Thank You! and pictures

Glenn

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2024
Messages
129
Location
Southern Illinois
A special thank you! to everyone who replied and contributed to my threads in “Electrical” :

Jon R
Dadocut
Vic Harder
ckent323
Wander Sagebrush

As I am building the camping platform to be removable and self contained I wanted to hook it up and run tests on everything, while it’s in my shop. The “electrical board” is double hinged…..swings open and down flat for troubleshooting much like our electrical cabinets at work, and folds up when using the shop hoist to load it in the truck. Once in the truck it lays back at an angle against the side of the truck bed.

Everything tested A-OK!

Since I have full power at the front bumper (for my17,500 lb. winch and also a snow plow I ran temporary power to the TR Smart Charger. Downloaded VictronConnect APP, paired with IPhone and everything went perfect.
IMG_2265.jpeg



Hooked up the 280AH LiFePo4 battery and powered up the inverter, it worked either way, with or without my neutral/ground bonding plug without an alarm either way so I’m running the bonding plug
IMG_2266.jpeg


As was recommended, I hooked up a low draw item (20Watts) of Christmas tree lights, works perfect.
IMG_2267.jpeg



Anderson plug for disconnecting the house battery
IMG_2268.jpeg



View of the back side of my electric board (steel peg board) with a computer fan blowing into the charger heat sink, large cables routed through grommets on this back side to the blue seas circuit distribution panel, rather than heat soaked running across top of charger. I also have a computer fan blowing on the inverter which I put spacers begind it so air flow can also go behind its heat sink (which manufacturer shows mounting flat on surface. inverter has an internal cooling fan) The cabinets are well vented with grills along the bottom and also in the cabinet lids for air flow.
IMG_2269.jpeg



Added water and pressurized system. No leaks? and the pump is really quiet……now I need to buy a portable outside shower
IMG_2270.jpeg



Tested gravity drain so I don’t have to leave water sitting in it when not used for awhile, got good gravity flow.
IMG_2271.jpeg



All switches light up as do the temperature controllers for the heating for water tank and battery
IMG_2252.jpeg


Temperature controllers with ambient air temperature when heater switch is turned on
IMG_2253.jpeg



Now to load it in the truck, Houston - “You’re good to go”
IMG_2264.jpeg


Seriously though, thanks for helping a new guy out……it speaks volumes for the WTW forum

Next I’ll post pictures under camper build with it in place, cabinet lids in place and the curtains.
 
Now that I’ve used my truck out camping and deer hunting without any shore power or running water (state park utilities) I wanted to thank everyone again🙂

I’m adding a few screen shots:

This was with CPAP and 12V blanket on Low:

IMG_2727.png



I changed 12V blanket over to High for a little more warmth early in the night. This was App when I got up….not a huge difference in watts:


IMG_2728.png




I turned all loads off, got dressed, breakfast, etc. I rechecked the App and this is it:


IMG_2729.png




I will be driving later today, but with these small loads I’m wondering is it normal for the shunt to show the usage, a drop in battery percentage, and then spring back to 100% after a period of rest?

(Just for reference I’m using a 280AH LiFePo4 battery, and I am just starting to get an idea of how much power I have🙂)

No deer yet, seen some just waiting. My Son just arrived at camp to hunt with me a few days😀

IMG_2723.jpeg
 
The shunt and processor simply integrate the current that passes through. A change in battery voltage would not directly affect the charge level display. It should only go from a lower value back to 100% if charging back to that level occurred or if the conditions for automatic synchronization of the charge level display were satisfied.
 
OK, I have been checking my Victron charger app also and when the truck is off it shows the charger is disabled due to detecting engine shutdown 👍
 
No…..that’s what caught my eye also. I only have the dc to dc charger. The charger showed disabled due to engine shutdown. I even checked my voltage on my starter batteries and they were normal - around 12.6 at rest.

At home, with a trickle charger plugged in the truck’s starter batteries are a little higher but the Victron app still shows engine shutdown.

I don’t know—- I’ll keep an eye on it
 
Now that I’ve used my truck out camping and deer hunting without any shore power or running water (state park utilities) I wanted to thank everyone again🙂

I’m adding a few screen shots:

This was with CPAP and 12V blanket on Low:

View attachment 182117


I changed 12V blanket over to High for a little more warmth early in the night. This was App when I got up….not a huge difference in watts:


View attachment 182118



I turned all loads off, got dressed, breakfast, etc. I rechecked the App and this is it:


View attachment 182119



I will be driving later today, but with these small loads I’m wondering is it normal for the shunt to show the usage, a drop in battery percentage, and then spring back to 100% after a period of rest?

(Just for reference I’m using a 280AH LiFePo4 battery, and I am just starting to get an idea of how much power I have🙂)

No deer yet, seen some just waiting. My Son just arrived at camp to hunt with me a few days😀

View attachment 182120
Looks like a nice self bow. Maybe long bow, but cant tell if the limbs are laminated. Did you make it? What is the draw weight?
 
