Vatrer 460Ah Battery 5888Wh of Power at a Great Budget
We are big fans of lithium or lifePO4 batteries for RV travel. Over the past year we have tested and used a number of batteries from 100Ah to 300Ah in size from a number of manufacturers. We were contacted by Vatrer recently and asked if we would be interested in evaluating their new 460Ah battery. We recently put the battery through and extensive 36 hour practical use evaluation as well as a stress test.
Vatrer 460Ah Battery Specifications
The Vatrer 460Ah battery was specifically designed for RVs and serves as the perfect replacement for lead-acid batteries. Not only does it boast a capacity of 5,888Wh, but it also has an impressive maximum load power of 3,200W.
Specifications
Battery Voltage: 12.8V
Capacity: 460Hr
Charge Voltage: 14.2V – 14.6V
Weight: 104lbs
Energy: 5888Wh
Continuous Charging Current: 120A
Total Discharge: 250A
Recommended Charge Current: 92A
Maximum Inverter Load: 3200W
Low Temperature Cut Off Charging: 32F
Low Temperature Cut Off Discharge: -4F
Dimensions: 19” X 11” X 10”
We also found the Vatrer 460Ah battery BMS works in conjunction with a Bluetooth module to transmit battery parameters to our smartphone, allowing us to monitor the battery’s status. The smartphone app is available for Apple IOS and Android. The app was easy to install and very responsive. We tested the app against a Victron Smart Shunt and found the readings were virtually identical.
Testing and Results
In the video below we show our battery testing that took 3 days to complete. We started with a load test to see the performance of the battery with a consistent 2,900 watts of power draw. The battery handled the load with no issues.
Our next test took 36 hours to complete where we installed the battery in our Montana 5th wheel and created a simulated two days of travel with an overnight stop. We ran our residential fridge continuously for the 36 hours along with a night of TV viewing, lights, and fans and the following morning we made coffee and used a toaster to add heavy amperage demands on the battery. We also show the demand of bringing our heavy sides in and out along with the time that it would take for two long tows.
Overall the battery perform very well with 26% of the battery capacity remaining after the 36 hour test.
Our thanks to Vatrer for providing the 460Hr battery for our evaluation. Our plans are to continue to use the battery with plans for 6 months of heavy travel and we’ll provide an update later in the year on the performance.
We have placed helpful links below the video if you are interested in learning more about the Vatrer line of lithium batteries.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We had a recent challenge with our recent RV trip. On the afternoon prior to us leaving, our awning motor failed. What made it worse, the gears in the motor stripped causing the awning the rapidly open and the manual winding function using a drill would not work. The first task was to find a way to wind the awning back into its storage location then secure so we could travel the following day. Once we returned I could order new motor and then take the steps to replacing a Dometic 9200 awning motor.
Winding the awning back in place for travel
This was going to be a challenge since I had no one to help and even if I did have an extra set of hands, I didn’t have a second ladder. If the gears are stripped in the motor and a drill with nut driver doesn’t work, the recommendation is to have a person on each end of the awning and slowly roll the awning back in to it’s storage location.
I had to come up with something quick that allowed me to roll the awning in by myself. I found a way to do this with a pipe clamp and pry bar. Let me stress that I don’t recommend doing this. One wrong step could cause personal injury and/or damage the awning. Just to show what I had to do, the video below contains the very cautious steps I took to get the awning back into it’s storage location then secured for travel.
Once in place I opted to use strong storage straps to hold the awing in place. Some recommend using tie wraps, but I didn’t want to risk a tie wrap breaking in travel, then stranding us in the middle of our travels. The straps worked great and we traveled to our destination then returned home with no issues.
Replacing a 9200 Dometic awning motor
While we were away, I found 9200 Dometic awning motor. It was a bit of a challenge, but I found one through a Walmart reseller. These awning motors are expensive and the replacement cost $365 plus tax.
We returned home and again, I was left with the only option to replace the motor without a second set of hands. I was difficult and I recommend having a second person to help hold the awning in place while the old motor is removed and then assisting with the replacement. It was a bit of a wrestling match to get the new motor in place. Again, I had to create a jig to hold the awning in place. It more than double the task in time and energy working alone and would have been much easier with that second person and ladder.
It took most of a day to replace, but the task is done. The original motor may have been failing for some time. The new unit opens and closes the awning twice as fast.
