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RE: 220 VAC Hot water heater?
NEC has had 120/240 specifications for many years. 551-44 para D is very specific. Art 551-42 gives additional iinformation.
NEC does not approve equipment. It is done by UL and CSA.
551-44 is discussing equipment, and yes.. since an RV 50a may be 120/240 the equipment should be able to handle 240.. but the code 551.40 also states that 208Y may be used.. thus 120/208 (at 120 deg)..
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Beach-Rat
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04/06/13 01:18pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 220 VAC Hot water heater?
If you consider that campground outlets don't provide 220/240V power you would understand pretty quickly that it was 120V power. Having 2 120V legs with your 50 amp service is not the same as having 1 240V circuit.
You are correct.. Mr W.. The code calls for two 120vac legs.. one may be lucky and get them 180 out of phase and have 240vac.. or one may find them 120 out of phase and have 208,, or both from the same phase and they would have 0 (zero) phase to phase.
Last time that I dug into the NEC.. there was no approved 120/240 panel for an RV..
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Beach-Rat
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04/06/13 09:26am |
Tech Issues
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RE: 30amp VS 50 amp
There has been a lot said about this. Most campers do have a “Main” at the breaker panel inside the RV. This would be the better situation if using a 30 to 50 amp adapter. I have seen campers that do not have a main breaker with the RV. If your RV falls into this category, (or you do not know if you have a main) I would advise not to use the adapter. To simply say that using the adapter for every situation is fine, is not true.
True dat..
Or.. if you own a "vintage" RV without a 30a main breaker.. install a "main line" disconnect (small electrical box similar to the one that fuses your home air conditioner/heatpump) fuse the added "main line" at 30a..
Our 5er has a 30a main.. and it works.. it works "too good" whenever a hairdryer is run with a HWH or microwave.. 5er gets real quiet, real fast..
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Beach-Rat
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03/24/13 09:09am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Tire storage under trailer.
I did it under the first and second x-members of our 5er.. used the hoist from a Toyota pick-up and pull up against the frame rails..
I can vision this being very (and easily) doable on the tongue "V"..
Part of the joy of using the Toyota Puck-up hoist is that the Toyota uses a six lug wheel with the same center hole as a trailer 6 lug wheel and a 3/8 ratchet extension fits the hoist "key"
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Beach-Rat
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03/24/13 08:10am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: ST225/75R15 to LT225/75R16 Conversion
Right now the 5er rides just a hair nose high and tows like a dream so i am also reluctant to "flip" the axles. And "flipping" the axles will require an entire new shock mounting setup (they would move inside the frame rail, like yours. Will have to measure the "drivers" side and see if the slide mechanics botch things up) And may require a pinbox adjustment (would require rebuilding the generator mount currently attached to the pinbox)
Then again I could just replace the 2x2 sub-frame and have the new hangers attached (build it on the bench) beforehand.
For now I'm watching Craigslist for 16in wheels..
The Lincoln "tombstone" came from Craigslist awhile back, just missed an AC/DC tombstone but it sold before I could get there. I still use (what's left of) the Craftsman tools I received as a birthday present in high school.
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Beach-Rat
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12/27/12 07:04pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: ST225/75R15 to LT225/75R16 Conversion
Here is our wheel weights. The trailer was weighed while it still had the original equipment 225/75-15-D tires on it. ‘bout 10 gallons of fresh water, headed into a rally
--------------"D" Rating…"D" Reserve----"E"Rating--"E" Reserve
-------Weight
LF-----2080----------2540---460/18.11%----------2830-----750/26.50%
RF-----1920----------2540---620/24.41%----------2830-----910/32.16%
LR-----1780----------2540---760/29.92%----------2830-----1050/37.10%
RR-----1900----------2540---640/25.20%----------2830-----930/32.86%
I am almost fanatical about checking tire air and wheel torque as part of our “pre-flight” prior to each days towing. Have also changed to a Dexter E-Z Flex and “wet” bolts with heavy shackles since then. (your pictures bring back memories, but my memories are much dirtier (removing the plastic bushings also freed a metric ton of rust flakes, brake dust and road dirt requiring the frequent removal and cleaning of the cardboard creeper))
H'mm, what brand tire did you have and do you by chance have any scaled axle or wheel weights? I agree, there is a growing belief by many now there is a tire sizing problem when it comes to tandem axles on trailers. The latest thoughts are now you want to have 20% reserve capacity over the heaviest loaded wheel due to the increased heat and stress from the tandem setup. Need to get individual wheel weights to find the heaviest wheel. I know mine are not equally loaded.
