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Re: Shore power concerns over the winter (new AGM batteries)
RJsfishin wrote: You mentioned over charging. If it is a 3-4 stage converter, it won't over charge, especially in cooler weather. But I would rather do a complete disconnect, deal w/ a little self discharge, then to leave anything connected to the batteries for long periods.... unattended. See I'm not sure what the old converter is, as it's an older van. I bought a 3-4 stage converter after I had the batteries installed but do not have time to install it this winter as my van is at the parents house as I have no place to keep it in the city. As I mentioned before there seems to be a full disconnect switch (when the switch is turned off I lose all power to my house lights in the back, solar converter is turned off, etc. With the switch in the "off position" does that count as "disconnected"?516Views0likes0CommentsRe: Shore power concerns over the winter (new AGM batteries)
MrWizard wrote: leave the solar connected, install the converter and put a switch on it, to tun it on / off as needed Ok perfect. When I got my sound system installed they installed the batteries at the same time. I don't know what the stock converter is, my concern was the original converter wouldn't be sufficient for AGM batteries (previous house battery was a lead acid deep cycle) so I bought a 40amp converter but never got the time to install it. They did however install two switches, one shut off the connection to my amp/sound system and the other switch which I'm assuming is a shut off switch cuts all power to my house lights/solar/etc. So in theory if both those switches are off, I should be fine right? My only concern is if I do plug into shore power when both those switches are off it may still charge my batteries and I could run into trouble. (I apologize for my ignorance of how electrical currents work)517Views0likes0CommentsRe: Shore power concerns over the winter (new AGM batteries)
pianotuna wrote: Hi, I'd think that with BC power rates it would be better to turn on a heater 24 hours before a trip rather than letting it run. I'd allow the solar system to charge the battery bank and leave the breaker for the converter turned off. The heater will be on a timer for a few hours a week as it does get a bit moist in my van. I may just run a separate extension cord from the house into the van. As for keeping the batteries charged I'll turn on the solar/controller every month to check the voltage/charge and charge them via the panels as needed. I've been told because it doesn't get extremely cold here in BC they are OK staying in the van as long as they stay charged.516Views0likes0CommentsShore power concerns over the winter (new AGM batteries)
Not sure if this is the right forum. I have an old 1990 Dodge Islander which I outfitted about a year ago with a basic solar set up (2x 90W panels and controller) When I first bought the van it had a small deep cycle for the house batteries. I almost immediately upgraded to two 400aH lifeline 6V AGM batteries. I had bought a converter from bestconverter.com but never ended up installing it as I was always boondocking and the batteries never dipped below 70%. The solar was always trickling so the batteries were charged all the time. Winter is nigh and now my van is sitting in a driveway waiting to get winterized. I'm still new to the electrical side of things, I have a hard time wrapping my head around it. My question is this, I want to plug into shore power and run a 1500W heater through the outlets inside. My only concern is overcharging the batteries or messing something up with the electrical current. (winter doesn't get that cold here, maybe -2 Degrees Celsius at the coldest so I was planning on just keeping the batteries hooked up like I did last year and turn the solar on once a month for a few days to charge them up) What precautions should I take?1.8KViews0likes13CommentsRe: First time Winterizing. Couple questions
Harvey51 wrote: Right! I was just going to say that valve right at the bottom of the tank is clearly a two way one, aimed to direct the flow into the white hose bypassing the tank. No worries about anything freezing at -2 overnight. Do worry about someone turning on the hot water heater when there is no water in it. Put tape over the switch or disconnect it. Awesome! Once you understand the process everything is pretty painless. It's a small class B so it only took one jug which is pretty awesome. Now seeing I'm using the van all through the winter for ski trips/work (I may rent a car for work but the van will be exposed to the elements) I'm a little worried how it's going to take the weather. Luckily winter is pretty mild here, barely gets to -3C. Tonight is looking like possibly -5 but the record lowest temp was in like 1950 @ -9C. I need to get a couple windows resealed but they seem to be holding for now. I already see ice building up where the snow melted but not much I can do. My AGM house bank should be safe from freezing, my solar panels apparently are made for extreme weather but I feel there could be a couple other things I could do to save my wallet326Views0likes0CommentsRe: Stealth campers
