Victory lap

Friday was my last Friday, Saturday was my last Saturday, and only Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday remain. Each day means a trip to Hooks, Texas but each of those days has just a little different responsibility on my part.

About 1200 more miles and you can "stick a fork in me because I am done". Still trying to come to grips with the fact I will be unemployed!

My Battery Pack

When adding more batteries, the first thing needed is a strong battery rack to secure the batteries. Weight and size requirements have to be taken into consideration. I would have liked at least 600 amps but had to settle for less. I built this angle iron rack to hold four Trojan T-105 six volt batteries. They will be wired "in series" and "parallel".

Each battery is 6 volt and 225 amps. Wiring a pair "in series" gives 12 volt and wiring two "in series" pairs "parallel" give 450 amp. Try to keep your cable as short as possible with a little flex and keep them the same length between batteries. Build your own using flexible welding cable if you have the option.

"in series" means wiring positive(+) to negative (-)

"parallel" means wiring positive(+) to positive(+) and negative(-) to negative(-).

or

"in series" red to black

"parallel" red to red and black to black.

Remember............................................

"in series" adds total number of volts.

"parallel" adds total number of amps.

This is the 12 volt battery that came with our travel trailer. Under each of the two removable caps are three cells (each cell is 2 volts) wired in the battery case "in series", pos(+) to neg(-). Each time you wire "in series" you add the volts. Two banks of three 2 volt cells equals 12 volts.

This is a 6 volt battery with the cap removed and you can see the three 2 volt cells.

This shows two 6 volt batteries wired "in series" to form one large 12 volt battery. Now a total of six ( 3 in each battery) 2 volt cells are wired to form 12 volts. If you couldn't see the half red-half black cable in the middle, it would look like a standard 12 volt battery. Positive on the upper left and negative on the lower right.

This photo shows how this setup (now one large 12 volt battery) would be hooked up if this was all you were using. Positive (red) cable on the upper left and negative (black) cable on the lower right side.

I have now doubled the two battery setup and the red cable on the left and the black cable on the right are wired "parallel" (pos to pos and neg to neg). Just like your dad taught you to use "booster cables", red to red and black to black. Now this forms one very large 12 volt battery bank.

To hook up this battery bank you will want to use the positive and negative posts that are the farthest apart, thus drawing current from all over the battery pack, this photos shows the positive (red) cable attached to the upper left and the negative (black) cable attached to the lower right. Please use an appropriate size fuse in the red cable. The fuse size should be about 20% larger than the amps you will be drawing out of the battery bank at any given time.

With a multimeter attached to the red and black cable you can read 12 volts.

This battery bank and rack weighs about 250 pounds. Just remember even if I have 450 amps in the batteries, I can only safely use 225 amps ( only use 50% or less) if I want the batteries to last.

Dang it's HOT!

I have been working six days a week and we are having 100 degree weather. Also putting together four 6 volt batteries to replace the one group 24 battery that came with the travel trailer. It has been so hot that it taking longer than I anticipated. I have the new battery rack built (still need to build the battery box) and have ordered a few items and hope to publish pictures and a report soon. Will demystify the (4x6=12) four 6 volt battery equals 12 volt thing. Very simple but it can be confusing if not explained properly.

On a more personal note, my son Zac is home from his teaching job in France and back at Penn State. Feels so great to have him back in the states.

Anxiety Attack

I started filling out my Social Security application online today knowing I could finish it and put it on "hold" until I decided to "send" or "cancel" and choose another date if I decided not to retire at the end of September.

After I finished I waited a few minutes before putting it on hold and thought why not just hit "send" and be thru with it. Bang just like that and the wheels are now in motion!

It took about five minutes and I starting having a major anxiety attack.

"Damn Sam, what have you gotten yourself into this time!"

I wanted to do it but it just seemed so final once the paperwork was started.

Not an easy task

Pick a date and retire! Easy enough, right. Not so fast. This is really an agonising decision. I have been saying that September 30 will be my last day to work and therefore I need to sign up for Social Security three months ahead of that date, in other words, in July. Next month. That just seems so final and soon!

"Working" defines who I am. Retirement feels more like I am being fired and emotionally it is rather difficult. Doesn't working until the end of the year sound better.

Work past the holidays and start the new year off with a whole new outlook on life. I'm sure the incongruousness would be no different then as now. Damn, why can't life be easy!!!!.

Compact air compressor

Ever wake up to a low tire and have to change it or risk ruining it by driving to have it looked after.



We need a small air compressor for just such events and to keep our tires inflated to the proper psi. Since it was my birthday and I had an excuse to spend money.














