Mar 30
Electrical systems with RV Solar Panels explained
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This text is a small guide that will serve to acquaint you with the parts of an RV electrical system that is rigged to function on renewable energy .  The goal is that you will be comfortable enough with the parts to install your own RV solar panels.  I will give details on each part.

Battery – most   are 12 volts. They often say 12V, but in realism they are 13.8 volts.  The voltage they write on the batteries themselves has actually been rounded to a lower level.  This won’t affect you, since most  things made to use 12 volts are in fact designed for 13.8.  Note that one of the most electricity hungry devices in an RV is more often than not the microwave oven.  If you’re planning on getting one in your RV, you’ll probably need at least three batteries, as a normal estimate knowing the power requirements you’ll face for the standard microwave and battery capacities.

Battery Cables – don’t ever underestimate the importance  of good , thick battery cables.  DC electricity is infamous for requiring big cables.  This is because the resistance intrinsic in some cable you’ll use has additional loss than would happen for AC power.  Always make sure to obtain good thick cables.  See references to AWG (Wire Gauge charts) to discover how large of wire you’ll need  based on your power requirements.  OKAY!  Let’s move on.

Inverter – This machine will get the DC power supplied to it from your batteries, which came from the RV solar panels (also in DC form), and convert it to AC shape that can be used by the majority of appliances you’d bring in into your RV from your home .  A television , for example , unless specifically  designed  to run on DC power, will need AC (like you’d obtain from an electrical outlet in your home ).

AC Breaker Panel – You’ll want a panel on the AC side of the inverter that is similar or even identical to the panel in your cellar at home that is full of circuit breakers.  These will trip when power usage exceeds the ability of the breakers, just like blowing a fuse, only without the hassle of having to replace the fuse…simply reset the tripped breaker.  Note that these can be, but often aren’t wanted on the side of the inverter fed by the batteries and RV solar panels.  Protection is recommended, but usually a fuse is sufficient here.

Generator – I normally don’t like to advocate these, since I’m a gentleman who likes to play it au natural, and who relies completely on my RV solar panels, but sometimes a backup generator is nice if you’re out in the open and just plain don’t want to wait for the sun.  I apologize, Mother Earth.

Charge Controller – The electricity produced by your RV solar panels will be required to be regulated when you are charging your batteries.  The reason is that a battery is only able to fit into it a certain amount of “juice”, and your RV solar panels may make them rupture , spill or blow up with no charge controller!  Not good !  It’s sure a safety issue and can be very boring , but if you have a desire to, you can monitor the battery voltage levels by yourself.  Don’t underestimate their importance .

That’s all.  Look for future write-ups concerning the importance of additional parts, and how to install them.  For additional info on RV Solar Panels, be sure to visit newenergytips.com.

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Mar 25

We have always liked to camp going back to when the children were young. We started out with a pop-up camper that we could pull behind our mini van. The children use to love to spend the weekends in some nearby campground where they met lots of new fiends.

As the years progressed we traded up to a truck camper. This camper slid onto the bed of our pick-up truck and the children could ride in the camper on our way to our destination. We had this camper for several years until the children began to loose interest in weekend camping. Teenagers like to spend the weekends at the mall with their friends instead of with mom and dad in the woods somewhere.

We eventually sold the truck camper and purchased a camper trailer that we could pull with our truck for short trips. Most of the time we would leave it parked in a nearby campground for the summer season. A lot of our friend would do the same in nearby lots.

Now that we are near retirement age, we would like to buy a motor home and do some serious traveling. We do not like the idea of pulling our camper trailer any long distances. So we began our search for RV sales and service in our area. We visited several RV sales in Georgia, RV sales North Carolina, RV sales South Carolina, and all of the local camper and RV sales. We also checked the online RV sales.

The internet gave us information on Maine RV sales, Indiana RV sales, Montana RV sales, and RVs for sale in Texas. Although every dealer offered good prices, which were very similar, we decided that it would be best to do our buying close to home. We decided that we could get better service from a local dealer if we purchased the vehicle from that dealer.

So after looking at several models, sizes, and manufacturers, we still could not make a decision. We had it narrowed down to a couple of models, so our dealer suggested that we try out two of their rental units to see which one we liked the best. This was a good idea. It was very helpful in making our decision.

So now we are major leaguers and are ready to hit the road in our new motor home. We are looking forward to many enjoyable years of retirement.

Carl Kinnebrew
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/advancing-to-the-major-league-rvs-102818.html

Mar 17

Central Florida has to be the RV capital of the world. If not, then it has to be right up there near the top. The great exodus from the north happens in late fall much like the migration of birds. Thus the term “snowbirds” was coined. Since the baby boomers have hit retirement age, things have really exploded. Had I been looking ahead, I would have jumped into the RV business years ago.

The classified ads are full of RVs for sale, RV lots for sale, used RVs for sale, and RV parks for sale. Wait a minute; did I say RV parks for sale? Maybe I should check this one out.

