Best Of
Gosh I Like My T@B
At times all the various discussion issues/problems/calls for help can be depressing.
So just want to say . . . I really like my 320S . . .
Am winding down a short spring adventure and the T@B has been a real trooper.
No issues towing, nice an comfy with the Alde, more than enough water & black tank for solo'ing (no cassette here), and a real sense of home each evening.
Now only if my eBike had not had a major electrical failure,
if only my trip wasn't shortened because of the eBike failure
life would be 100% perfect.
So just want to say . . . I really like my 320S . . .
Am winding down a short spring adventure and the T@B has been a real trooper.
No issues towing, nice an comfy with the Alde, more than enough water & black tank for solo'ing (no cassette here), and a real sense of home each evening.
Now only if my eBike had not had a major electrical failure,
if only my trip wasn't shortened because of the eBike failure
life would be 100% perfect.
Re: Jensen radio will not pair with Bluetooth devices - SOLVED! See last post for detail.
I use a thumb drive on the Jensen for my music library along with my phone. What the Jensen lacks is a Bluetooth transmitter for a wireless speaker. The Jensen speakers are pretty poor quality and I considered replacing them but my Bluetooth speaker sounds great so I'd rather go they route. For now I use my phone to my wireless speaker but will be adding a bluetooth transmitter to the Jensen for Zone B output for my music library on the thumb drive so it isn't always phone dependent.
Re: Gosh I Like My T@B
We’re just opposite. My wife sleeps with her head under the cabinets on the passenger side. I’m the claustrophobic one so I sleep with my head by the bath. That also allows her to use the USB port to run a white noise machine. I’ve been known to snore a bit, or so she tells me!
Splitting one cushion back is a good solution. I’ll have to look into it. My upholstery skills aren’t that great though.
My wife and I enjoy the heck out of our trailer. I look at RVs on Craigslist for fun sometimes and just can’t imagine buying something else. Each to his/her own, but we are firmly a T@B couple and not likely to change. Part of it is the support from the folks on this forum.
Happy Camping!
Happy Camping!
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
I would contact that dealer and let the manager know what the tech person is giving out, is misleading information, that is dangerous. Always, Always tow with the battery switch turned On.CCC said:Thanks. The tech guy who did the walkthrough misinformed me of several things. Would have been better off not having a walkthrough.
Cheers
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
@CCC - as Scott14 indicated, you must leave the battery switch turned on while towing. Not only does this send a charge to the TAB battery, but, in the event of a total disconnect of the TaB from the TV, your TaB break-away brakes will be able to engage to quickly stop the TaB.
Turn off the battery switch to isolate the TaB battery from any parasitic drains during short or long term storage due to the CO/LPG monitor, AV equipment, USB ports, etc.
Your factory installed solar is connected directly to the battery and avoids the battery switch, so it is always charging with adequate sunlight.
Turn off the battery switch to isolate the TaB battery from any parasitic drains during short or long term storage due to the CO/LPG monitor, AV equipment, USB ports, etc.
Your factory installed solar is connected directly to the battery and avoids the battery switch, so it is always charging with adequate sunlight.
Re: Does the solar keep charging the battery when the battery is disconnected?
If I understand you correctly, you were instructed to turn off the battery disconnect when traveling? I would not advise that. The emergency brakes on your trailer require battery power to activate should the trailer become separated from the tow vehicle.
Re: DC-DC Charger
Dutch061 said:I don't believe that you will damage the alternator with a Standard Lead Acid (SLA) battery or an Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery. The amperage will be regulated by the size of wiring that was installed or the circuit protection (fuse or circuit breaker) that was installed with the auxiliary wiring. Plus, the resistance of either the SLA or AGM chemistry will closely match the OEM battery in your Subaru.
However, when you upgrade to a Lithium Battery it will become a must in order to boost the voltage to the required level to charge Lithium. In addition, due to the very low resistance in Lithium, there is a potential (based on wire size, length, etc.) to draw more amperage than your tow vehicle is "comfortable with" (IE blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker up to damage or life shortening of components). A DC-to-DC Charge Controller will limit this to a "comfortable level" (IE fuse or circuit breaker protection and damage prevention).
Brad
I am far from an expert on LFP batteries and their interaction with the electrical system of the TV, but have gotten quite an education from the techs at Batttle Born, and from the videos posted on trustworthy sites like Solar Solutions and DIY Solar Power. Here's a thumbnail sketch of what I've learned:
- The charging profile of LiFePO4 batteries is quite different than for lead-acid batteries, and very different from that of the starter battery on your TV.
- The alternator and its voltage regulation system is calibrated for starter batteries, and is not really appropriate for deep discharge and/or Li batteries.
- Lithium batteries have a large appetite for current (as distinct from the voltage of the charging profile) and this is what can potentially damage your alternator.
