nwgs motorhome addiction and therapy thread - Page 8

Daniii · 05-22-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanF

On the 480 watts of solar (4 x 120 watt panels):

AC loads:
1 desktop PC & flat screen monitor, 8 hours/day, 5 days/week
1 laptop PC, every day
Router & satellite modem
Occasional printer (HP Deskjet 460)
Occasional food processor, coffee grinder, battery charger (18v cordless tools, etc.)

DC Loads:
DVD player/car stereo, few hours/day
LED lights every day
12" Fan occasionally
Cell phone charger
Muffin fans for battery box and toilet ventilation
Water pump as needed

I also have 4 x 420Ah batteries (Trojan L16H) and never discharge more than 25% (75% remaining).

HTH
Sean

With a good evap cooler, and plenty of water, you could do a dry climate pretty well. Not so much in a humid one. We has a small evap cooler on our camper, and kept the inside at 75F while it was 105F outside, running on a single deep cycle battery, for about 8 hours. Then a couple on the generator. (We were camping on lake Powell, so we had plenty of water)

DELTATANGO · 05-22-2009, 07:59 AM

SeanF is a virtuoso.

Nice moho.

SeanF · 05-22-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniii

With a good evap cooler, and plenty of water, you could do a dry climate pretty well. Not so much in a humid one. We has a small evap cooler on our camper, and kept the inside at 75F while it was 105F outside, running on a single deep cycle battery, for about 8 hours. Then a couple on the generator. (We were camping on lake Powell, so we had plenty of water)

Good timing.

My summer location will creep toward 100 degrees (with low humidity), so I am going to try a small evap cooler. Basically a large box fan with a pad and pump to circulate the water. Since I have grid power available I don't have to worry about power consumption on this puppy (but it is relatively low anyway). Same with water...few gallons/day, which is no problem where I am. But it would be if I were truly boondocking.

I really like where I am so I hope it works.

PirateJohn · 05-22-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanF

On the 480 watts of solar (4 x 120 watt panels):

AC loads:
1 desktop PC & flat screen monitor, 8 hours/day, 5 days/week
1 laptop PC, every day
Router & satellite modem
Occasional printer (HP Deskjet 460)
Occasional food processor, coffee grinder, battery charger (18v cordless tools, etc.)

DC Loads:
DVD player/car stereo, few hours/day
LED lights every day
12" Fan occasionally
Cell phone charger
Muffin fans for battery box and toilet ventilation
Water pump as needed

I also have 4 x 420Ah batteries (Trojan L16H) and never discharge more than 25% (75% remaining).

HTH
Sean

I don't see any A/C in there. It must get hot during the day.

Are those your only batteries, or do you have another bank?

DELTATANGO · 05-22-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

Motorhomes clearly are more reliable if you use them full time. Ours sat for several years before we bought it and you'd be surprised at the number of systems that have come back to life after just a little vibration from going down the road and flicking of switches.

We didn't have a sewer hookup at our workshop so we'd have to fire up the old girl every 7 days or so and drive it a few miles to an RV park that had a dump station. That was a great cycle; when FEMA called last fall we could honestly say that we were road worthy and ready to go ASAP.

Oh yeah. And ours is paid for as well. Bikes and trailer are paid for too.

We looked at some newer stuff and SWMBO'd sometimes talks about going back to work and getting a newer Newell but I'm pretty happy with the old 'bird.

Its fun.

Daniii · 05-22-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I don't see any A/C in there. It must get hot during the day.

Are those your only batteries, or do you have another bank?

I suspect he is on the bike during the day.

Where he camps/lives, it cools off at night.

Unlike Florida, S Texas and Memphis.

DELTATANGO · 05-22-2009, 08:09 AM

Has anyone ever used like a mylar or some kind of reflective tarp to block the sun?

PirateJohn · 05-22-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniii

I suspect he is on the bike during the day.

Where he camps/lives, it cools off at night.

Unlike Florida, S Texas and Memphis.

South Texas seemed noticeably less humid than Florida but ...

Swamp coolers are practically unknown in Florida.

We are geared for hot climates and disaster relief. Not a lot of hurricanes in the hot and dry middle of the country, I guess.

cogitate · 05-22-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlcr

check here.

That's it! thanks. Off to drool on my keyboard.

Daniii · 05-22-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

S
Swamp coolers are practically unknown in Florida.

I should hope.

SeanF · 05-22-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeputyTom

SeanF is a virtuoso.

Nice moho.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

I don't see any A/C in there. It must get hot during the day.

Are those your only batteries, or do you have another bank?

No A/C....no way that could happen with solar & batteries. There wouldn't be enough roof area to accommodate the number of panels needed for A/C.

No other batteries, other than a starting battery for the bus.

PirateJohn · 05-22-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanF

Thanks!

No A/C....no way that could happen with solar & batteries. There wouldn't be enough roof area to accommodate the number of panels needed for A/C.

Yeah, that's what I was wondering. I have practically unused storage pods Up There but no matter how you slice things the roof real estate is pretty tight.

There is a guy on another list that I am on who runs massive shortwave radios off of some solar panels on top of a 10 year old Foretravel Unicoach. I need to get in touch with him and see what he can REALLY run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanF

No other batteries, other than a starting battery for the bus.

Do you have "a" starting battery or a bank of batteries to start the main engine?

My 3406B CATs in my company Kenworths from 20 years ago required 4 massive batteries to start the truck engines, and if they were discharged it basically took a special generator to charge them back up enough to start.

On the motorhome I've got a bank of 3 to run the engine and all the household stuff. More modern motorhomes differ by having separate banks of batteries for the chassis (engine) and the house (lighting and stuff).

I have considered adding extra batteries but I don't have the space unless I move or remove something.

The lack of battery capacity is about the only thing that irritates me with a classic Bluebird vs. some of the newer coaches. If I were to build one from scratch I'd redo the electrical system.

DireWolf · 05-22-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solaros1

I just creamed myself.

DireWolf · 05-22-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanF

Oops. Twice in one day.

MudWalker · 05-22-2009, 10:36 AM

So how does this work? I want one really bad, I'm pretty handy with screwdrivers and stuff, what will something like this particular beast do to my spare time?

TRAVEL MASTER POMPANO GS 1989
33', 454 GM, full bdrm, many upgrades,
$8000 Saratoga Springs, NY

Seems like a whole lotta machine for $8000.

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05-22-2009, 07:59 AM	#107
DELTATANGO Motorcyclist and Dog Walk Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Oddometer: 12,656	SeanF is a virtuoso. Nice moho.

05-22-2009, 08:09 AM	#112
DELTATANGO Motorcyclist and Dog Walk Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Oddometer: 12,656	Has anyone ever used like a mylar or some kind of reflective tarp to block the sun?

05-22-2009, 10:36 AM	#120
MudWalker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Lake George Oddometer: 1,892	So how does this work? I want one really bad, I'm pretty handy with screwdrivers and stuff, what will something like this particular beast do to my spare time? TRAVEL MASTER POMPANO GS 1989 33', 454 GM, full bdrm, many upgrades, $8000 Saratoga Springs, NY Seems like a whole lotta machine for $8000.