The Bear Facts on Electric Fences

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You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than ever having a close encounter with a hungry bear, but recent events; including an aggressive black bear having to be put down in Yellowstone National Park on July 11, a grizzly attack on a camper just outside the park on July 18, and an attack on a solo hiker yesterday in the Walker basin area east of Bakersfield, CA have elevated awareness of the risks associated with camping in bear country. With that in mind, we look at a pair of gadgets this week designed to protect your campsite sleeping area through the night. Read more

Practical Motor Home Inverter Applications

Two weeks ago week we looked at the type of inverters commonly used in motor homes.  This week we will touch on applications of inverters in our home on wheels.   We will deal with integrated types only, generally these are 2,000 watt output and larger.  We will also focus only at the inverter operation, not the charger function. 

 

The inverter basically takes 12 volt direct current from the batteries and inverts it to 120 volts alternating current, similar to that in your house. 

 

 In doing this, it produces either a M.S.W. (Modified Sine Wave) or a T.S.W. (True Sine Wave) depending on the make and model.  Modified types are the cheaper of the two to produce, and are the ones found currently on the majority of motor homes today.  True sine types are becoming far more popular recently.  This is due to lower prices recently and more sine wave affected electronics that are being introduced into today’s modern coaches.

 

The inverter in a standard configured propane equipped motor home is generally wired to power the following.

• TV’s, receivers and entertainment centers
• Most duplex 120 outlets
• Microwave
• Awnings, if 120 VAC (Such as Gerard)
• Refrigerator (If 120 volt AC)
• Ice maker (If 120 volt AC)

The balance of AC powered loads such as air conditioners, hot water tank, electric stoves and of course, battery chargers only operate on shore power. 

Some microwave models can be damaged if used to cook using a modified wave inverter.  This damage can result in causing the efficiency to drop substantially after continued use.  While wiring the inverter to the microwave outlet is normal, which at least keeps the clock on time, it may be wise to run the generator for any microwave cooking while boondocking.  This applies to M.S.W. inverters, but is not applicable to T.S.W. installations.  Additionally, some models of modern residential refrigerators may be susceptible to modified sine wave inverter current.  The issue is control board related.   This primarily affects newer all electric coaches.  These really require a true sine wave inverter to assure trouble free operation.

Inverters in conventional propane equipped motor coaches are generally turned off when not required, particularly if dry camping.  This is due to a continuing draw, albeit light, of electric current, even if all loads are off.  First, there is a search mode that essentially searches for a load, even in stand-by mode.  Secondly, TV’s, microwave readouts and many modern receivers use power in the “off” mode.  The TV’s and receivers remain on stand-by to be instant “on”.

Inverters in all electric coaches are generally always left on.  This is required as the refrigerator, if it is a residential type, is 120 volt AC only.  Inverters can be left on even when connected to shore power.  Once connected, the unit shuts down the inverter and operates as a charger and will automatically take over in the event of a power disruption.

Now, as if the inverter/charger didn’t do enough, there are models available with a built-in automatic generator starting board.   These will automatically start and stop the generator as required to keep the batteries within operating voltage range.  Additionally, the auto start can be wired to the air conditioning thermostat and provide instant start should the temperature within the coach rise above a user preset value.  Once the temperature is within the set temperature range, it will automatically shut the generator down until the next event.

If you have never had a coach with an inverter/charger, you don’t know what you are missing.  The convenience of having household power without the need for continually running the genset, is well worth the costs involved.  If you already have an inverter equipped coach, you probably wouldn’t have a coach without one again.

 With A Current Alternate View      -       Lug_Nut

 

Let the Computer Navigate with GPS

I’ve had some conversations with fellow RVers that went something like this: “What kind of GPS navigation system do you use as you travel?”, I asked. They responded with something akin to: “I don’t need no stinking GPS to do my navigating! I can read a map just fine.”

hmmm, that got me to thinking. I’ve told many people that I won’t travel without a GPS navigation system anymore, Read more

RVing with pets and their unique needs

I would bet that most people who travel with pets have a canine along with them in the RV, car or plane. But there are a lot of folks who travel with their cats, birds and other pets as they head out for business or pleasure. The type of pet you travel with can have unique requirements for feeding, comfort, safety and other considerations. Birds, for example, have much more stringent travel needs than dogs. Some people would argue that cats are more difficult to travel with than dogs. Read more

Choosing An Inverter/Charger

So far as motorized recreational vehicles, there are two duty types of inverters used. Stand alone and integrated inverter/chargers. Stand alone units are relatively low wattage output units that are individually wired to operate a single load like a television and perhaps a satellite receiver. The inverter/charger is an integrated part of the electrical and charging system of the unit. The inverter in this case serves two purposes. First it is the main battery charger, at least while either an outside source or generator is supplying AC power. Secondly, it is an inverter that supplies AC power when none is available. Once AC power is absent, the inverter automatically takes over, providing it is in the armed mode state. It is normally wired to operate necessary functions within reasonable wattage like T.V’s, receivers, duplex outlets, refrigerators (if an all electric coach), ice makers and perhaps microwaves.

There are two output configurations available, M.S.W. (Modified Sine Wave) and T.S.W. (True Sine Wave). All smaller or cheaper inverters are M.S.W. Most motor home inverters are also currently M.S.W. The exception of this would be higher end units and newer all electric coaches, most of which are equipped with T.S.W. output inverters. So what are the operational differences?

