24/7 Chat About Anything

[VanFan]

All I know is it is important not to let the magic smoke out.  Once that happens, nothin' works right.  I've seen it with my own eyes. :s 

Seriously, I admire those of you who can put electrical theory into action.

 

[maki2]

I have never reinvented myself. But my skills and interest do evolve over time. But those previous skills and interest have not left me. They are still part of who I am and will continue to be an influence in my life.

I am in a period of transition from living one life style to another but I am still the same person. It is a natural thing, we don't stay at the same age for even as much as one second of time.

 

[Sofisintown]

Smoke tests are a standard part of building something like that. If it smokes, then you learn something. That's why they have fuses. Nice heavy wires, how did you crimp them? Where does the Bluetti fit in? (yer lamp is creepy, ya gonna sleep in the same room with that, lol).

Yeah, the smoke test... That's why I make sure it works before I put it in the van.

I have 4 panels, 3 for the Bluetti, and 1 for this small system as a back-up.
I put 4's and 6's wires, in case I get an extra battery later -unlikely, lights draw minimal power but I  have 4 of them at the back, plus a string LED.
If I light them all up it's like a carnival fair in there.  I'll take a pic tomorrow, when I install the panel/battery.
I'll use the battery (55AH) for lights only, and everything else will draw from the Bluetti.
I got a cheap hammer crimper for the big wires.
It worked pretty well, but I had to go outside every time to hammer on the concrete.

That's my desk lamp, I put googly eyes on it for the extra creepy factor.  (Wilson?) 

 

[desert_sailing]

Did you make it down to Ca today Maki?.. how was the drive?..I hope better than last night in the dark with wind and rain.

 

[desert_sailing]

On other unrelated news, I finished my auxiliary electrical system, and proudly present it to you for inspection, in case I messed up something and you will catch the mistake before I set anything on fire.
Currently it works fine. I only need to add one 100 Watt panel.

Such a nice and neat layout. Nothing like my spider web of wires.
I sure would love to have that area rug on my van floor!

 

[Qxxx]

Yeah, the smoke test... That's why I make sure it works before I put it in the van.

I got a cheap hammer crimper for the big wires.

The comment was somewhat elliptic, but if you have fuses or circuit breakers, and they pop, then no smoke comes out, but it likely would have if you did not have the fuses or circuit breakers. So, this tells you immediately if something is wrong. Then if they don't pop, you take your DMM and measure the voltages all over the circuit. 

I'm not sure I like hammer crimps, but I imagine a lot of people do this. I once watched enig jamie giving a tutorial on making hammer crimps, but wasn't sold on the method. But those wires and the 1500W inverter are certainly good for much more than 55AH battery circuits. I use a 120VAC 60W equivalent Led bulb for lighting and it only draws 10W, about 1 Amp.

 

[Sofisintown]

Such a nice and neat layout. Nothing like my spider web of wires.
I sure would love to have that area rug on my van floor!

Thank you.
The rug is too big 9 x 12 feet. Unless we cut it in strips and share, it's easier to use as a teepee

 

[travelaround]

I missed it all again. Don't even recall everything I did today but books were involved. Lots of rain. Church online was good. Edited a video. I had almost no contact with other human beings. Sometimes I think I'm lonely and then I wonder where I'd even fit another person into my life. My grandson tried to get me to fix his bike. What makes him think I'm a bike fixing grandma? I tried but failed since my tools weren't with me. Nice to be warm in bed at night after a long day of doing practically nothing.

 

[Qxxx]

I missed it all again. 

Probably better that way, lol. I hope you get on the road soon, and down to warmer climates before winter lowers the boom, TA. There are always a zillion things to organize, but many of those can be done on the road.

 

[travelaround]

My daughter just loaned me her RV so I may be here for a while. It has a heater. She will be staying in a trailer nearby. Her baby is due any time now.

 

[Qxxx]

Living in an RV instead of a van, yer gonna get spoiled. You'll end up parking next to Cammalu's Class-A.

