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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/05/2020 in all areas
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John The mainstream RV wiring are like rats nests Airstream included Oliver has the best wiring I’ve seen. I’ll admit wiring is one of my weak points. The Oliver is easy traceable A least my 2019 Ollie is.5 points
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Hello Jim and others, Jim, you are correct. The best method for storage of LiFeBlue Battery is discharge to about 50%. That should be above 13.1V. Disconnect from everything and check voltage with the Bluetooth App periodically while stored. Recharge if voltage drops below 13.0V. A battery disconnect switch (see image attached) can be connected to the positive terminal to make storing or servicing easy. As far as the PD converters with built in charge wizard go, they take good care of lead acid batteries, be they flooded or AGM. After charging, every 21 hours, a high voltage boost charge happens to help dissolve lead sulfate that forms on the less active portions of the plates while in constant voltage Float mode. There is no need for any other chargers if you leave AC power on with the PD converter. A PV solar system controller that is 3 stage can also maintain LA batteries pretty well. I recommend a high voltage equalization stage every 1-2 months while stored to reduce level 2 bonding of the lead sulfate. That happens when the amorphous powder begins to form a crystal structure. If this is not dealt with, the battery will become irrevocably damaged. You can tell the battery is damaged by bulging of the case and pushing upward around the positive post as shown in the second image.3 points
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Congrats from Hull # 050. Do not worry about having to learn new stuff. We've all been there and still learning new stuff every day. Feel free to ask away and we'll get you up to speed. Learn from the mistakes of others, you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself!2 points
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OK, here's the dimensions for the Victron Smart batteries. I knew I hadn't gone crazy. The chart above is for their older "SuperPack" batteries, which are larger. 200Ah = 12.6" x 6.0" x 9.3" tall, $2,101.20 from Inverter Supply 100Ah = 12.6" x 6.0" x 7.75" tall, $1,127.95 from Inverter Supply Weird, yes, but the only difference is apparently an inch and a half in height. So three of the 200Ah batteries should fit in the tray. BTW, Victron says do not install them on end, which shouldn't be an issue unless you want more than 600Ah.2 points
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John, I don’t know if this will help you or not. We have two 100 amp/hour Battle Born batteries. We do not have an inverter. When the nights are mild, in the 50s and no solar, we can go 8 to 10 days without a need to charge. Nights at or below freezing, 4 to 5 days. A simple set up, the install was easy and we have room for a third battery mounted sitting on it’s bottom. No batteries worries, made the expense well worth it for us. Andrew2 points
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We are relative newbies, only 80 nights the first year due to COVID-19, but one of the first things we do after setup as is scope out the dump stations. We have airlift to increase the angle, but we still like to consider how we approach the dump station too as we like to take advantage of the natural incline. We have only camped at campgrounds that have no waiting at the dump stations so we haven’t felt too much peer pressure, but it is good to know what others expectations are so as not to offend.2 points
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Hydrogen Peroxide to bubble organic matter from weep holes seems to be easier than pipe cleaners. Put 1-2 tablespoons of first aid grade hydrogen peroxide into the window troughs. Hear the fizz? Wait 5 minutes. Use a paper towel and q-tip to remove most of the icky stuff in the trough. Slowly pour about 1/2 cup of water into the trough to finish the flush. If you are successful, you will see water coming out of the slits on the outside. Don't pour the water too fast or you will have a wet mattress.1 point
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And, the greatest invention since the wheel (almost), REUSABLE ZIP TIES! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XJC8L37/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_Jt6EFbWBXS8Z61 point
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Bummer!😭 While you knew some of this bad news, having it all hit at the same time can't be much fun. However, the real bad news is in your next to last sentence. While it is indeed that time of year for many of us, I really didn't want to face winter yet. Bill1 point
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Thanks for all the contributions - there's a nice set of options above and super helpful voices of experience. Yes, it was an eye opener for me to browse this 3M publication on all the uses of the various types of VHB tape they make. There are some very demanding and can't-fail type applications!1 point
