Posts
Ray
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
The latest view out the back of the rig at sundown in Why, Arizona. Decided to stay in an inexpensive RV park for a spell to do some maintenance on the RV. Good timing as a little heat wave hit, and temps shot up to over 30C today. Mid 80s F
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
- Ray's Product ReviewsSRNE Off-Grid 12V Power System Product Demos
In this video, I finally installed the SRNE battery protector I showed you last spring. It's a 60-amp model, which will work perfectly in my truck's 50-amp DC-DC wiring. The protector will protect my truck's batteries from over-discharging and act as a solid-state on/off switch. youtu.be/wTRhUYtLaaU
Related Links:
View Previous Demo Video of the SRNE Battery Protector - youtu.be/ns8l4_kmDOo
SRNE Website - srnesolar.com/productdeta
SRNE Video Playlist - youtube.com/playlist?list - Repairs and MaintenanceRV Water Heater Connection Leak Repair & Routine Maintenance
In this video,, I repair leaky Flair-It pipe connections on the back of my RV water heater and perform some routine maintenance. I change the anode rod and heater electrical element, flush the tanks, and clean the burner tube.
youtu.be/pBcmm8vSxKkProduct Links:
Flair-It Connector Seals - amzn.to/4jxaNyG
Anode Rods - amzn.to/4aAgesw
1440W Heater Element - amzn.to/4aAgesw
Flushing Wand - amzn.to/4aAgesw
1 1/16th Socket - amzn.to/3WAK4HH
1 1/2 Water Heater Wrench - amzn.to/3EfTSAu - Mods and UpgradesRV Water pump wiring
Awesome, glad to hear you got it working. :)
- Mods and UpgradesRV Water pump wiring
RV wiring isn't very standardized. But on many such as my old Cougar fifth wheel the plain white wires are negative grounded to the frame. Most of my DC positive 12V wires are also white but have a colored stripe. You can figure out the polarity of unknown wires using a multimeter. See this video If you have the wires connected backwards it may have blown a fuse. But with the multimeter you can check to see if there is still voltage present. youtu.be/Jrw4QYxSkYM
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
I love hiking in the Arizona Sonoran desert when the big puffy clouds appear. Here are a few shots from today's hike. We had just a few sprinkles of rain today, but that was enough to make the puffies appear. It has been a while.
- Mods and UpgradesInstalled a USB Wall Outlet into our RV
In this RV mod/upgrade, I installed a USB outlet plate in this video into my RV. The Wattcycle USB power panel features a USB-C and USB-A outlet with blue backlighting, a hinged cover, and a power switch. The installation was pretty straightforward, only requiring a hookup to 12VDC. An additional fuse may be required depending on your particular RV wiring. youtu.be/XEPk_ldOv7Y
Related Links:
RV TV Antenna Installation - youtu.be/-oYKPuV0KNs
WattCycle Website - wattcycle.com/collections
Amazon Product Link - amzn.to/4ayuVwg
Wattcycle 280Ah Lithium Battery Review Video - youtu.be/w-1ZvUWkRWw - Boondocking - Tips & LocationsAjo camping
- Boondocking - Tips & LocationsAjo camping
- Ray's Product ReviewsLittle Bluetti AC2A + 200W Compact Solar Panel - Demo and Features
Here is a look at the smallest Bluetti power station in their product lineup. The AC2A weighs only 7.9 lbs and has dimensions of 9.8inx6.1inx6.8in. Even though it is small, it still has a battery capacity of 204 watt-hours and can output up to 300 watts of continuous AC power and handle a surge of up to 600 watts. Charge wattage is up to 270 watts. It will be perfect for powering Anne's photography equipment for extended periods when she does timelapse work. youtu.be/mEkiN748-MM
Bluetti was kind enough to send me a review sample of the AC2A and a companion 200-watt folding solar panel. I go through the main features of both and demo charging and discharging functions. In my test, during a clear winter day in Arizona, the 200-watt panel could fully recharge the little power station in about an hour and a half.
Product Links:
Bluetti USA - shrsl.com/4tfj8
Bluetti Canada - shrsl.com/4tfj9 - Boondocking - Tips & LocationsWater & Waste Pump Demos - *Inexpensive*
In this video, I demo a pair of inexpensive liquid transfer pumps from Magam. They are much less expensive than my Flojet and American Adventure Gear pumps. We'll see if they match the quality and performance of the more expensive brands I've been using. I'll use them for our RV boondocking during the next 3-4 months and return with a review.
