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General Discussion / Quartzsite 2024
« on: January 18, 2024, 09:02:51 pm »
Anyone heading to Quartzsite for the 2024 RV show, January 20-28th?
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Adventure Anywhere / Re: Quartzsite RV Show
« on: January 18, 2024, 02:02:35 pm »
We are planning to attend arriving on the 20th. Have no place to stay yet. Was planning to meet up with anyone else, in reference to a posting a few months ago.
Kirk Antes
thehomelessguy@yahoo.com
Kirk Antes
thehomelessguy@yahoo.com
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General Discussion / Re: Thanks Elkhart reunion committee!!
« on: November 19, 2023, 12:07:56 am »
We also had a very nice time at the reunion. Luc & I had a great time meeting folks again, the food was good, the Amish tour was wonderful, and thank you to the Phoenix Cruiser Company for a very instructional tour of the assembly plant. I understand what goes into planning and executing such a detailed get=together with all of the dynamics involved. ALL of your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Kirk & Lucy
Kirk & Lucy
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General Discussion / Re: Lithium upgrade - 2011 P.C. 3100
« on: November 14, 2023, 10:44:06 am »
I looked up the Renogy DCC50S 12volt 50A DC to DC charge controller (Although I have several Renogy products, I was unaware of this one) If you were just starting a project, and wanted to keep your solar/Lithium battery project on the small side; this might be "just the ticket." As long as you were willing to abide by the restrictions of the unit. It says that it can control solar input and alternator input to keep your house battery charged and there are two products to choose from; a 30A and a 50A model. The 30 A model restricts you to only 50-100 Ah of LiPo4 batteries, and less than 400 watts of solar. The 50 A model allows for only 100-200Ah of LiPo4 batteries and 600 watts of solar. This unit allows for bluetooth monitoring on your phone, which can be nice, but personally, I prefer to be able to look at a remote monitor that I have mounted in some convenient place. But, I am phone app challenged.
So, as long as your system will stay small, this might work well for you. Like I said, I have several Renogy products and have been happy with them. GOOD LUCK! https://www.renogy.com/dcc50s-12v-50a-dc-dc-on-board-battery-charger-with-mppt/
So, as long as your system will stay small, this might work well for you. Like I said, I have several Renogy products and have been happy with them. GOOD LUCK! https://www.renogy.com/dcc50s-12v-50a-dc-dc-on-board-battery-charger-with-mppt/
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General Discussion / Re: Lithium upgrade - 2011 P.C. 3100
« on: November 10, 2023, 08:42:05 pm »
Oh, sorry; you were also interested in a charge controller.
I went with an EpEvers MPPT. I've been very happy with it so far. Personally, I like individual components that can be changed out, if they fail, DIY. With the exception of the Xantrex charger, inverter/converter which was the easy R&R at the very beginning of this "experiment."
Figure out how much solar you are willing to have either on your roof, on the ground, or both, then figure out what the wattage output will be. Divide the wattage by 12.8, to be safe, or 14.6 if you're feeling lucky. that will be your amperage, which will determine what size wire and charge controller you will need.
Side note: As far as charge controllers go, stick with the more efficient (and more expensive, of course)MPPT: Maximum Power Point Tracking over the PWM : Pulse Width Management. The MPPT are much more efficient.
Another suggestion: Purchase a book by Will Prowse called; Mobile Solar Power made Easy. Its $15 on Amazon and well worth the cost. The book will walk anyone, no matter experience, through converting their RV from LA to LiPo4 batteries, and adding solar.
K
I went with an EpEvers MPPT. I've been very happy with it so far. Personally, I like individual components that can be changed out, if they fail, DIY. With the exception of the Xantrex charger, inverter/converter which was the easy R&R at the very beginning of this "experiment."
Figure out how much solar you are willing to have either on your roof, on the ground, or both, then figure out what the wattage output will be. Divide the wattage by 12.8, to be safe, or 14.6 if you're feeling lucky. that will be your amperage, which will determine what size wire and charge controller you will need.