M.S.W. gets it name from exactly what it sounds like. It is a modified look-a-like wave. However it is more “square” than the smooth sweeping frequency lines that are created with a true sine wave. These inverters are cheaper to buy but function well in most applications. There are however, loads it does not work with or properly with. Those loads are, but are not limited to, many small power chargers, electronic boards found in many appliances, most microwaves, 120 volt A.C. powered clocks and full featured cappuccino makers. Some of these will not operate and some may be damaged over time with continued use.

T.S.W. power resembles that of home supplied hydro. It is capable of operating any like voltage load providing it does not exceed its output capacity. These units are now to a price level making them the best choice for future use.

So, if you are ordering a new coach, or replacing or upgrading to an inverter charger, should this be a “must have”? In my opinion, it is. The benefits far out weigh the now small price difference. If you own a coach that has a M.S.W. inverter charger, like most do, don’t worry. Your coach was equipped to exist with such a wave form and should do fine. But, just remember, if you were to order a new rig or ever it has to be replaced, go T.S.W. You won’t regret it.

On Sunday the 13th of july, we will be looking at “Practical RV Inverter Applications”.  I sure hope you can join us.

 Just Reading The Sines - Lug_Nut  -  Peter Mercer

What Do You Need for Casino Camping?

I know that some readers of this blog are experienced dry campers and stay “off the grid” far more than we do. At the other extreme are RVers whose only dry camping experience is stopping for lunch at a rest area while en-route from one RV resort to the next. In between, and probably more typical, are those who occasionally dry camp overnight at Wal-Mart or Flying-J, or for a few days at a RV rally, etc. Coming from all these different RVing experiences you’ll likely have different notions of what casino camping would be like. I’ll share a few random thoughts with you about how it may differ from things you’ve done before, and maybe get you thinking about how this parking opportunity would (or wouldn’t) fit into your future plans.

Read more

RV Today Archive - Los Angeles, CA

Travel along with popular RV television host Stew Oleson as he explores the greater Los Angeles area in this segment taken from the 2006 archives of the RV Today show. View the video below:

Yes, you can RV in Los Angeles (if you take the right roads at the right time of day). Covering a great RV park just north of Malibu, Stew also tells you where on the beach you can walk with your dog. Then moving from dogs to hot dogs, Stew visits the famous “Pinks” hot dog stand.

You can also hike just below the Hollywood sign, or go horseback riding in the Hollywood hills to Burbank and back. And finally, if you want to walk on the funky side of LA, be sure to stop by the Venice Boardwalk.

From there, Stew takes you on to Disney to visit the California Adventure Park and Knot’s Berry Farm. And nearby he learns all about Anaheim while at the Orangeland RV Park.

Batteries – Lifeblood of Gadgets

There has never been a better time to own an RV. Hybrids, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motor homes are featuring more electronics than ever before, along with increased sleeping capacities to accommodate larger families, or just friends. One thing the industry has yet to catch-on to, however, is catering to dry-campers. The typical trailer comes with a single Group 24 battery, while a fifth wheel or motor home might come with a pair. Either solution is barely adequate for anything more than a weekend of summer camping, however.  When we first started camping, our biggest concern was water. We used too much fresh water which, in turn, created too much gray water. As we gained experience, our water lasted longer and we realized that our (then) trailer’s 40-gallon fresh water tank was adequate for most trips. Our Group 24 battery, however, was more like a 10-gallon tank!

Read more

To Burn or Not to Burn, the Third Degree.

We have been talking about burns the last few weeks. First degree burns we decided were the kind of burns that are most commonly associated to Sunburns with pain, redness, swelling and illness. Not often fatal, they can make you wish you were dead, but you will be fine in most cases. Treatment most often was hydration and aloe (in other words drink a lot of water or Gatorade and moisturize the skin) and Oh, Stay Out Of The Sun For A Few Days -as my kids say… DUH!

Second degree burns were those that produced Blisters as well as pain, redness, swelling, and illness. These burns can be fatal if large areas are covered or if they become infected. Because they are a large open wound, they are prime sites for infection! Small areas were to be treated with dry sterile dressings and bandages — do not break the blisters. If they are broken, you need to apply some sort of antibiotic ointment that you aren’t allergic to and sterile dressing. We also know that large areas need to be seen and treated by professionals.

So, now we get to Third Degree burns or what is now often called full thickness burns. How do we recognize them and how do we treat them and how dangerous are they? Please be advised, electrical burns do not often show on the surface and, if there is any doubt what degree or area is affected by an electrical burn, seek medical help.

Read more

$4 Gas? What Next? $8 Bread?

If it isn’t enough to have gas and diesel hovering around–and about to surpass–$4 gallon, an equally vital need for RVers is the need to eat. Food prices, especially rice, corn, and wheat have soared in price over the last year. We Americans (and Canadians) can be thankful, though at the same time frustrated and depressed, that the world’s poor, that already spends 80% of their income on food, are now facing hunger and starvation.

What is going on?

Can we attribute this disaster to global warming and the price of oil? If so, why then in the face of this global crisis are the multi-national food conglomerates making record profits? Monsanto last month reported that its net income for the three months up to the end of February 2008 had more than doubled over the same period in 2007, from $543 million to $1.12 billion. (For something that will really raise your ire, read Vanity Fair’s investigative report, Harvest of Fear, about Monsanto). Cargill’s net earnings increased 86%, and Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world’s largest agricultural processors of soy, corn and wheat, increased its net earnings by 42%. The operating profit of its grains merchandising and handling operations jumped 1,600%–from $21million to $341million. And despite the increase in organic food production, income for the Mosaic Company, one of the world’s largest fertilizer companies, rose more than 1,200%, from $42.2m to $520.8m, believe it or not because of a fertilizer shortage.

And it’s not just the disastrous effects of global climate change and the escalating price of oil driving food price increases.

Read more

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