I bought this compact air compressor from Sears, Item # 00915309000,
Model # 15309. Small and under 25lbs. Max of 150psi and a cut-in of 120psi. Cut-in pressure means when its 1.5 gallon tank drops below 120psi, the compressor starts building air until it reaches 150psi.

This is not a compressor for using large volumes of air but it will work fine for my needs and small enough to easily store.

Another one down

Well I have lived to see another birthday. How the hell can I be 62 years old. My dad died at 57 and my mom almost made it to 73. My sibling followed at about the same numbers. Half around 60 and half over 70. The averages give me a few more years.

Starting Monday I will be working for 1/2 price! I could be drawing my SS that makes up about half my take home pay. I told the boss I needed a 100% raise and he said he would pay me what I am worth but he knows I can't live on that!

Dang that does not sound possible, "me on SS". I always thought SS was for "old people".

Banking on the Road

Not many people write checks anymore and after we hit the road we will only have our mini-storage that will need a check sent. All reoccurring bills can be paid online.

We will be using two banks and a credit union. Judy has her SS check direct deposited in a local bank and I will have my SS check and any draws from my IRA direct deposited in US Bank that has branches nation wide. My pension check will be deposited in my saving account at my credit union.

Why two banks? Judy will carry only her bank card and one credit card and I will carry my bank card and the other credit card. Should she lose her purse or should I lose my wallet, we can cancel only that bank and credit card and still have the other separate accounts to continue to use until we get things straighten out. Straightening things out while on the road could take awhile.

Our banks card use different ATM networks so there should always be one or the other available to us. We will always have a few "ole blues" ($100 bills)in reserve and will always work with money above those. That way ATM money can be acquired when convenient and we will never be broke. If we pay an occasional $2 ATM fee it will be alright because we will we getting the max the ATM will allow.

I can also use my credit union ATM card, plus they are affiliated with several hundred credit unions across the country that I can walk in, show my card and ID and draw out any amount of my saving that I might need.

Sounds simple enough.

I think I like this stranger

Yesterday I saw a late model Ford pickup stop in the street and turn on the flashers. I didn't see any fluids or steam leaking so it appeared it just quit running. By the time the red light changed and I made it so I could see what was happening, I was pleasantly surprised.

The older gentleman had stopped and was removing a turtle for the street. Little doubt saving its life. A simple gesture that shows there is still hope for this world.

One month until weigh-in

Remember back in January I mentioned our weight loss program at work, well it is only about a month until our weigh-in. In January I weighed 238lbs. and I must say I haven't tried very hard and now weigh 227lbs., but I had a little spell with my blood sugar last week and now am determined to eat better and shed another 27lbs.
I still want to be around 200lbs. before I retire but will not make that goal by our weigh-in. My 10% goal (214) will require another 13 lbs. this month. Not likely, but it is doable. My main goal is to keep my blood sugar in the normal range.

While there has been hundreds of books written about 12 volt dc power and I own a couple of the popular ones used by rvers.

















For a complete overview of this subject it is hard to beat Mark Neweth's two part article. http://bart.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm While equipment and gadgets change, the basic theory will stay the same.



For solar charging theory and what works (I always like to look at real world working applications from people not trying to sell you anything), try reading what Bob has to say on the subject.





http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/solar-power-that-works/

I failed to link to the manuals about my 2025rv meter.
Users manual:
http://www.bogartengineering.com/TM2025%20Users%20Instructions.pdf


Installation manuals:
http://www.bogartengineering.com/TM-2025Install%20Instructions.pdf

Just to confuse you even more try reading all of Phred's Poop Sheets:

http://www.phrannie.org/phredex.html

Tri Metric 2025RV meter

What the heck is a TriMetric 2025rv meter? The simply answer is to call it your fuel gauge for you batteries. The fuel in your batteries is measured in reserve amp hours and the 2025rv meter keeps track of them just like your gas gauge in your car. Use some amps out of your batteries and put some back in by charging them and you will always know to total with this meter.

There are numerous web sights that explain the technicals so I will just do a broad overview.

It is easy to shorten the life of your batteries by using more than 50% of the amps in them. If you have a reserve of 200 amps hours then use less than 100 amps before recharging them, even less is better.

The 2025rv meter by Bogart Engineering is a newer and improved version of their 2020 meter. It has its own housing that will blend right in with my furnace and Fantastic Fan thermostat housings.

It has built in lightning protection and several other features that make it more desirable.

As always, I researched online and found the users manual (had to make sure it would do what I wanted) and installation manual (see if I could install it) before placing my order.

While this meter neither makes or dispenses 12 volt electricity, it is still money well spent (about $200 for meter, shunt, and wiring) if you are planning to camp without hookups and run off your batteries.

