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11-10-2020, 11:37 AM
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#1401
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Prof. of Pending Projects
2018 Tommy Bahama Interstate
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,658
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Wow! That was a different direction on the A/C. That has to cool the whole AI easily and quickly.
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11-17-2020, 09:37 PM
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#1402
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3 Rivet Member
2012 Interstate Coach
norman
, Oklahoma
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 243
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Houpe
.... this unit draws 8.3 at full tilt then ramps down as the inside cools off. Future plan is to make a cover for the compressor then add five 150 watt solar panels to the roof and lithium batteries so this will also operate while parked.
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LOVE the use of an energy efficient mini split on an RV!!! Have been wondering why none of the manufacturers do this, they are so much better!
I'm having trouble with your math on thinking that you can run it off of solar though. Please feel free to correct my math but 8.3 amps at 120V is 996 Watts. Your talking about 750 watts worth of solar ... before losses, etc. etc. So while you should be able to run this off of batteries for a while depending on the size of your cells, and the solar will offset the use, seems you will still need some other power source to keep things up and running. What am I missing?
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11-18-2020, 04:23 AM
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#1403
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1 Rivet Member
2012 Interstate Coach
Gravette
, Arkansas
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by russ240
LOVE the use of an energy efficient mini split on an RV!!! Have been wondering why none of the manufacturers do this, they are so much better!
I'm having trouble with your math on thinking that you can run it off of solar though. Please feel free to correct my math but 8.3 amps at 120V is 996 Watts. Your talking about 750 watts worth of solar ... before losses, etc. etc. So while you should be able to run this off of batteries for a while depending on the size of your cells, and the solar will offset the use, seems you will still need some other power source to keep things up and running. What am I missing?
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You are correct in your math, 996 watts to run the AC unit at full tilt, but remember the inverter technology ramps the compressor down so it will be less that 996 watts the closer the set temp gets to the actual temp on the inside. Lets say its a perfect world and turn on the ac and its hot on the inside it draws 996 watts, if your sitting in the direct sunlight your solar will give you 750 watts, you have a 246 watt deficit which must come from the batteries which are 12V divided by 246 is 20.5 amps draw. Right now I have 380 amp hours of glass and lead acid batteries which in a I could run my AC unit 18.5 hours with the storage capacity I have BUT we are not in a perfect world and we know thats not possible without destroying the batteries and your not going to get a full 750 watts from solar panels but if you had 12000 watts of lithium you can balance the best of system. The solar panel and lithium upgrade would not be for a full time boon docking but would be nice for my dogs when I'm out fishing or maybe for taking a nap in the back while underway. My plan is to have lithium someday but thats another project.
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11-18-2020, 09:08 AM
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#1404
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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I love the mini split idea, and execution looks great! I do wish they made an exterior component one could place flat on the roof vs hanging it on the back door where it would be exposed to door slams, road grime, and get in the way of my bicycles and the rack I use to carry them.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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11-19-2020, 05:01 AM
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#1405
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1 Rivet Member
2012 Interstate Coach
Gravette
, Arkansas
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
I love the mini split idea, and execution looks great! I do wish they made an exterior component one could place flat on the roof vs hanging it on the back door where it would be exposed to door slams, road grime, and get in the way of my bicycles and the rack I use to carry them.
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Absolutely! Even if they used the components of a inverter system and made a flat compressor unit that would fit on top it would game changer for RV'ers. I thought I might do that myself but the compressor stands vertical and its pretty tall so I took this route.
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11-19-2020, 11:49 AM
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#1406
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Houpe
Absolutely! Even if they used the components of a inverter system and made a flat compressor unit that would fit on top it would game changer for RV'ers. I thought I might do that myself but the compressor stands vertical and its pretty tall so I took this route.
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Agreed, I would also be quite reluctant to take a compressor intended for vertical deployment and lie it down flat on the roof. Your installation looks great.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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11-27-2020, 12:24 PM
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#1407
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Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 586
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What's missing?
Finally got around to removing that stupid, clumsy soap dispenser.
__________________
Leigh & Bettie
Houston TX
2017 Interstate GT
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11-27-2020, 12:31 PM
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#1408
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Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 586
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Mag board and sundries rack
We ditched the front TV as soon as we got the van. (Why have two TV's in the van, when we don't have even one at home?) But we never had a good use for the area freed up. Finally got around to mounting a handy magnetic board for maps etc and a shelf/rack unit for sundries. While this project is not in the same league as others here, it was within our scope of competence.
