Mods/Upgrades while waiting out social distancing . Please share yours.

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  • JeffroNCJeffroNC Member Posts: 366
    @Cbusguy I am thinking about installing a DC-DC charger. Where did you have the Renogy located? Do you still have it?
    2019 T@B 400 BDL 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost
    Jeff & Amy
    Now in Manistee, MI

  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    @BirdieJane, I love your triple shelf. I bought an expandable shelf that expands to fit both cabinets, but I think your shelf gives better use of the space. Thanks for the idea!
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    @JeffroNC. It is in Columbus ohio......I will hang on to it till I verify the victron.   If you are headed to the factory thing in June I may know by then......at that point I may just give it to ya
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
  • BirdieJaneBirdieJane Member Posts: 237
    @Verna here is one in our friends 2018, different slide idea

    2017 T@B Outback white w black trim / 2019 Subaru Ascent White with black trim / Birch Bay WA.
    aka BirdieJane towed by Quinn
  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Thank you, @BirdieJane. I have a couple of more days of work on my raised garden beds before I get to tackle this. I appreciate the different way of adding space. 
    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • BirdieJaneBirdieJane Member Posts: 237
    @Verna I am working on mine to.

    2017 T@B Outback white w black trim / 2019 Subaru Ascent White with black trim / Birch Bay WA.
    aka BirdieJane towed by Quinn
  • jkjennjkjenn Member Posts: 6,389
    Not technical or difficult, but is a great
    solution for extra counter space when cooking, needing the sink and also somewhere to set a hot pan. This aluminum rack is silicone coated so hot pans don’t damage it. It rolls up nicely and fits behind the sink. 
    Mine came in the mail, today. I loved it so much I am keeping this for my kitchen and ordering one for the T@b! 

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

  • HomebodyatheartHomebodyatheart Member Posts: 2,491
    @jkjenn =), I thought about replacing my wire racks with these. Haven’t done it yet, but the year is young! I’m glad you like them, too! 
    2017 T@B 320 Max S silver and cherry red, L@dybug ("Bug" aka my esc@pe pod), TV 2015 Toyota Highlander aka Big Red
  • WilliamAWilliamA Member Posts: 154
    edited April 2020
    Cbusguy said:
    @WilliamA   During my initial trips with my battleborn batterys,   I saw that while traveling the batterys were charging at 70 amps and when I stopped to investigate the wiring was warm to the touch........I had invested in a power bastards heavy duty alternator that is capable of 220 amps.

    I initially installed a renogy dc to dc converter,  my issue with it is size and the fact is uses fans to cool the unit.    In a nutshell,  the dc to dc converter is a current limited charging and to isolate the trailer battery from the Tow vehicle.   The renogy worked fine it would fully charge my 200 amp hours of lithium as we travelled and never found the need to use the generator we brought with us just in case.     at the end of the summer we didnt bother to bring the generator.

    I just recently removed the renogy and installed the victron.    The victron is about half the size and does not have fans to cool the unit.    I have not tested it at this point,  so I cannot review its performance.    in the shop it charges as advertised.

    The renogy 20 AMP uses a set of dip switches to setup the output voltage,  the manual is poorly written.     
    The victron uses a pot to set the peak output voltage and the max amperage is 18 amps.   

    To answer your question directly,  There is a max amperage,   I have watched the current vary through the charge cycle via my shunt.    Now is that a function of the dc to dc or the battleborn bms,  I do not know.

    The output voltage can exceed the input voltage,  but keep in mind it will draw more current from the source.

