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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Deep Creep
Fact..I once had a very nice little portable that when I first got it put out a waveform nasty enough that an APC UPS plugged into it complained... Of course this was on the first tank of gas, basically new and out of the box. after sitting for who knows how long on the store shelf.
After the 2nd tank of gas I tried that same UPS again and it was happy, less than 3% harmonic distortion is the spec for that generator and my scope showed a nice clean sine wave.
The original poor waveform was due to lack of exercise believe it or not.
Do you think it was hash from brushes or commutator?
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bill h
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10/05/08 02:38pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Motorhomes in Aspen, Colorado? NOPE
Aside from the obvious class and economic issues in Aspen, we have found that mining towns in particular and mountain towns in general are not laid out for long or wide vehicles.
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bill h
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10/05/08 01:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Have you used the self-stick tiles on your floor?
We used self-stick squares in a fiver that was a perm in a park on the Colo River. It got really hot there, even though we had a beehive ventilator over one roof vent. And, of course, it got down into the teens every winter.
We scrubbed the vinyl floor with a wax remover, then Scotchbrite and Spic and Span, then rinsed several times, to be sure of good adhesion. These were Armstrong tiles, so decent quality.
The tiles did not stay exactly where they were placed. It was very disappointing, since we both worked hard to make every detail of the fit perfect. :(
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bill h
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10/05/08 12:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Let your brakes cool down..but for how long? Tragic
There's a difference between just brakes that are overheated and what we refer to as boiling brake fluid
Which is why I use DOT5 silicone fluid. It's almost impossible to boil.
I wonder how many brake fade problems are boiling fluid and how many are just too much heat on the pad and disk.
The question would be, which sets in first, boiling fluid or mechanical/thermodynamic brake fade.
In racing, I have experienced brake fade without fluid boiling.
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bill h
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10/05/08 12:47pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Can I drink alcohol in my RV if parked????
If I am in a marginal situation, like someone else's parking lot, I prefer to have all my faculties working at 100%.
I don't mind a little impairment when parked in traditional sites. :)
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bill h
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10/05/08 12:42pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Deep Creep
Kohler recommends 1 hour a month at at least 50% load. This not only keeps the carb clean but warms the gen itself to clear out moisture.
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bill h
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10/04/08 11:09pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Tell me about dogs and California beaches...
We are going near near San Diego and I'm really hoping we can let Daisy play on the beach. Are most California beaches off limits to dogs??
There is a beach at Del Mar, just north of San Diego that is dog legal. Right where the creek dumps into the ocean, west of the fair grounds.
There is a dog beach at the Belmont Shores area of Long Beach.
Yes, most CA beaches are posted no dogs.
Many people run their dogs at beaches where there are not very many people or ticket-writers.
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bill h
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10/03/08 06:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Street Legal Motorcycle to use with RV
On page 2 of the CA DMV motorcycle handbook, anything 149cc or less is not legal on the freeway. There is no mention of hp or two/four stroke. I recall it used to be 5 hp quite a while back. I think honest horsepower is a more useful indication than displacement. As an example, a Honda SL125 ran rings around my Vespa 160, which was bored out to 180 and ported and milled a little. I recall an uphill where my friend on the SL125 with a girl pillion outclimbed me solo.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/280490/CA-DMV-Motorcycle-Handbook?query2=www.cadmv.gov
With a passenger, you might need bigger than that, depending on hills, etc. I rode a Vespa GS 160 solo for years with no freeway problems.
Whatever you buy, be sure parts and service are available. Those little guys work pretty hard.
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bill h
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10/03/08 03:37pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 10 Things to Scratch From Your Worry List while vacationing
Now I get to pine over all the hot dogs I denied myself for health reasons. :(
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bill h
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10/03/08 01:51pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Forum Offline Friday Night into Saturday Morning
Does that mean it will work better?
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bill h
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10/03/08 01:30pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Password Management Software?
Thanks, guys. This is great info. I have sent him a link to this thread so he can keep up to date on any additions.
Reading all of this makes me wonder if any of it is better than the Norton 360 function I am using.
Should I change?
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bill h
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10/03/08 01:22pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Could it be dirty solar panels?
Sam's comments on usage are probably on target for your problem.
I would recommend that everybody get an accurate figure on their DC usage. Of course, a Trimetric or similar is great, but a simple ammeter will tell you a lot. A clamp on DC ammeter is nice, but an inexpensive auto ammeter can also do the job with fair accuracy. If you have a battery disconnect, you can put the ammeter across the disconnect. When you park, you can open the disconnect and all battery power drawn from the batts will show on the ammeter. Just be sure to close the disconnect for starting the genset. If you want to be sure, put a high enough fuse or CB in the ammeter line to protect it. You will still have the ability to totally disconnect the battery by opening the disconnect and removing the fuse or opening the CB.
