Re: portable charger Reply #25 – December 22, 2014, 11:22:12 am Yahoo Message Number: 149996Tom a jump start like that is fine if the bat just went dead because you left the lights on and the starter solenoid sets there an just clicks. And on a V10 you need bat power. Why do you think SMART people carry jumper cables. For jumper cables you need a bat in the other end of the cables. The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet. And there you set with 2- 6 volt bat that will start a large diesel engine on a cold day. And a gen to back up the MH bat. But how do you reach them with a set of 12 foot cables.
Re: portable charger Reply #26 – December 22, 2014, 11:24:19 am Yahoo Message Number: 149997Why do you think SMART people carry jumper cables. For jumper cables you need a bat in the other end of the cables. The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet. And there you set with 2- 6 volt bat that will start a large diesel engine on a cold day. And a gen to back up the MH bat. But how do you reach them with a set of 12 foot cables.
Re: portable charger Reply #27 – December 22, 2014, 11:25:00 am Yahoo Message Number: 149998And today (December 22nd, 2014), Meh is offering a 130-watt inverter for six bucks (plus $5 shipping). Might be handy to have around...Andy Baird Travels with Andy Andy I would not recommend getting that unit. Costco was selling them some years ago in a pack of two. Both of my units would stop running with even a small load. Well under 130 watts. Would not even charge the bat in my small LED camera. They are both now located in the Erie county dump.GeorgeRetired plumber.
Re: portable charger Reply #28 – December 22, 2014, 11:27:57 am Yahoo Message Number: 149999Sorry about my last two, I keep hitting send instead of cut. :^(George wrote: Why do you think SMART people carry jumper cables. For jumper cables you need a bat in the other end of the cables. The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet. And there you set with 2- 6 volt bat that will start a large diesel engine on a cold day. And a gen to back up the MH bat. But how do you reach them with a set of 12 foot cables.George, you are so right. I am not smart enough to use jumper cables. I'll leave that to you. Tom the dummy
Was: portable charger, now Jumper Cables Reply #29 – December 22, 2014, 11:47:19 am Yahoo Message Number: 150000"The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet. "--- I don't know how much actual voltage drop would be experienced when using longer cables, but here is one source of heavy-duty (4 and 2 ga. wire) boosters in longer-than-12' lengths:http://www.arizonatools.com/jumper-cables-booster-cables/detail/Mize-Heavy-Duty-USA-Jumper-Cables/JUMPERCABLESThey're a bit pricey, but, like quite a few other items, very handy when needed. ;-)Joan
Re: portable charger Reply #30 – December 22, 2014, 11:49:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 150001"And today (December 22nd, 2014), Meh is offering a 130-watt inverter for six bucks (plus $5 shipping). Might be handy to have around..."Combine this with yesterday's portable charger and put AC in your backpack. GP
Re: portable charger Reply #31 – December 22, 2014, 12:01:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150002Txs. Sounded too good to be true.
Re: portable charger Reply #32 – December 22, 2014, 12:03:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150003"The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet."I carry a 20-foot set of these Coleman cables in my car. (My rig's cable's are home-made from AWG 1 welding cable, and are also about 20 feet long.) The Coleman cables are also available in a 25-foot version. They're well made, and have lasted me for many years. I use sturdy Bucket Boss jumper cable bags for both sets.I have jump-started my rig from its house batteries a number of times over the years, but it's a lot easier to do with one of the new lithium-battery powerpacks. As a test, I recently disconnected my rig's starting battery and used my Antigravity Batteries Micro-Start XP-1 powerpack to start the Ford V-10 twice in a row. The engine started right up, and even after all this, the powerpack still showed four bars of charge. Pretty impressive for something I could carry in my pocket--unlike jumper cables.I'll continue to carry both jumper cables and a powerpack in both car and motorhome (after all, cables never need recharging), but I expect that I'll prefer to use the powerpack from now on.Andy BairdTravels with Andy As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: portable charger Reply #33 – December 22, 2014, 12:53:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150004Once again this device was jumping into my Amazon cart, when I noticed this in the specs:"Charges 19V Laptops (Not Apple 16V), Charges Phones/Tablets/iPad/Nexus 7-10/PSP & more via USB" .Are all Apple laptops 16V. Also it says "Phones", but not specifically "iPhones", and with the Apple 16V caveat above . . . I am wondering about its efficacy for our "All-Apple Shop". ;->Virtual hugs,Judie http://dorrieanne.wordpress.com