Imagine driving a car with no gas gauge and not knowing the last time any was put in the tank.

Pieces of the Puzzle

Living in a RV in a campground with "full hookups (water, sewer,and electricity)" is the same as living in a regular home, albeit smaller.

RVs have the ability to dry camp (parked without any hookups), meaning they have running water, propane for heating, hot water, cooking, and 12 volt lighting. On board water tanks supply water and holding tanks hold the waste water. The frig can also run on propane. Everything you need except for 120 volts. Lots of 12 volts appliances are available so the only thing you really have to have 120 volts for is air conditioning. Your rv can be miles from an electric line and you can live a very normal life.

Our rv holds 40 gallons of fresh water, three 40 gallon holding tanks. One each for shower, kitchen, and toilet. That translates into about a week before our tanks need attention. The 12volt battery will also need charging after about 2 days.

An inverter with take power from your 12 volts and turn it into 120 volts. Still can't run you a/c but you can run things like your tv, microwave, hair dryer, and other small appliances. This is limited by the size (wattage) of your inverter and the size (amp hours) of your batteries.

To further complicate this, there are two types of inverters. Most are modified sine wave (almost like the electricity at home) and will run most things. A pure sine wave (just like your home electricity but more expensive) for your high-end electronics. A simple solution is to buy a larger wattage modified sine wave inverter to run most applications and a smaller pure sine wave inverter to run high-end electronics. Most tv's will run on a modified sine wave inverter but I don't want to risk a $1000 tv on a cheaper inverter.

One other solution is just buy a generator to run everything. A small one will run microwave, tv, and ect. A larger one will also run one a/c and still larger one will run both air conditioners.

The options for dry camping with all the amenities are:

GENERATOR

Pros:

Runs everything

No need to upgrade batteries or buy an inverter

Cons:

Cost

Noisy

Weight

Fuel costs and maintenance

Their use not also permitted (or restricted hours of usage)

UPGRADE BATTERIES

Pros:

Will extend your 12volt usage

Have enough power to add on inverter for limited 120volt usage

Cons:

Cost

Weight (battery weight adds up fast)

Space requirements (may or may not fit you present battery compartment)

Need a way to recharge

INVERTER

Pros:

Quite

Will supply most 120volt needs

Cons:

Cost

Deletes batteries (they have to be recharged)

SOLAR PANELS(solar panels are really just battery chargers that use to sun to obtain their energy)

Pros:

Quite

Recharges batteries to supply battery and inverter needs

Free energy after purchase

Cons:

Cost (isn't that always a con?)

Now I would like "all the above" but for me the generator seems the logical first step as the one purchase will do everything (at the expense of the cons). Also it is the option that will have the best resale value if I choose to sell it.

RE-GENERATOR

I wanted a generator that would run at least one of my air conditioners ( the only real reason for a generator). Something in the 3000watt range would do the job fine. Purchasing used would be a wise choice in case I wanted to resale.

Enter http://littlerock.craigslist.org/ .

I always check Craigslist for my used purchases.

I found a gently used Yamaha 3000iseB generator at an excellent price. It is among the quietest on the market and very fuel efficient and a reasonable power to weight ratio. Weighting in at about 150lbs.

It came with the optional cover and a new battery.

I will place it on the rear bumper of the travel trailer and thus one of the pieces of the puzzle will be in place.

Spring has Sprung

The weather has been beautiful this week and I took this photo today at my usual rest area just south of the Gurdon exit on I-30, on the east bound side. By the time the grass turns green, the blooms will be gone. I just love these trees.

I should have taken this photo yesterday as the sky was a deeper blue and really made the white of the tree and clouds pop. Just a little too bright today and made the whole picture wash-out a little.

Pacific Northwest Van Dweller

I stopped at the rest area just south of Gurdon, Ar. today and noticed a Chevy work van (van with no windows). It had tags from the Pacific Northwest and was easy to recognize as a van dweller vehicle ( living or long term travelling in a van).

The bicycle on top and the curtain blocking off the rear cargo area gave it away. Add the fact that it was parked away from the restrooms and you know I had to check it out.

The driver was reading a paperback western novel and having canned ham and crackers for lunch. We talked for about 15 minutes and I found out that he was indeed a "vandweller". He told a little about his rig and some of the mistakes he had made as he taught himself about living in a van. He has an inverter to power his laptop and was using an "air-card" for internet access.

He powered up the laptop when I told him about the http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VanDwellers/ and he book marked it. It has over 100,000 messages and will take a long time to find the information.
After I was back on the road, I realized I should have sent him to http://www.cheaprvliving.com/ . As Bob Wells has a great site with several examples of how people fix their vans for vandwelling.

