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RE: Question on switching to LiFePO4 batteries.
3 tons: I agree with you about the accuracy of the BMS vs the SmartShunt and now that everyting is working, that's what I monitor. My shunt would read full for a long time then drop to 20% - 30% very quickly. At the same time, one BMS would show 96% or higher and the other would show around 70%.
Cycling the batteries let everything calibrate. Now the 2 BMSs and shunt all show within a percent or 2.
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WarrenS65
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05/03/23 08:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Question on switching to LiFePO4 batteries.
I have 2 206Ah SOK batteries, a Victron SmartShunt, and a Victron Multiplus 3000 inverter/charger. The two batteries are connected in parallel with the negative going to the SmartShunt and the positive going to a battery disconnect switch.
The other side of the shunt and switch are connected to my bus bars with the MultiPlus, Victron Orion DC/DC converter (2 of these), Victron MPPT controller, and the 12V wiring going to the camper.
The SOK batteries have BMS with Bluetooth. I was having "trouble" with the SOC on the two batteries and the Victron all being different. I called CurrentConnected.com (where I bought the batteries and most of the other Victron components), and they had me disconnect one battery then discharge it and recharge it twice, then repeat with the other battery. After this, I reconnected both batteries and everything is working well.
My advice is to buy all your components from one source that will give you good support.
I also have the Victron Cerbo GX and it's connected to my router. I get e-mail alerts when the batteries cross thresholds I've set, but with the solar panels, I haven't had to plug it in since March.
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WarrenS65
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05/02/23 04:33pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: LiFePO4 Converter Change?
Your lithium will also have a max and recommended charging amperage. Make sure the charger doesn't exceed this.
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WarrenS65
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03/17/23 08:42am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Inverter install
My Everest came from the factory as follows: The shore power connection runs to the 110V breaker panel. There's one breaker for the AC, one for the Microwave, and one for all but 3 of the 110V outlets (one in the bedroom, one in the main room, and one in the basement), and the 12V charger. In the basement, the inverter is fed from the 12V batteries. The three outlets not fed from the breaker panel are fed from the inverter.
With this setup, if the camper is plugged into shore power or a generator, it feeds the main breaker panel and powers the charger and all but the 3 inverter outlets. While the charger is powered, the inverter can run as well so all 110V outlets work.
I've since replaced the factory charger, inverter, and lead acid batteries with a Victron based charger/inverter system including solar and lithium batteries.
In doing this, I connected all the outlets to the Victron inverter. I can run everthing (including microwave and AC) off the inverter.
Like otrfun said, my setup does make it easy to forget to turn things off.
In my old camper, I did what Bedlam sugested and used an inverter with a power strip when I didn't have shore power or a generator.
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WarrenS65
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01/12/23 08:06pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Generator Gas Storage
RotopaxRotopax makes several size (1 - 4 gallons) gas cans designed for off roading. They definitely won't spill. I carry one on the back of my SXS and it hasn't spilled a drop.
They do store the spout inside the can, so you still have to deal with that. You would need to buy a Rotopax can, Rotopax mount, and some kind of pipe mount to attach the Rotopax mount to your ladder.
Their RollpaX product is a made specifically to attach to roll bars and such. It would be the cleanest solution, but they're very expensive.
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WarrenS65
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01/05/23 08:36pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Levelling blocks for camper on driveway with 2 degree grade
I did the same thing with my old camper when I stored it on my sloped driveway. I would lift the camper, pull the truck forward so the front of the camper was over the back end of the pickup bed. I would then lower it enough to take the weight off the front jacks and let them straighten out. I'd then lift it again and drive the truck away. I stored it on a wedge shaped platform so the whole thing was level and supported.
The wood ramps were heavy and a pain to deal with.
I'm storing my Host on ground that's fairly level.
