The 23FB forum

[51hunter]

Originally Posted by PKI

51 - you do not need the shunt/monitor upgrade if your use is mostly FHU park stays. If you use the coach for mostly dry camping, you may find the more precise measurement of the BM helpful. Most folks install a BM as part of an electrical upgrade like solar as PC posted above.

But in any case, verify you have fresh un-wounded batteries in your bank. Often a new coach is towed to the dealer and the batteries are allowed to be pulled down by the parasitic loads and incidental use to a state of charge that kills a cell or two. Folks find the bank to perform poorly upon initial pickup.

Have Interstate check your batteries and replace them under warranty if necessary. Then never allow the bank to discharge below 12.2 Volts. That is a bit touchy as it required the bank to rest under no load or charge to get an accurate reading. However, close is really good enough.

Disconnect the batteries when in storage. Parasitic loads (LPG detector, lights left on, standby electronics) continue to pull power even in the store mode (use/store switch). Some folks add a disconnect switch to make the process easier.

Best to use what you have and learn what you want before starting major projects. Enjoy the new coach. It's well featured and many of us are trying to catch up. Hope to see you and the shiny down the road. Pat

The reason I ask is that when I worked for Ma Bell I built and maintained -48vdc battery banks for back up power if commercial power failed. There was a shunt in that system but obviously on the + side. Phone system runs on negative. On my old AS I had a amp meter which for it's age was the in thing, but worked. Most of my hookups are with power.

One of the first things I did was check out the batteries for bad cells. All good but then after 3 weeks of sitting disconnected I noticed the voltage was down to 11.9. So I charged them and checked cells again and all's OK. Then I put my amp meter in line and found it has static draw. So to remedy that I put a bar disconnect switch on the negative side of the batteries.

Now when it's disconnected and stored all I do is open the battery box the throw the switch. I was surprised at how much power it drew while sitting. Not like the old trailer.

Thanks again for all the info. John

[Fair_Enough]

Thanks pcskier, I get it now. I think mine was originally a 2awg but it’s long gone. I now use #2/0 batt to shunt to + bus. 3000 watt Inverter too. Batteries are now inside. So wire runs are very short. I literally removed it all yesterday starting front twin conversion. It will be a DIYer 23FBT. I get to redo all the arrangement of electrical parts and pieces. Yea!
Clint

[leedav]

We're in business now. PD shifted to 13.2. A little later than the spec, but acceptable. Interstate provided a new battery. Charging system overhaul complete!

[eagletoo]

Originally Posted by GMFL

Bruce,
Thanks for the 23D Plug! How’s the new 23 GT working out?

Ronnie, we are heading to Colonial this Thursday for orientation. We choose the Twin bed with Natural Elm/London Gray. We miss the 23CB dinette/lounge but the twins, decor, and bigger bathroom are right up our alley.
Can’t wait!

[leedav]

Shelf. Nothing fancy.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by Wolfwhistle

Thanks pcskier, I get it now. I think mine was originally a 2awg but it’s long gone. I now use #2/0 batt to shunt to + bus. 3000 watt Inverter too. Batteries are now inside. So wire runs are very short. I literally removed it all yesterday starting front twin conversion. It will be a DIYer 23FBT. I get to redo all the arrangement of electrical parts and pieces. Yea!
Clint

Can't wait to see what you do. 2/0 wire for sure with a 3000 watt inverter!

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by leedav

Shelf. Nothing fancy. Attachment 347955

That looks great. Let's hear/see how you built it/what you used, how you mounted. I need to do something similar.

Originally Posted by leedav

We're in business now. PD shifted to 13.2. A little later than the spec, but acceptable. Interstate provided a new battery. Charging system overhaul complete!

Do you mean new batteries, or just one? Great job on the the whole update. Nice to see that 'float' mode appear. Keep in mind 'spec' is in a perfect laboratory world when it comes to batteries, chargers, solar, etc.

[Karen123]

My husband and I removed the dinette leaving the very large wheel well area. We enclosed this area and now have a nice shelf which supports a number of small containers for brochures, camera equipment, games etc. We decided to go with office chairs as they are very comfortable and swivel which allow us to enjoy the beautiful windows while we are reading or eating. The chairs are an inch or two further into the walk area but we are able to swivel them out of the way giving an appearance of much more space. We were able to remove the rollers on the chairs and replace them with fixed option. We love this new space which works for us since we do not have a need for additional sleeping arrangements. The chairs are not fixed in place and can be moved completely out of the way should you wish to put down a sleeping mat/bag. We removed the pedestal table and replaced it with a unit that will swing in multiple directions and completely out of the way if needed.

[leedav]

Originally Posted by pcskier

That looks great. Let's hear/see how you built it/what you used, how you mounted. I need to do something similar.

Thanks for your kind words. Here goes the detail:

I just made a couple of 2" wide support strips for the side from some leftover 3/4" sanded plywood. Using the piece of the wall that I cut out for the Victron as a guide, I measured 1" drywall screws, and made four holes in each support with the drill press with a countersink bit set to stop so that the screws would go through the support strip about 3/8".

Then I cut a "story stick" ... A piece of wood that was the exact length of the height I wanted the bottom of the support to be, and used it and a square to mark the location on the wall.

Using the screw holes in the supports as a guide, I drilled the holes in the wall about 1/4 deep with a 5/64 drill bit set to stop at that depth.

I cut 1/2" Baltic birch to 18 by 21+3/16 and band-sawed a notch for the cables in the corner. Then I attached a strip of cherry on the edge with about 1/4" protruding above to catch anything that might slide into the door, using #0 biscuits. I finished the cherry with some wipe on polyurethane.