He was soft spoken and a real pleasure to talk to. I hope he enjoyed our time together as much as I enjoyed it. It was soon time for me to hit the road and I wished him well on his travels.

Arkansas Rest Areas allow overnight camping and I am sure you could stretch that if you wanted. Most have designated parking away from Truck Parking.

Maybe he will read this (he book marked my blog) and leave a comment.

Sometimes it is TOO easy

As I walked by the guard shack at work today, the guard came out with a large smile to show off the new used car he had purchased. Now he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but is a very likable guy.

He is very proud of his low mileage 2005 Chevy Cobalt coupe, and rightly so as it is very nice. We look at the outside and he unlocks and opens the drivers door and I peek in to see a new looking interior. He closes the door and shows the few flaws one would expect on a five year old car but I am still impressed with its condition.

Proudly he asked, "How many miles do you think it has?". I comment that since I can see it still has the original tires that I can tell within 500 miles as to the right answer.

I get the usual, "No way!". So I take out a dime and use it to check the tread depth of one front tire and one back tire, while explaining I used to be in the tire business.

After pausing for a long moment to decyfer the information I was ready to give my answer. Now I could have said 25,000 miles but that would seem like a very random guess.

I said, "25,500 miles" and walked away as his jaw dropped in awe.

Later he MIGHT figure out that when he opened the door the odometer displayed 25,381 for a few seconds before going blank again.

Sometimes it is truly too easy!!

An Exciting Year Ahead

My company is challenging everyone to loose weight and they are putting their money behind the challenge. The contest weight-in was January 4 ( I weighed 238lbs) but you can start anytime of the year you decide to participate. Next weigh-in will be June 1.
10% =$100
15% =$150
20% =$200 and ect.
Final weigh-in will be December 1 and you will receive a like amount from your original weight. An incentive to continue dropping weight and keeping it off.
This came at an opportune time as I had decided to weigh no more than 200lbs before I retire.
YES, I SAID RETIRE. I turn 62 in May and my anniversary date at work is the last of July (no need to forfeit 3 weeks vacation pay for not working the two extra months). My exact retirement date is still debatable as several factors are still in play, but it will be sometime between August 1 and the end of the year.
After retirement we will be hooking to our home (travel trailer) and hitting the road. So much to see and I can't wait to get started.
"Home will be where we park it". No, that does not mean we will travel every day but travel to a new locale and stay until we feel we have seen and done what we want and move again and let the process start over. We might stay a day or two, a week, a month, or for a season.
I might even be in your area and contact you for a little one on one meeting, just a heads-up for my friends both personal and internet types.

Slowly being dragged into the present

I am rather slow to come around to "change", as a matter of fact, I am against most of it. However, SKYPE the free internet based phone and video service is my newest addition into the present world.

Actually seeing Zac when we talk is a great comfort for this old dad. If you do not presently have it, you might want to check it out. I will bet your kids already use it.

Zac and ABD

No my son Zac does not have an awful disease. As long time visitors know, Zac has been at Penn State studying for his PhD in French. Well he is now ABD (All But Dissertation) meaning he is through with all class work and exams. All this is great.......................

But!

He flew out of New York City today heading back to France to teach for a year (again) and do research for his dissertation. When I asked about his dissertation subject, it took two minutes for the explanation. I didn't understand a thing he said. The boy is just to damn smart for his old man. Before he gets the big head he needs to know that I have a ball pien hammer that is also smarter than me but not as hard headed.

A Busy Month

My wife had a "total knee replacement" (her second) four weeks ago today and she is starting to show real improvement in the last two or three days.
When she had her left knee replaced about five years ago, they keep her in the hospital about 4 days and then transferred her to the rehab wing of the hospital for another 10 days. In the rehab wing she was cared for by nurses and physical therapists.
This time the knee was replaced on Wednesday and they sent her home on Saturday. I got to play nurse and a physical therapist came by twice a week. Luckily her daughter came over to stay with her while I was at work but it has been a stressful few weeks with very little sleep.
Guess you could say I received a taste of a working mom's life. Work all day, come home and fix the meals and up every few hours to add ice to her ice pack or help her to the bathroom
(ALWAYS, five minutes after I had gotten the ice pack on her knee and her settled back down).
Thankfully she is starting to move around and do for herself and every day is an improvement. I'm amazed at just how quickly the turn around has been. She went from crying half the night and counting the hours until she could have another pain pill to taking a single pain pill for the night in just a span of 3 or 4 days. After two weeks of misery it was a fast turnaround.
The operation didn't kill her and I resisted the same.