The video below shows the steps taken prior to replacement with highlights for the motor replacement. I want to stress again that if the awning motor gears are stripped and the only option is to manually wind the awning by hand, get a second person and ladder to accomplish. The steps I took were my only option to allow us to continue our trip and I was extremely careful to make sure I would not be injured or caused damage to the awning.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We have been using e-bikes for a couple of years in our RV travels. We recently had the opportunity to try out the Hoverfly Z5 Electric Scooter while we were camping at the beach. The Hoverfly Z5 was perfect for our short trips to the grocery store and running quick errands. A benefit and savings not having to run our F350 Dually and over a 2 week period, the truck was only used twice during our entire stay at the beach.
Hoverfly Z5 Electric Scooter
The Hoverfly Z5 electric scooter is equipped with the following:
Lightweight design, only 40lb in weight,
Portable with folding capabilities,
400W motor,
14″ wheels,
Sturdy frame supporting riders up to 265lbs,
Speeds on flat terrain at up to 15.5 mph,
Dual rear suspensions,
Adjustable seat,
Digital power display
Dual drum brakes, and
Headlight and rear light for night driving.
We found the Hoverfly Z5 to be very convenient for errands and shopping, and the portable feature made it easy to fold and place in the back of our truck for transport. We also found the bike performed well on city streets, sidewalks and bike paths. He had no large hills to attempt climbing, but all of the sloped streets and sidewalks we encountered at the beach were easy to manage and didn’t slow the electric scooter.
Our thanks to Hoverfly for proving the Z5 electric scooter for our evaluation. Go to https://goaff.pro/qwufjs more information about the Hoverfly Z5 Electric Scooter and use the code iLoveRVlife to receive 5% off your purchase.
Go to https://goaff.pro/qwufjs more information about the Hoverfly Z5 Electric Scooter and use the code iLoveRVlife to receive 5% off your purchase.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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While Joan and I enjoy RV life in our Montana 5th wheel and the comforts it allows, we still enjoy outdoor life too. I gave up tent camping long ago, and Joan and I left our hippie, beach bum lifestyle in the mid 70’s to start our family only to transition our outdoor events to trips to the beach, family outings, and the occasional day of Little League and now travel baseball with the grandkids. What has not changed was the need to refrigerate food and beverages for the day which has lead to a large collection of ice chest coolers and the never ending need to feed them with 10lb bags of ice. It was time for a change and we had the fortunate opportunity to review the ICECO JP50 Pro 50 liter portable 12V DC refrigerator, and found it exceeded our expectations.
ICECO JP50 Pro 50L Portable Refrigerator
We have another brand portable refrigerator freezer that is very large that we use for our long trips mounted on a slide-out tray in our lower 5th wheel storage bay. But for our outdoor activities, this refrigerator isn’t practical. It’s to large and too heavy especially when we are needing to walk long distances from our truck to wherever the outdoor activity is held.
That’s where the ICECO JP50 Pro comes in to play. The size, weight, and features were perfect for our needs. We like the ability to fill the 50 liter compartment with more than a days worth of food and refreshments with the benefits of not dealing with bags of ice, managing containers and bags to prevent food from getting wet, and the excellent efficiency of low 12V DC power demands.
Let’s look at the ICECO JP50 Pro features that we found were important for our outdoor activities:
NO ICE NEEDED!
Size: 13.8″D x 23″W x 20.9″H
Equipped with a SECOP compressor for more efficient cooling, quieter operation, more stable operation, and longer service life.
Cooling range from 0°F to 50°F(-18℃~10℃) for most freezing or refrigeration needs.
The JP50 Pro fridge came with an insulated cover, wired basket, 120V AC cable, 12V DC cable. A note about the 120V AC power feature. This is a great feature which allows us to cool the fridge prior to outdoor use. This way food and beverages enter a cold environment and battery power isn’t wasted to chill the fridge and contents in the first hour of operation.
5-year warranty on the compressor and a 1-year warranty on all other parts.
Built-in wheels and pull handle making it easy to transport a fully loaded fridge
Our Experience with the ICECO JP50 Pro
Our plans are use the ICECO JP50 Pro for 8 or more hours of outdoor activities. We also received the ICECO 250Wh Magnetic Lithium Battery Power Station. This small and lightweight power station was perfect for a day at the beach. After 9 hours with the fridge set to cool at 37°F and opened frequently, we still had 48% of power remaining at the end of the day.
