Living full time in our motor home allows us to be Ready To Go. . .on to the next adventure!

Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco Skyline as seen from the Marin Headlands - California

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Full Time RV Maintenance: Guarding Your Electrical System Can Save Big Bucks Down the Road

We all know that having our computer plugged into a surge protector is an absolute necessity. . .too much fluctuation in power can burn out major components that sometimes cause it to be cheaper to just replace the entire unit than it is to fix the problem.

 

Well, the same thing applies to your RV. . .there are numerous circuit boards onboard your RV that are highly sensitive to voltage variations. . .which is why we think $300 for a whole house surge protector is cheap insurance when it comes to protecting your investment, and less than $100 to monitor your voltage is an absolute necessity.

 

The following statement is posted on the Camping World page:

Surge Protectors

Dangerous currents in the electrical system of your recreational vehicle can become a serious problem for your RV as well as the appliances in it. Sudden voltage spikes can potentially ruin expensive devices that are integral for you and your family to have a comfortable trip. Before you get in your vehicle for that next trip, make sure that your surge protectors are in tip-top shape. If not, look through Camping World's selection of surge protectors and guards for a replacement.

In addition there is a video on this page that may be very beneficial to watch.  Although the video is a bit of a commercial. . .it also has some very valid points that may help you understand the importance of owning a surge protector.

 

I have learned way more than I ever wanted to know about electricity since we have been full timing in this rig for the last ten years. . .my philosophy was always. . .by George. . .if I plug it in, it better work. . .ha ha. . .good plan!

 

Doesn’t always work that way in an RV though. . .there are many, many more factors involved than just YOUR rig. . .

 

RV Park systems are not always designed correctly. . .even when they are designed correctly. . .sometimes they are just old, and not quite up to speed with these new fancy, dancy rigs with all these extra electronics onboard. . .

 

Municipal Electrical Grids are not always up to speed either. . .sometimes the grid was only designed for the current population at that time. . .and then suddenly, there is a growth spurt, new subdivisions being built, new folks moving in, three story apartment complexes. . .and the powers that be can’t catch up quick enough with the demands being made on the infrastructure.

 

Brown outs occur. . .you do know what a brown out is. . .right?  Everyone gets home from work about five in the afternoon. . .they all kick the a/c way down. . .turn on the electric oven to get ready for supper.  You’re sitting in your house, or your RV. . .suddenly the lights dim a little bit. . .the fan slows down. . .you hear the compressor on the fridge or the A/C  go whomp, whomp, whomp. . .then everything speeds back up to normal. . .the reason for that is. . .nothing is getting the actual power it needs to run. . .so it all sort of stalls for a second, doing irreparable damage to motors, wires, circuit boards, etc. . .and although nothing goes out right that second, the damage is done. . .the life of the appliance or electronic is shortened. . .and replacement is eventually inevitable.

 

That is why YOU need to know what is going on. . .and for that, in addition to the Surge Protector, you ALSO need a DIGITAL VOLTAGE MONITOR . . .this link will provide a much more thorough explanation for the necessity of one of these than I would ever be able to tell you.

 

DIGITAL VOLTAGE MONITOR

What I can tell you about the monitor is this. . .had we always had one of these in addition to the surge protector. . .we probably would not have needed to replace two refrigerators. . .yes our rig has two. . .a roof top a/c. . .and various other electronic devices over the last ten years. . .but we didn’t know, what we didn’t know. . .and ignorance always has a price.

 

That is my main purpose for writing this blog about all our lessons learned. . .perhaps I can save you a buck or two!

 

This lesson was really driven home in our last location at Estes Park Colorado where we were volunteering in exchange for our RV Site. . .the Voltage Monitor Alarm kept going off due to low voltage. . .so much so that we wouldn’t leave anything running when we left the rig for fear something would burn out. . .BUT. . .the Surge Protector was NOT kicking us off. 

 

The reason for all this nonsense was. . .we were only getting 20 amps of power at our pedestal. . .BUT. . .we did not have a dedicated breaker at our pedestal. . .and the breakers in the main breaker box were ganged together in threes. . .don’t ask me what all that means. . .but the breakers did NOT trip. . .as would have normally been the case if the circuit was overloaded.

 

According to the National Electronic Code Table, 10 gauge wire strung 200 feet from the power source, no longer provides 30 amps of service. . .in order to provide 30 amps of service over 200 feet, 4 gauge or maybe even 2 gauge wire would have been required. . .I found this information in Trailer Life’s RV Repair and Maintenance Manual. . .

