Sun and Solar

Since we have returned, we have been very busy. Cleaning, arranging, repairing and just plain busy.

So, with a little time, some friends decided to request some help in adding solar to there coaches.

This is what 1300 watts look's like, when we started this project:

As time went on the job looked a little more like this:

And we continued to mount and raise the panels to the roof, and then with lots of assistance we laid them out and started mounting them to the roof.

As you can see I have some great assistance in doing this job:

Then it was time to shift down to the ground, as I might say a little safer too.

We continue with the installation of the solar charge controller along with breakers, cables and all the necessary equipment.

Once we completed the Solar Charge Controller it was time to wrap up and put the tools away.

But wait, whats this, you want what? A new Magnum Hyper Installed, You Got to be Kidding?

Oh well,, it's only time and money, lots more time.

We wrapped up to day, but will save a little work for down south.

Above was just a little sample of what we achieved. Our final test was at 12:30 pm, we plugged in a 1500 watt heat gun, our high was 1250 watts.

A big shout out to my new assistance's Chuck Charles and Keith Freebern, they both have now been certified solar installers.

In all we installed 10 panels. Charlie and Chuck each received 1,315 watts of solar. I removed 2 of my older panels and installed 2 new ones, with an additional one to be installed next week.

Susan, ​Dale, Tilly & Dakota
DaGirls Rv Travels
Aka Dakota & Tilly

Safe Travels and Journeys

Changes Completed - Battery Frame

You read where we/I started our new battery box configuration changes. Changes you ask? Why? Didn't the Alfa come with Qty. 6, 6Vdc batteries? Yes, but since we dry-camp alot, we really need the extra storage capacity. So, with this change, we can use the following size/type of batteries:
T-105, T-125, T-145 and even the L16 size batteries.

Battery frame on the passenger side:

Battery Frame on the Driver's side:

Here is an excellent example of the different capacity of the battery sizes:

	Length		Width		height		Lbs	$$$
T-105	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.07	447	62	133
T-125	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.07	448	66	165
T-145	10.3		7.11	28.44	11.9	530	72	193
J305H-AC	11.6		7	28	14.5	781	98	210
J305E-AC	12.1		7	28	14.5	645	83	239
L16P-AC	11.6		7		16.7	850	114	319

Time will tell, when we upgrade our batteries, for now we will add 2, bringing up our system to Qty., 8, 6Vdc batteries.

So, I will leave you with a few more photos:

Safe Travels and Journeys 

from DaGirls, Dakota & Tilly

More Changes coming

So, what drove us to Friend, Ne, besides friends? Changes to the Rv. Where else can you go and have a shop of tools to use. The main thing? Battery box configuration changes.

First remove some batteries and setup outside the coach.

Next remove the frame, clean up the area and change the location of the grounding studs.

And before you know it the right side is cleaned and ready for the build process.

Since you did the right side, you now do the left side faster and wow. All done and cleaned. Next, you begin laying out the template for the frame.

More for later, as I continue to redo the battery box

Safe Travels from
DaGirls Dakota and Tilly

Wrap up in the Tall Pines and Where are we today

We spent 3 weeks, 4 miles north of Hwy 260, on Forest Road 122 (Nelson Fire Rd). This is truly one of our best camping spots.

Quite, along, just 6 miles from Forest Lakes, and 19 miles from Heber. Nestled between tall pines where wind is all around you, but not eh really strong winds that would make it unbearable.

In our time here, we added 60 gallons, or fresh water, our gray tank hit 55%, and it was getting very close to dump the black.

Dakota caught her first lizard, not realizing it, until she spit it out. Dug many holes, found many elk bones, ran around searching for many more things and yet walked like a very calm dog when leased. Tilly was learning not to get loss, and catch up to us when she was called.

Mike and Mauer make it up for a day, Wayne and Kathy, made it up and stayed in Heber for 2 days, visited us at our spot and enjoy the cool weather far away from Gold Canyon. They realize what it is like to spend time in the Tall Pines, and dry-camping.

But all good things must come to the end, we expected friends to come up, but that did not materialize and so, we decided to head North East, as we decided to head out and see some more of this country.

Our first stop, the Ute  Casino Rv park, which is just a few miles south of Cortez, Colorado, and north of Shiprock, New Mexico. This is where National Park called Mesa Verde, one of the largest cliff dwellings are located, and where they conduct hiking tours down into 3 of them. Where you can walk among, the kivas. Where you learned what is was like in the 12 century living on the side of the cliffs.