The baby boomers spend more on themselves than their parents ever did. Their parents were survivors of the Great Depression and World War Two. Their goal was saving money not spending it. There was always the possibility of another depression in the back of their minds. This baby boomer generation, including myself, goes on the idea that you only live once and you may as well enjoy it.

Baby boomers have the luxury of their parents’ hard work and sacrifice that has made their life easier. The get it now generation certainly has kept the economy strong by their spending habits. Let’s face it, we are spoiled.

So by the good fortune of our parents’ wisdom, and a strong steady economy, we baby boomers can retire early, afford that big RV, and hit the road without a care in the world. Never before has a generation had it so easy.

RVs are getting bigger and more luxurious with every new model. Gone are the days of pop up campers or truck campers. Trailer campers are no where near as popular as they once were. This generation wants the big motor home. Home away from home is what we want. Television, microwave ovens, laundry facilities, and air conditioning are all necessities. This is great isn’t it?

So baby boomers keep buying those big RVs, your children need the work.

Carl Kinnebrew
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/baby-boomers-and-rvs-106574.html

Mar 16

Motorhomes for hire come in all shapes, sizes and prices. The trick is to find a motorhome to suit your requirements and budget.

There are a few styles of motorhome to choose from, with varying levels of comfort and price. Smaller vans are easier to handle, but larger vans offer more comfort. If it’s your first time, I suggest you go for the largest van that you feel happy to drive, within your budget.

A hightop is basically a van conversion with a specially made high fixed roof. These come in various lengths, short, medium and long. These sizes refer to the wheelbase, which is the distance between the front and rear axle. Motohomes with a medium wheelbase are popular hire choices as they are easier to handle than the long wheelbase versions, whilst still offering a good degree of comfort. Some companies also offer motorhome hire with folding roofs. The above types of motorhomes are often referred to as camper vans.

Coachbuilt motorhomes (C class) are generally a lot larger than campers and are more like a house on wheels. Most will have all the comforts of home and often a double bed. Many of the designs have a bed area which sits over the top of the drivers cab. These motorhomes can be expensive to run and hire.

Fuel costs are a definite consideration for many when deciding to hire a motorhome. This problem has been taken on board by some rental companies and manufacturers. Many motorhome hire companies now offer vans that have been converted to run on LPG. This should at least half your fuel costs.

For most people, the hire cost is a definite consideration when looking to hire a camper or motorhome. My advice is to not overstretch your budget on the rental cost. Part of the enjoyment of the motorhome is being able to visit and enjoy new places. If you are a couple, a medium wheelbase motorhome should provide you with good overall comfort levels, ease of use and at a reasonable price.

One thing I should mention is that insurance cover for motorhome hire can be expensive and you should know up front exactly what you are covered for. Take time to review the policy. Remember to comply with most insurance policies you should carry out the daily maintenance tasks on the motorhome as specified by your rental agent.

You’ve booked the motorhome hire, now what.

Well it really depends on what type of holiday you are looking for. If you are using the motorhome as a base to visit new places then to get the most out of your hire, it’s always a good idea to plan your route in advance. This means that you will know each day where you are going and don’t waste any time deciding where to go while on your holiday.

Of course for some, there will be no route and hiring a motorhome is all about the open road with a new adventure each day.

Steve Thomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/motorhome-and-camper-van-hire-the-basics-101502.html

Mar 11

Chapter 3 of 3, This is the ultimate 4WD campervan for those who want a real adventure in the outback of Australia. The rear cabin is very spacious and has plenty of ventilation with side flyscreens along the pop top roof. The vehicle is fitted with a large retractable side awning, which you can cook and eat under. At night you can even plug into caravan park power and enjoy home comforts of air conditioning. Comes with many special 4wd extras such as a Safety & Survival Guide, air jack and …

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Mar 10

Chapter 2 of 3, This is the ultimate 4WD campervan for thosewho want a real adventure in the outback of Australia. The rear cabin is very spacious and has plenty of ventilation with side flyscreens along the pop top roof.

The vehicle is fitted with a large retractable side awning, which you can cook and eat under. At night you can even plug into caravan park power and enjoy home comforts of air conditioning. Comes with many special 4wd extras such as a Safety & Survival Guide, air jack and …

Duration : 0:6:36

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Mar 9

Chapter 1 of 3, This is the ultimate 4WD campervan for those who want a real adventure in the outback of Australia. The rear cabin is very spacious and has plenty of ventilation with side flyscreens along the pop top roof. The vehicle is fitted with a large retractable side awning, which you can cook and eat under. At night you can even plug into caravan park power and enjoy home comforts of air conditioning. Comes with many special 4wd extras such as a Safety & Survival Guide, air jack and …

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Mar 6

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Mar 4

Here we go again, another roadtrip in the old F-100 with the “Alaskan” Pop-top camper. This time we go to Shaver Lake in the mountains of Calif.

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Mar 2

Vw T4 Multivan Syncro with pop up Westfalia roof review by The Campervan Store.Vw T4 Multivan Syncro Westfalia Camper Campervan

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