Side note: As far as charge controllers go, stick with the more efficient (and more expensive, of course)MPPT: Maximum Power Point Tracking over the PWM : Pulse Width Management. The MPPT are much more efficient.
Another suggestion: Purchase a book by Will Prowse called; Mobile Solar Power made Easy. Its $15 on Amazon and well worth the cost. The book will walk anyone, no matter experience, through converting their RV from LA to LiPo4 batteries, and adding solar.
K
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General Discussion / Re: Lithium upgrade - 2011 P.C. 3100
« on: November 10, 2023, 04:27:37 pm »
I also have a 2011 3100 and have upgraded my batteries and Xantrex converter. I called Xantrex and asked what the easiest conversion was and was told that their 2000 could also be programmed to properly charge LiPo4 batteries (to 14.6 volts, instead of the fully charged LA batteries at 12.8v) and was an easy change out. I believe this unit cost about $850, but, as they told me, it was a super easy exchange all of the wires that went into the 1800, went into the same holes on the new 2000. I also changed out my 2 golf cart batteries that weighed tons! and essentially ruined my battery pull-out tray, with 3-SOK 206 Ah LiPo4 batteries. I could only fit 1 SOK battery on the tray, but I built battery "holders" that bolt to the chassis frame. With the 800 watts of CIGS solar panels on the roof, we have camped under trees for 7 days, and every evening the 9000Wh of batteries were fully charged, even after using the griddle, coffee pot and hot pot in the morning, and running the refrigerator on 120V all day/night.
I know you asked about exchanging the Xantrex, but I also added 2 more inverters; a 2Kw Renogy for the microwave, and another 1Kw to charge everything else (E-Bike batteries etc) for a total of 5Kw of 120v power. I also have a Renogy DC to DC charger installed in case the solar panels need a bit of help. I don't like to over tax the stock alternator, so I went with the 20a model. I've read horror stories about burning up alternators with the higher current demand models and like to be safe. If you're further interested, let me know. Kirk Antes e-mail: thehomelessguy@yahoo.com
I know you asked about exchanging the Xantrex, but I also added 2 more inverters; a 2Kw Renogy for the microwave, and another 1Kw to charge everything else (E-Bike batteries etc) for a total of 5Kw of 120v power. I also have a Renogy DC to DC charger installed in case the solar panels need a bit of help. I don't like to over tax the stock alternator, so I went with the 20a model. I've read horror stories about burning up alternators with the higher current demand models and like to be safe. If you're further interested, let me know. Kirk Antes e-mail: thehomelessguy@yahoo.com
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Polls / Re: Does your Phoenix Cruiser have a slide out?
« on: November 21, 2022, 12:10:08 am »
3100 model with a slide
Dinette and couch/recliners
The gearing is making a lot of noise - on my to do list to check it out
Lubed up and operates much more smoothly, but still grinding noise
The slide appears to double the interior size when opened, but I like that we do not need to open it up for short stops.
I believe that I would invest in a slide in a future? motorhome
Dinette and couch/recliners
The gearing is making a lot of noise - on my to do list to check it out
Lubed up and operates much more smoothly, but still grinding noise
The slide appears to double the interior size when opened, but I like that we do not need to open it up for short stops.
I believe that I would invest in a slide in a future? motorhome
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Polls / Re: Which PC Model Do You Currently Own?
« on: November 21, 2022, 12:04:30 am »
2011, 3100.
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Polls / Re: Please Participate ONLY If You Have Ultra Leather Damage
« on: November 21, 2022, 12:03:03 am »
We bought a 2011, 3100. The drivers & passenger seats, the couch/recliners and the dinette all have failing seat coverings. Costing almost $5,000 to get them all recovered, and that is with me removing all from the coach and bringing in to the shop. What a pain.
