bdoyle
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Joined 22 years ago
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Re: Need battery boxes
I have a century plastics battery box for four 6V batteries. They have many sizes. Just Google Century Plastics battery boxes. You will have to cut your vant holes and drains. I also added a foam rubber seal around the lid and taped around the cables to seal the box up. I used ratchet straps to hold the lid down against the seals. Or you could just duct tape the whole thing up (like I did for ten years). They are very basic as they come but you don't have to build the whole thing.608Views0likes0CommentsRe: Comments & Experiences With Tabletop Hobby Drill Press?
What about a drill guide? Basicly a steel block with perpendicular holes for different drill sizes. Clamp to what you need drilled and use hand drill. They have tap guides as well. This will get you a straight holes but if it is hole to hole distance then it is a different story.418Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grommets to seal battery cables
There is no strain on the cables as everything is pretty much tied down. I recently bought a repo mobile home to fix up and retire in. They have some sealant that they goop around pipes and wires that is almost impossible to cut thru. I could probably 'cast' some of this around that cables. Thinking about casting I used to make molds to cast partholding fixtures with devcon mix. I could give my kid a drawing and have her 3d print a mold up. I was always using a durometer 90 rubber but thet make softer. I was also considering the bulkhead fittings but then I would have to seal up the other slots. I just haven't given much time to a good solution.600Views0likes0CommentsRe: Grommets to seal battery cables
The box is vented to the outside with two 1.5 - 2 inch dia hoses. An inverter / charger is also mounted in that storage cabinet. I really don't want hydrogen gas building up in the compartment. Since the box does not seal by design, I normally wrap a few turns of duct tape around the box. I do have a watering kit installed so I really don't have to access to batteries that often. I just thought there might be a better way of doing this. It is not a round hole in the box, it is more of a slot maybe 1 inch wide 1 3/4 deep with a flat on the top. Just wondering if some one had come across something that was made for that box.600Views0likes0CommentsGrommets to seal battery cables
I've got a Century Plastics battery box that is installed in the front storage bay of my fifth wheel. I have been looking for some kind of grommet that will fit around the cable to seal against the cutouts in the box. Been going thru lots of duct tape sealing this box and there has to be a better way. Thanks, Brian2.9KViews0likes19CommentsRe: Reviewing Solar and batteries for retirement
I was looking at the larger 300 watt panels to replace the 110s if they was dead. But they look to be functioning properly and I think I can add one more 12v panel up there. Saw a kit with 2 that was over 600 watts. I also just ordered the PWM controller. Oh well...483Views0likes0CommentsRe: Reviewing Solar and batteries for retirement
Almot wrote: Though, the OP 220W doesn't qualify as big. Those were installed 15 years ago, big improvement over the single 100W I had on my first trailer. Should probably add a third but there is not much real estate up on the roof.483Views0likes0CommentsRe: Reviewing Solar and batteries for retirement
Forgot to mention, I do have the flow rite watering system installed. Makes thing much easier. Hair dryer: She says she uses the low setting. With a Kill-A-Watt meter it is using 300 watts. It supposedly takes 5 to eight minutes to dry. 30 amp load plus inverter? Hopefully steps in the right direction...483Views0likes0CommentsRe: Reviewing Solar and batteries for retirement
Well, as a bit of an update: 1) run with a new set of costco batteries for now. If I can get them to live then goto something better later on. 2) Coleman Campstove drip coffe maker. Propane vs batteries. Should work out ok. 3) Morningstare Prostar PS-30M controller. Panels seem to be working ok but controller might be lying to me. Looking for better charging modes. Unloaded panels output 20.6V and 12amp. They are shell solar 110 panels (2X) but 15 years old. Will add RTS and battery voltage sense wire. 4) Probably replace Xantrex and coach controller with a bit more modern controller/charger and a separate inverter. No decisions on that yet. Thanks for all your help, much to digest. Brian483Views0likes0CommentsRe: Reviewing Solar and batteries for retirement
"May I ask, what "equipment"?" Display on Mark PV solar controller display. Just being lazy. But it looks as though it has been lying to me. "There isn't much to read about controllers, for your purpose. You have PWM type, it only works with 12V panels in parallel. To add more panels without changing the wire from roof to controller, you need to wire panels in series and use MPPT controller. Amps rating of controller will depend on the array size. " See more reading... (just kidding)281Views0likes0Comments
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