__________________
Leigh & Bettie
Houston TX
2017 Interstate GT
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11-27-2020, 02:30 PM
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#1409
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TayaraTravel
Finally got around to removing that stupid, clumsy soap dispenser.
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Well done. Oh yes, we want to do this. How do we neatly remove that dispenser?
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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11-28-2020, 06:42 AM
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#1410
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Rivet Master
2017 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 586
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
Well done. Oh yes, we want to do this. How do we neatly remove that dispenser?
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As I said, this was in our scope of competence, so it is very easy (if yours is the same). Open the cover and carefully remove the liquid containers. That's the tricky part, because we have dropped/spilled them often when re-filling. Remove 4 small phillips screws and the unit comes off the wall. Fill the screw holes with caulk and it's done.
We didn't add back anything to the bath, like a wrack for soaps. We just temporarily put a bottle of soap/shampoo in the wash basin during showers. We are minimalists (lazy).
__________________
Leigh & Bettie
Houston TX
2017 Interstate GT
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11-28-2020, 07:09 AM
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#1411
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old/new member
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 67
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TayaraTravel
Remove 4 small phillips screws and the unit comes off the wall. Fill the screw holes with caulk and it's done.
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I think this link may have been posted before. i used these little white plugs for the holes.
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-White-Pl...6572409&sr=8-2
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11-28-2020, 09:04 AM
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#1412
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,655
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TayaraTravel
it was within our scope of competence.
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"A man's got to know his limitations."
Clint Eastwood, Magnum Force!
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11-28-2020, 11:12 AM
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#1413
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TayaraTravel
As I said, this was in our scope of competence, so it is very easy (if yours is the same). Open the cover and carefully remove the liquid containers. That's the tricky part, because we have dropped/spilled them often when re-filling. Remove 4 small phillips screws and the unit comes off the wall. Fill the screw holes with caulk and it's done.
We didn't add back anything to the bath, like a wrack for soaps. We just temporarily put a bottle of soap/shampoo in the wash basin during showers. We are minimalists (lazy).
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Perfect, thanks. Will pick up a small tube of some kind of white waterproof / mildew-resistant caulk before attempting removal.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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11-28-2020, 11:17 AM
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#1414
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by preedtx
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Those look promising as well, thanks! Did you also caulk around them to prevent leakage, or just pop them in?
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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11-28-2020, 12:07 PM
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#1415
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old/new member
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 67
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
Those look promising as well, thanks! Did you also caulk around them to prevent leakage, or just pop them in?
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Yes, full disclosure. filled the holes with caulk and pushed in plugs and then held plugs in place with masking tape until caulk dried.
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12-02-2020, 09:11 PM
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#1416
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3 Rivet Member
2013 Interstate Coach
Yarnell
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 136
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We removed the dispenser, too. That little bit of extra room made a world of difference for me.
The screws were put back into their holes using screw Snap-Caps.
Check out www.pro-dec.com to order these inexpensive little gems. They're just like those used in other locations within your AI.
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12-03-2020, 06:43 AM
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#1417
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iaqstuff
We removed the dispenser, too. That little bit of extra room made a world of difference for me.
The screws were put back into their holes using screw Snap-Caps.
Check out www.pro-dec.com to order these inexpensive little gems. They're just like those used in other locations within your AI.
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Oh, this looks quite promising! Did you caulk them as well, or just put them in? Would I need a "snap cap washer" and a "Snap Cap" for each screw? Would that washer be the flat bottom or counter-sunk variety? Also, just making sure, did you use the 8/8 size?
Thanks!
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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05-29-2021, 10:29 AM
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#1418
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2 Rivet Member
2007 Interstate
Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 92
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bluetooth radio
This is pretty old tech, but a big upgrade for my 2007: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pioneer...?skuId=6387902
My phone stands in clips attached to the radio so better for navigation and audiobook/music access. I've been using headset, so this is great improvement. the mic for the phone is mounted in the gauge "cave." Haven't tried the phone on the highway yet, but my husband said he could hear me fine when I tried it.
__________________
knotdonne
2007 Airstream Interstate
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05-29-2021, 03:28 PM
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#1419
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3 Rivet Member
2014 Interstate Coach
Centre County
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 171
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Interstate Mods - I'll go First
On covering screw holes: We used a product called FastCaps:
https://www.fastcap.com/product/fast...er-caps?cat=31
We used white PVC for the dispenser and found a pretty good match to our laminate in one of the wood grain pvc colors. They’ve worked well for us, and we’ve found them less likely to fall off than the screw caps.
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03-13-2022, 08:46 PM
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#1420
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New Member
2021 Interstate 24GL
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 1
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