The ST story.. Original equipment tires were Mission 225/75-15-D tires. At about 6K miles I noticed extreme wear on the outside tread of the RF tire and the between the wheel BAL wheel chock would not fit in the right side tire gap. Believing that I had an alignment problem I was off chasing my tail looking for a bad suspension component. But everything checked OK and the new RF tire was not showing abnormal wear. And then while under the 5er checking lubing the slide I had a view of the left side tires that could not be had from above and one of the tires looked almost like your picture. Tires were 3 years old and had 13.5K miles on them. MISSION STOOD BEHIND THEIR TIRES AND PAID FOR REPLACEMENTS, BRAVO MISSION!
The discovery of the bad Mission tires happened during the great ST tire famine of 2009, there was not a GY Marathon or Maxxis to be had, everyone had them on backorder (and I was in a less than 30 days until annual 3 week walkabout) . Local truck tire dealer had four Dico, made by Titen, 225/75-15“E” in stock and had had zero problems from his customers, landscape and pupusa trailers. The Dicos ran at 80psi for 2 ½ years. We lost the first Dico at 60mpg (12.5K mi)on I-295 in Petersb’g VA (only blow out we have ever had) there was a Agri-Suply at the next exit so we now owned a 225/75-15-E Carlisle, 2nd Dico grew a goose egg while in Key West (13.8K) and had to buy a “C” belted tire to get home (it performed flawlessly, now spare #2). The other two Dicos were replaced at 15.2K mi. Titan did not stand behind their product, by the time that the “goose egg” tires made it to Titan Corporate they were over 3 years from their date of manufacture (not retail purchase or failure, that was in the 2 ½ year ball park)
Now I have Carlisles, bought one or two at a time.
Wow and I thought I had short springs... Did I understand that right, you have 31" axle to axle centers? That will be a problem on LT225/75R156, or at least it will on mine.
My springs are standard “24 in” trailer springs, same as yours, the hangers are just closer together than most. And, if I do space out the hangers a half inch or so I may have clearance issues in the front and rear of the wheel wells. The 5er is a “low rider” now.. the tires are tucked way up inside the wheel wells..
Now to what you are directly asking, I have 32" center to center on the axles.
And I have 31 in.. my spring hangers are mounted on 2x2 stock as you have pictured in one of your posts (on a Jayco??) and I do have a little room to move the hangers and gusset/brace them. But, I need to practice welding from underneath before I try it (Have a big old brute of a Lincoln “Tombstone” like in the background of one of your pictures (and all of the grinders/cutters needed for the removal/clean-up portion))
As I “burn down” the new Carsliles (figure I have 2 ½ years) I am still watching WinkyB and his LT225/70-15-D (WR-2740lb)..
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Beach-Rat
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12/27/12 09:47am |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: ST225/75R15 to LT225/75R16 Conversion
John,
Great write up (with links, great series).
I share your ST225/75-15 tire experiences. Your picture of the separated tread and plywood straight edge look like part of my collection. Having upgraded from “D” to “E” load range and still having the same belt separation issues, I’m convinced that there is more of an issue than weight but this discussion is for another thread.
