Silver Beatle - She's now with an old friend!

[flyguide]

Thank you for the info starting my own build and having trouble making decisions about design.

[aggie79]

The SB has reached the age that it is time for a few updates. (I still haven't finished the remaining 5% of the 95% complete original construction so I still have those to do too.)

This past spring, when we were getting ready for the Beavers Bend outing, I discovered in that the WFCO 8725 power center/converter was no longer charging or supplying DC power. Others on the forum have had failures, but our WFCO had worked great until then. I decided to replace the WFCO with the new Progressive Dynamics 4135 power center/converter: http://www.progressivedyn.com/pd4135_converter.html. This unit is a direct replacement for the slightly larger WFCO 8735 converter, so I had to enlarge the opening about 1/8" in height and width.

Although there isn't much to see, we all know that without pictures it didn't really happen. So...here are pictures of the old WFCO being removed, the cabinet taped off to enlarge the opening, and the cabinet with opening enlarged.







I am waiting for a new U1 battery to arrive and then I will finish the install of the PD 4135.

After the electrical update, I will begin a much larger project of replacing the tongue-box-mounted PetCool with a 5000 Btuh Frigidaire window unit. This will be a much more significant update as it will involve reconstruction of the tongue box and/or construction of a new tongue box. I'm still working on the details but am trying to design it so it will be "plug and play" in case I have to replace the new window unit with another in the future.

Take care,
Tom

[S. Heisley]

I see that you're still a big fan of the blue painters tape.

[aggie79]

I see that you're still a big fan of the blue painters tape.

I'm a huge fan. I probably use more of it for protecting rather than masking for paint.

[KCStudly]

I have a love/hate relationship with the blue tape. /

[aggie79]

Somehow I found a couple of hours to continue with the electrical updates.

First, I installed the new battery. It is a small U1-size battery that is often used in the motorized mobility scooters. Here's the new battery wired and ready to install.



And this is the battery back in its vented box.



Next I turned my attention to wiring the PD 4135. I managed to get the AC side finished before I ran out of time.



I don't have an pictures yet, but I also started the replacement of my PetCool air conditioner with a window unit. I am still working out details, but this will be a "Frankenstein" installation. The window unit will partially or wholly be enclosed in my tongue box as was my PetCool. My plan is to completely bypass the controls on the unit and use a digital thermostat and relays to control the air conditioner. Adding concealed wiring to a TD after the fact is almost impossible, but while the battery was out I was able to snake 18/5 thermostat wire through my electrical compartment underneath the bottom of my footboard cabinet. This exercise took about half of the time I had to work on the teardrop today.

[tony.latham]

It is a small U1-size battery that is often used in the motorized mobility scooters.

Aggie:

I think that's a "35 amp hour" rated AGM? How many useable amp-hours are you figuring? My Group 27 is gross overkill. When it dies I need to seriously downsize.

Tony

[tony.latham]

It is a small U1-size battery that is often used in the motorized mobility scooters.

Aggie:

I think that's a "35 amp hour" rated AGM? How many useable amp-hours are you figuring? My Group 27 is gross overkill. When it dies I need to seriously downsize.

Tony

I think I figured it out. 80% = about 28 amp/hours. Right?

Tony

[aggie79]

Tony,

I know just enough about electrical systems to not be dangerous. I would say your calcs are correct. We normally don't boondock camp so the battery is really there to provide DC power until we get plugged into the pedestal or more often than not to provide power for 12V lighting in case the pedestal temporarily loses power.

Take care,
Tom

[Alan_H]

Hi Tom,

Nice upgrades!

Other than the replacement for the other unit, why did you choose that converter over the PD4045?

Why are you ditching the Pet Cool? Did it die, or was it not enough?

[aggie79]

Nice upgrades!

Thank you, Alan. I'm actually having fun with these (other than spending ).

Other than the replacement for the other unit, why did you choose that converter over the PD4045?

The PD 4135 is more compact than the 4045, and my space around the converter is limited. That's why I chose the 4135.

Why are you ditching the Pet Cool? Did it die, or was it not enough?

The Pet Cool finally died. It performed well for us when it was working and had no trouble handling 90-95 degree days.

Take care,
Tom

[Cliffmeister2000]

The Pet Cool finally died. It performed well for us when it was working and had no trouble handling 90-95 degree days.

Take care,
Tom

90 - 95º? That's cool weather, my Brother! We turn on the AC when it's over 110º, which is quite common out here in Central AZ.

[Rick Tyler]

The Pet Cool finally died. It performed well for us when it was working and had no trouble handling 90-95 degree days.

90 - 95º? That's cool weather, my Brother! We turn on the AC when it's over 110º, which is quite common out here in Central AZ.

Is human life even possible at those temperatures?

Rick From Seattle
(Well, Redmond, actually)

[Gunguy05]

The Pet Cool finally died. It performed well for us when it was working and had no trouble handling 90-95 degree days.

Take care,
Tom

90 - 95º? That's cool weather, my Brother! We turn on the AC when it's over 110º, which is quite common out here in Central AZ.

I have 3 Words...

Hu.... Mid.. Ity.


Brian, from South GA...

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[aggie79]

The Pet Cool finally died. It performed well for us when it was working and had no trouble handling 90-95 degree days.

Take care,
Tom

90 - 95º? That's cool weather, my Brother! We turn on the AC when it's over 110º, which is quite common out here in Central AZ.

I have 3 Words...

Hu.... Mid.. Ity.

Brian, from South GA...

Brian,

You beat me to the punch. I'd love to see a 90-95 degree day this time of the year. That temperature is the upper limit for us to go camping. Here's an old picture from my build that shows what the temps are for our area this time of the year:



That was the temperature at 8:00 PM. Notice the forecast temperatures. What's not shown is the 60% plus humidity!

Take care,
Tom