As a 24 year old with $50,000+ of student loans to pay off I lived out of my 1977 ford. E-150 for about a year and a half. Granted I work in the film industry so while I worked I could park at the circus and depending on the transportation department I had free electrical hookup, free water, free propane and when that one kicked the bucket and I upgraded to one with black/grey water they helped with that too. It might be because I live I'm Canada but I was able to find a few parks here and there with van communities. A few times I parked in neighbourhoods with no restriction parking and had a few people approach me but they were normally very nice. As for showers, YMCAs, truck stops. Couchsurfing.com is a great site to meet people and find driveways to park in (depending on how outgoing you are, cook them a dinner and you will have access to their shower). I did get pneumonia one winter from the cold but looking back it was from other factors as well but unless you have some sort of heater I would not recommend boondocking without a good sleeping bag. I used to be in scouts, we used to camp in the snow all the time, with the right gear you can absolutely survive. You just have to be smart. http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary/Learn/SleepingBags/IntroToSleepingBags/SleepingBagSystems.jsp I taped duvetine onto my windows behind my curtains so I could have all the lights on inside and from the outside it looked like no one was inside. The days of my stealth camping was a lot of fun, one big adventure which led to many new friends and inspiration. Remember police aren't out to get you, just don't overstay your welcome, don't be selfish and if you get caught admit your mistakes. Good luck667Views0likes0CommentsRe: First time Winterizing. Couple questions
Turns out there was nothing in the water heater. Took the cap out and nothing drained. Which now looking at the knobs if nothing was going Into the water heater then the knobs were probably already in bypass mode, right? The circle knob on the left if I turn it off then the water will stop there correct and not even get to the white hose?326Views0likes0CommentsRe: First time Winterizing. Couple questions
DutchmenSport wrote: That white hose? To me, it just doesn't make any sense, UNLESS that round knob (on the bottom of the water heater) is another valve. If it is a valve, then all you need to do is turn it. It will stop anything from going into the water heater, and will travel up the white hose. At the top of the white hose, there should be a check-valve that will prevent anything from back-filling into the water heater. Water heater: cold comes in the bottom, hot comes out the top. Now!!! If that round knob is NOT a valve you can turn, (and this is what I think ... you have to take off the white hose from the bottom, and take off the gray hose from the bottom and hook them both up together, which will then manually by-pass your water heater. The connection at the top of the tank should still have a check-valve to keep anything from back-filling into the tank. However this does not make a whole lot of sense either, because that would also allow cold water to go up that white hose, missing the water heater completely, mixing hot with cold giving you luke-warm. (Maybe that was the intent?) So the real question is, what is that round thing on the bottom pipe joint? is that a valve, if so, simply turn it and your in by-pass mode. If it's not a valve, you've got a very strange set-up. After further investigation that grey round knob is in fact a valve I am able to turn. There's also another valve I missed at the top making three valves in total. So when this valve on the right side has been turned off, that obviously stops the water there, but there is no way for it to get into the hot water lines, correct? The two valves at each end of the white hose are currently sitting in what looks like bypass mode already?326Views0likes0CommentsRe: First time Winterizing. Couple questions
Thanks for the input guys, it's a 1990 Islander so it's not new by any means but I've been investing quite a bit into it, solar panels, couple lifeline 400aH batteries, new sound system and plan on putting more into it but this is the first winter I will be facing so I want to protect my investment. I will also be using it in the winter so it won't be sitting. As for the heater I would run heat but my furnace is squeeky and it's parked on the street in the city. Don't want to attract bylaw. As for the heater I've never really used it so I don't feel that safe using it for the first time and being away from it. I will have to investigate the pipe situation tomorrow. Hopefully -2 doesn't do too much damage. Thanks again,327Views0likes0CommentsFirst time Winterizing. Couple questions
So I should have done this way sooner so I'm in a little bit of a pannick mode here as it's supposed to drop to -2 tonight and I'm a little worried. I have drained my fresh, black and grey water tanks but ran into a problem when trying to remove the drain plug for the water heater. I have never used the water heater once since I bought it (4-5 months ago) it's always been in the off position but right the the plug is stuck in there pretty good and I won't be able to find the right tools until tomorrow to drain it. Just hoping I'll be OK for the night. As for pumping through antifreeze before I actually go ahead and start the process I wanted to check with you guys about a couple things. WATER HEATER: From the videos I have seen you need to turn off the valves so water does not get into the heater. I have located the back of my heater and there are two valves. Do I switch both of these off? As for the water pump, I found an old tube that looks like it was used in the past to do what I'm thinking. I'm not sure which hose exactly pumps the water but my instinct tells me it's the one I have circled in this picture. Am I on the right track?3.2KViews0likes12Comments
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