Getting Schooled On Battery Combiners

My Full-time Vandwelling friend had a battery combiner added to her van about a year ago.

What is a Combiner?

A combiner is a DC electric device that allows bidirectional charging of two batteries.  In my friend’s case this means her house battery is tied to her engine battery and if she is parked and charging her house battery with solar, it will eventually share charging with the engine battery.  At night or cloudy days when running the engine the engine battery will share charging with the house battery.

Above is the combiner my friend has.  Picture from yandina website

Above is a typical wiring diagram of the combiner.

Picture from yandina website

Both pictures can be found here:

https://www.yandina.com/c100InfoR3.htm

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Now for the problem.  My friend told me the combiner wasn’t charging her house battery.  

My first step was to evaluate the circuit in her vehicle and measure voltages and current.

My second step was to write the manufacturer to lay out the problem.

Here is a copy of my email:

Hello

My friend asked me to check her charging circuit in her van.  She has a combiner 100 that is tied to the car’s battery and the other side of the combiner to her auxiliary battery charged from solar.

My friend’s system is not charging her auxiliary battery or her engine battery.

Both batteries are charging independently from their respective charging sources.

First checking the charge of the vehicle battery sitting at 12.05v when the auxiliary battery is fully charged from solar and only .3 amps was flowing to the vehicle battery.

Second checking the auxiliary battery with no solar charging and engine battery was being charged to 13.7 volts from the alternator and only .3 amps were flowing to the auxiliary battery.

The literature/ manual for the combiner 100 does not seem to reference wire size and charge currents.

I metered our all wire runs and fuses to validate connections

Please advise as to possible problems or defective combiner

Thank you

Brent

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Within minutes I received a response on in how to evaluate the Combiner 100 circuit, as follows;

Brenton,

The Combiner is just an automatic on/off switch which has nearly zero resistance so you have a voltage drop problem in the positive and negative current loop through the two batteries and the Combiner.

The best method of diagnosing is to make a temporary NEGATIVE test lead for your multimeter that will reach all the destinations then start from the battery on charge measuring + to - to confirm 13.7 for exaple.

Next move the negative from the battery terminal to the chassis and check the positive battery terminal again.

Next put the positive on the red Combiner lead IN, then the OUT to check that there is no drop across the Combiner.

Progress along the loop until you find the section that has a bad connection or insufficient wire gauge.

Don't forget to include measurement to the destination NEGATIVE terminal to see what the voltage drop is over the negative circuit for charging current returning to the starting battery.
If you find a significant change at one point you have found a bad connection or faulty cable.

If the voltages only vary a little over the whole test then the wire gauge is too small and you can decide which section would most benefit from adding a helper.

Regards,

Ann-Marie Foster,
tech@yandina.com

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After reviewing the technical response, I knew the first thing I needed to do is run a dedicated negative wire from the battery ground to the chassis ground that the Combiner 100 was connected to.

By chance I ran into my friend at the Skoolie Palooza and offered to install the dedicated ground wire provided she leaped with the install as my arm I dislocated was still sore.  She gladly agreed.  

I happened to be carrying a spool of #10 black wire and crimps.  I passed the wire through the firewall next to the red wire to the combiner.  While my friend ran the wire through her van I put the terminal lug on the wire and ground it on the chassis battery ground, and tie wrapped the wire.

When I was done at the engine end I made my way to the back of the van where the combiner 100 was grounded to the chassis.  The ground wire my friend routed arrive about the same time and I installed another terminal lug on the black #10 wire and hooked it to the ground lug the original installer created.

In doing this, I eliminated the vehicle chassis ground.  Thus I eliminated any ground problem/s that may exist between the combiner  and the engine battery.  

The key for me was the troubleshooting description of checking connections.  By running a single wire all the way I eliminated any chassis connection problems.

My friend started her van with the solar panel covered and immediately the voltage of the house battery went up and she was now charging her house battery when she drives or runs the engine in the future.

