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New to 4WC and RV in General


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#21 oldhotrod

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Posted 29 October 2022 - 12:38 AM

and just to add one more thing to look for, make sure the protective shipping film has been removed from your overland solar panel. Also clean the surface as necessary...


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#22 RallyRock

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Posted 05 November 2022 - 04:29 PM

and just to add one more thing to look for, make sure the protective shipping film has been removed from your overland solar panel. Also clean the surface as necessary...

Heading up to the roof to check!  Thanks for the tip.


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#23 FAW3

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Posted 06 November 2022 - 12:12 PM

Quick thoughts:

 

  • Furnace: Remove the silver 4" ducting from the interior vent cover.  Learn where your reset button is via the outside furnace cover.  Learn where and how to clean your furnace sail switch.
  • Isotherm: Keep it well filled as empty space is not ideal. If possible, park with the refrigerator side out of direct hot sunlight.  Consider adding some insulation to the back side (leave the upper left area open so the fan and compressor have good air flow).  I used 1/2" of closed cell foam glued to the back side accessed via the outside vent.  
  • Portable solar panel and extension cord: I grabbed a Bluetti PV120 panel and on occasion use it to augment the factory panel.  Sometimes having some more charging flow helps with parking in the shade, low sun angle, cloudy days.  Plugs into the existing rear solar port.
  • Moisture: since it's getting near winter condensation can be an issue.  Most of it comes from our breathing & cooking inside such a small space.  A vent pad under the mattress will help...I use DenDry under mattress.  Also learned that I can just crack the overbed vent and a window and this air flow helps reduce moisture.  Winter "closed up" cooking may dictate some menu changes...such as boiling water to cook pasta ain't wise. 

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Frank W.

 

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#24 RallyRock

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Posted 02 December 2022 - 03:16 AM

 

Quick thoughts:

 

  • Furnace: Remove the silver 4" ducting from the interior vent cover.  Learn where your reset button is via the outside furnace cover.  Learn where and how to clean your furnace sail switch.
  • Isotherm: Keep it well filled as empty space is not ideal. If possible, park with the refrigerator side out of direct hot sunlight.  Consider adding some insulation to the back side (leave the upper left area open so the fan and compressor have good air flow).  I used 1/2" of closed cell foam glued to the back side accessed via the outside vent.  
  • Portable solar panel and extension cord: I grabbed a Bluetti PV120 panel and on occasion use it to augment the factory panel.  Sometimes having some more charging flow helps with parking in the shade, low sun angle, cloudy days.  Plugs into the existing rear solar port.
  • Moisture: since it's getting near winter condensation can be an issue.  Most of it comes from our breathing & cooking inside such a small space.  A vent pad under the mattress will help...I use DenDry under mattress.  Also learned that I can just crack the overbed vent and a window and this air flow helps reduce moisture.  Winter "closed up" cooking may dictate some menu changes...such as boiling water to cook pasta ain't wise. 

 

Sorry I didn’t see this a while back. Appreciate the info and I’ll look into all of those. 
 

I’m really glad I installed that battery monitor though. Makes a world of difference and I don’t feel like I’m in the dark on how much left of my battery I’ve got. 


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#25 Mthomas

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Posted 06 February 2023 - 09:12 PM

Re: Shade effect on solar panel. Depending on which little squares get shaded, panel capacity can be reduced by well over 50 percent blocking as little as a square foot of the panel. Try it sometime with a washcloth or something. It is pretty eye opening.


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