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Well, darn it.... One completely dead battery, three almost dead. Most likely I contributed to this by leaving the shore power connected most of the time. The battery guy told me that four seasons out of these batteries was pretty good. I told him to take the two worst ones to recycle and I brought back the two less worse ones, to use until I get lithiums. Probably that will be a winter project, I wouldn’t be camping much longer anyway since it will turn cold and damp, and snow by mid-November. Time to wash it super clean and park it, I guess. John Davies Spokane WA1 point
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That is really great! I hope that the "potential buyer" realizes just how lucky he is to have had the chance to meet with you guys and discuss why you were there for service. Bill1 point
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Well you don’t need all that, just the BMS. It’s Bluetooth and uses the same app as the shunt. It will give you what you're asking for - individual cell voltages, temps, etc. as well as keep track of charges, errors, etc. You get Victron quality and support, and a battery small enough that you can fit 600 Ah worth in your battery box with room to spare, and if something happens to the BMS, you don't have to replace the entire battery. For 200Ah, it would cost about $300 more than the lifeblue total, including the BMS. Each additional battery is only $100 more. Well worth it, IMO. For me, I wouldn’t even be thinking about LifeBlue. Battle born, yes, but lifeblue as far as I can tell is a mom and pop business that rebrands Chinese batteries. I don't mean to disparage them - I say good for them for their initiative, and from what I can tell, I think the batteries are fine. But, what happens if there's a problem? A mom and pop is going to have more pressure to deny warranty claims, less time to deal with customers, less expertise for dealing with technical questions or problems, less capacity and financial ability to deal with major problems like a recall, and an uncertain future if something were to happen to one of the owners. I hope they do well; but for most buyers, these batteries will be the most expensive individual component on their trailer by a factor of two, and for that I’d want expert support and a company that I know is going to be around for a while.1 point
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Interesting. Sort of a coin toss, but I'd go with a single, larger battery as that is a more future-proof approach in my mind. You'd have room to grow / add if you wanted with 1 larger capacity battery. Not so with 2 smaller ones if they fill your tray. Of course, if you can't add a new battery to an older one to create a set this is a moot point. 🙂1 point
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LifeBlue says that they’ll honor their full warranty for batteries purchased through Oliver.1 point
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Yes you can. All you have to do is change the type of battery and the controller will adjust it's charging profile. Andrew1 point
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😳 Thanks for the fist link, the second one is beyond me. Since the batteries would be in a camper, not a residence, the number of cycles is not going to be the big factor. I don’t know yet if I am going this route - my four 6 volt AGMs are being weird and I am going to have them load tested tomorrow. I may end up with just two AGMs for a while. Then I would install two 100AH lithium’s for redundancy. I really don’t like to have a battery failure kill a trip when I can just remove a jumper and reposition a main cable. This just popped into my head, how do you tell which lithium battery out of two went bad? Does the software (app) tell you by it’s ID or serial number? The concept of smart batteries is hard to grasp. Thanks again. John Davies Spokane WA1 point
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You might want to ask that question on Will Prowse's DIY solar forum. Adding an additional lithium battery to a bank isn't uncommon. In this thread, I didn't see a response from Will, but several very active members responded. https://diysolarforum.com/threads/add-another-battery-to-the-bank.4258/ It's still a question of "weakest" battery, I think, but the degradation is so much slower with lifepo4. Sherry PS, if we ever change up to lithium, we'll use the biggest two we can fit in the tray. Same reason. Also, one of the reasons we've never used 6v batteries in our two battery tray. If one goes, we're dead in the water, so to speak. On the boat, each bank of 6v's has multiple batteries. If something goes wrong, we can cut out one pair. The 2008 Ollie Elite tray only has room for two batteries. Sherry1 point
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We attached our paper towel holder first with double-sided tape to be sure we liked the placement. About a year later, Paul fastened it with small bolts through the underside of the cabinet. We use industrial velcro for a lot of quick access items. Flashlights, remote controls, etc. Rough face on the trailer, soft on the item. The clear bins, sold for bathroom storage, have been in use for over twelve years. We leave them up when we travel. They're fastened with suction cups. These little bins have given me a lot of extra storage in the tiny kitchen. I have two suction cup towel rings, as well. Lots of command hooks spotted around the trailer. Command strips are great. Sherry1 point