No more depleted house battery.

Problem solved.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Big Tent 2020 And New Gadgets

I wasn’t planning to go to the big tent this year until a friend asked if I was going.  I was free this morning and agreed to go at the opening to avoid the crowd.  I have usually gone on the weekend morning and it’s always been crowded.

I bought a water pump tube for transferring water between containers last year, or was it a year before.  It was very useful and very functional, and I still have it.

So, when I got to the booth with a young man touting the following wire cutter/stripper my friend knew it was right up my gadget mind.

The sales pitch was a tried and true one.  Selling one for $20 but, today you get the large tool for large wire, and the small tool for the little wires for $20.00.

What really sold me was all the wiring I do and the time it takes to strip wires correctly, and the demonstrated ease of the use of the tool.

The $20 flowed from my pocket into my hand and into his and the transaction was done.

It wasn’t long before I was in need of stripping #10 wire for a friend and the one stripper rated for #10 wire at the largest size, and it did not strip it.

I’m not totally surprised as #10 wire is large and heavy.

While working on my friend’s van, I moved my hand into my tool bag and pulled out a conventional wire stripper, shaped like pliers and trimmed the #10 wire.

I’m not casting these hopefully handy tools out of my tool bag yet, as I have more wire sizes to try them on before I cast them aside. 

There may even be a follow up review in my blog if I don’t get too frustrated with them.

It was a good day at the show as it included a stop at the scratch and dent food tent for item to cook on the road, and then K&B tools for discounted Butane for my single burner stove.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Lake Poway Loop Trail Hike

Hi All

Sorry for the empty post.  The software I use creates all new posts in published and I have to move the post to drafts to work on it.  I got distracted last night and I forgot to finish or move to draft.

I’ve been to Lake Poway before as this is the trailhead for the hike to Potato Chip Rock.

I was not shooting for Potato Chip Rock as my shoulder is still too sore to do that one, but the Lake Poway was the perfect trail for my convalescing.

I had just left the parking lot and was asked if this was “the” trailhead.  I assumed Potato Chip Rock Trail, and asked to confirm.  I assumed correctly😀.

The young couple we off on a good pace with all the energy they could muster.  They so much wanted their picture takes on the potato chip.

I told them that they needed to climb rocks and then jump over to the potato chip.  They didn’t seem to care about the extra effort.  I was all alone when I hiked it a number of years ago and the jump over was impressive to me to the extent that I didn’t jump for risk of falling the 8’ between the rocks.  Oh there is more room on the potato chip to jump over than the rock you jump from.

A nice loop hike on a good gravel path at 2.5 miles was just my speed.  On weekends they charge non residents but it was a weekday and I didn’t have to pay.



Above is the view from a high spot on the loop trail.  At the far end of the lake is the dam.

Yes there are some nice spots to stop and sit along the way, although I was a straight through hiker.

Off in the distance is another dam for Lake Ramona.

Down in the valley ahead there is another trail to hike up to this lake 2 miles away.



I’m almost fully around the lake counterclockwise.  The dam for Lake Poway in the foreground and the dam for Lake Ramona off in the distance.

A check of the map will show a number of options for trails in the area.  It’s also a great place for a picnic too.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

RTR 2020 - DBSA Presentation

This only a cursory review of the 2020 RTR as I only went to the seminars at the La Paz Fairgrounds in Parker, AZ for one day.  My focus is mostly on my one day of attendance.

Above photo is a Facebook screen capture.

There are many ways to learn about the RTR and corresponding WRTR (Woman’s RTR). This Facebook page, as well as, CheapRVLiving and HOWA webpages/RVillage posts.

My goal in attending the RTR in the past was to socialize with people I’ve made friends with in the past 6 years.  I didn’t go to the RTR for the seminars, unless I was helping my friend David with the small vehicle seminar.  I went for the community of people.