RV Book

 

After a month of discussions with managers. . .and literally turning off the refrigerators before turning on the microwave. . .forget running an air conditioner. . .or even the hot water heater on electric. . .we decided enough was enough. . .if our service wasn’t valuable enough to follow through on promises made to provide at least 30 amp service. . .we did not need to be there.

 

I hope you have picked up a tip or two from this discussion. . .and for all you electronical geniuses out there. . .I know you will want to explain all the various and sundry workings to the little lady. . .please don’t. . .LOL. . .hubby does that enough for all of you. . .(read eyes rolling). . .I am only trying to get someone to think enough about the entire situation to do some further research. . .and make whatever decisions are necessary to protect their investment.

 

Thank you all for your time,

Janice

 

 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Full Time RV Living–We’ve Made the Decision to Leave Estes Park

For those of you who follow us on FaceBook, you already know the story. . .this is for the rest of you.

 

We have decided to leave our volunteer position in Estes Park.  Having never left a workamping job early. . .this makes us very, very sad. . .but we were promised 30 amp service for our RV. . .and only had 20 amp. . .

 

Now for those of you who RV that means something. . .for everyone else. . .imagine every time you turned on the microwave, you tripped the breaker for the entire house. . .that’s about what it equates to.  Because we monitor our electrical usage with a voltage meter. . .we knew right away, ten weeks ago, that there was a problem. . .but we were assured repeatedly that it was going to be solved. . .and that they were working on it.

 

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Here was the final resolution. . .and the final straw that broke the camel’s back. . .so to speak. . .a 10 gauge wire strung 200 feet across the ground. . .after this “fix” we determined that we could not continue to put our home, our electrical system in our rig, and our safety in jeopardy. . .without going into a lot of electrical gobbledy gook. . .let me just say. . .this is NOT up to any kind of code. . .

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So. . .here’s our home base in lovely Loveland, Colorado for the next month. . .and while it’s not the fabulous location and view we had in Estes Park, we do have great service. . .and is a great central location to enjoy the area. . .especially when Curtis and Brenda come to spend some time with us in a couple of weeks.

 

Not sure where we will head to next. . .we know it will be south. . .maybe Santa FE NM. . .we’ll see. . .

 

Leave us a comment, or send us a note. . .we miss you guys, and love to hear from you. . .

 

Hugs,

Janice & David

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Full Time RV Travel–A Visit from the Family

Here we are in an amazing destination spot. . .

we invited all of our family to come, visit, and stay . . .

but, only a couple of them have taken us up on our invitation. . .

 

Anyway. . .one of the smart ones showed up this week. . .

my beautiful niece Andrea, and her hubby Bryan. . .

Alluvial Water Fall - Rocky Mountain National Park with Andrea and Bryan

Since Bryan lived in Colorado for a few years. . .

and since they visit family in Denver quite regularly. . .

I was sure they must have been to Rocky Mountain National Park numerous times. . .

but they said they hadn’t. . .and definitely wanted to go. . .yaaaa. . .

we got an early start. . .8 a.m. is very, very early for me to be out the door. . .geez!  LOL. . .

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Bryan generously offered to drive. . .which Uncle David loved. . .

and all was going very well until after lunch when the clouds rolled in. . .

driving through the clouds at the summit, 12,167 feet elevation felt like being on an airplane. . .

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Shortly past the summit. . .

on the western side of the mountains is the Continental Divide. . .

Bryan in photographer mode - mule deer

where we went for a short hike and Bryan took the camera

and played photographer for awhile. . .

Mule Deer at the Continental Divide - Rocky Mountain National Park with Andrea and Bryan

any guess as to why they are called mule deer?

Look at those ears. . .

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as recommended by our favorite local. . .

and the clerk at our campground office. . .

we had lunch at the Grand Lake Lodge

in Grand Lake Colorado. . .

This was the view of Shadow Mountain Lake

from the glassed in porch. . . really lovely!

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any time you see all the traffic stopping. . .

you know there’s going to be a treat. . .

and here was ours for the day. . .

made me very, very happy!

 

What a wonderful, fabulous day spent with family. . .

the only thing that would have made it better,

is if they could have stayed longer. . .

but we are very, very glad they came. . .

and we enjoyed every minute. . .

Love you guys!

 

Wishing you all safe travels. . .and lots of memories!