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If you see something like this coming toward you, get to some sort of shelter.  We were almost back to Logan. I was glad because if a vehicle is running it will pull the dust and sand into the engine and the paint may be sand blasted. Back at the park, we parked the truck where it would be protected and ran inside. Just in time. It was amazing how much the view changed. The camera could not focus during the worst of the storm. Everything was covered with orange dirt and dust.
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We started the planning for this upgrade in July and have been receiving ordered parts soon after that. Of course, I had to research, draw plans, redraw plans, measure, fix problems with the drawings, rethink the plan, order more parts, redraw (again),.... Yep, I got really carried away. Originally the RV came with one lead acid battery. That would keep our 12 volt systems active for a day at best. In power, it was 50 amps of useable power. We did a simple solar upgrade. I replaced the original battery(in 2021) with 2 100 Amp Lithium batteries at about $900 each. OUCH! Then I installed a small inverter to make 120 volt power. Just enough to run the TV or a small device but not enough for a microwave. We also ordered two portable set-out solar panels to keep the batteries charged. This gave us 4 times the usable time and the ability to operate regular devices and almost unlimited if the sun shines all day.  BTW, Lithium batteries do not have to be mounted upright. The plan is to move the battery bank to the front bay. Double the number of batteries. Add a much larger inverter that will be able to power all the RV plugs at the same time. Even with this upgrade, it will not be enough power to operate the AC. We will also install 6 100 watt solar panels to the roof. The parts started coming in and they were taking some room in the garage.    The old install was removed and the new install started.   The install moves along slowly.   The final result is that half the front bay is taken over by the upgrade. Fuses and breakers to protect in every way I could determine. The 3000 watt inverter is connected to an RV plug. So technically we can plug our RV into itself for power.
We are running out of time before the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque so the extra solar panel install will have to wait. Even without the roof solar, this is a huge change in convenience for us. We can use the microwave, the air fryer, grind coffee, heat water in the electric kettle, charge our laptops, and phones with a regular plug. Not all at the same time, of course. |
AuthorWe are a couple who have started on a new adventure... Archives
March 2025
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