The JP50 Pro was ideal for our beach day. We had high tide all day and parked in a public area with steps leading down to the beach. The fridge was full, but the wheels and folding handle made it easy to pull along the parking area and once we carried down the steps to the beach, pulling the fridge along the packed sand was a breeze.
The JP50 Pro is a perfect addition for our outdoor activities.
Our thanks to ICECO providing the JP50 Pro for our review. We have provided links below the video if you’re interested in learning more about the ICECO portable refrigerators.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We have been using a portable ice maker in our RV for over 5 years. It’s great not having to run to the store for ice for beverages. Usually the smallest bag of ice we can find are 10 pounds and rarely do we have the extra storage space in the freeze to store the bag. The simple remedy was a portable ice maker. We have a large unit, but the drawback is the size and weight, and limited counter top space in our 5th wheel. The remedy for saving space in our RV was to create an RV ice maker slide out tray in one of our cabinets.
Portable Ice Maker
We started with a small Igloo portable ice maker. The ice maker worked great, but it was small and took at least 8 hours to make enough ice to last 2 days. We were constantly making ice, taking up counter space, and having the fan noise running in the background. It’s 5 years old and we passed it along to our son who uses it weekly.
Our next effort was to upgrade to a larger ice maker. We now use a Freezier X2 and this unit will fill our freezer ice tray in 3 hours with an extra gallon bag packed full as a spare. That’s the upside. The downside is it’s large, it’s very heavy, the fan is loud, and I’ve been pulling this ice maker our of a bottom cabinet several times a week and putting back a couple hours later to clear our counter space. I finally decided it was time for another modification to our 5th wheel.
Building an RV Ice Maker Slide out Tray
Always seeking ways to save space in our RV it was time for me to create our newest modification in our Montana 5th wheel – building an ice maker slide out tray. And most of all, we have the perfect spot for this ice maker slide out tray. In our kitchen area, we have a cabinet that we use for pot and pan storage that has water, drain, and an electric outlet for a washer / dryer connections. Our preference has always been not to have a washer / dryer in our 5th wheel and this cabinet was ideal for this project.
We had been using the bottom floor area to store our large ice maker and I needed to make a few small modifications to move the unit up a level. I lowered one of the shelves, reinforced the shelf to handle extra weight, and next was building the slide out tray.
Building the tray took about 4 hours. Having some ¾ inch plywood and a set of 25lb slides left over from a previous project, I created the new ice maker tray in about 4 hours. Painted and let dry overnight, I installed the next day. I provide more details in the video below.
Conclusion
The rv ice maker slide out tray project was a success. We have been using for a week since created and it’s great to have the counter space clear and no longer moving the ice maker once or twice a week to and from storage.
Thank you, RV Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding, for sponsoring! Visit rvmattress.com/ilovervlife and use code ilovervlife and starting Sept. 1, 2024, get an extra 5% off their current on-site promotion.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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We often get questions about replacing existing lead acid batteries in an RV or small camper with lithium (also referred to as LifePO4) batteries. Most want the benefits of more power and less weight, but not wanting to change wiring or storage location. The second question then arises if the batteries are more expensive than a lead acid replacement. The good news, is lithium can be used to replace a lead acid battery and prices have dropped. To show how a 100Ah battery can be used, we tested a WattCycle 100Ah LifePO4 Battery to show how these batteries can be used as a low cost entry for lithium batteries.
Benefits of Using Lithium Batteries in an RV
I have been a fan of lithium batteries for some time. Lighter and more available power when compared to lead acid batteries. And most recently, lithium batteries have recently become equal to or in some cases, less in cost when compared to most lead acid batteries.
Lead acid batteries work well in RVs, but the draw back is the weight and only having 50% capacity available in most cases. Lithium batteries are much lighter and offer 90% battery capacity without damaging the battery.
The main issue when upgrading to lithium batteries is with older RVs where the converter charger does not support the lithium profile to charge the battery between 14.4V to 14.6V. This isn’t an expensive option to upgrade and most chargers can be replaced without to much difficulty or cost.
WattCycle 100Ah LifePO4 Battery
We chose the WattCycle battery for our test because of the low cost of entry using a lithium battery and its capacity of 100Ah and at a standard voltage of 12.8V. Additionally, we liked the fact WattCycle used A+ grade cells and rated to support 6,000 charging cycles.
