't want to use flex hose for fear of mice and wood rats chewing through it. Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this. Lee647Views0likes6CommentsMy "new" LiFePo battery doesn't seem to be fully charging. Help!
We have a 2000 Keystone Montana at our property that we use (for now) as a break room/tool room as we prepare to build a new home on the land. This summer I bought a lithium iron phosphate deep cycle battery to replace our old, bad battery. We don't use anything that's 12v in the 5th wheel these days, and the converter hums, so I had assumed all was well until I checked it yesterday. Using my Fluke 115, when I checked the battery while hooked up and shore power coming in, it showed only .814v. When I disconnected the cables from the battery, it reads 10.53v. What is going on here? When we bought the Montana used 5 years ago, we took it to a local shop and everything checked out ok. We don't use the furnace, hot water or fridge currently. It seems the DC lights work, but not all of them. The 12v lights from the steps to the front (bedroom) don't come on. There has been some damage to the wires in the front battery compartment from mice, but I thought I had that straightened out. So my question is, what could be keeping this battery from getting a full charge when the power to the converter is left on (we have a residential solar set up for the house and shop when they're finished) full time? The battery is a Grener 100ah LiFePo. I plan on adding a second one later, but since we seldom use any 12v power, I figured I'd try this brand out before I purchase a second. It has great reviews on Amazon, where I bought it. Also, all the 120v lights, outlets and AC work fine, so there's no problem on the AC side. Thanks for any suggestions and ideas. I was really surprised to find it not fully charged, and even more confused about the nearly non-existent reading of .8 volts when hooked up. Lee596Views0likes4CommentsRe: 2000 Montana Dometic AC fan quit blowing. I have a capacitor question.
I just realized I had not reported back. I changed the capacitor and, though I don't know why, it started working again. This has been a month or so ago, so, my apologies for not getting back on. The older I get, the worse my memory is, it seems. Thanks to all who helped! Lee287Views1like0CommentsRe: 2000 Montana Dometic AC fan quit blowing. I have a capacitor question.
Well, I took the new capacitor down to the property yesterday, but after it was installed, the same thing is happening. Condensor hums, but the fan isn't kicking on. I guess today I'll check the fan motor and see if it's ok, and now I'm wondering about the relay, too. It seems that when I start troubleshooting something like this, it's never the easiest fixes first. I may end up with a rebuilt AC by the time I'm done with it. In that case, at least I'll know it's good for a few years, anyway. So it's back to the drawing board.468Views0likes0CommentsRe: 2000 Montana Dometic AC fan quit blowing. I have a capacitor question.
When I opened up the AC, I checked everything and it all looked pretty good. This spring when I washed the trailer I took the cap off and cleaned it all up, including using AC foam on the AC coil. Got a few mud dobber nests out of it, but it's good now. The fan side of the capacitor is testing bad, and the new one came in the other day. I just have to get back down there and install it. Thanks for the suggestion!525Views1like0CommentsRe: 2000 Montana Dometic AC fan quit blowing. I have a capacitor question.
Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear. It is 24 years old and I could find no other capacitors in the unit, so I figured this was the case. I just wanted to make sure. I went ahead and ordered another dual run capacitor that will be here in a few days. Of course, the heat here in southeast Missouri decided to jump back up to the usual August mid-90's highs. But I don't spend much time in the 5th wheel when I'm down there. I'm mostly sweating outside getting work done. Thanks for your reply, StirCrazy. Lee577Views0likes0Comments2000 Montana Dometic AC fan quit blowing. I have a capacitor question.
We have our 2000 5th wheel parked on the property we're getting ready to build on, and although it's more of a tool shed than a living area, we still turn the AC on when we're down there working on the place. The other day I switched on the power to the 5er (we have solar set up that will power the house and outbuildings), walked over to the trailer and the compressor was humming but the AC fan wasn't blowing air. After a few youtube videos, I knew the problem is probably the capacitors. I've changed them out in our home AC quite a few times. But the videos I watched all had Start, fan and run capacitors. Mine has a dual fan and run capacitor, 60 and 5 microfarads, but no start capacitor.Is this correct for a 2000 Dometic roof AC? The only other electrical part I could find was the relay, but I just want to make sure before I order the capacitor. Thanks for any help or comments on this. Lee719Views0likes7CommentsRe: Where can I find T&B (Thomas & Betts) circuit breakers, or compatible?
Thanks stircrazy and opnspaces- that's a new one on me. I'm thinking the idea of the PO needing a breaker fast and this was the one on hand. Funny thing happened this morning, though. I got an email from e-trailer.com asking how the adapter I bought from them a year ago for the 100' rv power cord was working. I'd sent the first one back because it wouldn't connect correctly. (it wouldn't seat completely so that the fastening ring was not able to screw in.) I've checked the power at the cord at the trailer, and inside the trailer, but I did not consider checking at the adapter, which is after the cord and before it enters the trailer. Maybe that's the problem?? Kind of doubt it, but I'll have to put the multimeter on that too. Meanwhile, I've got the 30A breaker from Menards and am waiting on the 20A from ebay. Thanks again, everybody! Lee2.2KViews0likes1Comment
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