    I wired mine through an ignition controlled high duty rated relay and fuse to the battery.    I generally pull the fuse when not traveling with the trailer,  reasons.   
    Thanks for the response. I have been reading/youtubing quite a bit about the dc/DC converters. My concern is exactly what you reported: the difference in battery resistance between the two different battery types causing massive overcharging of the tow vehicle battery.  70 amps? Good grief! You'd need a dedicated 4 gauge charging wire (with matching ground!) to handle that kind of power. As you know, but many others may not, lead acid batteries have a much higher internal resistance than their lithium cousins. While both are capable and robust, this means that they don't play well together when hooked into a parallel circuit. When the trailer is attached and both are wired together, the tow vehicle alternator won't be able to tell them apart and will apply output at the highest amperage rate based upon their internal resistance. While that will provide fast charging, it will wildly overcharge the tow vehicle battery at best and quickly ruin it (and probably the alternator) at worst. Victron has some very good videos on the topic. 
    Call me a monster shouter, but I worry about the topic enough as it is with my 2 batteries even though they are both of similar chemistry and capacity. I installed a smart battery disconnect in my trailer that shuts off the charge line if the tow vehicle voltage goes below 12.5 volts, essentially isolating the 2 batteries from each other any time the engine is not running. It also limits charging of the trailer battery to 20 amps irrespective of alternator output, reducing the potential charging load on the alternator and preventing overcharging of the tow vehicle battery. 70 Amps dc is a frightful, dangerous amount of potential. That much current will roast any connection that isn't up to the job. 
    WilliamA 
    2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
    2017 T@G XL
    Can generally be found around west-central Wisconsin.  
  • CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    @WilliamA I had upgraded the wiring from the battery through a relay to a 100 amp andersen connector so that aspect was good,   But it still got warm to the touch.      The don't believe the renogy had a low voltage from source cut off.     The victron does for sure as I just read the manual, now ask me what it is?????????


    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
  • BirdieJaneBirdieJane Member Posts: 237
    edited April 2020
    Here is a video on a van build system that has good information on this topic. It is sponsored by Battle Born Battery’s. It includes equipment and build for solar, DC to DC charging, and while on shore power.
    very much inline with needs for our trailer and tow vehicle

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlwBGM4onmc
    2017 T@B Outback white w black trim / 2019 Subaru Ascent White with black trim / Birch Bay WA.
    aka BirdieJane towed by Quinn
  • JeffroNCJeffroNC Member Posts: 366
    @Cbusguy Thanks. Not sure if we will make it to OH. So do you mount the DC-DC converter in the trailer by the batteries? 
    2019 T@B 400 BDL 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost
    Jeff & Amy
    Now in Manistee, MI

  • CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    @JeffroNC That is a good question.  I would probably mount it closer to the Tow vehicle as it will draw more current to boost a sagging voltage.   Mine is in my tongue box with my batterys,  but I have a 320
    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
  • JeffroNCJeffroNC Member Posts: 366
    @Cbusguy thanks. Ray of Love your RV installed his in the battery bay which was a great distance from the TV battery but he used heavy cables and a big plug at the back of his truck.
    2019 T@B 400 BDL 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost
    Jeff & Amy
    Now in Manistee, MI

  • pthomas745pthomas745 Moderator Posts: 3,605
    edited April 2020
    Not much of a mod, but here goes.  Ten years ago,  I was tent camping with camera equipment that required battery charging and a laptop, and I bought the first of these 35 AH deep cycle batteries.  I connected a small inverter using an alligator clip/12v plug cable.  It worked, but since I had no clue about amp hour use/state of charge/how to monitor a battery, I ruined a couple of batteries.  The battery in the photos was purchased in June 2017, about five months after buying the Tab, when I realized the extra 15 amp hours to supplement the trailer's battery was still useful.  And, thanks to the people here who 'spained battery care to me, this battery is still going strong three years later.  I still prefer my  home-brew portable battery bank over the pricey battery boxes. 
    The "mod" is the new Noco cable attached to the battery posts.  The cable was buried deep down in my Amazon wish list.  Much easier than using the alligator clip cable, and much more secure.   I can close the battery box and simply let the plug "dangle" out the side of the box.  If I was a truly bad modder, I would run the cable through a hole in the box attached to a cable gland....maybe someday!
    The small inverter is also an upgrade.  I experimented with electric blankets this winter in the trailer and discovered the small 300 watt pure sine wave inverters are fairly inexpensive.  This Bestek 300 watt is less than 50 bucks on Amazon.   The electric blanket experiments were failures, but the little fan I carry to the desert likes the pure sine wave much better.  The inverters can also be plugged into the Tab's 12v plugs if I want to use them that way. 



    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,460
    That is better than the rubber cap and and Fist clamp that we currently use.  Amazon - here I come!


    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • CbusguyCbusguy Member Posts: 771
    Finally got most of it hooked back up

    2009 GMC Canyon,   3.7 liter 
    2020 320s Boondock lite, With Lots of mods
  • Denny16Denny16 Member Posts: 5,420
    Nice, but that could be kinda of a warm spot to store wine?  The window areas get hot quickly.
    cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • rh5555rh5555 Member Posts: 484
    Isn't that what they installed the shade for?  Also our wine isn't that fancy...
    Roger and Sue Hill | 2020 T@B400 Boondock (Cryst@bel) | 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 - P400 | San Juan Island, WA
  • Denny16Denny16 Member Posts: 5,420
    edited April 2020
    Yes, but the shade is not supposed be closed in direct sun.  Keep the sun out ofmthe window, and you should be fine. It is still a cool idea.
    cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • ontheroadontheroad Member Posts: 485
    maybe if the wine gets too hot there...new shoe storage?...

    Former 2017 T@G Max XL
    2021 T@B Boondock CS-S
    2018 Nissan Pathfinder
    Ontario, Canada
  • rh5555rh5555 Member Posts: 484
    We also live in the land of tall trees and not much sun.  We'll modify the contents if we can ever head south again...
    Roger and Sue Hill | 2020 T@B400 Boondock (Cryst@bel) | 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 - P400 | San Juan Island, WA
  • VernaVerna Member Posts: 6,878
    Well, I had my T@B S Max for over 3 years, and I’ve had my T@B 400 for almost two years, camping full time in the 400 for 18 months. For 5 years I spent 4 to 6 months in Arizona in the winter. I pull my shades down at night and when the sun is beating down. That is the intent of the shades. My windows and shades have suffered no ill effects from being closed in 80*+ in the spring in Arizona and in the 90*+ in the Midwest. 

    It is my understanding that the decal on the window indicates that the shades should not be shut during travel due to stress on the blinds. The decal does not indicate to keep the shades open during sunny days. 



    And on the second note, @rh5555, I love your wine storage idea, but even with the shade pulled in the porthole storage, it gets extremely warm in there. Cheap wine or not, it’s a big disappointment to open a bottle of wine 🍷 only to discover it has turned to vinegar. Just my
    opinion, and I love a glass of red wine🍷😉

    By the way, since there are so many differing opinions about the decal, we are reaching out to the manufacturer of the windows to get a definitive answer as to how the blinds should be positioned in sun. I will get back here with their answer. 

    Verna, Columbus, IN
    2021 T@B 320S  Boondock “The T@B”
    Towed by a white 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercab, 3.5L V6 Ecoboost “The Truck”
  • Denny16Denny16 Member Posts: 5,420
    I got this bulletin from PLASTOFORM, the TaB 400 window source:

    ”Within these instructions you will be able to find information to most common questions about correct usage of PLASTOFORM Blanca windows. If you can't find the information you need here, please contact us directly on email: blanca@plastoform.si
    WHILE DRIVING
    When vehicle is in motion all windows must be fully closed.
    SUN BLINDS
    Never use blind on direct sunlight. If you use the blind on direct sunlight, also for a shorter period, heat will accumulate between window and blind and window will get damaged (will start bending, ballooning...).”

    Seems with the window and blinds closed, too much heat can build up in the window panel.
    I use a combo of partial blind on lower third and screen shade on upper 2/3rds of window to block some sun and creak window open for air cooling around the window.  

    On the small porthole window shade only up 2/3rd, top uncovered to allow air circulation around window.  Seems to work so far.
    cheers

    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,460
    blanca@plastoform.si   This email was not functional.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • BaylissBayliss Member Posts: 1,299
    Here's a discussion thread on the window sticker.  Essentially, it provides the same info as posted by @Denny16:

    https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/128642#Comment_128642
    2019 T@B 320 S Boondock Lite2007 Toyota Tundra 4x4
    (Alde: 3020; Refrig: Isotherm Cruise 65 Eleg; Battery: BB 100Ah LiFePo4; Solar: Renogy 100Ah Suitcase; Victron BMV-712; Pwr Cntr: PD-4135KW2B; EMS: PI-HW30C)
    Greg & Marlene (Tucson, AZ)


  • WilliamAWilliamA Member Posts: 154
    Denny16 said:
    Nice, but that could be kinda of a warm spot to store wine?  The window areas get hot quickly.
    cheers
    Can't speak for others, but I'd drink it.😎

    WilliamA 
    2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
    2017 T@G XL
    Can generally be found around west-central Wisconsin.  
This discussion has been closed.