 

[travelaround]

I'm okay with getting a little spoiled right now. This is an old class A . . . but class A indeed. Looks clean and comfortable. They want the trailer for the tip out and bunk-beds for the kids.... and room for a bassinet. There are multiple chairs available for reading, and a built in TV. I think I'll be okay there for a while.

 

[maki2]

I am indeed in California this evening. Got a bit of a late start as I had to setup to cut an oder this morning. My bad I forgot to remove the color option of balack from one of the sets. I had sold out that color on that particular set at Halloween. I completely forgot when I was making inventory the other week that some folks still do "Nightmare Before Christmas Villages"

I drove from just across the border in Oregon until sunset when I came upon a sign advertising a brand new Indian Casino at Coyote Valley which is 9 miles north of Ukiah. So that is where I am stopped for the night. Free overnight parking in their dirt lot. It is not super cold this evening but I will turn on my diesel stove/heater for a little while to take off the light chill and make a hot decaf mocha. Now that I am out of the rainy Pacific NW the trailer has less condensation on the windows. I even saw some sunshine today in the late afternoon after I got past the fog in redwood forest lands.
 
I managed about 6 hours of driving on the Redwood highway., It is beautuful but if I migrate all that distance again next year I will take I-5 as it is much faster and less tiring. Highway 101 just has too many slow tight curves. I am not regreting taking this route but doing that drive once a decade or so is sufficient for me especially when pulling a travel trailer with a 4 cylinder vehicle. Fortunately  for the other people driving passenger cars there are plenty of passing lanes once you get south of Eureka.

But those giant redwoods in the forest are magical. I did take a short detour off the highway t9o one of the State park areas. I was getting too sleepy eyed and needed to make some coffee. Thankfully there are no Statbuck drive throughs or fast food of any kind in that area as it would certainly spoil the atmosphere. who knows maybe someday I will come back just to camp among thse giant trees. No chance of getting any solar power generation though. It would also seem an affront to run a generator and spoil the natural sounds. So it really would be a vacation versus my everyday nomadic life.

 

[nature lover]

My latest plan has been to head south either Thursday or Friday morning as soon as the sun rises. But I just got a face book post from a friend in Florida who says that even though the cases of Covid are going up there the Florida ski slopes are packed and no one there is social distancing at all.

It’s 10:30 PM and my friend Andrew just got done hooking the refrigerator directly to the house battery system. He also installed one 9 V Cig outlet and four USB outlets. He drilled a hole in the outside of the van to put the port for the wires from the portable solar panels. I am indeed very close to being ready to go.

 

[maki2]

TTravelaround. That RV sounds just fine to get you through the time for helping your daughter with caring for the older children. I has enough room for them to come over so your daughter and the baby can get in some nap time. Plus the TV for distracting them to give you some down time now and again.

You and your family sure have had more that a boatload of stress this year. But wishing you much joy with being together this holiday season, that is a real blessing despite all the chaos of circumstances you are living with.

 

[highdesertranger]

Nature Lover, what are the Florida ski slopes? highdesertranger

 

[VanFan]

But those giant redwoods in the forest are magical.

Yes.  They are.

 

[travelaround]

Florida ski slopes... might be worth going to Florida just to look for them... something like the paradise of Shangri-la... above the clouds, where the fountain of youth is frozen in time. Or at least in winter.

Wasn't really looking forward to babysitting kids in the RV but that could happen soon when their parents leave for the childbirth. I want to teach the kids to play board games and card games. We're going low tech. Their Xbox burned in the fire and their parents don't want to replace it because of how they were fighting over it.

 

[Gypsyjoe#1]

Their Xbox burned in the fire and their parents don't want to replace it because of how they were fighting over it.

TA, I have to say good for the parents and you going low tech will be good for the children!!!! Low tech leaves more to the imagination and will benefit them in life over all.

 

[maki2]

Travelaround,

What no xbox ??? 

I guess you will have to read to the kids. Were you able to save some of the kids books you collected? Are the children old enough for reading chapters of books to them?