As My 5er is configured I cannot upgrade to 225/75-16 tires I have 31in axle spacing so a pair of 29.3 (225/75-16) diameter tires would reduce the tire spacing to (what I believe to be) an unacceptably close figure. (since the springs are secured to the forward and after hangers, on paper they should never allow the axles move closer together than 31in, I don’t want to chance it (an unexpected washboard road at 60mph is bone jarring and causes everything else in the trailer to move/flex/twist))
So.. may I ask what the spacing is of your spring hangers (center to center) and what is the distance from your frame rail to the top of your axle? These measurements will allow me to see if I can extend the spring hanger spacing and “flip” the axles to fit 16in LT tires under the 5er..
WinkyB has converted to 225/70-15 –D European Van tires.. waiting to see how they work for him.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=Vanco+2&partnum=27R5V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
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Beach-Rat
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12/26/12 01:38pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: Continuing 50 AMP Saga
With the new 50amp RV panel did you remember to split neutral and ground or "float" the neutral?
Neutral and ground are bonded in the main panel but split in all sub-panels.. "bonding" in a sub-panel can cause some unusual things (and then other times it can not be noticed)
If the new 50 amp panel is wired correctly, by disconnecting from shore power, the neutral and ground circuits should be two separate circuits and may be tested.
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Beach-Rat
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12/11/12 02:57am |
Tech Issues
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RE: How would you detect a NEUTRAL GROUND Reversal?
How do you flip Ground and Neutral at the pedestal since they are bonded on the same buss?
Yes..
But the neutral should be floating in the RV and that can be tested to RV ground..
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Beach-Rat
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12/11/12 02:49am |
Tech Issues
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RE: I'm thinking of going back to double edge safety razor?
Head and Shoulders.. best shaving soap made..
Been shaving in the shower for 30 years.. works great.
Have a friend who was going blind (he didn't, they stopped his sight loss) and in a beer fueled discussion he was telling us how blind guys shave.. so I tried it (in the shower) and have been doing it for thirty years..
BTW, I have three old Gillette double edge razors, a pack of SS blades and a pack of Super Blue Blades..
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Beach-Rat
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12/01/12 01:33pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: One license plate!! (long rant!)
Nice read..
One more thing about honoring each others plates.. Some states will tag a pick-up as a car.. Don't even try and drive your car tagged pick-up on Parkways in CT or NY.. When you crossed their state line you became a truck..
And a random thought.. In Virginia our Saftey Inspection requires all lights to work, If it came from the factory it must be there and work.. so are MO trucks required to have a rear tag light (if factory equipted) but no tag?
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Beach-Rat
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12/01/12 11:05am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Dexter Torflex Axles
As stated above, call Dexter and give them the model/ser number.. they can tell you all of the axle specs, when made and who sold it..
The angle of the swing arm can be several different positions depending on how it was ordered/built.
Airstreams have used Torqflex axles for the past 20 or 30 years, check with Airstream gurus, they can tell you what/how to test..
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Beach-Rat
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11/22/12 02:03pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 12v TV..
RoyB.. good idea.. I'll have to pull the 12v plate and see how I can do it (antenna lead on same plate) Can't be hardwired, must be stowed for travel..
I checked the 22in Insignia and it's a 120Vac model.. I did look..
A little background on the 12Vdc DTV search.. if one goes to a camping supply store and buys a DTV advertised as a 12Vdc DTV one will pay through the nose.. But if (and when) we stumble upon a regular DTV that for whatever design or manufacturing reasons have an external power supply and allow access to the 12Vdc input and the subject DTV is a low end/bargain priced or store brand it is a bonus for us in the camping game..
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Beach-Rat
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11/20/12 09:15pm |
Tech Issues
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12v TV..
See questions every now and again about 12vdc DTV for Campers..
Just stumbled upon two 12vdc DTVs.. Both are 19 inch.. both are just regular bottom of the line TVs intended for home use except the power supply is external, a "wall wart" outputting 12Vdc to the TV.. So just replace the "wall wart" with a cigarette lighter cord and we are in business..