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I am a big fan of HASKO suction cup fasteners (hooks). We use them for paper towel holders, kitchen item storage, hanging clothes, and other uses. Adhere strongly to Oliver fiberglass and can easily be moved around as needed. No glue mess. No holes. A simple suction cup attaches to wall. d as needs change. Can get them from Amazon.1 point
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Thanks for the kind words regarding my craft. I consider an Oliver the best blank canvas to create a personal space of your dreams I make countertop upgrades for the Oliver along with other organization options. My countertops are relief cut so they sit down on the cabinet not on top of it, this is a classic look of fine cabinets. I offer Mahogany, Mahogany & Maple Strips, Poplar stained grey or dark brown to match the Oliver flooring option and Walnut with or without live edge. Below is a link to my PDF catalog and some sample pictures of my craft. It I can craft something for you please reachout to me. 48ocean@gmail.com or call my cell 516-635-5656. Foybles PDF Catalog Onward, Foy Sperring Hull # 2271 point
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Free is good too! A fair number of USFS (US Forest Service) campgrounds use a water pump that requires the person doing the pumping to also hold up a valve that diverts the water from a "drinking fountain" into the spout where you can fill your water container. Unless you were a gymnast this can be rather difficult to do. Sticks, pebbles and other assorted forest debris can be used to prop this valve in the open position but if you happen to have the "tab" from a can of soda or beer it works perfectly for this purpose. In addition, it gives you yet another excuse to pop a cold one. Bill1 point
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We found it helps if the valve in the shower area is OPEN when emptying our grey tank...(pulled out it a manual valve). If it's closed it allows a little less air into the system if it's shut while emptying.1 point
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Maybe they should install a scope in the tank so you can see what's going one . . . . . you know, like colonoscopy 😱1 point
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There is also a magnet on the back. Makes it stick to the TV and becomes hand free. Might stick to a belt buckle??1 point
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Here’s my favorite item for under $20, an Aukey night light. We got it for $17.99, but it is currently $19.99. We get up to pee at night, and when we first got our Ollie we left the inside courtesy lights on as a night light. We quickly discovered that this produced too much light, especially in the sleeping area. We then tried a battery powered candle on the dinette, but it also produced too much light, and it chewed through batteries at a prodigious rate. I then discovered the Aukey night light. Instead of batteries, it is rechargeable via micro-USB. With our overnight use on the dimmest setting, one charge lasts at least five days. The brightness is adjustable, and the reviews said that it goes very dim. This was one of the main reasons I bought this, and I am quite pleased with how dim it goes. It also has a built in loop and comes with a carabiner to hang from something, and a magnet to attach to metal surfaces. We take advantage of that magnet. It comes with small circular metal disks with adhesive backing. We put one of these adhesive disks up on the pantry wall above the dinette. In this location, no light goes back to the sleeping compartment. It is hard to take a photo which accurately reflects the low light, as a phone always overexposes dark situations. The magnet appears pretty strong, but we don't drive with the light on the wall. Taking down the night light is part of our Departure Checklist. There are other features that we have not taken advantage of, including that the light floats and the light can display a variety of colors. Finally the controls are simple and intuitive.1 point
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There's just something about the coast . . . . . the sound of the surf, sea gulls and fog horns . . . . waves crashing on a rugged coastline . . . . . . exploring tide pools . . . . . . finding treasures in the flotsam and jetsam . . . . . . . watching the approach of an incoming storm . . . . . . sunsets/sunrises. We are fortunate to live just a short drive from the beach while still being surrounded by mountains, trees, streams and country roads. I spent the biggest part of my childhood enjoying coastal living . . . . . some of my greatest memories.1 point
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It doesn’t matter what the valve in the shower is. You can drain the gray tank with it open or closed. Since we open it as soon as we set up it is usually open when we drain the gray tank if we’re at a full hook up site. The shower valve only prevents back flow from the gray tank into the bathroom floor when you are moving. It’s independent of the gray tank drain valve. Good luck and let us know what you find! Mike1 point