Bob Wells, the founder, is a good man in helping others.  I too go each year to help others too, but not having a centralized camp this year makes it more difficult.  Friends were spaced as far as 30 miles apart. I spent time going here and there to see as many as I could.  This was not the fun part of the event.  It took a lot of time to travel and get to where I would camp the next night.

I wish it would be different but I understand Bob Wells decision and how difficult it was for him and my friend Suanne, of HOWA,  to find a solution that would not be on blm land.  It did work this year, but not best for me.

I give Bob and Suanne, and their team they have assembled a lot of credit  for bringing the event forward this year.

I went Monday to the Fairgrounds and here is the Burningvan.  I was actually sad to think that there was no ending RTR campfire and the singing of the song and burning the van.  Alas, nothing lasts forever.

I went to the RTR Fairgrounds to support my good friend, and hiking buddy Joanne.  Joanne has taken on a big role of her own this year supporting vandwellers that suffer from depression and other similar disorders.  

Here is the webpage she works under - she has dubbed ther group the Nomad Chapter https://dbsahartford.org/

The turnout at the fairgrounds while I was there was modestly a hundred or so people.  Most seem to come for Joanne and Bob’s joint presentation/ discussion. 

Joanne to the left has been the precipice to start offering services to others in need of support to nomads.  Now with others to help she has expanded the services over the last year.

Today’s joint presentation with Bob Wells, to the right, is a culmination of hard work and dedication to recognize that Depression, Anxiety Bipolar Disorder, and other debilitating aspects that many deal with, are often part of Vandwelling and the Nomadic life that is chosen by many in Bob’s efforts.  

Above is a sampling of those in attendance of the presentation.  After they spoke, many went to the DBSA tent that had been set up to help educate others. It was so crowded that I couldn’t even approach Joanne to say goodbye and tell her she did a fantastic job.

Joanne’s presentation goes hand in hand with the fact that she and her group set up a camp this year just for people that feel they can relate. The daily gatherings were a safe and supportive place to go for those that suffer or may be suffering from related conditions.

I and a friend spent a few days on the periphery of this camp to be supportive of Joanne.  I found the group to be like most other groups with conversations around solar and vehicle charging, cooking and so on.  It was during their sessions that were for member only they had a safe environment to share.

I missed the old RTR this year and I guess it has morphed into many themed camps that disbursed past RTR goers in many directions.

Until next year.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Wahl Hair Trimmer - Final Review

I have been cutting my own hair since I went on the road 7 years ago.  I had 2 of these Wahl cutter/trimmer that have a rechargeable lithium battery.

I leave one at home and one in my camper, well the one in my camper started pulling my mustache as I was cutting it and found that 2 tests were broken.  Since it was my oldest at 7 years I would say it’s done it’s job cutting my hair every 2 weeks for 4 months each year.  

I use this particular model as it has a narrow and wide cutters.  I use the narrow for my mustache, sideburns, and eyebrows. I use the wide cutter

The old is on the right and new on the left.  Although some minor physical differences they are the same model with the cutters and shape heads I like.

The heads and parts are interchangeable too!

Here is the damaged cutting head.  I must have dropped my trimmer and damaged this head and now why it pinches my mustache.  The large cutter still works fine along with other parts so I’ll keep it for parts going forward.

You may be thinking that he said he has been cutting his hair for years with it, but it’s a trimmer.  That’s right.  This has the power to cut my hair.  It’s strong and powerful but yet small for my minimalist living.

Since I noticed it was damaged after I left Massachusets, I ordered it up from Amazon and it was waiting for me at my son’s on California.

I get no compensation from the manufacturer or Amazon for writing this review.  It’s a product that just does its job and I wouldn’t have bought another if it wasn’t exactly what I need.

If you want the cutter/trimmer that has the wide and narrow head you have to look closely as not all Wahl sets sold come with both.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

QuartzFest 2020

Above photo is a Facebook screen capture.

