jeepbluetj
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Re: RV vs residential refrigerator?
The rare RV fridge fire isn't dependent on the fuel the fridge is using (Propane vs 110v) - it's because on either fuel the method to make cold is to generate quite a bit of heat. A propane/electric fridge on 110v is just a 110v heater. You'll have more fires with heaters than with compressors.370Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV vs residential refrigerator?
I swapped out a 10cu ft Magic Chef when the old Dometic died. Added 400w of solar to the roof, a Midnight Kid solar controller, and a 1000w PSW inverter. 220ah worth of battery storage. I camp in SoCal. I could camp forever and the fridge would be fine. Never run the generator, never plug in. Would like another 220ah of battery to better cover a run of very cloudy days, but have never had a single day camping where the battery wasn't fully charged by the end of the day.370Views0likes0CommentsRe: Who knows how to check speaker wire polarity?
Voltmeter won't work to ID the wire polarity. Audio is just another kind of AC, it'll read zero on a DC voltmeter. oldmattb is correct - hook em up one way then the other (on the speaker, so you don't need to get to the back of the radio). Pick which way sounds the best.486Views0likes0CommentsRe: Resi Fridge draining batteries, please help.
That's the model # for the distribution center (Breaker panel) - there'll be a converter/charger mounted behind it somewhere. It should be a WFCO WF-98xx series converter, which are less than optimal as a battery charger. Why? Cause the voltages it charges at are way too low. And I'll bet a beer that the cables from your batteries to the converter are long and undersized. RVs are built as cheaply as possible. WFCO bulk voltage is 14.4v, for a T-105 Trojan recommends 14.82v. Then the WFCO drops to 'absorb' at 13.6v where big deep cycle batteries want to keep that voltage at bulk level until current drops off. Float for the WFCO is 13.2v where a T-105 wants 13.5v. Couple the difference in charge voltage with the fact there's likely a pretty good voltage drop in the wire from the converter to the batteries - you'll get perpetually undercharged batteries. (Why PT said it can take like 160+ hours to get to a full charge) I've used a typical golf cart battery for comparison, but 13.2 is IMHO still too low for cheapie G24s. The solution is solar und a bigger battery bank, and a much better charger if being able to charge from generator/shore is important to you.542Views0likes0CommentsRe: Resi Fridge draining batteries, please help.
That WFCO converter won't charge any better off of a genset when you're boondocking. Solar... Solar is awesome. I haven't been on shore power since I installed solar. I put 200w with a **** PCM controller on my friends trailer and they haven't plugged it in in 3 years. (Propane fridge tho). I can't stand hearing gensets running for hours when $500 worth of solar would fix that problem. (And lots of RVers have killed their batteries through too deep discharge) As most everybody has said, 2 el-cheapo G24 batteries ain't gonna cut it with a residential fridge. Those L16 Trojans are great batteries - But you gotta have a friend that can lift em. 4 GC2s are a tiny bit more capacity, cheaper, and in easier to handle cases. But yup, 2 more interconnects. IMHO 4D and 8D sizes are just too dang big to move around.319Views0likes0CommentsRe: Resi Fridge draining batteries, please help.
400w of solar, mppt controller, hefty battery cables, and 4 GC2 golf-cart batteries. Sam's club usually has the best price on decent batteries. The duracell labelled are East Penn batteries - Trojan T105s are 'better' but more expensive. If you only got 3 hours out of a set of G24s, the batteries weren't fully charged. It takes all day to actually fully charge a battery. A few hours of genset won't really do it. I have 2 GC2s, 380W of solar, a Midnight Kid controller, and a 10cuf residential fridge powered by an inverter. In sunny socal I never run out of power. Only down 30AH or so in the morning when the solar comes back online.218Views0likes0CommentsRe: 2014 Jeep Cherokee needs new tranny
Just had the transmission replaced in our 2015 cherokee (not a toad, just a daily driver) 1200 miles. The replacement is funky, shifts hard, etc... Gotta take it back. And this was Jeep #8 (4 ZJs 1 XJ, 2 TJs, and now the cherokee) -- Doesn't look like there'll be a #9.87Views0likes0CommentsRe: What did you do to your Class C MH today???
Changed the oil and filter Changed the transmission fluid (well, the half in the pan anyway) Changed the brake fluid Replaced the rear-axle ABS sensor and cleared the ABS codes Replaced the trailer wiring connector for a standard 7-way Rigged safety chains to the tow bar I welded up awhile back Hooked up the toad and took it around the block All in all was quite a productive day.179Views0likes0Comments
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