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Blender Bob
Groupie
Joined: 11 Mar 2018
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 48
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Calendar Event: My adding inverter plans - Pls review and comment Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 7:43pm |
With caution and keeping draw levels low, I set out to do some testing on just what does the R-Pod microware pull when on. First found thing I found when I used the F.R. 30a cable to take power from my test inverter to the R-Pod, was in immediate alarm from the inverter. Contacting Whistler inverter company, support there mentions that the RV probably has ground connected to white wire which signals a short to the inverter. His suggestion is to use a 2 prong plug and not 3 on the cable. Doing more research, I find a lot of discussion about grounding vs grounded: i.e. grounding boats and RVs is different. I believe the R-pod is wired for land/shore power via it power cord and trailer input. Powering via an isolated inverted w/o a true earth ground is a different story. More info in here: https://www.civicsolar.com/support/installer/articles/electrical-grounding-boats-and-rvs After much more reading, i felt comfortable using a 3 to 2 prong plug to exit the inverter and into the RV cable -- and now the RV is taking power from inverter. Yaay! I have all the circuit breakers open there is no demand. Next is to test the pull of the Microwave.
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Bob
2015 Chevy Colorado Z71
2018 178 R-pod Hood River Edition
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GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2653
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Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 7:49pm |
When I was young and stupid, and also in the army... I had the occasion to remove the batteries from a military jeep, which is a 24V system (two 12V batteries in series). Not knowing the "correct" sequence, I put an open end wrench on the positive terminals of one of the batteries. Well, it was very secure, so I had to put some muscle into it. When it broke loose, it made direct contact with the frame of the seat (both batteries were under one of the front seats). It took less than 1 second for that wrench to become cherry red and too hot to touch. It took less than 2 seconds to completely destroy that battery. It was also very obviously destroyed, as it was swollen in all 6 directions (up, down, north, south, east, and west) and smoking. I don't know how many amps that wrench was carrying, but it was toast too. Zero to toast in 2 seconds. Hey! That's Tesla acceleration!
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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CharlieM
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
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Posts: 1797
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Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 8:57pm |
bp, Your experience is exactly why we disconnect the negative of the battery first. Glad you weren't holding the wrench firmly.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2653
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Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 9:03pm |
Originally posted by CharlieM
bp, Your experience is exactly why we disconnect the negative of the battery first. Glad you weren't holding the wrench firmly. |
In spite of being a "shade tree mechanic", I had never learned that important little lesson. Oh, I had a good grip on that wrench, but I was able to get my hand off it quite quickly.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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voisj
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2016
Location: San Luis Obispo
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Posts: 471
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Posted: 31 Mar 2018 at 10:20pm |
Originally posted by Blender Bob
Thanks Voisj for your story and suggestions. |
If you liked that story I have 1 more for you. While travelling in Death Valley a few weeks ago, I ran into a guy wintering there from Alaska. He had built his own mini trailer about 12' long and He had 6 ( or 8?) of these (I think it was these) 6 volt 428 amp hour batteries, and a 600+ watt solar set up on the roof. His furnace and water heater (Tankless) were the only gas items He had, everything else was electric including his induction cooktop. He even had a small window type A/C unit to keep it cool, And it worked well. @ $370 apiece It seems steep, but it can be done, I've seen it. What if you just had 2?, you may be able to make Margaritas and power up the microwave occasionally? I think for $700 two of these may be good for a serious boondocker. Cheers John
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SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
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Posts: 1447
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Posted: 01 Apr 2018 at 9:10am |
Originally posted by voisj
While travelling in Death Valley a few weeks ago... |
Maybe the lesson is that anything is possible but at just 6 of these batteries, an inverter, a 400w solar system, that's roughly $2200 for batteries, $270 for an inverter, $500 for the solar, and at least $100 for wire, connectors and other doodads, you're north of $3000. At 123 pounds each, just the batteries are 738 pounds.... If you want to spend the winter in Death Valley and you want to spend that much on electricity, okay. You still have to deal with water, sewage, trash, food, etc., so it's not like you're totally self-suffient on site though. Whatever floats your boat. This doesn't seem like a very practical way to go, especially in terms of versatility. Death Valley gets a lot of sun. Pods have wheels, so they are meant to travel to many locations, not all of which have a lot of consistent sun. For a lot less, a relatively quiet generator works rain or shine, night or day (except quiet hours). Of course Blender Bob isn't talking about an induction stove top so he won't have to spend this much money. If he can make it work, great. The versatility of a generator is still hard to beat in my opinion. I have a 100w solar system I take when I'm going somewhere sunny. I leave it at home if I'm going to, say, the Smokies. Shade is nice in the summer. TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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Blender Bob
Groupie
Joined: 11 Mar 2018
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 48
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Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:24pm |
My final test! With a 1200Watt inverter hooked up, I fired up
the microwave that came with my 178 to find out that no matter what setting:
Popcorn, Beverage, P10 power, the highest draw was 660 to 680 watts off the
inverter. What a surprise since the device is rated for 1500 watts. Note: I am
NOT using the grill or convection oven. This solves a lot of problems!!
So with my two marine 12v DC24 batteries, I get approx. 18
min of microwave and stayed above 56% battery level. That’s easy instructions
to measure. And, there’s plenty of power to run my blender for frozen margaritas
enough to blind most of my camping comrades. Add to this solution, my 120W
solar can put back ~25% of my total battery capacity per day, so with a little monitoring
all can go well for days of dry camping.
Summary things I learned: 1) Manage demand, this is not a
shore power solution. Try to stay below inverter power of 1200w to keep from
using giant battery cables. 2) Use a 3 to 2 prong 110v adapter to remove the 3
prong ground from the inverter – address grounded / grounding. 3) Test your
intended demand as it may be different than you think. 4) Watch resting battery
voltage and stay above 12.25v to length battery life, but if a deep cycle
demand is needed, well you get a few dozen before it’s new battery time. So why
not!
Thanks everyone for your comments!
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Bob
2015 Chevy Colorado Z71
2018 178 R-pod Hood River Edition
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posts: 2595
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Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:43pm |
Glad to know you are going to enjoy your margaritas. We make them with hand crushed chunky ice so only muscle power is needed. The key to a good margarita, good tequila and fresh lime juice and the right amount of Contreau or triple sec. No cheap tequila and no margarita mix. My personal favorite is Herradura Reposada, but it's really better just to drink straight. But sip it and savor it like a good Irish whisky.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp
Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
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Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 12:50pm |
It's a lot to go through.. considering perfection is reached with 3 fingers of good bourbon and 2 pieces of ice...
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Blender Bob
Groupie
Joined: 11 Mar 2018
Location: Colorado
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Posts: 48
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Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 1:00pm |
Aaahh! So true, so true! If I was only closer to KY.
Makes me want to pack up and head out. Agreed, can't go cheap. No marg mixers. I use Don Julio blanca and Grand Marnier. For slow sipping, my Innsbruck connection brings home-made Austrian schnapps. I count my many blessings gazing at the milky way.
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Bob
2015 Chevy Colorado Z71
2018 178 R-pod Hood River Edition
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