No…..that’s what caught my eye also. I only have the dc to dc charger. The charger showed disabled due to engine shutdown. I even checked my voltage on my starter batteries and they were normal - around 12.6 at rest.

At home, with a trickle charger plugged in the truck’s starter batteries are a little higher but the Victron app still shows engine shutdown.

I don’t know—- I’ll keep an eye on it
I’m going to guess something triggered your automatic synchronization logic or automatic display reset in the BMV-712. Have you verified you have the settings for automatic synchronization set appropriately for your system? Also, there is a setting that resets the display to 100% after a power shutoff. If you have that set to “on,” maybe you did something to trigger that?
 
Looks like a nice self bow. Maybe long bow, but cant tell if the limbs are laminated. Did you make it? What is the draw weight?
The bow in the above picture is my laminated Osage longbow 59#@28” I have taken deer, turkey, coyote, rabbits and squirrel with it….. I’ve been shooting it 20 years. And (I almost forgot) Grouse while Elk hunting in Colorado.

I have also built 6 Osage self bows over that 20 year span. After making My first selfbow I also made primitive arrows from hazelnut branches, self nocks, and dyed purple with poke berry juice, fletched with turkey feathers and homemade trade points…….and took a nice deer with it.


IMG_2735.jpeg


Then I made 5 more self bows, one being an extremely short Osage bow with a snake skin backing, Its drawn about as far as a short bow can be while keeping in mind string to limb nock angle, but great for ground hunting. Here’s a picture of it and a 20 yard shot. I was much younger then🤣

IMG_2733.jpeg


IMG_2734.jpeg


All of my bows are in and around the 60# range @ 28”
 
Last edited:
I’m going to guess something triggered your automatic synchronization logic or automatic display reset in the BMV-712. Have you verified you have the settings for automatic synchronization set appropriately for your system? Also, there is a setting that resets the display to 100% after a power shutoff. If you have that set to “on,” maybe you did something to trigger that?

I’ll check it out when I get home (all my settings). I’m just a dumb welder😉 but all of you have been a huge help🙂
 
The bow in the above picture is my laminated Osage longbow 59#@28” I have taken deer, turkey, coyote, rabbits and squirrel with it….. I’ve been shooting it 20 years. And (I almost forgot) Grouse while Elk hunting in Colorado.

I have also built 6 Osage self bows over that 20 year span. After making My first selfbow I also made primitive arrows from hazelnut branches, self nocks, and dyed purple with poke berry juice, fletched with turkey feathers and homemade trade points…….and took a nice deer with it.


View attachment 182203

Then I made 5 more self bows, one being an extremely short Osage bow with a snake skin backing, Its drawn about as far as a short bow can be while keeping in mind string to limb nock angle, but great for ground hunting. Here’s a picture of it and a 20 yard shot. I was much younger then🤣

View attachment 182204

View attachment 182205

All of my bows are in and around the 60# range @ 28”
Speaking my language! God bless trad archery.
 
That is a remarkable set up. So much the better you know every inch of your rig. Well done!
I'm not a hunter but a local woman we know just got her first deer on a bow she made (first deer ever). An older neighbor saw she had an interest and guided her through all the stages... right to the field dressing and prep of her first dinner!
 
That is a remarkable set up. So much the better you know every inch of your rig. Well done!
I'm not a hunter but a local woman we know just got her first deer on a bow she made (first deer ever). An older neighbor saw she had an interest and guided her through all the stages... right to the field dressing and prep of her first dinner!
Thank you,

^^^ And that (your comment) is key! When I was young I was self taught. I did okay but hit many roadblocks. When I was 42 I had an older coworker mentor me. He was a recurve guy, but made sure many types of trad bows (including a longbow) were made accessible for me to shoot, and the longbow took. Two very different forms of shooting- not that one is better- just different. Wayne introduced me to his friends, and guys who crafted bows, arrows, strings.

Howard Hill, undisputably the best archer who ever lived said many times he wasn’t a good enough archer to shoot a recurve, (I don’t know I believe that) but the man was magnificent with a stickbow. Anyone who has ever seen Byron Ferguson knows that he gives credit to Howard as being his inspiration.

My mentor Wayne is still alive, we hunt together sometimes when I can get down to his farm and fish. In all of my endeavors, hobbies, and my work profession, it has served me well to keep my mouth closed and listen. Knowledge is a great thing. It’s great to have friends. I’m still learning something new everyday🙂
 
You have a wonderful attitude. I taught school for 30 years and you sound like one of those guys who have the energy and desire so it's all about steering to the right place no need to spark an interest if it's already there! Your last couple sentences say it all. Keep on learning and I agree it is a special thing to be fortunate enough to encounter a person willing to share their knowledge. Happy Trails!
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom