Cannon_George
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Battery Conversion from Lead Acid to LIFePO4 on Northern Lite
I have a Northern Lite Model 811OSEC camper. (Shortbed) This is my "Ham Shack" that I use for supporting various remote ACS/ARES ham radio events; I typically will use FM or UHF and sometimes HF radios to help coordinate Search & Rescue activity; often late at night and of course well out of cell phone range. The question I have is that I would like to replace the camper lead acid battery (only one is installed now) with a lighter (and maybe more capacity) LIFePO4 battery(ies); I expect the existing solar charge controller would need to be replaced and would I need to add a "Battery Isolator" to keep camper batteries isolated from the truck batteries? Has anyone in this group done this upgrade? I appreciate any guidance that you can provide, Thank You!1.8KViews0likes7CommentsRe: PSA Annoucement Regarding Spilled Beer.....
This particular beer was Miller Light. (watered down compared to many others) (I don't like IPAs or Stout, my preference would be Tetley's which as far as I know is only available near me on tap.) Boddington's would be next on the list but near impossible to find in cans for me.... The Propane gas detector did its job; for that I am thankfull! Hopefully I never hear it again!965Views0likes0CommentsPSA Annoucement Regarding Spilled Beer.....
PSA - Public Service Annoucement I learned this by surprise, driving on rough dirt roads bad enough to upend the box containing beer and busting a can open will set off your propane detector! Passing this tidbit along in case this ever happens to you. I can't imagine beer alochol vapor-in-air percentage ever reaching a stochimetric explosive point; but now you know the detectors are there to protect us! (At least, they provide warning of splilt beer!)2.1KViews0likes11CommentsCamper (and Ham Radio) helped with a rescue....
Last month, I used camper (and enclosed internal space) to program a brand new ham's HT to certain frequencies related for an off-road "endurance" 100k event; held in challenging high altitude terrain (high Sierras). This was the new Ham Operator's first ever support event; we both were called in from "out of the area" to help provide support. The camper provided me with a sheltered space within which to perform this programmiung. Much later that day, we had a runner go missing and close to midnight we started a search effort using the local County's Search and Rescue team. We're in an area well out of cell phone range. She was lost somewhere in a 4.7 mile trail stretch, extreme darkness and temperature dropping. The new Ham was dispatched (with his HT) with the S&R team to the field. I maintained a radio link in my camper using antenna mast with him and local Net Control. Around 12:20 am he was ecstatic to report over radio that they had found her! She was quite disorientated; she reported "blacking out" and didn't recall ever passing through the previous aid station. She was transported to town and recovered quickly. The use of the truck camper provided a great temporary, remote and weather protected "base" station; we were well off-road and out of cell range; very remote (4WD, "off grid"). I had previously provided external Anderson Power Poles and "through hull" antenna connections to keep us working during this event.1.8KViews0likes6CommentsRe: What do you guys use for communication in your truck camper?
SAT Messaging is great; for those set up with it. I want to suggest an alternative; use of Ham Radio frequencies and use of APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System). I travel frequently off-road out of cell phone range. But I may still be able to "hit" an APRS repeater and send short SMS (text) messages or even short Text Messages via Email to loved ones. You need to get an FCC license (even with Covid, this is not that complicated); and a 2M radio.710Views0likes0CommentsRe: Happijac lubrication
Goshawk Regarding Exterior Finish: (for others) - there was a period of time where Happijac tubes were rusting badly via small exterior corrosion cells, I believe due to bad coating, I had to disassemble the jacks and take the tubes in to be sandblasted and powder coated. This fixed the problem. I wrote to Happijac but they did not answer me. Regarding Bound-up tubes: I'm sorry for your trouble. Need to ask, is this just one tube or all 4? Is it at all possible you backed into/hit something and may have bent the tube(s)? (It wouldn't take much deflection to mess this up). Regarding motors and water entry: It supposedly never rains in So Cal but I've had to rebuild several motors for this. Can't explain why, but motors were seized up solid with clear signs of water entry and damage. FYI, the little "drill motor" size bearings were readily available on Amazon for as low as 10qty/$12.99; (Same size as used in kid's "spinners") - the local NAPA store wanted $70 for just one bearing! It is my experience that years ago you could send in motors for exchange/rebuild but nowadays they will only sell you a complete replacement motorhead assembly, no exchange possible. I'm overall happy with Happijac; but I'd be happy paying a little more for some extra Zerk grease nipples or oil lubrication ports, if that would assure longer life/ease of maintenance.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: TCs, Ham Radio and Kids
Thanks for all the replies! The local group set up a temporary portable repeater (2M) earlier this week, and early today we put it to good use providing communications in support of a large Autism 5K/10K fun run event. I deployed with the TC and brought along two new young hams and let them work the radios for me. The 4:00 wake-up call meant the TC also became the breakfast wagon once we were on station. The TC also provides a reliable (and solar backed) source of 12VDC power for operating higher power (50W) mobile radios in situations where handhelds (5W) won't work. Acampingwewillgo, Jimh425, etc. Gordon West is still around and busy as ever, full of energy, I ran into him at the ARRL HamFest in Quartzite earlier this year. I have found memories of Heathkit (as well as mags Popular Electronics, Electronics Illustrated, etching my own PC boards and lots of solder burns but the truth is nowadays not many kids have even seen a soldering iron. Times are a changing.... For those of you interested in taking the FCC exam it really is pretty easy, a site like "Hamstudy.org" to build custom practice tests around what you don't know. Gordon West and ARRL offer excellent study materials. Morse Code (CW) is no longer required for your license but many, many people still use (and are learning) it. Ham Radio has exploded in the past decade into several different directions - I like using APRS (Automatic Position Reporting Systems) to transmit coordinates and short messages to other cell phones despite me being out of cell phone range. I'm also learning how to use FLDIGI to transmit digital files. Other people swear by using DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) modes of transmission which may also include bridges to Dstar and Fusion systems. Finally, a number of cross-internet platforms out there where you can use computer or even cell phone to access a powerful radio station somewhere else in the world and re-broadcast your voice through a simple headset connection! Lots to learn, and learning keeps me young! The two young (age 12) kids that helped me this morning want to build something out of Arduino and Raspberry Pis cobbled together, can't wait to see what it is! '73, KC6LPE Cannon George680Views0likes0CommentsTCs, Ham Radio and Kids
Passing along as ‘FYI.’ A ham radio operator, often use my TC as a “Ham Shack.” Active in my local ARES/ACS radio support group and often deploy to support local civic and charity events including Marathons and Bicycle Races. For many events, I deploy and set up in remote areas outside of cell phone range. In this case, the ability to access repeaters, communicate with an Event Net Control Operator, makes all the difference in obtaining a speedy response, be it as simple as getting more water or even emergency medical support. In rare cases, the ability for a mobile “Ham Shack” to drive off-road to a particular “off-grid” way-point becomes even more pronounced. (The TC is perfect for this) Most of what I use is simple dual-band (2M/440) communications but on occasion will string out an HF antenna – and listen/chat around the world! By using APRS repeaters, (Automatic Position Reporting System) one can send short messages to cell phones and e-mail, even though you are way out of cell phone range. Ham radio clubs all over the country need new, younger members – (to backfill dying and retiring members) I have discovered taking kids out camping, setting up the campsite, then setting up the radio station works wonders! Let them talk! They are hooked and right away I have kids (girls and boys) interested in getting their FCC license – as well as volunteering to support the next event. Especially if it involves camping; something else disappearing from the lexicon of young adults today…. Finally, (in case you are wondering), kids are quite happy to set up their own new-found tents outside the camper, leaving me with my own personal space. I'll cook and feed them. If weather is really bad we’ll adjust; but kids are amazingly resilient to adverse conditions…. '73, KC6LPE4.4KViews0likes27Comments
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