- The anemic wiring of the charging circuit of a typical 7-pole harness usually, but not always, limits the amount of current from the alternator to the house battery bank. This is why the TV alternator is not often damaged when charging LiFePO4 batteries.
- Even if the output of the TV alternator is sufficient to provide adequate current to charge an LFP house battery(ies), it is unlikely to to charge it/them fully (a side note, unless your camper's charge controller has a setting for lithium batteries, it too will not charge to 100%.)
- While from a functional standpoint it's not a big deal to have a less than fully charged battery, LiFePO4 batteries (at least those from Battle Born) require an occasional topping to 100% to allow their battery management system to stay properly calibrated.
- The use of a DC-DC charger will address the issues outlined above and help prevent damage to the TV charging system.
As I stated, I'm not an expert, and what I've written is only a summary of my takeaways of the information I've found on this subject. I know that there are quite a few folks on this forum who are experts however, aid will hopefully chime in to correct anything that incorrect.
Re: Deciding on the full tent or the awning...
A lot depends on your camping style. If you take quick trips of a night or two before moving on to the next location or back home? People in that category tend to go with a visor rather than an awning. Awnings and tents both lend themselves to longer stays.
In general, the people I’ve seen who go with tents end up regretting it. It takes quite a while to set one up and tear it down, plus they’re bulky and heavy compared to an awning or visor. All of which which means you’ll only want to deal with it for trips where you don’t move the trailer often. The people I know who prefer side tents often are those who have children and need the extra room for sleeping, or those 6’ or taller who can’t fully stand up inside a 320 and use the tent for getting dressed, etc.
Most Tabbers I’ve met feel that Pahaque has gone downhill in recent years as far as quality vs. price goes. If you decide you want an awning near that price range, I’d go with the similar one from All Pro Adventures instead: https://allproadventures.com/collections/t-b-accessories/products/new-tab-320-awning. It has more cross members for better support, and aluminum poles instead of fiberglass. (I don’t own this awning and have no relationship to the business other than as a customer of another product they carry. But we have many people on the forum who love this awning.)In general, the people I’ve seen who go with tents end up regretting it. It takes quite a while to set one up and tear it down, plus they’re bulky and heavy compared to an awning or visor. All of which which means you’ll only want to deal with it for trips where you don’t move the trailer often. The people I know who prefer side tents often are those who have children and need the extra room for sleeping, or those 6’ or taller who can’t fully stand up inside a 320 and use the tent for getting dressed, etc.
Re: DC-DC Charger
I’m aware of one Tab owner towing with an Outback XT (an Onyx, if I recall) who added 200 ah of lithium to their 320 and did not bother with a DC-DC. No issues charging or with the alternator so far. They do have an isolator inline on the 7 pin, so the trailer does not draw power when the ignition is off.
What I have not found anywhere on the ‘net or in person is anyone who has added a DC-DC to a gen6 Outback XT. I search every month or so, and I’ve asked a few people I’ve encountered using these as tow vehicles. Haven’t found anyone yet who has tried it, and also haven’t found anyone willing to install one. (The install is too far out of my comfort zone, I couldn’t pick an alternator out of a lineup, and wouldn’t know where to start.) What I *have* gotten is plenty of conflicting advice, usually from electrical engineers…about half saying it’s a non issue with a small lithium battery bank of 100-200 ah, and the other half saying OMG, you MUST use a DC-DC with lithium or you’ll eventually kill your alternator.
This issue has kept me from upgrading to lithium. To me, it’s one thing to kill a battery (even a lithium)…whatever, I’ve owned 4 Subarus, that happens every couple of years like clockwork. LOL It’s another to fry the alternator on a fairly new car, and so far, I’m not comfortable with the risk of adding lithium without that DC-DC protection.
What I have not found anywhere on the ‘net or in person is anyone who has added a DC-DC to a gen6 Outback XT. I search every month or so, and I’ve asked a few people I’ve encountered using these as tow vehicles. Haven’t found anyone yet who has tried it, and also haven’t found anyone willing to install one. (The install is too far out of my comfort zone, I couldn’t pick an alternator out of a lineup, and wouldn’t know where to start.) What I *have* gotten is plenty of conflicting advice, usually from electrical engineers…about half saying it’s a non issue with a small lithium battery bank of 100-200 ah, and the other half saying OMG, you MUST use a DC-DC with lithium or you’ll eventually kill your alternator.
This issue has kept me from upgrading to lithium. To me, it’s one thing to kill a battery (even a lithium)…whatever, I’ve owned 4 Subarus, that happens every couple of years like clockwork. LOL It’s another to fry the alternator on a fairly new car, and so far, I’m not comfortable with the risk of adding lithium without that DC-DC protection.
Re: Gosh I Like My T@B
We feel the same about ours! I constantly look at other trailers and nothing seems to compare to a T@b. We hope to have ours for decades!