The ammeter will give you a reading for each appliance if you run them one at a time, or will read whatever is on at the moment. With this information and some usage duration figures, you can convert to amp hours or watt hours of usage and balance that against what the solar provides.
I believe my Trimetric has paid for itself by helping me nanny my batteries for increased life. Not only does this help the batteries last longer, but I avoid the inconvenience and expense of buying replacement batteries of a brand I do not like from a place I do not like at a time I do not like in a location I do not like and at a price I do not like.
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bill h
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10/03/08 01:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Sewer hose storage
I made mine out of 5 inch square plastic fence post from Lowes. It is large enough for me to leave fittings on the hose.
That too could be a good idea. How long of piece can you buy?
I am thinking 7 feet, but will go outside tomorrow when it is light and measure what is installed and the piece left over.
Do they have some kind of end caps?
I didn't look into that. Preferring some ventilation, I just cross-drilled and force-fitted a piece of scrap PEX at each end. The access end is cut open on top for a foot or two to allow the flex tube to slide in. It then expands into the very end, which does not have the top cut off, and acts as a retainer. The hose will not jump out unless it is collapsed enough to allow the end to be free of the very end where the top is intact.
To follow up, with a little more accuracy, here is a picture of the label still left on the end I cut off:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/billat908/SewerTubeStorageVinylPost.jpg
If anyone needs to read the fine print, PM me with an E mail address for a higher resolution copy of your own. The inside measurement is 4 7/16, which allows me to leave installed (and slide in) a clear 45 degree Valterra EZ coupler connection for the MH end. My tube lives inside the propane tank bin, so end loading was not an option. My complete 90 degree dump hole fitting stays on the hose, and just sticks up a little out the top loading port I cut at one end. It is handy to have everything all connected and together when competing in dump speed events. :)
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bill h
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10/03/08 12:56pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Depth of battery Discharge, and battery break-in
Bill- I'm curious, did you disconnected the batteries during the 'rest period'? Or were the batteries under a typical quiescent load of perhaps 1A during the rest period?
They were disconnected.
I would have thought a unloaded battery would increase more than 0.2V during the 4 hrs rest period.
Sal
Well, just out of curiosity, I might try it again sometime. It has been several years, and it is getting dark earlier now.
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bill h
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10/02/08 10:18pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Sewer hose storage
I made mine out of 5 inch square plastic fence post from Lowes. It is large enough for me to leave fittings on the hose.
That too could be a good idea. How long of piece can you buy?
I am thinking 7 feet, but will go outside tomorrow when it is light and measure what is installed and the piece left over.
Do they have some kind of end caps?
I didn't look into that. Preferring some ventilation, I just cross-drilled and force-fitted a piece of scrap PEX at each end. The access end is cut open on top for a foot or two to allow the flex tube to slide in. It then expands into the very end, which does not have the top cut off, and acts as a retainer. The hose will not jump out unless it is collapsed enough to allow the end to be free of the very end where the top is intact.
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bill h
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10/02/08 10:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Spliter for 50 amp service
there is no "Common neutral" issues
Amen to avoiding a common neutral. A common neutral can become a fried neutral under some circumstances.
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bill h
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10/02/08 09:55pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: batteries
I've heard that the old ones (like mine, 1985) need the battery to filter the converted A/C as the converter has no filtering (like mine).
Yup, the more simple chargers are often that way. They use the battery as the capacitor in the traditional LC filter. That is why reading the voltage on some chargers without a load is interesting. :)
However, mine works just fine without the battery. Apparently old appliances don't mind pulsed DC. :B
I would suspect that some of them might run a little hotter.
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bill h
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10/02/08 02:02pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: P-30 disc brake help
I'm thinking I should put a dab of disc brake grease on these slots to help in the sliding. Any thoughts?
Yup. Clean em up with a wire brush followed by a shot of spray brake cleaner. Use just a little lube, well spread out. Do it yearly.
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bill h
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10/02/08 01:53pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: laptops
So, who has the best daylight readable screen? I have a heck of a time seeing the map on a sunny day.
Do you remember when photographers had those big cameras on wooden tripods and used a black hood that covered their head and the viewfinder?
Out in the boat on a sunny day, I have seen several people use a towel like that to read their cell phone. :)
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bill h
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10/02/08 01:30pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: After differential oil change, question?
I serviced a rear axle on my chev pickup. A little later, a recheck showed it to be low. Since then, I have had varying results on various vehicles, but I always do a recheck. A neighbor did not do a recheck, and saw his wheel and axle come out sideways in his rearview mirror, owing to a dry bearing. He shoulda stopped when the noise started, but no giant harm done. He was lucky.
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bill h
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10/02/08 01:14pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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