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| BATTERIES AND LAND LINES | ||||||
BATTERIES: Deep cycle batteries are used for our coach; automotive batteries are used with our engines. The deep cycle battery is designed to give us better life, since we draw down the power more than we do with an engine battery. Use 6-volt batteries for your coach, replace in pairs, and maintain the distilled water level 3/8” above the plates. Also, keep the connections corrosion free. Careful, if you remove a connection, turn off any loads and do not allow the connections to torch another object. Sparks, fire and explosions can happen while working on your battery. Wear gloves and goggles to be safe. Sixty percent of RV fires are from 12-volt DC power circuits. Double check your work and see that the wires do not rub against an edge. Protect the wires with split-loom or another outer wire protector. Twelve-volt systems are difficult to fuse, so it turns off the power during a short or open-circuit situation. 120-volt AC systems use Ground Fault Interrupters to monitor those circuits. Thus the GFI interrupts the power whenever a leakage threshold is reached, hopefully preventing a shock or fire. Keep your batteries charged, but not overcharged, to get the best battery life. Some convertor/charges have a higher voltage cycle to help rejuvenate your batteries. If your batteries have a vent, not sealed type, dangerous gases are emitted. These must not be stored in a confined space. These gases are flammable and can explode. LAND LINES: Your 15 amp, 30 amp and 50 amp land line provides 120 volt AC at your Coach power panel. The 50 amp cord pickup 240 volts at the campground pedestal and split the circuits to 120 volts at the power panel. Keep your electrical connections (plug-ins) dry and clean. Should any prongs or receptacles become HOT, turn off the power and examine the electrical parts. You can clean tarnished prongs, but replace a burned part. Use a conductive paste on the prongs to maintain a better connection. Energy is lost whenever HEAT is present. You must remedy these situations. Store replacement circuit breakers and fuses, some are hard to find in rural areas. Use an experienced electrician if you are not comfortable changing out any electrical part. 120 volts and ½ and amp can stop your heart. We use an autotransformer as a voltage booster and surge protector – monitor your voltages and do not use shore power if the voltage is below 107 volts or above 130 volts. Many new energy saving lamps are available today, LED, Florescent, quartz are a few. Incandescent lamps do not last long, add heat to the rig, and use more power than other lamps. Look on the web for providers of the newest lamps available. Please try this resource: http://www.lunasealighting.com Watch Our Video On RV Electrical: Please Click here to email me with clarifications and additional ideas. |
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Copyright Protected
06-05-2008, by Fred Brandeberry, President
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