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1

General Discussion / Re: Door latch HELP please

« on: January 12, 2019, 10:27:06 am »

Does the Bauer key-less lock install without modification to the door opening? I tried the RVlock.com key-lees lock and it would require grinding down about 1/8-3/16 of steel from the bottom of the door opening.
Thanks

2

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 25, 2018, 09:11:01 am »

I asked my engineer Ray about that - he said this;

"Actually shade is a bad thing on any array... but with the bypass diodes that are in the panels, the series installed array suffers a little less as it has more overhead voltage to work with."

But the difference wasn't worth climbing up on top of your Cruiser to change to series.

Chuck

3

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 22, 2018, 02:00:08 pm »

Here is my engineer's reply;

Basic electronics 101: When power sources are connected in Parallel, the current capacity is additive.  When Power sources are connected in Series the Voltage is additive.

Maximum Power Point Tracking PV regulators take advantage of this by wiring the matched (voltage and current output the same within small tolerances) in Series to obtain higher voltage and lower current through the wiring system to the MPPT regulator. The regulator can then actively convert the input to the optimal desired voltage and current to the battery bank.

Here is a pretty good explanation: https://www.solar-electric.com/learning-center/batteries-and-charging/mppt-solar-charge-controllers.html


Ray D. Congdon - KL7UT


Thanks!
Chuck

4

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 22, 2018, 12:11:44 pm »

Sure!  Here is a pretty good site for 2 100w panels, parallel and serial. 

https://winnebagolife.com/2018/03/add-portable-solar-to-your-rv

I have 4 Renogy 100w panels.  They produce 21v at max.  That's why I have to have a 40A MPPT controller.   I have seen my controller register pv 82  volts. 
I concede the amps number may be wrong until my friend and engineer sends me a reply, which I will post here.  I do know the MPPT controller figures out your needs and goes for the gusto. 

Happy Thanksgiving all!

More later.
Chuck

5

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 21, 2018, 10:22:54 am »

I will check for a off/on switch on the inverter.  I only hope that there is one - Problem solved then?!!
Thanks Larry!
Chuck

6

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 21, 2018, 09:01:37 am »

My Battery is turned off, as well as the furnace, refer, water heater, fans, lights, inverter- all are turned off.  My panels ARE connected serially and will go as high as 82 V or 32 amps, that's why the 40 Amp MPPT controller.  You get much more power from serial connections, especially in poor conditions, but you have to have the proper controller.

My inverter is the 1800 watt Xantrax.  There is a little control switch behind the driver's seat, and it is turned off.  But here is the strange thing - when I turn the battery off, and the inverter is off, I can turn the battery back on and the inverter fan starts and runs a few seconds, and the inverter is still turned off.

I bought a DC amp meter and am going to test for discharge.  I hope I find something. The electron bucket is leaking!

Thanks for all the help!
Chuck

7

General Discussion / Drain on batteries when inverter and battery is off.

« on: November 20, 2018, 06:00:22 pm »

Hello all!

I have a 2012 2910T.  I installed solar panels and batteries for boon-docking. I have 4 100Ah 12 V Batteries parallel and 4 100W panels connected serially and a 40a MPPT controller.  I have turned off my inverter, but even then the solar panels  can not keep up.  When I disconnect the battery, then connect it again, the inverter fan turns on - even when the switch says it's off!  The surge protector is off, I checked the chassis battery and it has a different Voltage than the carriage so the"start" switch is off (I think).
The drain overnight is almost impossible to recharge using the solar alone .  When the battery is turned off I still have a nightly discharge from about 12.7 to 12.1.
I understand the cold weather (11 deg in the morning and highs of 40 - in Idaho) is effecting battery capacity , but the panels are putting out 6-20 amps during most of the day, and of course nothing at night. I would expect a float of 13.3V during the day without the battery connected.
Any ideas? Is it just the cold?
Thanks!

8

General Discussion / Re: Drain on batteries when Inverter is off

« on: November 20, 2018, 10:36:52 am »

Hello all!

I have a 2012 2910T.  I installed solar panels and batteries for boondocking. I have turned off my inverter, but even then the solar panels (400W) can not keep up.  When I disconnect the battery, then connect it again, the inverter fan turns on - even when the switch says it's off!
The drain overnight is almost impossible to recharge using the solar alone.  When the battery is turned off I still have a discharge from about 12.6 to 12.2.
Any ideas?

9

General Discussion / Re: DISH vs DirecTV

« on: November 13, 2018, 08:07:15 am »

Thanks all.  TheLuvShack, I found out the problem.  I was plugged into the Output side of the RCA block.  The Dish tech told me I needed to be on the Input side.  When I plugged in the Wally to the input side of the RCA block - BAM- I had Dish TV!

10

General Discussion / Re: DISH vs DirecTV

« on: November 12, 2018, 04:15:47 pm »

What is the "source" you use?  I have not been able to find the Dish.  I hooked the Wally to the RCA block, and the tailgater to the Wally.  No Dish.  I can see lots of satellites with my Satellite Finder app.  Usually the TV uses the antenna and then goes to the RCA, then to the surround sound.  Nada here.
Any ideas?

Thanks
Chuck

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General Discussion / Re: DISH vs DirecTV

« on: October 13, 2018, 04:58:17 pm »

I am having difficulty hooking up the Tailgater from Dish.  I am not at all sure where to connect the Wally.  Should I use the input video and sound, or #3 output video and sound.  I know I hook the coax to the Wally and the incoming antenna, then the Tailgater to the outside antenna hookup (or I think I know).  And then, where do I set the sound console, Aux1 or where?  Do I use the Dish remote to program the channels?
Thanks all for any help.  I have learned A BUNCH  from this forum.  You're all great help.