1st.. Curtis LCD1992A seen at HHGregg for $99.95
2nd.. Insignia NS-19E31DA13 at Best Buy for $119.99
I just bought the Insignia.. tested it without raising the 5er antenna and I receive all of the DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia channels (I'm 16 miles west of DC)
Now to find a 12v cord.. I know I have one in a safe place, somewhere.
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Beach-Rat
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11/20/12 02:36pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Why separate neutrals on inverted phase?
But remember..
50 amp RV service requires two 120Vac feeds. They may be split-phase (180deg out), they may be two phase (120deg out) or they may be two legs of the same phase(0deg out). There is no requirement or use for 240Vac in RV service, the RV panel is not configured for it.
After receiving so many conflicting answers to RV electrical questions I dug into the NEC and all of the above is in there (just not all in the same place).. And.. the above info about least resistive path to ground and always isolating neutrals on sub-panels is all correct.
And household 120/240 is commonly call two phase and each /leg is commonly referred to as a phase.. even though it not.. it just is.. (ask for a two phase breaker at an electrical supply store and see if you get a 120/240 breaker or a lesson on terminology) Just like we all know that gasoline powered cars have engines in them but NASCAR Bubbas call it a motor.. they just do..
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Beach-Rat
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11/09/12 04:15am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Going Through NY and PA. Are There Diesel Fill-Up Problems?
I do the New England/New Brunswick to Northern Virginia trip almost every year..
Here is what I have learned.. From The Mass Pike to Scranton on I-84.. I-81 south to Gettysb'g..
For you I would suggest as stated above I-81 to I-64 to I-95 or keep heading south on I-81 to I-77. or even to I-40 - I-75 to Fla..
The Tappan Zee is BAD ROAD.. Northbound it is a killer toll ($27.00 for a SRW truck & 5er) Cross the Hudson at Newbergh NY.. ($6.00 toll)
Diesel Fuel hint.. NJ has the lowest taxes North of Virginia.. I-84 exit #1 in New York, Port Jervis, is on the NJ/NY line.. at the bottom of the exit ramp NJ is 100 yards South, fuel prices can drop $0.30 a gal in that 100 yards..
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Beach-Rat
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11/05/12 08:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 10-3 Yellowjacket cord as 30 amp RV power cord?
Converting the ends will cost another $30 to $40.. For another $20 you can have a new 50 ft 30 amp cord from Camping World dot Com.. and still have the Yellowjacket for generator use..
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Beach-Rat
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10/31/12 09:26pm |
Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)
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RE: 30a male to 50a female cord
If you do use a 4 wire/ 240Vac twist lock and you use the wire size calculator.. calculate wire size for 120Vac, you will be using two 120Vac circuits for current draw purposes (not phase to phase, 240Vac)
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Beach-Rat
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09/04/12 08:10pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: 30a male to 50a female cord
I also built a cord to run from the back of the truck to the power input of our 5er. I calculated the projected load (mine is equal to max genny output) and circuit length (twice the cord) and using a wire size calculator I discovered that I only needed a #12 cord, lots cheaper than a #10..
And that was for the Champion 3500/4000.. the Yamaha 2400 can use a longer #12 cord..
Wire size calculator
http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html
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Beach-Rat
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09/04/12 05:57pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Any one use a hitch rack On the Truck for Genset?
Yes, I can sleep with the generator running.. It's a steady drone..
Yes the Champion is a super generator but while dry camping with a group (of about 200) this winter I realized that it is much louder in a Campground than in the Flying J.. I now have a Yamaha 2400. Figuring out how to mount it, but that's another story.
I have a tool box on the rear of the 5er and did not want the additional 110lb og a generator hanging back there, the pin box in neutral weight for the 5er, all on the rear wheels of the truck.
If you opt to use a pin box mount.. note how high my generator is mounted, that is to clear the tool box when the hitch fully articulates (front wheels of the truck and trailer wheels high, rear wheels of the truck low)
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Beach-Rat
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08/14/12 10:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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