topgun2

HERE'S another YouTube observation on the subject - start the Battle Born segment at 2:27 of the video. Bill

Gary - There is already a three page thread on this subject. Try CLICKING HERE to start reading. Bill

Have you tested this Silence/Test switch? Does it really Silence the alarm for more than a couple of minutes? If so, how do you turn it back "on"? Bill

This is NOT the greatest pic below of the frame I made for a switch and the place that the frame was located - just inboard of the detector under the dinette seat. I used two part epoxy and left it dry overnight and it has been in that spot for the past 7 years. Make special note of ADKCamper's note above about "flagging" this or any other safety unit when you have it out of service. Bill 2 inch square bracket for propane switch.jfif

Yet another reason you got that Ollie! 😀

Of course the answer to the first question depends on a number of factors - how cloudy is it and for how long is it cloudy? How depleted are the batteries to start with? I replaced my lead acid batteries (400 ah) with two 230 ah li batteries thus just about doubling the usable capacity of energy. But, my actual usage has stayed just about the same as it was before the upgrade. So, my standard Oliver solar panels have absolutely no problem fully charging these new batteries to 100% every day AND I have plenty of capacity in the event there are several days of no sun. Asking about brands of batteries is akin to asking about brands of truck, cars, etc.. To each his own. For what its worth, I purchased LiTimes and have had zero problems. However, I understand that Epoch is making a nice battery and, of course, there is always the higher end Battle Borns. Check to make sure that the manufacturer is using #1/grade A cells and then it is a matter of the features that you might want/need (i.e. bluetooth, heated, on/off switches, etc.). I'd wait on the DC to DC charging until you have the experience with the new batteries. If you actually need the extra charging then you can add it later. Bill

AI has the following to say on the subject of AGM battery life: "AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries generally last 3 to 8 years, but the lifespan depends heavily on usage: expect 3-5 years for deep cycling (RVs, marine) and 5-8 years for standby/float (backup power), with high-quality units potentially lasting longer. Key factors include temperature, quality, depth of discharge (how deeply it's drained), and charging practices, with extreme heat or shallow discharges shortening life, while proper maintenance extends it. " Therefore, as Mike says above - you are probably at or very near the end of life for your current batteries. Bill

Ditto for me. Relatively speaking, our installs are at the lower end of the scale of difficulty. Without additional monitoring devices (think Victron stuff here) there is some requirement for having a bit of experience with energy usage. Speaking for myself - while using my "old" lead acid batteries I never had an occasion where the batter charge of those was below 83% FULL! So, when I got my LiTime Li batteries that had even more amp hours of capacity AND they could be discharged much lower than the 50% limit of the old lead acid batteries, I found myself virtually bathing in a wonderful supply of energy. I should note here that I VERY RARELY have a need for air conditioning and I am VERY conservative of even using the furnace (think blower motor using electricity here). But, if you are in a similar boat, you too can do this conversation VERY easily. But, if you want/need more bells and whistles then adding what you need is really not too difficult. Bill

With shop rates getting to the point of about $150.00 per hour, you are probably a touch low on the $50. But around $75 per wheel would probably get it done. Bill p.s. while just about any boat or regular trailer can do this job - I'd ask around a bit to get some recommendations. Bearing service is NOT difficult. But, if it is not done properly it can cause you some real headaches down that lonesome road.

Or--- How about this for a little back ground/elevator music? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC3h7z83OeI&list=PLc9188Xa99jH0yPXAQzo4pDbbilSfFWGE&index=4

Gene - There are a bunch of posts here on the Forum about anything ranging from minimal (me) to substantial Li overhauls that were done by anything ranging from rank novices (me) to certified professional outfits. Have fun reading! Bill

Very interesting and different. Perhaps someone out there in Ollie land has done something similar, but, I've never seen anything close. Sure does look like a very nice job. Any idea of what the ceramic guy used for the coating? Bill

You might want to ask Spectrum for a "coverage map of the USA" and see what it tells you. Or, simply go straight to the horse like I just did at: https://www.spectrum.com/mobile/coverage-map. Bill

Not that I know of (assuming that you mean "authorized/recommended by Oliver". However, if it were me, I'd start by asking any friends in the area, the campground hosts/owners and/or other campers in the area. Bill

Have you tried a "mobile tech"? Bill