Let's see your Outdoors RV Mods

[brulaz]

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

I know this has been done many times, but I can't believe that this is not the way RV stoves are built.
https://youtu.be/QzdfonPlcfo

What exactly is the mod?
I want my stove to operate the way that You Tube one does.

[Rickeoni]

Originally Posted by brulaz

What exactly is the mod?
I want my stove to operate the way that You Tube one does.

Super simple mod. Purchased a 3 burner BBQ igniter from fleabay. And followed a few different you tube videos. Took me less than an hour, and as you saw the results are quiet and quick ignition.

https://youtu.be/EpCBhhOoDqY

https://youtu.be/SeyCua9GiUk

[Tuquala]

Yep, great mod, and works every time with one push of the button!! Some persons have used a 4 connec igniter and done the oven also. I haven't done that (YET!!) since our oven lights almost the minute I click the lighter!!!

[Araxis33]

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

I know this has been done many times, but I can't believe that this is not the way RV stoves are built.
https://youtu.be/QzdfonPlcfo

Never seen this before but totally liked and stole. Did not like the way the screw holes remained visible so I took a coffee can lid and cut a piece of the plastic big enough so the holes would be covered.

[Leaf-Peeper]

Originally Posted by Tuquala

Yep, great mod, and works every time with one push of the button!! Some persons have used a 4 connec igniter and done the oven also. I haven't done that (YET!!) since our oven lights almost the minute I click the lighter!!!

I did the same mod, the oven as well on our '08 Rockwood years ago.

[dkingpt]

For 230+ nights (about half off grid), and 30K miles that we’ve camped in our 20FQ, we’ve been charging the factory-supplied flooded batteries with two 100 watt solar panels I installed on the roof plus the 100 watt “easel” portable kit that I already had. We’ve used the factory supplied SAE ports and wiring.

Living in the Pacific Northwest but with family in Los Angeles we’ve often needed the trailer’s four season capability. Propane does the heaving lifting for refrigeration, heat, and hot water, but we’ve missed having modest AC power without hookups so I’ve been considering installing an inverter for some time. Renogy’s 20% Memorial Day sale got me off the dime and I just finished installing a 2000 watt inverter along with two 100 AH Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. Specifically:

I installed the new batteries and the inverter under the bed in the small space just forward of the water tank. As this is within the heated envelope of the trailer I shouldn’t have to worry about trying to charge cold batteries. I mocked up the installation to make sure I had the space. Otherwise pretty straightforward because the trailer’s DC “junction box” is just below the floor in that location.

I replaced the converter in the Power Center with a lithium-specific converter from Progressive Dynamics.

I replaced the two different controllers on the solar panels with Voyager waterproof controllers from Renogy.

I installed a Victron meter the panel next to my side of the bed to monitor the batteries without having to fish wires through the trailer - a really stupid location but for the fact that the built-in bluetooth lets me monitor the batteries with my phone.

I put a remote start for the inverter next to the meter and wired a 20 amp outlet on the side of the trailer. I just plug into myself for “shore power” when setting up camp off-grid. Conveniently one AC breaker in the power center controls both the converter and the refrigerator - so I just turn that off to use the inverter (see the sign by the bed.)

Benefits:

AC - as I said above. Runs the microwave (1640 watts) without breaking a sweat. Keeps electronics and battery powered tools charged.

Save some weight. New batteries 30 lbs ea. Old batteries 80 lbs each. Maybe saving about 50 lbs after adding the inverter, wiring and trailer tongue box. Critical because my RAM 1500 Ecodiesel has bupkis for payload.

Much faster battery recharging - used to take all day for the solar panels to get the old flooded batteries to float. Batteries more tolerant of deep and partial discharge - happy to stay below 100% for long periods.

Everything’s working great so far.

[brulaz]

Originally Posted by dkingpt

...

two 100 AH Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. Specifically:

I installed the new batteries and the inverter under the bed in the small space just forward of the water tank. As this is within the heated envelope of the trailer I shouldn’t have to worry about trying to charge cold batteries.

...

Very, very nice. I would love to do something similar.
Where did you get the Batteries?

[dkingpt]

Originally Posted by brulaz

Very, very nice. I would love to do something similar.
Where did you get the Batteries?

I got the batteries, inverter and controllers directly from Renogy:

https://www.renogy.com/

I got the converter and the Victron meter from Battleborn:

https://battlebornbatteries.com/shop/

I actually like the Battleborn batteries better because of the through-bolt terminals. (Renogy uses super-fine M8 .75mm pitch stainless metric caps crews that should be longer for a parallel connection) But all the rest of my gear is Renogy and it's been working fine and the 20% discount was too much to ignore.

Both outfits provided excellent service.

[Rickeoni]

I have started looking into LiFePo4 batteries as my bank is now 4 years old. I am starting to compare batteries, and the battleborn units also carry a 10 year no questions asked warranty. I am interested to see how the charge discharge cycles go after a few months. What are the specs on the Renogy units for the BMS? Low voltage cut off, low temp cut off...

[dkingpt]

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

I have started looking into LiFePo4 batteries as my bank is now 4 years old. I am starting to compare batteries, and the battleborn units also carry a 10 year no questions asked warranty. I am interested to see how the charge discharge cycles go after a few months. What are the specs on the Renogy units for the BMS? Low voltage cut off, low temp cut off...

I found this helpful:

https://youtu.be/gOqQp2Xjr6U

[Rickeoni]

Originally Posted by dkingpt

I found this helpful:

https://youtu.be/gOqQp2Xjr6U

I follow him already. Quite passionate about the subject, isn't he.

[brulaz]

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

I have started looking into LiFePo4 batteries as my bank is now 4 years old.
...

Many folks get a lot more than 4 years out of a Lead Acid bank, unless they beat them up regularly . Mine are about the same age as yours and seem to be doing fine. I'm hoping for another 3-4 years anyway.

Actually I'm hoping they'll hold out long enough for LiFePO4 batts to drop in price significantly.

[Rickeoni]

Cheepie upgrade, added a brass sprinkler shutoff to the city water connection. So much easier to turn the water off when we go out on excursions.

[GoLeafsGo]

Wife loves this mod. Bought at The Container Store. Lower basket has mesh to hold sundry hairties that come along with three females