youtu.be/aKwdm-5ULaoRelated Links:
Magam Macerator Pump - amzn.to/40peKg2
Amazon Canada - amzn.to/4g1V47Q
Magam Water Pump - amzn.to/4apkFGo
Amazon Canada - amzn.to/40CXPIb
LYRV&B Plumbing Video Playlist - youtube.com/playlist?list - Ray's Product ReviewsReolink Argus 4 Pro Review – 180 Degree Security Camera
- Ray's Product ReviewsReolink Argus 4 Pro Review – 180 Degree Security Camera
Lately, I've been using the @ReolinkCameras Argus 4 Pro, which I reviewed a while back, as a game cam. Works pretty well. I was getting some nighttime videos of a little Long-Tailed Pocket Mouse when, the other evening, a much larger visitor showed up! youtu.be/srB5cWaqo7A
Review Links - loveyourrv.com/reolink-ar - Ray's Product ReviewsBig Power in Small Inexpensive Package – WattCycle Mini 280Ah LiFePO4
Ihttps:// youtu.be/w-1ZvUWkRWw
’ve done quite a few reviews on lithium batteries, mostly focusing on the higher-end, pricier models like Lion Energy, SFK, and Xantrex. But recently, I’ve been encouraged to look at more budget-friendly options. I took a look at a battery from WattCycle, their 12V 300 Ah Mini, which is significantly cheaper than the upscale models. It caught my attention because it seemed like a good fit for many RVers. However, after receiving it, I found out through another YouTuber’s video, Will Prowse, that there was some controversy regarding the actual capacity of the battery cells. They were labeled as 300 Ah but only added up to 280 Ah. WattCycle has since acknowledged this labeling issue and offered refunds, a warranty extension, and plans to introduce a correctly rated model. loveyourrv.com/big-power
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Here are some snapshots from our afternoon hike in the Sonoran desert near Ajo, Arizona. We found a few huge old Saguaro—quite the large plant! It's been so sunny the last few days, but a little cooler than December. Highs have been in the high 50s and low 60s, 14-18C, and last night, it dipped down to the low 20s! 5C. Super clear blue skies, though, and amazing starry skies.
+5 - Ray's Product ReviewsUSA-Made Lithium Battery Review - SFK 300Ah
Self-Heating Low Temperature Charging Test Added to the Review - loveyourrv.com/usa-made-l
With overnight lows in the low 20s Fahrenheit, I tested the low-temperature charging feature in an SFK (SunFunKits) battery I have been reviewing. The model HP-SFK300 battery includes a self-heating feature using thin silicone heating pads sandwiched between the lithium cells. Self-heating can be turned on manually via a button on top or automatically when a charge voltage is applied.The SFK app includes a setting to adjust the self-heating temperature cut-off point. In my test, the battery self-heating function performed flawlessly. It took about 13 minutes to reach a temperature above freezing, allowing charging to begin. youtu.be/qgn3OJmdFdg
- Ray's Product ReviewsPart 2 – Long-Term Update & Teardown Video
youtu.be/644uCU5sTOU
I’ve used the Toronado 30000 battery charger from TOPDON for almost two years, mainly for lithium but also for 6-volt lead acid batteries on my boat. The repair function does a great job with a long-term equalization process that rejuvenates older batteries. Beyond charging, it’s a useful power supply, outputting 30 amps at 12 volts, perfect for high-current DC devices. It handles different battery types and voltages with ease, stepping up amperage in stages to reach its full 31.5 amps for lithium.The charger’s build quality is overall pretty decent. The cable’s hard plastic stress relief might be an issue long-term. Internally, it’s well-designed with necessary certifications and easy to repair if needed. If you’re just charging lithium-type batteries, it might be overkill, but for mixed battery use and needing a stable 12/24VDC power supply, it’s a solid choice.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Perfect blue sky today. My sweetie and I had a nice hike in the AZ desert. What a contrast to our summer boating scenes back in BC.
- Repairs and MaintenanceRV Slide Out Wiper Seal Replacement - Keystone Fifth Wheel Trailer
youtu.be/t7f1GupFTRo
In this video, I replace a worn-out slide-out wiper seal on my Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailer. The installation was very straightforward and finished in less than one hour. loveyourrv.com/rv-slide-oI went with a replacement from a USA-based company called AP Products. I found online that there were cheaper replacements, but none had the exact dimensions. I am happy with my choice. It fits perfectly and looks to be great quality.
- General RV ChatThe 2024/25 RV Snowbird Season
Today, we have reached RV Boondocking nirvana! 100% fresh water level, 100% battery power capacity, empty waste wanks, sunny skies, mild temps, and calm winds!
- Ray's Product ReviewsMy New Weber Q1000 Grill - Christmas Gift from Anne!
Nice! 🙂
- Repairs and MaintenanceMacerator Pump Leak Repair - Service Kit Installation
In this video, I repair a crucial piece of boondocking equipment, my Flojet macerator pump. After a routine cleaning, I noticed a drip from the motor end developed the next time I used it. Some troubleshooting lead me to a worn-out rubber shaft seal.
Rather than order and replace it, I decided to order what’s known as the service kit. The macerator service kit relaces several items: impeller, impeller housing, (2) housing gaskets, and a small metal wear plate.
The kit I ordered functioned properly and solved the leak, but the impeller housing wasn’t an exact replacement. It has a 1-inch barbed output rather than a threaded 3/4 inch. I solved it by adding a 1-inch flexible clear hose and barbed to a threaded coupler using hose clamps. I actually prefer this to the plastic heading on the original housing.
- Mods and UpgradesVarious RV Shower Mods and Upgrades