Features:
Measuring 10.24 x 6.61 x 8.23 inches and a weight of only 23.2lbs.
Can operate in conditions as low as -4℉ and as high as 158℉.
Can easily connect up to 4 batteries in series or 4 battery packs in parallel.
The 100Ah LiFePO4 battery fits in a Group-24 battery box.
Charge Temperatures of 32℉ to 122℉.
Discharge Temperature of -4℉ to 158℉
Testing Results
We installed the battery in our Montana 5th wheel. Our test was to simulate a 5 to 6 hour tow and see if the battery would support using the slides, run our Max Air fans, and most importantly, power our inverter supplying 120V AC to our residential refrigerator.
Our testing was in August and temperatures ranged close to 100F outside and with similar temperatures inside our 5th wheel causing the our refrigerator to run constantly. This is typical for summer southeastern US travel and a good test to see if the battery can meet these power demands.
We also stressed the battery to see how it would hand long and extended surges.
The battery met its stated specifications and proved to be a reliable option to sustain our Montana for 6 hours of travel in extreme heat. Cooler temps would place less demand on our refrigerator and should last longer than 6 hours. And for those who have a 12V DC option for refrigeration, the battery should operate for longer periods without the extra amperage that is needed to convert 12V DC to 120V AC.
See the video below for more information about our test and the conditions.
Out thanks to WattCycle for providing the 100Ah LifeFO4 battery for our evaluation. See the links below the video for more information about WattCycle and their LifeFO4 batteries.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Joan and I were near the end of a 3 month trip and our last stop is at Willow Valley RV Resort – Rabun Gap, GA. Located between Clayton, GA and Franklin, NC along Highway 441, this campground was a perfect place to end this trip. Nestled between the mountain ridges, the campground offers large lots and loads of amenities. We chose a pull through for our 42’ Montana 5th wheel and F-350 Super Duty and the space had room to spare. This is a beautiful and well maintained campground in a great location and provided a great stay so we could enjoy all that the North Georgia Mountains has to offer.
Willow Valley RV Resort
Willow Valley RV Resort was the nicest campground we stayed at during our 3 month trip. All sites were well spaced with campsite that sized for large big rigs to small campers. All the access roads to the campsites were paved and sites ranged from paved to gravel. Sites supported 30/50 amp connections, water, sewer, cable and WiFi was available. We use our own WiFi and found both T-Mobile and AT&T provided strong signals with no issues for work or watch IP TV.
The campground has a large swimming pool with a wading area for younger children, splash pad, playground, community fire pit, 6 private baths, laundry room with large machines, dog walk and dog wash station and more. The office has a variety of camping supplies and had a space with kitchen for rallies and group meetings.
The campground is convenient to all the fun things to do in the area including great mountain trail hiking, vineyards scatted across North Georgia, restaurants, the famous Foxfire Museum, water falls, white water rafting, and so much more.
We look forward to returning to this section of North Georgia and Willow Valley RV Resort will be a definite stop.
See our video below for more details and we’ve provided helpful links for the campground and some of our favorite places to visit in the area.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Joan and I were fortunate this year to have our schedules align where we could spend family time at Smoky Mountain Campground Bryson City NC. We met our crew early July with plans to just enjoy the surrounding area – tube in Deep Creek, hike and ride bikes into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and spend a day to seeing the site in Pigeon Forge, TN. This is our third time over an eight year period coming to Smoky Mountain Campground – new owners, positive upgrades, yet they have taken the extra care to maintain the family atmosphere that makes this campground special.
Smoky Mountain Campground, Deep Creek, NC
Going to Smoky Mountain Campground takes you through the quaint town of Bryson City, NC. At the end of town we took a right turn at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and continued though the community of Deep Creek to the end of West Deep Creek Road. The campground is located on the right along beautiful and flowing Deep Creek and just a few feet from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
We first came to Smoky Mountain Campground eight years ago for a family outing. This is our 3 time camping here and the eight year in a row for Julie, Josh and the grandkids. It’s full of memories from over the years, and we always enjoy returning the fourth of July week for both family time and catching up with returning campers who have become close friends over the years.