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Luckily technology provides choices: We no longer depend upon one type of rubber compound for all conditions. We have low resistance summer tires of all types depending on price you get what you purchase, , Adhesive rubber traction winter compounds and mud terrain tires. Chains are desirable in snow on the rear drive wheels but on most passenger style vehicles using chains in mud may cause vehicle body damage as the mud packs into the wheel wells. Mud terrain chuck the muck with self cleaning cleat design. No containment on the tire and small pieces thrown clear of tire tread. I've experienced dragging a trailer 21 miles on/through gumbo (mud/clay) as the tires did not have self clearing cleats. Hair raising experience cross wooden bridges down and up embankments. The tow vehicle had Michelin M/S tires. Not an aggressive tread at all but pulled the trailer and powered the truck to a gravel road that looked like an oasis. Amazing! I purchased Hankook Mud terrain for the tow vehicle and mud terrain tires for the trailer as spares. Bottom line. If possible use the required tires or stay safe and stay put. Be prepared.1 point
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You probably know this, but it's not a good plan to skip the chains based on planning to simply sit out any snow events. There are some roadways where they're required to be in the vehicle all season long whether they're required to be on the tires at the moment or not, and you never know when you might get caught in an unexpected snow squall. You sound like a cautious and well informed individual so this is likely not necessary input 🙂 but it seems worth mentioning in any thread like this for folks who may not have spent much time in western states...1 point
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This thread reminds me of a question - has anyone worked out a good two-stage filtration setup at the kitchen sink? When I looked at a local Elite II unit, I didn't see what the space was like under/behind the sink to see if a small unit could be installed there with perhaps a separate water spigot. I know many folks us a Britta or some such filtering pitcher or canister/dispenser which is of course another option. Bearing in mind my comments about state park water systems being a sweet spot for trouble, I have to imagine the same will be true of my own water tank/lines in the Olly, even if I always filter with setups like the ones discussed here. I can continue my habit of carrying clean containers of distilled water which is how we now roll in our camper van, but it would be sweet to have a simple seamless way of drawing reliable drinking water from the on board tank (w/o a pitcher style setup).1 point
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Susan, I asked for “Mouse” to be delivered with no side graphics. I wanted the descriptive labels, just no swooshes. The trailer was delivered completely naked on the sides, so I ordered two sets of the “Oliver Legacy Elite II” stickers straight from the Service Department, no worries, and installed them myself in a straight line. It is not at all hard, but it does take some prep, patience and care. If you don’t have all three of those, get somebody else to install them. I put “Oliver“ at the back on each side, mirror imaged side to side, see pics. I prefer this to the factory positioning. They are visually centered under the rear windows, and the bottom edges align with each other about 6 inches below the belt seam. I suspect that they will be reluctant to install them in a non-standard way, but maybe they could be persuaded to just leave them off, and put them in a galley drawer for you to install later....? John Davies Spokane WA1 point
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And you must realize some people in sales are salespeople and their job is to sell product. Some are really very knowledgeable about the product and are hands on. Some are what we call sales clerks, and they try to get the paper work right. Usually those that do the walk the though are very knowledge. They are hands on and know what "stuff" does and where it is. Ask who is going to do your walk through. I think Patriot is correct. Instead of asking open ended questions on here, because you might get varied responses, it is best to do an in-depth written forum research. Get two (or more) pieces of paper. On one write down any question you might have. On the other questions to ask at pick up. Go back a year in the written forum and read everything twice until you understand it. It is ok at this step to develop more questions. Once you understand the subject cross off any answered questions. And don't be surprised if you are then able to ask more informed questions at pickup. On your 3rd piece you should be able to write your own check list. List things to do, and things that are important to you. If you want hot water at anytime put turn on heater on your list. If you don't t. no need to list, you can turn on the item when you might need it. Going back more than a year may be informative, but the product is evolving and that may effect the available information. The floor plan in the brochure shows where most stuff is. Put that in your notebook too...1 point
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Lanham, Don't say "crash"! Sheesh, once is enough! ? Good luck on your trip.1 point
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