In the pursuit of my goal to check out various groups that were in the Quartzsite, AZ area during the RTR, QuartzFest is one of the larger groups dedicated to ham radio operators.

Above photo is a Facebook screen capture.

I also visited for the first time last year.  Last year I registered but this year I didn’t register as I planned to spend only one night.  Registration gives one a chance to win a couple nice prizes on the last day - Saturday.

I wasn’t going to be around for the last day so I just visited to see what was going on.  This is a good introductory Ham event with skill seminars, license testing and competitions. 

There are just too many groups here for January that there isn’t time to visit any very long.





I went with a couple RTR friends, one a Ham and the other interested.  They captured me with the Ham Man.

As one could expect there are a lot of antennas in the area.  I listened to the daily announcements on my radio when I was with other groups, before getting here.  Each morning on 146.55 they would announce the daily happenings.



Above is a van dressed with over 4000 watts of solar.  He is still working on finishing it.  Today he gave a talk on solar.



In this trailer they ran a 24 hour contest to see how many stations they could make contact with on the lower Ham voice frequencies.



Above was sitting on the roof of a Honda Element that a solo woman was living in from the Pacific Northwest.  She was solar cooking her food.  Although not a great solar day when we were there she was able to help with her cooking I’m using this.



In case you were interested in the make of the solar cooker, here it is.



Darkness was falling over QuartzFest above and I was going in for the evening.  There is a campfire, talks and a movie but the desert cools and I enjoy the warmth of my camper.

I enjoy ham radio in the VHF and U HF bands communicating line of site and sometimes repeaters.  It is relatively easy to get your Ham license to do these bands.  To understand ham radio it is best to join a local club.  Ham Radio is not just one thing.  With various methods to use radios there may be something you like.  I like APRS.  It’s a method to share ones location and send messages.  I will have more on this in the future.

Off to another event.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

West Side Of Lake Havasu - (CA)

It was a goal this year to explore beyond the main roads I travel between Lake Havasu City, AZ and Quartzsite, AZ.

Today’s trip was to investigate the west side of the Colorado River from Lake Havasu City to Parker.

From the bridge in Parker over the Colorado River into CA it was a drive north to Black Meadow Landing.

On the way north signs insisted there may be wild donkeys but none were observed, although droppings were present.

The land is mostly BLM with developed sites for public enjoyment along the Colorado River there are many RV parks that appear to be in land leased from the BLM.  The picture above is such snnexample on the AZ side.  

About 2/3 north in the road is the Parker Dam that can be used to travel over the Colorado River to AZ

The dam is in the distance.  It is not available to RV’s and other vehicles in a list.

Once you leave the Parker Dam behind you turn inland and road eventually turns to dirt.  The drive is not that interesting to the landing.  At the landing it’s a dead end as it is resort.

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Next is the Havasu Lansing that is on the west side of Lake Havasu City.  

This drive is much less interesting and with 61 miles it was122 miles Round trip and over 2 hours.

There is all desert from Parker to Vidal Junction, where you turn north through more desert, and lastly turn on the road to Havasu Landing, and yes more desert.

On the three legs of this drive there is plenty of Boondocking on BLM land, but there isn’t much of interest than off road vehicle travel.  There were more watch for wild donkey signs that didn’t manifest into any sighting.

Above is a BLM camping spot with Lake Havasu way off in the distance.

Havasu Lansing is in Indian lands and there is a Casino, gas station with unleaded gas over $4.00, and a market.  Very expensive to say the least.

Well, now I can say I checked out the west side of this part of the Colorado River.  

Although I like to check out new places - it consumed a lot of time and gas and not even a wild donkey picture.to share.

I’ll be looking for other beauty!

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

ParTR Gathering 2020

Above is a screen capture from the ParTR Facebook Page.