Unfortunately I don’t have pictures and I no longer need to unload on a slopped driveway but I once did. I found that lifting the camper off the slopped truck bed was challenging, especially when reloading and it placed a lot of stress on the jacks. I would back part way, get out and slide ramps under my front tires and then using 4x4 low range back up the ramps. I made a set of 10” tall wheel ramps from pressure treated lumber that allowed me to back up the driveway and be level. I made four blocks from the same lumber that compensated for the slope so my jack bottoms were level and could not “walk” down my driveway. Using the side of my driveway as a guide and placing small paint marks to show where the ramps should be placed the loading and unloading process was relatively easy.
PS, I’ve had the same 30 orange Lego blocks i use for leveling the truck and placing under the jacks for over eight years with no breakage. Lumber is fine but heavy!
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WarrenS65
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12/26/22 08:06pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Levelling blocks for camper on driveway with 2 degree grade
I put one of the stackable yellow plastic blocks under each jack. It flexes a bit so the entire jack foot can be in contact with the block and the block in contact with the concrete.
A 2% grade is pretty minimal. Just use the jacks to level it or have the front a bit higher than the back.
If you're storing it for a long time, I would support the belly as well, but it's not really necessary.
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WarrenS65
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12/24/22 04:39pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Electric jacks manual crank
I had a Lance with Atwood jacks for 20 years. The only problems I ever had were with the wireless controllers. These are reliable equipment.
First off, the Atwood manual says to unplug the jack when you will manually (or with a drill) raise or lower it. You've obviously got that figured out.
More importantly, it seems like all four jacks failing at the same time is not a problem with the jacks, but with the controller. You can test the jacks by using jumper wires from the battery to the plug coming out of the jack. If that makes it move, the jack is ok.
Here's how I'd troubleshoot my jacks.
Start at the beginning. Check the power going to the jack controller.
The jack controller should have fuses and/or circuit breakers. Check all those.the handheld part (wired or wireless) on newer controllers need to be paired and can lose their pairing. Try re-pairing the handheld controller
Check the power output at each of the jacks while they're supposed to be workingCheck the continuity of the wires between the controller and and each jack.
If none of that works, like others have said, you can replace the Atwood parts with Reico-Titan. They sell a complete replacement set, or various pieces. If the jacks worked by directly jumping each of them from a battery, those aren't your problem and you can just buy the controller setup.
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WarrenS65
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12/24/22 04:23pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: NorCal Mini Truck Camper Rally - April 2023
I'm planning on retiring in March so April sounds good.
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WarrenS65
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12/05/22 10:03pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: saw a cool looking rig the other day.
My License plate frame says "TARDIS" "IT'S BIGGER ON THE INSIDE"
Like a Tardis, he said. I've always maintained we need Tardis technology in our TCs. I like it.
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WarrenS65
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12/05/22 10:02pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Solar Install
OP here. Grit dog is right and the question was me trying to get my ducks in a row before I made holes in my roof. I never had any intention of attaching the panels with any adhesive/glue/tape.
Anyway, I finally got around to mounting my panels. I called Host a few weeks ago to ask where to find the the rafters and was told they attach the factory mounted panels to the frame at the outer edge of the camper and then the inner brackets they just screw into the 1/4" marine grade plywood under the rubber roof.
I'm almost done with my electrical upgrades and will post about the finished product in a few more weeks.
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WarrenS65
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10/25/22 06:38pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: DC to DC charger
I have the Victron Orion 30 A and it's working great. I plan to add a second one as well. My truck has dual alternators so I'm not worried about overworking them.
I run my absorption fridge when parked at home, on the move, or when I have shore power. At camp I run on propane to save the batteries for other stuff.
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WarrenS65
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10/25/22 06:30pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Solar Install
Thanks KansasKen. I'll do that.
Ed_Gee and Fishbreath: I have a rubber roof, so VHB tape is a no go for me.
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WarrenS65
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09/17/22 09:45am |
Truck Campers
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Solar Install
I'm installing solar panels on my Host Everest. Does anyone know if the roof will support using self drilling screws, or do I need to hit a crossmember?