Susan touching a 2000 year old wall

By this time we learned of a heat wave coming through Colorado and Utah, where the unexpected highs are in the 90’s. With lots of sunshine through the week.

Upon our arrival at the Ute Casino, we were informed, that Friday and Saturday, would get noisy, as the local tribe was having a Pow-Wow. If you have never been to one, bring chairs, and be prepared to be amaze. And the noise of the drums well let me tell you, I fell right to sleep. The chanting of the drums were smoother and better to listen to, than the noisy music people play and the screaming and yelling.

DaGirls Rv – Dakota and Tilly
Safe Travels and Journeys

Round Up of the last few days in the tall pines

Ok, so let's get this show / post on the road. Where exactly is DaGirls at? 

GPS:   34.3968394, -110.721005

Google Map Link to Location

​The temperature last 2 (5/15 -5/16) days, with 1 more day left:

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While we are keeping warm inside with our Procom Vent-Free Propane heater.

And yes we have been traveling around the areas seeing the many places we have boon-docked in the past. 

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​So, what does our day look like ?

Up, make coffee, let Dakota out

​​​Who is waiting outside for Susan and I to come out?

The many hikes with Dakota and Tilly in the area, with Dakota running back and forth checking everything out and hunting for lizards:

One of the nice thing that Dakota does is walk Tilly.

Or the Can Spinners I am making.

Made a few changes to our Solar Controller Display: many of you remember when I ungraded to the Midnite Classic 150 controller. This unit allow's you to add a remote display. Now in the back of my mind, I said, why can't I remove the display and bring it inside.

Well that is exactly what I did. 

Item needed, 6 pin RJ11 connector and 6 wire phone cable. I found a 15 footer pre-made at Fry's Electronics

Removed the cover from the controller, remove the display cover, where I located and removed the 4 mounting screws​. Then remove the display unit. I do need to point out, that the display is a unit by itself. 

Next I installed the cable connector to the controller, replace the cover, routed the cable to the inside of the Rv. At this point I connected the cable to the display and boom. I now have a remote display/controller inside the Rv.

How is our solar system working:

DaGirls Equipment:

Midnite Classic 150, Wizbang Shunt (Getting ready to re-install) Kit

Magnum MS2812 with BMK (Shunt) kit.

Interstate batteries, all controllers have been specifically setup for these batteries. I am not using the standard default setting.

1600 Watts panels, unfortunately panels are a mixed lot:

2, 180w purchase 2012

1, 300w purchase 2013

1, 300w purchase 2014

2, 300w purchased 2016

As you can see purchased over a 4 year period, this means different panels.

Panels shaded in the morning with full sun after 12 noon.

6am, battery voltage 12.4. 74% SOC(BMK)

2pm Reach 100 % SOC.

Here is an excellent example:

Full Sun, 798 watts, started the vacuum cleaner, watts jump to over 1200 watts, voltage was in the 14 - 14. 5 Volt range (Absorption mode). pretty impressive I might say. 

One thing made a big difference in my battery storage/voltage, is the custom charge setup per manufacture specifications. Prior to this, normally (Oct 2016), battery voltage would be in the 12.0 – 12.1 Vdc range.

Another is the addition of the BMK kit to the Magnum. The BMK, once setup, will calculate the charge/discharge current of the batteries. It will take into consideration all charge methods; i.e. Charger, Alternator and Solar, this is why I like this system.

I will be re-installing my Midnite Wiz-bang very soon; it will be fun to see how it calculates and displays current.

I also noted that my system has some deficiencies, which I attribute to the old Vs. new style panels.

A few weeks ago Mike Lynch came to me and asked for help in designing and installing a system. We installed 4, 300 watts panels at a VOC of 40 Vdc, with a current short of 34Vdc. Using a Midnite classic combining box, 2 bulk head mounted re-settable circuit breakers and misc stuff. My guess the total cost less installation was less than $1500. $120, each panel, $650 controller, $110 circuit breakers, another $200 misc's items. And some stuff I had on hand; aluminum angle (brackets), 3 rolls of dicor, cable combiners, and wire.

I was really happy when we turned system on for the first time. The system jump to 800 Watts then dropped down to around 700, before settling down to 500. 

Da​Girls Rv, Traveling Companions Dakota and Tilly