The ParTR is held close to where it has been the last few years.  Like all things it’s evolved, but the location has been close to my RTR home the last few years.  As the RTR center camp grew and I was in my Prius, people would park right next to my Prius thinking I was parking for the day and not camping.  Therefore, I decided to move further away for some privacy.  My move put me near the ParTR.

I also stopped up to see my friends Camilla and John in their new to them Class A that were parked outside the ParTR and walked the short distance to the ParTR.

A man named Tyll has procured tents, chairs, sound system, and a pirate radio station as part of the title Nomad Center Camp.  

The following link describes what the ParTR has become

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-x3ZGvMV3WQ&feature=youtu.be

Above is a place for dancing.

In the distance is a bus owned by Jamie of Enigmatic Nomadics fame playing music to the crowd.

Once a very loud event that went way into the early hours, it is now modest on volume so I barely hear it at my camper.  Also it does not roll on well into the we hours.

It’s a nice event to stop by and check out in the evening.

I’ll be checking into other groups as part of this years travels, but there are more groups than there is time.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Final Review of 5L Handy Collapsible Foldable Water Storage

I bought the 5L water container in the Amazon picture, above, June, 2017.

Nothing lasts forever and so goes my container today.

I kept water in the container on the front passenger floor, luckily on my WeatherTech floor liner in my Tacoma.

The attractiveness of this portable water container was that it collapses as you use the water.

The bad news is that the fins on the container are thinner plastic and flexing over time the folds wear out.

Having bought this in June of 2017 I used it in my 2018 and 2019 travels 4 months each.  In addition a couple weeks this year.

I like the bag but it is no longer available on Amazon and I can only believe that the problem I had must have been others experience.

I brought my Coleman 5 gallon collapsible, so I moved the remaining water over to this bag.

I’m glad water didn’t leak on the floor of the camper as I keep my bladder bag there when I take others in the passenger seat of the Tacoma.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Plans To Enjoy Lunch With Friends Tirns Into Medical Emergency

I had gone to the Desert Bar last year and written about it.  My friend Roxy was in camp and I asked her to join Susan and I there as she has never been.  Open only on weekends this time of year on a dirt road out into the hills east of Parker, AZ it is a nice family venue with simple burger menus and beers.

Last year I arrived at 12:30 when the Desert Bar opens at 12:00 and the parking and lines were long.  We decided to go early to avoid the rush.

Arriving before it opened we had had good choice of seats.  I picked seats with a view and some sun as the air temperature was still cool.

After claiming a table We set out to look around.  I headed to check the bar for drink and food line.

I was looking away at a distance and failed to both remember and see the step up necessary to gain the higher level, and immediately fell.  With arms out to block my fall I felt pain in my right arm.  Quickly I noticed I could not bend my arm and noticed it was dislocated.

I suffered immediate pain and advised my friends we needed to leave and I needed to go to the hospital.

We were in my truck/camper and I was in no condition to drive because of the pain.  The road to the bar is a rough dirt road that bounced me and my arm around the 40 or so minutes to the paved highway.  It was torturous.  Once on the highway we drove to the hospital in Lake Havasu City about another 40 minutes.

I was taken relatively quickly and once in the ER room I had x-rays and got an IV and some pain medication.  The doctor was great and said he would need to put me out for a few minutes as it would be very painful setting my arm back into my shoulder.

This is what my arm looked like with it being dislocated. 

It only took a few minutes and I had no idea it was done with I woke in 10 minutes.  It felt immediately better.

None of us had eaten all day and on the way back we stopped at the Casino in Parker, AZ for their Prime Rib Buffet where I treated my friends.

A few things I note from this experience.

- I could have been injured much worse.

- I could have been alone and no friends with me and I would have needed an ambulance, increasing my agony as the ambulance would have taken about 50 minutes to get there.

- I’m happy for the quick ER visit and competency of the staff.

- I’m glad to have had some quality time at dinner with my friends after such a strange day

I’m mad at myself for the fall.  I became too focused and didn’t stay aware of my surroundings.

