Best Of
Re: Battery switch etc.
Hi,
What year is your TAB 320? Also, what is the problem? Your solar is not charging your battery? Same as above, it was working until you turned your battery switch Off/ON? TAB 320's have no DC circuit breakers, only fuses. The only circuit breakers are for the AC power located in your WFCO.
What year is your TAB 320? Also, what is the problem? Your solar is not charging your battery? Same as above, it was working until you turned your battery switch Off/ON? TAB 320's have no DC circuit breakers, only fuses. The only circuit breakers are for the AC power located in your WFCO.
Re: Replacing AGM with lithium in 2021 tab320 BD
I have an old (2013) T@B. I've had a lithium battery since Jan 2020.rickpool said:I am trying to simplify the charging of my new LiFePO4 battery without swapping out my older WFCO in my 2021 320. Is there a preferred way to “permanently” install a separate 20a LiFePO4 Battery Charger? 1. Is “permanent” a bad idea? 2. Can I connect it to the battery terminals directly or should I connect it to the Bus Bars? 3. Can I leave it plugged into the 110 circuit that feeds the Air8 (and manually swap the plugs if ever I need the Air8)? 4. Can I leave the WFCO unit switched on (to battery) when charging the battery (note I do not have an inverter)? 5. Do I need to isolate anything else (like the TV 7-pin)?
Thanks!
Here's my philosophy on charging:
First of all, I don't think it's worth it to install lithium unless you do a lot of camping off the grid.
If you mostly camp off the grid, you will mostly be charging from solar or maybe a generator. So the converter is moot. I'll swap out my old converter when it dies.
I know that people use their campers in all sorts of ways, and of course it's fun to add all sorts of bells and whistles, but what's the "use case" for quick-charging (20a) from shore power? I would think that adding a DC-DC charger would be more useful.
Re: Winter Dry Camping - Groundhogs Day in Punxsatawney
Lots of owners camp in winter with winterized trailers. Many owners also camp during the "shoulder seasons" with campers that are winterized with the "blow out" method. Blowing out the trailer uses minimal antifreeze, and makes it easy to "de-winterize" the trailer and using the plumbing system when the weather is appropriate. When temps drop, it is easy to "blow out" the trailer, use a small bit of antifreeze again, and use the "winterized camper" strategies.
There are tons of posts with hints about "camping while winterized" if you just want to leave the camper winterized and go from there.
Re: Winter Dry Camping - Groundhogs Day in Punxsatawney
Well, the Alde on propane will keep you toasty. Crack the fan and the front window to prevent condensation and to help circulate the air/heat. Remember it takes a while to heat a cold saturated cabin. Use bottled water to cook/drink and splash in the toilet, followed by antifreeze. If no shower facilities are available, bathing wipes are handy, or find a local Pilot or Loves Service Center for a shower. We always set up our tent as it is a good place to shed wet clothes and boots.
RVLock at Costco
Just FYI, Costco is now offering the RVLock Compact lock that fits in the door of older Pleasant Valley-built T@Bs.
Costco also has some of the Trailer Valet products that people have added to T@Bs.
Costco also has some of the Trailer Valet products that people have added to T@Bs.
I have no affiliation with Costco or RVLock. Just thought people might want to know about this deal.
Re: Alde Drain Valve
@MuttonChops - Here are some photos from 2019, so a 2018 or 2019 400 model. These were accessed from the outside cubby.
Re: 110v and Alde
@Resa_tab - if unplugged from shorepower the Alde would need to use propane to heat the cabin. The battery draw to support the Alde during propane use is minimal (control panel and Alde circuit board).
Re: 110v and Alde
Ouch 'ancient', but I'm not ancient . .
. . technology and humans must have far different "relevant timescales" . .
Re: 110v and Alde
Put the Alde solely on propane; you’ll use a minimum of electricity (but you will burn through the gas quicker).
Re: 110v and Alde
As @pthomas745 noted . . . sounds like you have things well under control.Resa_tab said:
The circuit will be 15 amps, dedicated . . .
extension cord is similar to this:
. . . Yellow Jacket 2991 10/3 Extra Heavy-Duty 20-Amp Premium
I use a real Yellow Jacket 20-Amp 100-foot extension cord connected to the TaB's 30-Amp shore power cord and driven by an ancient (1950's) Fuse Panel from the detached garage . . .
Last winter while doing 'internal to cabin' repairs I had the Alde running at 1kW plus had a circulation 120VAC Fan running 24/7 for two months. Overnight lows were near zero, days around freezing. All was well, Alde ran and ran, fuse never blew
. . . . but gosh my Electric Bills for those months were HUGE.
Side Note: Alde on 1kW was able to keep cabin above freezing the whole time based
on a stand alone min/max recording thermometer.