Only problem is, I have it starting this coming Monday, October 2nd. I figured that Lindsey and Justin have two cars and that one should be available for us to use occasionally for a few days our first week here. But, it turns out that the one older car needs a major brake job now and it's not safe to drive the way it is.
So we've been without transportation these first few days.
Obviously in hindsight , I should have booked the car rental to start earlier. I've even tried to get a last minute rental, and they are available... but at $35 to $40 CAD a day, we're not that stuck! In comparison, the deal I booked (in mid July) is going to cost $16.50 CAD ($13.50 USD) per day taxes included for the three week period!
Anyhow, we've got lots to do to the motorhome, so we're okay to be stuck here for now.
Yesterday, I started work on changing the solar charge controller. And I could have finished the job, but I needed some wiring connectors that I didn't have, and of course I had no car to go buy some. I found out in the evening that son in law Justin in fact had some in his shop, but I wasn't looking in the right place.
Installing the new charge controller.
I had nice thick 8 gauge wire running from the old charge controller to the batteries, but that size wire wouldn't fit on the connectors of the new controller. So I had to attach a short length of number 10 wire to the controller, and then connect them to the number 8 wire. I've moved the controller to within 3 feet of the batteries, so there won't be much, if any voltage drop.
I'll have to cover this hole.
Only problem with moving the controller, is that it won't be as easy to look at in the new location. Plus, I need to find a way to cover the hole that was left behind from the old charge controller.
Anyhow, it's a nice sunny blue sky day, so I'd better go out and finish the job and get some sunshine into those batteries!
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One simple trick, if a wire is too thick to insert into a terminal: just trim off a few strands along the outer circumference---essentially converting the 8AWG into 10AWG in this case. This practice is acceptable as long as fuse size is properly chosen. The wire may heat up at the trim point, so best to do it a few inches away from the device, and use heat shrink or tape as insulation.
ReplyDeleteIn this application resistance heating should be no problem. The big wire isn't for current capacity, it's to limit voltage drop.
DeleteNice to get that job out of the way and hope you batteries get topped up.
ReplyDeleteSo far it looks like the charge controller is doing it's thing well. This is the first time that the batteries have reached their peak charging point but Kevin still has to play around with it and get them equalized so we will see in a few days time how this works out and if we need to buy new batteries this fall as opposed to next spring.
DeleteKevin, you might want to leave the hole there if there is other wiring located in the vicinity, and later, there might be a need to easily get to that wiring. When we replaced and changed the location of our thermostat in our camper, I covered the large hole with a brass plate with the inscription "Tillotson Home Sweet Home" and a little engraved art work of flowers at the end of the inscription.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking a nice small photo would cover up that area nicely.
DeleteThat would do nicely too, especially a recent photo of the grandchildren since you and Kevin will be on the road longer this time and it would be nice to see their faces from time to time.
DeleteYep, that would great idea, Dee!
DeleteLooks like a good place for a clock or an indoor/outdoor thermometer.
ReplyDeleteYes! A big digital clock... great idea, thanks Croft!
DeleteEven better. I was going to say, a small picture frame.
DeleteI agree with Chris, I think a small photo frame would be better suited there.
DeleteSteve has the one and only thing he ever won in a raffle mounted in that spot with velcro so it can be removed. Its a half of a birch bark log, cut lengthwise. Where the bark is peeled back, someone painted a fish in that space. Looks cool and he smiles when he sees it, because its the only thing he ever won (besides my heart!)
ReplyDeleteYep, putting something nice and personal there, like a nice picture, perhaps even the one Cameron drew for us of Sherman. :-)
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