Best Of
Re: WFCO 8955-AD jumper
If enough folks Ask for a Jumper . . .
Maybe they will put a darn Switch back on the PCB.
Maybe they will put a darn Switch back on the PCB.
Re: Faster 12V USB Charging than original USB ?
Lots of ways to skin that cat, I power my Starlink Mini using my 12V 200ah LiFePO4 battery, by way of a 12V>30V step up converter, with a 10amp fuse between the battery and the step up converter. It's on 24/7, though I set it to sleep at night. My LiFePO4 battery doesn't flinch.cafyrman said:All great stuff. Just adding in that if you intend to power a Starlink Mini, you're going to want to get a USB-C port that has PD (Power Delivery) which can support at least 60 watts. The actual SL spec is for 100 watts, but people seem to be getting by with less. I just ordered this one, but haven't installed it yet: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F62R454C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/RVBOATPAT-Starlink-Adapter-Converter-Conversion/dp/B0DMVFH7BN
I've had bad experiences relying on a flimsy USB-C connector to power my Starlink Mini, it gets bent or loose over time (where I need it to be connected all the time). I'm fine with USB-C for my iPhone/iPad/MacBook Pro, etc. (where it's connected only to charge).
The step up converter route gives you reliable hard wired power.
HTH
Re: 2023 Tab 400 - Water pump light comes on but the pump no longer runs, there is no sound and no water
It seems to be 'fixed' for the moment. When trying to insert probes to check power at the water pump it came on! Apparently 1 of the red powers was loose. With a little manipulation it doesn't feel any more secure, but it is working now. Thanks for the suggestion.
Re: Replacing the 2019 Lead Acid batteries in my T@B 400 with new Li batteries
I have a 2019 400 and recently replaced my AGM 6 V Harris batteries. If yours is like mine the batteries are near the cargo door.
Access by removing the bed panel under the TV is crucial. This panel is hinged and has 4 small square head screws. With this panel out and the middle panel lifted or out reaching the batteries is much easier and a lift of one at a time was not as difficult as I had thought.
I picked a 230 amp hour LiTime and it fit great with some room on the end to accommodate a small LiTime charger.
Depending on your frig option you might have an AC 20 amp plug right nearby, with is for the microwave and frig on shore power. I use this for my lithium charger with battery off and didn’t fool with my WFCO at all. I also have portable solar with a lithium setting that can fully charge the battery.
It was such an easy switch, not sure why I delayed so long except the lithium batteries are very affordable now.
See some pics in this thread
Access by removing the bed panel under the TV is crucial. This panel is hinged and has 4 small square head screws. With this panel out and the middle panel lifted or out reaching the batteries is much easier and a lift of one at a time was not as difficult as I had thought.
I picked a 230 amp hour LiTime and it fit great with some room on the end to accommodate a small LiTime charger.
Depending on your frig option you might have an AC 20 amp plug right nearby, with is for the microwave and frig on shore power. I use this for my lithium charger with battery off and didn’t fool with my WFCO at all. I also have portable solar with a lithium setting that can fully charge the battery.
It was such an easy switch, not sure why I delayed so long except the lithium batteries are very affordable now.
See some pics in this thread
Re: How many gallons of Alde fluid needed for 21 Tab 320 BD?
Agree. Used less than the 3 gal ordered. Some left over for top offs.
Re: Dangerous problem with the 2024 Tab 400 refrigerator
@Bayliss, thanks for searching that out. Saved me posting anew.
@maxwellllll, the cotter pin has been working well for us. You'll need to drill a hole through the plastic top frame that's aligned with the hole just below in the top of the door - same diameter.
@maxwellllll, the cotter pin has been working well for us. You'll need to drill a hole through the plastic top frame that's aligned with the hole just below in the top of the door - same diameter.
Re: Just picked up my 2025 Tab 320 S Boondock!
@mx4789 I recall those days as well! I think the new T@Bs all come with the Victron monitors for the battery and solar. These are great but at one point they were an upgrade and were and are pricey.
Sometimes you can find a workaround as I did with my shunt:
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13249/battery-monitor#latest
Mine is 5 years in and works just fine. I just have to look at it rather my phone, and I have a couple hundred more dollars in my pocket that I likely spent on other T@B stuff.
Good luck
Sometimes you can find a workaround as I did with my shunt:
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/13249/battery-monitor#latest
Mine is 5 years in and works just fine. I just have to look at it rather my phone, and I have a couple hundred more dollars in my pocket that I likely spent on other T@B stuff.
Good luck
Re: Just picked up my 2025 Tab 320 S Boondock!
Congrats. I just got the same thing a few months ago and I love it. Yes at 5'9" that is about the max for the Tab 320 (I am 5'8")
A few things I have done already that you may want to consider
1) Replaced the BB battery with to LiTime 100AH batteries and added a 3000W inverter and an AC outlet so I can run things like the microwave unhooked.
