CRM

My wife would have made me stop for a pic for sure!

Glad you got out! Situations like this is why having four wheel drive is at the top of my list for a TV. Won't go without a front hitch either.

Good to know... Thanks. Thought they put that on the label from a prior discussion about the Nev-R-Lube axles.

Are those axles Nev-R-Lube? I thought the Nev-R-Adjust label was only on the standard bearing axles.

A short clip that some may find useful. It shows just how easily an inverter A/C unit ramps up and how it allows a much smaller generator to run it safely as compared to a standard compressor A/C unit. While this was on a Greenland Turbro, the numbers and ramp up profile should be very similar with any of the current units on the market. This test was using a Honda EU2200I generator and the readout is in volt-amps and not watts. VA actually topped out at 970VA but the video stopped right before the peak. After running 15 min power draw leveled out around 600VA and then down to 400VA after an hour or so. Should be able to get 6+ hours runtime on the .95 gallon tank if the A/C runs continuously. Not my plan to ever have to use the generator to power the Ollie, I just wanted to know how it would perform in an emergency situation where we're left without power for several days. Something everyone here in Florida thinks about during hurricane season! Video Project 8 (1).mp4

Looks like they modified a Turbro unit like I have and fixed most or maybe even all the features I don't like about it.

Before the shutdown Oliver was planning something similar with the "Sport" package. Check out the price for the "Appliance Package" add on... 😲

I remember reading in the "Morton's on the move" blog that BTU output was about half it's actual rating but didn't think that would be a problem since my old 9.2k Coleman worked just fine at cooling in our Ollie, and it worked better than others I've used at controlling humidity due to longer run times. I bet you'll get better performance when traveling at lower altitudes. Bottom line, none of these units are perfect, but if you need A/C off-grid inverter compressor units are really your only choice and the Chill Cube seems to be a great one. Only question is durability, which is the same question I have for my Turbro.

Very nice, especially at your elevation. Probably losing 15% or so efficiency up there in the clouds!

Very similar to the numbers I see from my Turbro, though I will see low 900's watt range when first starting up and interior temps are 90+ degrees. Once close to setpoint it's in the 500's during a hot sunny day and around 200 watts at night to maintain temps.

Here are the specs for the Houghton 48v unit that's in the Apex. It runs only as low as 660 watts (which matches the 666 watts in the Oliver video) which is higher than either the Turbro I have or the Chill Cube you have seen in real world testing. It also draws up to 1700 watts at full power which is something I don't think either of ours ever get near. Obviously have the loss in the inverter conversion but there's loss in the 48v cabling too... Would still like to see real world data from the 48v Houghton, though...

When the Apex was first announced I looked up the specs on the Houghton 48v units and compared it to the numbers I see from running my Turbro. I'll have to go back and re-check the numbers.

Yep, obviously the Ah is Ah, but what I was trying to say is that running an inverter A/C off of 12v batteries though an inverter is more efficient than the Houghton 48v running directly off of the 48v battery.

I agree. I did some napkin math when the specs first came out and it seemed to make much more sense to have 600-900ah of 12v over 400ah of 48v and run everything though either 12v or the inverter. Even the AC efficiency came out better running a 120v inverter compressor unit over the 48v Houghton unit, especially at the lower BTU rating of the 48v Houghton.

It's kind of strange they didn't design it to have that option to begin with... Not sure what make/model I have but it has separate controls so I can turn the fan off while the vent door is open.

I would assume that I have the same door as all the early Elite 1 models. I wonder if any of those have failed?

Ouch is right, and todays hourly rates are totally ridiculous. I owned an auto repair shop back in the 90's and was charging 42.50 per hour and was getting attacked by customers over it. Dealerships at the time were 50-55. Of course the dollar has lost over 50% of its value since then, but that should have only doubled the hourly rates from that period.

With my Turbro Inverter, once it reaches set temp I'm seeing between 250-600 watts during the day in 85-95 degree weather with 80+ humidity so you're probably pretty close with your numbers- and we keep the inside temps low, too... around 70-72. Haven't monitored during the night yet but obviously the watts draw will be even lower. Don't know why anyone who boondocks would buy anything but an inverter AC/Heat pump.

Though it's never become unplugged, I decided to check my fridge plug to see if it was still a tight fit in the outlet. Looked under the sink and nothing there... Ends up they installed mine in the fridge enclosure and assessable from the bottomed outside vent. Still tight!

Yes, on a newer Ollie you'd have to worry about the warranty, but mine is out of warranty for over 16 years now. And you can buy 20 amp twist lock receptacles that fit in the same space as a standard receptacle.

I haven't had any issues with unplugging yet, but if I did I'd probably just replace the plug and socket with a twist-lock type.

Since they're putting Alcan's on the new X23 models, maybe they'll offer that same upgrade to anyone ordering a standard model?

Best built camper in the market... riding on Chinese steel springs and Chinese tires? .

To make sure that if the generator is connected to a residential service that will always be code complainant. You can't have more than one neutral/ground bond in a system, and since a residential main panel is already bonded you would be violating code and creating a possible hazardous condition. Edit- I shouldn't have said "always be code compliant" since there are ways to connect a generator to a residential system that will violate code even if you use a floating neutral generator.

Yes, using a bonding plug makes it safer by providing a low resistance path back to the generator to trip the breaker in the generator if a short to the metal case of an appliance inside the RV or the generator itself occurs. When it comes to the ground rod system in a residential system, it is there for voltage stabilization and surge dissipation, not to trip breakers. In fact, if the neutral and grounding electrode system are not bonded in the service panel you could connect a hot conductor straight to the ground rod and it will not trip the breaker. You need the bonding in the panel to provide a path back to the transformer for that to happen. You get that path when the ground and neutral are bonded in the service panel, completing the circuit back to the utility transformer's neutral point.