crofter
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crofter said:
FWIW Bob says he's not perfect yet just better. Some good thoughts in there on your gypsy soul. -crofter
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FWIW Bob says he's not perfect yet just better. Some good thoughts in there on your gypsy soul. -crofter
travelaround
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Thanks Maki, Crofter, Gypsy... for encouraging words. I think I've got PTSD which is common for people after wildfires. It is not terribly cold here yet. I remember from last winter what terribly cold feels like. I'd like to move south before that happens. It is not even technically winter here yet. Sometime between now and January 9... I'll have to separate myself from my daughter's family. It isn't like they need me for anything right now... they don't ask me for help, time, or much of anything. They ask for hugs, that's about it.
Gypsy108
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crofter said:
Well i wanted to get a tent, Jackery,solar panels, refrigerator, outdoor stove, lounge chair, card table................
What i'll actually be leaving with will be NONE OF THAT. Thank god i bought a 3 gallon Berkey water filter system...i heard the Quartzite water is undrinkable (salt) ??? For the past year i literally didn't know if i was coming or going....so i didn't plan well .....but something finally sunk in that is sealing the deal with my decision to go....without going into details....i've have had enough....you just reach the breaking point....
It will be interesting to see what i take with me....i know one thing for sure...i love comfort & beauty....and i will make it as comfortable and beautiful as i can....like a real gypsy :heart:
Travelaround. That is actually really good news to hear about you bdaughter, sounds like theynare doing great with the new baby and the older kids are setteled in with that new household routine. You could not ask forr much better than that in the current living conditions or even if they were living in a fancy home.
It is nice to be needed but it is even nicer to not feel guilty about wanting to head south for a while.
I am feeling chilled tonight so I turned the heater on. One of these nights I will try letting it run all night, it does have a thermostat control. it will also shut off if the battery voltage drops below a certain level to protect my house battery. i have plenty of fuel in the tank. i kust want to know for sure how nicely it does for overnight use before a real winter storm comes through with 24 hour for several days freezing temperatures. butI plan to be down by Yuma for January so hopefully wont experience one. but my first visit ever to Tuscon in 1984 it was cold and snowy in January.
It is nice to be needed but it is even nicer to not feel guilty about wanting to head south for a while.
I am feeling chilled tonight so I turned the heater on. One of these nights I will try letting it run all night, it does have a thermostat control. it will also shut off if the battery voltage drops below a certain level to protect my house battery. i have plenty of fuel in the tank. i kust want to know for sure how nicely it does for overnight use before a real winter storm comes through with 24 hour for several days freezing temperatures. butI plan to be down by Yuma for January so hopefully wont experience one. but my first visit ever to Tuscon in 1984 it was cold and snowy in January.
shadowmoss
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As of a few minutes ago I have a Wilson cell boost system working. A neighbor helped attach the extendable painter's pole to the back ladder of the motorhome. The outside antenna is attached to the pole to get it above all the surrounding metal RVs. The inside wiring to the Weboost and inside antenna is ugly
shadowmoss
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Yeah, I actually was a cable runner as most of my career. That's why it is ugly right now, I know what I can get away with and still have it work. I know the options, I'm just taking my time. I may want to make a few changes as I go along. I've already found one way I need to reroute the inside cable. After I look at it for a bit I'll start securing it.
It seems there is also more.going on with my equipment than just signal strength. In my last post my phone locked up. That's why it ended abruptly. Ongoing troubleshooting.
It seems there is also more.going on with my equipment than just signal strength. In my last post my phone locked up. That's why it ended abruptly. Ongoing troubleshooting.
travelaround
Well-known member
Just was given one of those ceramic heaters with a 750w setting! Brand new from the Slater Fire donation center! Can't wait to try it out tonight...
I'm sitting at the River Park and who should appear but my former neighbor's son and my grandson with their bikes. So glad my grandchildren are enjoying this town... a great place for kids to grow up!