When I went to install it, I realized I couldn't get it in and drop it on the supports because it was too tight, so I took the right side support off, tilted the shelf in place on the left support and used the story stick as a support while I screwed in that side support underneath.

Finally, I applied a little bit of double sided tape to the top of the supports to prevent the shelf from moving back and forth in the 1/4" of slack I gave it front to back so as not to cramp the edging on the back of the wall.

That's about it.



[QUOTE=pcskier; Do you mean new batteries, or just one? Great job on the the whole update. Nice to see that 'float' mode appear. Keep in mind 'spec' is in a perfect laboratory world when it comes to batteries, chargers, solar, etc.[/QUOTE]


Just one, the other one tested OK on the cold cranking widget. I'll keep an eye on it for sure. I also combined all those crazy negative cables into two standard automotive ends and put a disconnect knob on each.

[leedav]

Shelf detail

[Fair_Enough]

L, the pendant does plug into the main board. No need to change the fuse board.

While in there “carefully” check all terminal screws for tightness.

Pat, I would love the 27 but the 23 has its advantages. Maybe someday. The 23 has Lightest tongue weight; Great bath and shower. I was in a 25 (or was it a 27) and the front queen clearances seemed What I have now. To me the huge CON with the 23FB is that darn dinette with that HUGE wheel well cover. Thanks for the input.
Clint

[Fair_Enough]

Cut down cupboard. Lots of noodling going on, trying to reuse what I can from the queen bed parts.
Clint

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by leedav

Thanks for your kind words. Here goes the detail:

I just made a couple of 2" wide support strips for the side from some leftover 3/4" sanded plywood. Using the piece of the wall that I cut out for the Victron as a guide, I measured 1" drywall screws, and made four holes in each support with the drill press with a countersink bit set to stop so that the screws would go through the support strip about 3/8".

Then I cut a "story stick" ... A piece of wood that was the exact length of the height I wanted the bottom of the support to be, and used it and a square to mark the location on the wall.

Using the screw holes in the supports as a guide, I drilled the holes in the wall about 1/4 deep with a 5/64 drill bit set to stop at that depth.

I cut 1/2" Baltic birch to 18 by 21+3/16 and band-sawed a notch for the cables in the corner. Then I attached a strip of cherry on the edge with about 1/4" protruding above to catch anything that might slide into the door, using #0 biscuits. I finished the cherry with some wipe on polyurethane.

When I went to install it, I realized I couldn't get it in and drop it on the supports because it was too tight, so I took the right side support off, tilted the shelf in place on the left support and used the story stick as a support while I screwed in that side support underneath.

Finally, I applied a little bit of double sided tape to the top of the supports to prevent the shelf from moving back and forth in the 1/4" of slack I gave it front to back so as not to cramp the edging on the back of the wall.

That's about it.

Excellent work, you woodworking guys I'm envious of your talents and tools. You need to read through the 23d thread, there is a member there Rob "RFP" who is an excellent woodworker/craftsman and has done some really nice work on his 23d, related to cabinetry and such.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by pcskier

Excellent work, you woodworking guys I'm envious of your talents and tools. You need to read through the 23d thread, there is a member there Rob "RFP" who is an excellent woodworker/craftsman and has done some really nice work on his 23d, related to cabinetry and such.

Rob is a gentleman and a scholar. That man is a class act.

[PKI]

Originally Posted by Wolfwhistle

-- snip -- love the 27 but the 23 has its advantages.

Yes, if you can deal with the dinette, it may be the best coach for two in the line up! Looking forward to seeing your twins. I wondered why you pushed the batteries into that corner. Now I understand where you were headed. Pat

[SimRunner]

Originally Posted by eagletoo

Ronnie, we are heading to Colonial this Thursday for orientation. We choose the Twin bed with Natural Elm/London Gray. We miss the 23CB dinette/lounge but the twins, decor, and bigger bathroom are right up our alley.
Can’t wait!

Sounds wonderful. I’ll bet you guys are excited!

[Fair_Enough]

Originally Posted by eagletoo

Ronnie, we are heading to Colonial this Thursday for orientation. We choose the Twin bed with Natural Elm/London Gray. We miss the 23CB dinette/lounge but the twins, decor, and bigger bathroom are right up our alley.
Can’t wait!

eagletoo, That is really nice. When you can post some pics.
Clint

[Fair_Enough]

Originally Posted by SimRunner

Clint - I have talked with Ultimate Airstream about changing our 23FB dinette area to an L-shaped configuration. They sent me pictures of two dinette configurations, which I am sharing here. The sofa configuration is in a 23FB.

My wife and I think twin beds would be a perfect configuration for the 23FB. I’ve included a graphic that I pieced together of our overall vision. We camp mostly with just the two of us.

Sim, I totally missed page 96... that is pretty cool. I would't be a big fan of the L shape, but the other is perfect. Someone needs to build (or I need to find it) a 78" (about) jack knife sofa in an appealing upholstery.

I won't like it but can handle sitting facing the kitchen cupboards. But, I also like what Karen123 posted with a modification.

Thanks,
Clint

[Franktr]

Anyone replaced there TV with a smart TV

[eagletoo]

Originally Posted by Wolfwhistle

eagletoo, That is really nice. When you can post some pics.
Clint

Patrick did a recent excellent video on the new twin. I will be focusing on making sure the hot water heater is properly supported (unlike my 23CB), operates like it should (changed out 3 boards) and, of course, that all the other systems operate correctly.

Pretty excited!