2) Added an external solar port (near the normal AC hookup) with a Victron 75/15 controller so I can hook up an external panel. One thing you will find is that the rooftop panels are VERY disappointing.
3) Added foam corner cushions above the door on the inside and under the little compartments above the sink - I scraped too much skin off my head on those!
4) Made utensil holders out of 4-5" PVC pipe and secured them on the kitchen counter along the wall with velcro. The work amazingly well and stay attached. Also made 2 smaller ones on the other side for toothbrushes and toothpaste.
5) Added small mirror on one of the little cabinets above the sink. Much easier to use then the one inside the bathroom
6) Added a thumb switch to cut the water on and off on the shower nozzle. That way you don't have to fiddle with the actual faucet while showering with soap in your eyes. Saves ALOT of water in the shower.
7) Made screens that attach with velcro (to cover the windows). Our first trip with our cats this weekend and they would destroy the original screens in minutes and then escape. We will see how this works.
8) Have fun with the audio and TV. They work but they are horrible. The two remotes combined have about a thousand buttons...really ridiculous.
Just some things to consider. Oh and if you haven't heard - make sure the screens are up if you are cooking on the stove. Some people have posted that they melted their screens if down when cooking.
Cheers.
Dave
A few things I have done already that you may want to consider
1) Replaced the BB battery with to LiTime 100AH batteries and added a 3000W inverter and an AC outlet so I can run things like the microwave unhooked.
2) Added an external solar port (near the normal AC hookup) with a Victron 75/15 controller so I can hook up an external panel. One thing you will find is that the rooftop panels are VERY disappointing.
3) Added foam corner cushions above the door on the inside and under the little compartments above the sink - I scraped too much skin off my head on those!
4) Made utensil holders out of 4-5" PVC pipe and secured them on the kitchen counter along the wall with velcro. The work amazingly well and stay attached. Also made 2 smaller ones on the other side for toothbrushes and toothpaste.
5) Added small mirror on one of the little cabinets above the sink. Much easier to use then the one inside the bathroom
6) Added a thumb switch to cut the water on and off on the shower nozzle. That way you don't have to fiddle with the actual faucet while showering with soap in your eyes. Saves ALOT of water in the shower.
7) Made screens that attach with velcro (to cover the windows). Our first trip with our cats this weekend and they would destroy the original screens in minutes and then escape. We will see how this works.
8) Have fun with the audio and TV. They work but they are horrible. The two remotes combined have about a thousand buttons...really ridiculous.
Just some things to consider. Oh and if you haven't heard - make sure the screens are up if you are cooking on the stove. Some people have posted that they melted their screens if down when cooking.
Cheers.
Dave
Re: How many gallons of Alde fluid needed for 21 Tab 320 BD?
I barely needed about 2.5 gallons in my 2017.
Re: DC to DC charger
I installed a Renogy 20A DC-DC charger in our previous tow vehicle and found it fairly straightforward. I ran 8-ga wires directly from the battery to the rear of the truck (2007 F150) and ended near the 7-pin trailer connection. The wires were enclosed in a black ribbed plastic loom. I did buy aftermarket battery terminals to accommodate hooking up the wires. I installed a 30-amp fuse in-line fuse on the positive wire. I terminated the wiring with an SAE connection. I know some folks here aren't impressed with the SAE fittings but I've had no problem with them. I mounted the charger inside the tub of the trailer on the front wall. I ran wires from the tongue of the trailer (again next to the 7-pin wiring) to the charger, enclosed in the plastic loom and zip-tied the wires to the 7-pin trailer wiring. I then connected the charger to a bus bar for the 100 ah litime battery. Renogy requires a 12v activation wire, so I ran a 16 ga wire from the charger to the junction box under the tongue of the trailer and hooked into the terminal for the trailer running lights. This way I could turn the charger on or off by turning the parking lights on/off while driving. Renogy also has an option to halve the output of the charger, so I had the option of charging at 20 amps or 10 amps, depending on how much time I was driving and what load I wanted to put on the alternator. I installed a switch in the tub to accomplish this.
When I connected the trailer, I could hook up the dc-dc charger if I wanted to by plugging in the SAE connection when I hooked up the 7-pin connection. While in route, I could turn the charger on/off by turning the running lights on/off. I didn't have any problems with dust or water with the charger being in the tub. All-in-all, it was a pretty easy install.
That being said, I didn't install the charger when I got a new truck. The 100w panel on the roof generally keeps the batteries charged. I also have two 100 W solar panels that I can deploy if needed at the camping site. We mostly boondock and we've been able to keep the battery charged without much problem. We are quite conservative in our power use, having removed the television, hardly ever using the radio, and using rechargeable Luci lights for bedtime reading. The 12v fridge is the largest user of electricity by far.