I'm sitting at the River Park and who should appear but my former neighbor's son and my grandson with their bikes. So glad my grandchildren are enjoying this town... a great place for kids to grow up!
crofter
Well-known member
I love those space heaters.travelaround said:
-crofter
travelaround
Well-known member
Sitting in my van at River Park... my grandson's friend comes back to tell me to phone my grandson's parents .. because he is stuck in the mud! I call for help then go look for him.. he is seriously stuck. Can't get one leg out. His father arrives and can't pull him out. Has to go back home for a shovel. Took about half an hour to get him out. I have video ...Attachments
Comfort and function comes before beauty. I have lots of time later on to make everthing pretty if I ever get around to that.. Besides you can hopefully park in many beautiful places. When I am inside I am not sitting and staring at the walls. I am either working on task, looking at the computer, reading or sleeping. I used to think it would matter a lot more to have pretty fabrics, colors and art in my travel trailer, but I can't see them at night. This is very different than living in a house. Your only real line of sight is out the windows. At night you mostly will be using small areas of task lighting. The rest of the room is likely to be in shadow. What you picture in your mind is very different from how you may end up spendfing your time. Bob Wells has repeated a great many times that you will be living out of yor van and if you follow the warmer weather that is very much the case when you are dwelling in a small square footage space.
travelaround
Well-known member
I'm glad beauty is not a prerequisite to functionality as my van interior leaves a lot to be desired in that regard at this time.
The heater is working great to make this living space usable this evening which is exactly what I needed. Thank you for clues to great living... this is the first time this winter I can sit here enjoying vanlife without cowering under a stack of blankets. It is very cold and raining outside.
I have a 1500w extension cord and am using the heater at 750w so I'm hoping this is safe despite the dire warnings about not using an extension cord in the instructions???
The heater is working great to make this living space usable this evening which is exactly what I needed. Thank you for clues to great living... this is the first time this winter I can sit here enjoying vanlife without cowering under a stack of blankets. It is very cold and raining outside.
I have a 1500w extension cord and am using the heater at 750w so I'm hoping this is safe despite the dire warnings about not using an extension cord in the instructions???
highdesertranger
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what gauge is the extension cord? feel the plug on the heater is it warm? hot? highdesertranger
travelaround
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Gypsy108 said:
After you get started if there are things you can't afford maybe you can make an Amazon wishlist and let people buy things from it for you. But start first so you can get a feel for exactly what it is you need to make your life more comfortable. I don't know if it would be okay to post such a list on this forum but surely we can figure out some way to share. Might be hard to find someone able to buy a Jackery for you. The main reason I've had a battery like that is that I use it to run medical equipment.. a CPAP machine every night.. I used mine nightly for 2 years then it quit on me a few weeks ago. This is why I'm now running an electric cord in through the window. I'm mulling over my next battery purchase. It won't be another Rockpals because I'm unhappy with their customer service, which is a total nonresponse.
travelaround
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highdesertranger said:
Cords and plugs don't feel warm or hot. I think the gauge is 14. It is similar to the one at this link but mine is 200' which they no longer list for sale.
Product said... 14/3 200 ft.full copper 15 amp heavy duty.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071QWV48H
I’ve used one on a heavy duty cord. The female plug on the extension cord of a light duty one got a little hot on high was the reason I got a heavy duty one. It started to turn brown on inside of the female plug on the extension cord. I always make sure nothing nearby is flammable should it get hot. If it doesn’t have a tip over cut off I set them on a cookie sheet. Electric dry heat sure is nice To use to dry out the condensation from an unvented propane heater like a Buddy heater.
travelaround
Well-known member
Tonight at least I have survived and had a happier evening than I usually do. On the page for the heater someone said it would require a 14 guage cord minimum which I believe is what I have. And I am not using it on full 1500w.. only on the 750w setting. Also turning it off every 5 minutes or so to cool down... I don't need it on continually. Wish I understood the difference between watts, amps, and gauge. Can anyone here explain?
Most of them have two controls. One on the left as you face it is the thermostat. The further you turn it clockwise the longer it stays on to reach a higher air temperature. The one on the right is off, fan, low and high as you turn it clockwise. The heat stays constant on high 1500 watts or low 750 watts, the thermostat determines how long it runs. Watts = Amps x Volts so 750 watts = 6.25 amps x 120 volts. If your cord is rated at 15 amps you should be okay but electrical ratings can and do vary greatly especially if in continuous use as heat affects conductivity. Use at your own risk when not following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
200 feet of 14 ga cord, using the heater at 750 watts is fine. You could add a small light or maybe a phone charger or laptop charger to the line but keep the heater on LOW.
