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Please don't be offended by my question.  Is your 12 volt disconnect switch in the disconnect position?  If you are plugged into shore power, your panel may show that your converter/charger is putting out voltage but it may not be getting to the battery if the disconnect switch is in the...

Sometimes there is fun to be had in the sun!  I just bought this shade cloth tarp to use at the beach to shade the sun facing side of the van.  It is clipped to the drip rail with 1" clamps from Home Depot and can be moved around the van if I choose.  I like it better than the RV awning that is...

"By living in a van you are able to skip out of having to be a good little busy bee and you do not contribute your part to society." I started working when I was 15 years old. I think 47 years of being a busy little bee and contributing to society is enough for me.  And I still pay...

Very happy for you!  Enjoy your retirement!

Mine barely uses enough propane over several days to move the monitor, even at the beach in the sun.  You might want to have it checked out.

I live and camp in Texas and I would not be able to travel very much without the A/C and generator that I have.  It always seems much hotter than the ambient temperature due to the humidity.  At least with A/C, you can pull some of the humidity out while cooling the van.  Fans won't do it...

I have a similar fridge in my van.  Running the fridge on 12V is only intended to keep already cold items cool while driving.  Running it on the house battery or the chassis battery without the engine running will deplete the battery in 2-4 hours. There is a 20 amp fuse in the back that runs...

It actually hit the Matagorda area yesterday, however, Galveston/Houston was on the dirty side of the storm meaning lots of rain and flooding.  Still raining today and flooding in a lot of areas on the west side of I-45.  The ground is saturated and no place for it to go quickly.  I guess we are...

I agree that it is very important that we vote.  I remember the people of Iraq, risking being shot going to vote, and how they proudly they showed the purple ink on their fingers after voting.  We have lost that feeling in this country. Like LeeRevell, I use the news to find out something has...

N4T, I love your story!  Tell it as many times as you like!  It's very inspiring!

Yeah, the "auto close in the rain" feature is a power hog, especially in humid weather.  Mine wants to open and close continually at the least bit of moisture, especially at the beach.  I open it manually and turn on the fan when needed instead.

When I was very young, my parents took us to Washington D.C., Grand Canyon, California and places in between.  I barely remember any of it. What I remember most are the weekends at my grandmother's week-end cabin in the country.....fishing and swimming in the pond, climbing trees, roaming...

Sounds like your in for some fun.  And thanks for recommending the Progressive Dynamics converter.  I have been looking at that one for some time to upgrade the old Parallax I have now.  The PD 9245 will slide right in the same space and provide three stage charging instead of the single stage...

Wow!  You do some awesome work!  I'm envious of your skill!  Thanks for sharing your build and pics!

Just google cloud edge effect.  There are lots of articles, both research and forum discussions.  Here is a sample: http://forums.energymatters.com.au/solar-wind-gear/topic1507.html. Enjoy!  It is very interesting..

I was just using your set-up as an example; not intended to infer that your panels or controller are not matched.  There is something called the "cloud edge effect" that has been written about.  I read about it after the first time Bob wrote about his friend's controller blowing.  The panels...

I think Bob's point was that, if one doesn't assume that one will get full power, they might purchase a controller that is too close to the edge of what they need. For example, Seraphim, you have panels that produce 400 watts and a 30 amp charge controller.  Your driving at altitude like Bob's...

I have the positive panel to controller wire fused.  I simply pull the fuse if I need to.

Indian Paintbrush Goliad TX

Awesome job!  I'm enjoying your build so please keep the posts and pics coming!