Re: portable charger Reply #34 – December 22, 2014, 01:35:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150005Jump starting the chassis batter from the coach battery bank is easy and doesn't require a long jumper cable. Both batteries are connected to the "diode isolator" that's located on the left firewall on my '05. Jumping these two terminal together connects the batteries in parallel.Easier still, is to install a continuous duty solenoid contactor to connect these terminals, a small toggle switch or push button switch is then installed on the dash to jump the batteries. If a toggle switch is used, this addition can also be used to charge the chassis battery using coach solar or shore power etc (though it's not really recommended to charge dissimilar size/age battery banks together in parallel, it won't hurt in a pinch).bumper
Re: portable charger Reply #35 – December 22, 2014, 02:14:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150007Make it easy to jump the engine, from the coach battery pack without jumper cables or a booster battery. Add a marine battery switch and run a 2-gauge cable to the starter, which is also connected to the starting battery. http://www.amazon.com/Perko-8501DP-Marine-Battery-Selector/dp/B00144B6AE https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/1416467334/in/set-72157602104740457Starting battery dead? Turn the battery switch from Battery '1' to '2', which connects the coach battery directly to the engine's starter. The battery switch is also placed in 'Both' periodically, to charge the starting battery, from the converter or solar, when parked at home for more than a few weeks. If you kill the coach battery, once the engine is started, turn the switch to 'Both' to allow the maximum available amperage to charge the coach battery. The diode isolator slightly lowers the charge voltage, increasing charge time.Larry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: portable charger Reply #36 – December 22, 2014, 03:30:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150008Andy, just ordered three units and $5 shipping as well. Thanks for the tip. Reno, 10 years in our 2004, 26 RB in So Calif. Previous 17 years 85 multi plan.
Re: portable charger Reply #37 – December 22, 2014, 05:24:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150015Jump starting the chassis batter from the coach battery bank is easy and doesn't require a long jumper cable. Both batteries are connected to the "diode isolator" that's located on the left firewall on my '05. Jumping these two terminal together connects the batteries in parallel.Easier still, is to install a continuous duty solenoid contactor to connect these terminals, a small toggle switch or push button switch is then installed on the dash to jump the batteries. If a toggle switch is used, this addition can also be used to charge the chassis battery using coach solar or shore power etc (though it's not really recommended to charge dissimilar size/age battery banks together in parallel, it won't hurt in a pinch).BumperBumper I need to check into this closer. It would not be safe for bat jumping. The wire sizing is way under sized to be used as a jumper cable but would be right for charging the starting bat with the camper bat. It sounds good but I do not think the isolator is wired for flow of electric in a reverse direction. It is built for the power to come from the alternator and then split and charge both bat. I do not think the internals are built to bring the power in from the back and then charge the other bat.GeorgeRetired plumber.
Re: Was: portable charger, now Jumper Cables Reply #38 – December 22, 2014, 06:03:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150016"The Problem is that you will not find regular jumper cables that are much more than 12 feet. "--- I don't know how much actual voltage drop would be experienced when using longer cables, but here is one source of heavy-duty (4 and 2 ga. wire) boosters in longer-than-12' lengths:http://www.arizonatools.com/jumper-cables-booster-cables/detail/Mize-Heavy-Duty-USA-Jumper-Cables/JUMPERCABLESThey're a bit pricey, but, like quite a few other items, very handy when needed. ;-)JoanJoan you are right they are pricey. Yes if you are trying to start another auto with under sized "wire size" cables they WILL start to heat up and more so if the bad auto is being had to star.But let me tell You a story. We were about to be stranded in the hunting camp and we needed to get out THEN; the storm was on our heals. If we did not get the autos out then they could have stayed there for the winter. We had 2 trucks and the one had a DEAD bat. We did not have a set of jumper cables. STUPID. My bat was new that fall. We though of putting the good bat in the bad truck to get it started but if we killed the bat we were done. There was a peace of 12 gauge romex in the hunting camp. Cut it in half to make two cables. Rapped the 2 wires around each other to form one wire. An crossed our fingers. We got both trucks out and they got 3 feet of show that night. The road was closed till spring. The Colorado Rocky mountains are not kind or forgiving.GeorgeRetired plumber
Re: Tankless Water Heater Reply #39 – December 22, 2014, 08:32:42 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150019Joan, What does DIYer mean
Re: Tankless Water Heater Reply #40 – December 22, 2014, 08:42:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 150021DIY = Do It Yourself
Re: Tankless Water Heater Reply #41 – December 24, 2014, 02:11:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 150053Thanks Joan