14*7 V-Nose Conversion

[flboy]

I didn’t get to spend much of today working on my trailer as I intended, but I did make some progress. I got the solar panels mounted on the roof. I didn’t get the wires run and the controller installed, but there is always tomorrow. I used some tracking and bolted it down on the sides so there are 4 bolts going into the frame. The panels bolt into the channels. I didn’t want a bunch of small holes in the roof, besides the fact that I don’t know what I am drilling into below.

I actually have room for another panel on this rack as you can see. We’ll see how these two panels do. If they work well, I may add a third and get a second deep cycle battery so I can store more juice. We’ll see. I hope to get the controller in this week and then cut the opening in the ramp for the Window AC next weekend. I have a long weekend and it will be my last chance to finish up these mods before my trip.

[flboy]

Well, I didn’t get the AC installed today… maybe on Monday. I did finish up the wiring on the solar charger. With 200W Watts of panels, that thing really charges in full light. I am going to see how well it keeps up with my power needs next weekend on my dirtbiking/camping trip to Ocala NF. If I need more capacity, I am going to add one more 100 Watt cell and a second 115 Amp/Hour deep cycle battery. That may be a good idea anyhow as I don’t believe it is good for the batteries to take them below 50%. A second battery may extend the life of both.

I am told my DC Power Supply/Charger should not interfere with the solar charger if they are both on at the same time. That would only be the case if I am running the generator for the AC while the sun is up. They both supposedly monitor the line voltage and only come on if needed. With the solar charger in full light, I believe the DC Charger will stay offline. At night, when the sun goes down, if I am running the generator, it will do its thing to top off the batteries. We’ll see. As you can tell from the pictures, they connect together at the terminal strip I installed and I have just one set of 6 Gage wires going down to the battery.

I did sell my old “portable” AC today on Craigslist, so I am now committed to installing the window AC this weekend. I am certainly going to need it camping next weekend. We are up to full heat here in Florida and humidity is above 80% it seems.

[flboy]

Well, since I sold my other Portable AC yesterday, it is Florida, it is summer, and I am going camping next week, I figured I better get at it. I will need the AC if I expect any comfort in the evening.

I bought a few materials I would need today and removed the plywood from the ramp. Tomorrow I will finish cutting the hole and making the access cover.

I cannot believe I never insulated this door. I insulated everything else and I must have never taken this wood off. In any case, I bought R6 foam to go in tomorrow. I should have some pics of the finished product.

[flboy]

Well, I am just about done. I got the hole cut, the insulation in, the plywood back down, and the AC setting in the hole. I have to wrap it up for today. Tomorrow I will build the cover, put trim around the hole and complete the installation. I will have to touch up the paint on the ramp door also since pulling out screws splintered some of the plywood around the screw holes.

I can tell you this: so far on a hot summer day, this 5500 BTU Window unit cools better than the 7000 BTU portable by far. It has to do with the fact, the window unit isn’t pulling in outside air to exchange air in the condenser circuit (it is all hanging outside). The humidity is much better controlled.

I also think insulating that ramp door is making a difference. That large door use to get hot in the daytime. I can’t believe I never insulated that when I did everything else.
Something else I think I am going to do now that I have recovered some space in the back of the trailer. I am going to make a 12” shelf that will swing down on chains when the door is up. I can run over the backside of it when I pull the bikes. I will give me a lot of counter space in the back end.

I will post a few more pics when the job is done.

[Rainier70]

I think that I would weld a bar across the ac opening and weld the center bar to it instead of the wood pieces. If at any time anyone steps on the area of that cut off rib, it will break loose and go through the outer skin.

Sorry to be a negative "fraidy cat". It's probably a girl thing.

[flboy]

I think that I would weld a bar across the ac opening and weld the center bar to it instead of the wood pieces. If at any time anyone steps on the area of that cut off rib, it will break loose and go through the outer skin.

Sorry to be a negative "fraidy cat". It's probably a girl thing.

I thought about that, but I do not have a welder handy. I did test it out in any case. The plywood cover is 3/4" thick and all the weight is well distributed across all the other members. If there was no cover, I would agree. I weigh 180 lbs and I could not get it to flex standing right on it. I think it will be okay.

[Rainier70]

The 3/4th inch ply will be a big help in weight distribution. Glad you tested it, and it checked out.

[flboy]

I got about 95% done today. I need to caulk and paint the inside trim and insulate and cover the backside of the AC door. The side that faces in needs to be finished better so it looks good when closed and the AC is out.

I also bought some aluminum corner trim to make a rain ledge just over top of the door. That will only take about 30 minutes. I will get that done some night this week.

I really like this AC setup better than the previous one. The AC stows under my sink cabinet and literally takes a minute to slide into place and plug in. It cools so well, this window AC actually cycles off. I tested it for a few hours with the little generator I have. It works well. The lights flicker just a bit when the compressor kicks on.

The generator will not run the fridge and AC at the same time... the inductive loads at startup are quite high on compressor motors. I will just use the generator for the AC only and run the fridge from the inverter as I planned. The solar cells should stay ahead of the fridge. We will see this weekend!

I am thinking about painting the door black. I like diamond plate, but not sure I like the bright square in the back? Any comments?

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy,

Truly, I like what you are doing with the CT...
paint it Black, doesn't generate as much attention.

hank

[flboy]

flboy, Howdy,

Truly, I like what you are doing with the CT...
paint it Black, doesn't generate as much attention.

hank

Thank you. I think I will paint it black... it does stand out too much.

[flboy]

Tonight, I framed the door on the outside with aluminum corner trim and then painted it all black . I like that look much better.

Also, I added the second battery. The sun takes no time to charge the single battery so I figured I’d get a “bigger tank”. In any case, as I understand it, the two batteries will last longer than the single using the same amount of current. If you draw down the deep cycle greater than 50%, it reduces the lifespan. With two batteries, I can’t see my dorm fridge pulling the batteries down more than 30% between sunset to sunrise.

Waiting for me when I got home from work tonight was thee 150CFM 7in computer fan I ordered online Sunday. It seems to have the same specs as a similar RV Fan and has a 40,000 hr bearing. I got it for $16.98 shipped from Amazon. The RV fan is more like $99. It seems they charge more for anything that starts with “RV”. Hopefully, I will install this weekend while camping and provide a review.

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Ramp looks (IMO), much better...

hank

[flboy]

flboy, Howdy;

Ramp looks (IMO), much better...

hank

I like it better too. Thanks.

[flboy]

Going to try it all out this weekend. Loaded up for three days off the grid. Going to do some riding and camping in Ocala NF. I am anxious to see how the solar cells keep up with refrigerator and etc. I am only planning on using the generator for the AC at night if I need it.

The new window AC stows in the front cabinet where I use to keep the microwave. Since that is mounted on the front counter now, it is a good place to store.

I am totally loaded. The Generator is in the back of the pickup. I am towing to work tomorrow and leaving directly after. Going to be a good weekend.

[dustboy]

Looks great!

Where did you pick up that bag awning?