rvSeniorMoments

Jul 16

2 Comments

Purple Grapes!

They started turning from green to purple a few days ago . . .

I’ve tasted several of these small purples . . . crispy and sweet . . .

Jul 14

4 Comments

Not Your Average Software Bug

When I used to write technical manuals for medical devices, I discovered a bug in a new version of software and showed it to the engineer who wrote the software.

The engineer said “That can’t happen”.

I haven’t had any more of these alternative reality encounters until today when I discovered a bug in my RV’s Victron equipment, in particular the Victron Touch 50 display.

First off, the Touch 50 is a remarkable piece of engineering. At a glance, its display shows where and how much power is flowing in your RV:

The Touch 50 Display at Work

However, after doing some work in our RV today (chassis grounding the inverter case), the Touch 50 display looked similar to this:

After powering on several electrical devices in the RV, nothing changed – the display still showed 0W in and 0W out.

I reset the display and inverter several times, but to no effect. What the hell?

Time to Google . . . I found this on the Victron Support web site:

Multiplus II – AC Input Suddenly 0

And then I discovered the “fix” . . .

Is Anyone Working on . . .

The fix is to shove a 3.5 mm headphone jack in and out of the Victron’s Current Sense jack:

Aside from the sexual overtones, this work around seems just absurd, like trying to fix a flat tire by turning on the windshield wipers. Nevertheless . . .

After jacking the Current Sense hole several times, I checked the Touch 50 display:

Jul 8

1 Comment

Washburn Fire

It’s fire season again, and we’ve got one near us . . . not threatening us, but part of the Washburn fire is burning old growth trees in the Mariposa Grove.

The fire started Thursday afternoon and as of 4 pm Friday its at 466 acres.

*Washburn Fire map. The dots represent heat detected by a satellite as late as 2:42 p.m. July 8, 2022. The red dots are the most current.*

We really became aware when we saw the water helicopters flying overhead . . .

The left helicopter is getting water, the right helicopter is taking water to the fire

Here’s a map that shows the Washburn fire is relation to the Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Park, and Mariposa where we are.

Mariposa is about 18 miles away from Fish Camp (as the crow flies)

Jun 28

5 Comments

Solar Project Update – 2/3 Done!

It’s been almost 5 months since my last solar update and a lot has happened.

Here’s what transpired visually . . .

New Batteries – Check! New Inverter/Charger – Check! (Shaded area is completed.)

I installed the inverter over several days and finished this morning. With temperatures in the high 90s the last month, it’s only been possible to work in the early morning.

The solar panels and other equipment will be purchased in September and October as it’s too hot to do anything now. So the next solar project update will probably be in November.

New Batteries

The new battery box, AC and DC wiring, and new batteries were installed over March and April.

Created several ports for wire runs in the original battery box

AC & DC wiring had to be run from the new battery box into the compartment behind the RV door

Completed new battery box with vents (the top and front panels can be removed)

Inside the new battery box. The 400A T-fuse under the plastic case is missing. The thick wires above the battery box are AC power lines.

Wiring

Running 50A AC lines from and back into the RV’s AC breaker panel proved to be a challenge.

On the plus side, I discovered wire ferrules which make working with stranded wire much much easier

Inverter Install

The Victron MultiPlus II inverter/charger was the latest equipment as the new batteries and wiring had to be completed first.

Victron equipment is very good. Well designed, very functional, and pricey. The MultiPlus II is no exception, but OMG it’s heavy (50 pounds) that had to lifted onto a metal hanger – that you can’t see as you lift.

. . . VE.Bus communication lines (blue RJ45 cables) and Battery Cables (on the right)

Software Interfaces

There are many, many, many settings available on Victron equipment. For the most part, it is seamlessly handled automatically. However, there are (and continue to be) several “gotchas” that I discovered during MultiPlus II installation process. (The current one is “Storage” mode shown below.) But no game stoppers.