Roxy was going to chronicle her visit to the Desert Bar on her YouTube channel and that will have to wait until another time. Some may remember me previously writing about Roxy and her blogs and YouTube videos.  They have given me inspiration many times to check out hikes she has taken.  She is listed as A Nomad For Nature 

 

Here is one of her recent YouTube post: https://youtu.be/qWapeM1SwjQ

Facebook:  A Nomad For Nature

Her Blog: https://nomadfornature.wordpress.com/

Me- as I’m writing this my shoulder is sore and will be for some time to come.

I’m just glad I want on one of my many solo backcountry hikes out here and have that happen.  One never know what life will throw at you.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Eating well as a Vandweller Is Not Hard

Those that follow my blog have seed me write about cooking on the road.  I rotate my food selection for variety.  My biggest problem is buying fresh food for one person.  Food packaging involves more food than I can eat in one, two and possibly 3 meals.  If I rotate my food selection I have to eat the same type of food for days.

My solution is to invite other vandwellers to eat dinner with me.

The smallest package at Walmart for the above steak tips was enough for 3 at dinner.

I decided to take a zucchini squash and grill them with spices in my frying pan.  I cooked these before the steak tips.  I put them in a dish I can put back on my one burner stove to keep warm.

 

I do not make potato or macaroni salad.

The above served me and 2 friends.  I cooked this meal in my FWC camper and the three of us sat in the camper to eat.  We then talk while I wash and one friend drys the dishes.

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Another night I made personal pizzas for myself and 3 friends.

Each pizza is an 8” soft tortilla with pizza sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, green pepper, and cheese.

My frying pan is 8” which is perfect for this.  I set the burner low and cover the frying pan and use it as an oven.  Slow cooking is the key not to burn the tortilla.

Above is the results.  When the tortilla is stiff I use a flipper to just lift it out and put in plate.  

I then start making the next.  I made a total of 8, 2 each!

This dish went over very well.  The 4 of us sat in the camper to eat.  With paper plates cleanup was easy.

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My next meal suggestion is the most elaborate so far this year.  It was dinner for me and 3 friends.

I was so busy cooking that taking pictures was not on my priority list.  80 minutes from start to eating.

Tonight was fajitas!

- 8” soft tortillas 

- fresh chicken breast cubed seasoned and grilled in frying pan

- sauté onion and green bell peppers and seasoning 

- diced fresh tomatoes 

- shredded lettuce 

- mild chunky salsa

- guacamole 

- sour cream

The hardest part of this was preparing the diced chicken breast.  I bought boneless breasts but they needed to be trimmed of fat and then diced.

I then had a guest come early and cook the seasoned chicken in the frying pan while I prepped all the bowls of garnishings.

After the chicken was done I put the seasoned on yon and pepper in my large pot to fully cook.

In the picture above, I put the cleaned frying pan and put tortillas in it.  I then figured out I could warm the tortillas from steam from cooking the onions/peppers, near the end of the cooking cycle.

Tonight we at at 4 pm to allow eating outside.  there were too many dishes to make eating inside possible.  For a place to put all the items, I have a small roll up table and Set up my leaning board (a piece of plywood I have to prop under my back to lay on my couch propped up) on my larger camp chair seat for more table space.  

We 4 sat around the tables and built our fajitas. 

I forgot one thing on my list today for the meal and that was shredded cheese.  With all the garnishing the cheese was not missed.

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A simple one pot meal I did recently that serves 3 was Kraft Mac & Cheese with diced ham pieces.  Walmart does sell diced ham in a package so I used this but cubing of a ham steak is not that hard.

I just made the Mac & Cheese and added the diced ham in the same pot all stirred in. This was a quick easy meal that took little time and only one pot to clean.

Eating well on the road doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming.  As well variety is possible.  Just invite some friends over to test some skills

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com