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WarrenS65
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09/16/22 05:59pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Is changing to a quieter AC worth it?
That looks interesting, but won't he need to pay for an NFA tax stamp if he buys a silencer?;)
I installed one of the Wacko products and it makes a big difference. Check out Wackoproducts.com. And, no, i don't work for them and would not benefit from a purchase.
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WarrenS65
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09/14/22 09:15pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Is changing to a quieter AC worth it?
I ordered my Host with the RecPro 13,500 BTU AC unit. It was pricey, but much better than the Coleman's I've had in the past. Lower profile too. When you have shore power and it's not too cold outside, the heater option is a nice alternative to burning propane in your furnace.
When the AC compressor kicks on, it very briefly draws 18A and then settles down to 8.6.
If the cost is acceptable to you, I think you'll be happy.
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WarrenS65
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09/14/22 09:13pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Absorption Fridge Running on Solar/Battery/Inverter System
How about getting one of the medium sized lithium battery packs to recharge your electronics? You can charge it off the camper and recharge your stuff without drawing on the camper batteries.
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WarrenS65
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07/15/22 09:11pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Host Everest
As for age and health, I'm 57 and DW is 49. I'm 5'11" and DW is 5'7".
We're both larger than we should be. Crawling into the cabover bed is easy enough. Getting out entails either getting on hands and knees and crawling backwards or sliding yourself. With the extra headroom in the Host, it's much easier than it was in my non-basement model Lance. The standing area height of the Host and my older Lance was about the same, but because the floor on the Lance was down in the truck bed and the Host is on top of the bed rails, the overall height is much higher on the Host. Downside is that the Host is really tall. Upside is that the cabover on the Host has a lot higher ceiling.
If you're not sure what it will be like living with a camper, try getting on and off your current bed from the foot rather than the sides.
As for making it, that's no big deal. Just crawl in, start with the top two corners, then do the bottom corners. Again, it's much easier to crawl on the bed with the extra headroom in the Host.
Campers with a front bath that blocks access to one side of the bed would be much more difficult to deal with.
At home, we have a split king adjustable bed, and ordered the Host with a king mattress and am thinking of changing it to an adjustable split king as well. I couldn't do an adjustable in the Lance as it would have raised the height of the mattress and made it too claustrophobic.
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WarrenS65
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07/12/22 12:43pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Host Everest
Yes. Dinette is fine for two people and removing the table makes for really nice lounging. Also, the sofa is fantastic and there's plenty of room for a folding table if needed. I must have missed putting a picture of the sofa. I'll add one to the original message now.
The AC works fine, it was just so hot inside when I started, it took time to cool off the entire space. It works about as well as the Coleman 13,500 unit in my previous Lance camper, but it's much quieter.
I have never seen the inside of this model. That dinette would have been a deal breaker for me. My non-slide TC has a much bigger dinette that will seat 4. Even though there are only two of us, after a day of hiking and being outdoors, we use the dinette seating a lot and want comfort over floor space.
There also seems to be an issue with the AC. Are you sure it is properly charged and working OK?
How do you know if your dinette will seat 4 if you only have two of you? He has a sofa, too. So I'm sure he has more comfort than any dinette including yours. I have no idea why he didn't include a picture of his sofa. Also, you can put up your feet on the padded portion with the wrap around dinette.
109 to 80 in the sun is actually pretty good for any AC. It takes a long time for an AC to drop that many degrees. Reflectix along with outside sunshades and awnings to keep the sun off on the sunny side/roof will help a lot.
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WarrenS65
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07/12/22 08:08am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Delays in camper buiddate
Sorry for the delay. I typically don't do much posting while on the road. Anyway, I started a new thread for my new camper.
Hey Warren, today is the day. Send us some pictures of your new truck and Everest. We know how excited you are for your new camper. Barry
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WarrenS65
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07/11/22 09:21pm |
Truck Campers
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