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Polls / Re: Please Participate ONLY If You Have Ultra Leather Damage
« on: November 22, 2020, 10:53:59 pm »
I'm a bit late entering into this discussion about the flaking substandard upholstery material, but it is very relevant to us. We just purchased (10/2020) a 2011 3100. The upholstery was BEGINNING to looked a little over used (the rest of the coach is perfect) when we bought it. The sellers, gave us a $2000 concession to cover the upholstery. We spent 12 days on the return trip home. We are NOT tough on furniture, but it is amazing to see how much this stuff fell apart!! We thought when we bought the coach that we could take our time getting the reupholstery taken care of, but NOW, it is such an eyesore, this must be addressed immediately. The dinette, and both front cab seats as well as some of the wall coverings are looking very poorly. Sad that PC hasn't stepped up to fix this issue. I called the factory and was told that there are no "pre-made" replacements to the dinettes (heck, they're just stapled to the plywood bases) and they estimated that the repairs would cost us $2000.
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Polls / Re: Let's talk Oil
« on: November 22, 2020, 10:29:37 pm »
I'm glad that I found this topic.
We just drove to NY to purchase our 2011 3100. It was about 3500 miles back home, with side trips and I needed to add a quart at 3000 miles. The seller had the vehicle serviced just before we picked the PC up, and I checked the oil (kind of anal that way, I guess?) when we left. They used Motorcraft oil. The V-10 was working through the hills that the east coasters call mountains, and we were pulling a toad (2011 Ford Escape) on a tow dolly. I have been driving a diesel for the past 14 years, so I really had to get used to the higher revving V-10. Anyway, sounds like this oil consumption is "normal" when the V-10 is working this hard?
A side topic to the oil conversation should be one on oil filters. I saw a U-tube video where several kinds of filters were cut apart and the difference between filter material inside of the filters was disappointing, to say the least. The Fram, which I have been using since High School Auto Shop Class were the most disappointing. The NAPA Gold and the WIX filters contained the most filtering material. NAPA Gold is made by WIX.
A good friend of mine worked at the county garage where they serviced all county vehicles including police cars. He said the black & whites were considered extreme duty vehicles; they are driven by different deputies every day, sometimes at high speeds for long periods, but hours and hours of idling almost every shift. They switched to full synthetic, and even with the harsh usage, they changed oil only every 7500 miles. But, they used good filters. Just my 2 cents.
We just drove to NY to purchase our 2011 3100. It was about 3500 miles back home, with side trips and I needed to add a quart at 3000 miles. The seller had the vehicle serviced just before we picked the PC up, and I checked the oil (kind of anal that way, I guess?) when we left. They used Motorcraft oil. The V-10 was working through the hills that the east coasters call mountains, and we were pulling a toad (2011 Ford Escape) on a tow dolly. I have been driving a diesel for the past 14 years, so I really had to get used to the higher revving V-10. Anyway, sounds like this oil consumption is "normal" when the V-10 is working this hard?
A side topic to the oil conversation should be one on oil filters. I saw a U-tube video where several kinds of filters were cut apart and the difference between filter material inside of the filters was disappointing, to say the least. The Fram, which I have been using since High School Auto Shop Class were the most disappointing. The NAPA Gold and the WIX filters contained the most filtering material. NAPA Gold is made by WIX.
A good friend of mine worked at the county garage where they serviced all county vehicles including police cars. He said the black & whites were considered extreme duty vehicles; they are driven by different deputies every day, sometimes at high speeds for long periods, but hours and hours of idling almost every shift. They switched to full synthetic, and even with the harsh usage, they changed oil only every 7500 miles. But, they used good filters. Just my 2 cents.
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Adventure Anywhere / Re: Dreaming of Alaska Road Trip
« on: November 22, 2020, 01:26:46 pm »
This is all good, valuable information, thank you for the time & energy of the input. We purchased our PC last month with the intention of making the trek northward, from Southern Utah to Fairbanks in 2022. I have been to Alaska twice, so far, on cruise/inland tours, and am looking forward to seeing more of the scenery accessible only by driving. Looks like I will need to monitor the border crossing conditions a little more closely to ensure an enjoyable trip. Too bad that the crossing officials have such a bad attitude. Have to wonder what the cause behind that is?
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