The campground has full hook up with a mix of 30 amp and 50 amp spots. Sites are available for a few large RVs, to mid and smaller size, and also welcomes tent campers. For those popular dates throughout the year, the campground can get very full with close sites, but no one seems to mind with many who have been camping here for over 40 years with the third generation now enjoying all the area has to offer. And everyone looks forward to stepping inside the 80 year old campground store which often becomes the evening go to spot for hand dipped ice cream.
Deep Creek and Tubing
The big draw to the area is Deep Creek. The creek runs through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, along the edge of the campground toward town. During the peak summer months, the Park and creek draws tubers from far and wide who come to take in the fun of floating through the Park. Those camping at Smoky Mountain Campground have the added benefit to complete the float at the campground just steps away from their RVs.
View the video below for a tour of the campground and a peak into some iLoveRVlife family time.
As years past, we love this area, the family time, seeing old friends and making new, and most of all, looking forward to our return.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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I always look forward to our RV travels into the mountains. One of my favorite activities is hiking the mountain trails. On our recent trip into North Georgia, I had the opportunity to hike the beautiful Blackrock Mountain James Edmonds Trail. This was one of my most challenging hikes that took an 8.5 mile route. It wasn’t the distance that was the challenge, but three 3,000 foot plus mountains that had to be scaled not once, but 5 times. Was it worth the effort? Absolutely! The streams, small cascades of waterfalls, views, and surrounding area painted by the green landscape provided a wonderful day in nature.
James Edmonds Trail
The sign entering the trail head shows the distance to be 7.2 miles with a leg entering a loop through two mountain ranges. The trail can be steep with range grades from 11 degrees to as high as 44 degrees. The lowest point in the trail was 2,280 feet above sea level climbing to distances over 3,200 feet. The strenuous aspect of the trail was not as much the distance, but the multiple climbs throughout.
Image by HikingProject.com
The scenery was beautiful with trail lined ferns as far as I could see, laurel-filled coves, and multiple streams some with small waterfalls. At the end of the loop, I added another mile plus trail to my hike entering the northernmost section of the park with a climb to the summit of Lookoff Mountain. At the top I was able to view the Wolffork Valley below and surrounding mountain ranges in the distance.
Completing the Hike
The overall hike with the added trail to the summit was 8.5 miles and I logged over 21,500 steps taking 8 hours to comlete. This was a mid July hike and the elevations kept the temperature in the mid to high 70s and humidity was moderate. The multiple climbs burnt the calories and if you plan to take this hike make sure you have ample water (I consumed 4 large bottles.) This isn’t a hike where one is able to stand along mountain ridges overlooking the valleys, but offers a day in nature with the wildlife, stunning tree canopies, and a number of streams with their gentle waterfalls. The Blackrock Mountain James Edmonds Trail was a fun hike and great day spent in nature.
Our thanks to Brooklyn Bedding who sponsored today’s video. Go to https://rvmattress.com/ilovervlife and use discount code “ilovervlife” for 25% off any mattress.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
I have to admit that I haven’t used a dedicated GPS system such as a Garmin in the last 8 years of RV travel. I’ll share a little of the backstory as to why. I traveled thousands of road mile during my professional telecom days. I always embrace technology and saw dedicated GPS systems as a great addition to my travel making it easier to arrive at my destination without fighting paper maps along the way. But I got frustrated trying to use in our RV travels with bad routing. I was contacted by TechnoRV and asked why our iLoveRVlife channel had no GPS Navigation systems. I explained our past experience as to why they were ditched. They stated much had changed over the last 8 years and suggest we try the Garmin RV 895 GPS. I was sent a unit to try and to my surprise, it works very well. But there’s more to share.
Why I Gave Up on GPS Navigation Systems
The complaint I had (as well with many others) with GPS navigation systems is they may send me along a route that may not always be the best – such as sketchy neighborhoods, dirt roads, or weird roundabout routes. Not wanting to give up using a dedicate GPS navigation system, I tried several manufacturers and models during the first 2 years of our RV travel. I was constantly frustrated with routes wanting to take us off the Interstate into busy city streets and worse, bad routes on the last several miles as we traveled to campgrounds in rural areas.
Traveling with a long 5th wheel pulled by an F-350 dually Super Duty, getting in tight spots, narrow roads, or worse a road not conducive for big rig RVs was not only frustrating, but dangerous. Looking at maps before we travel, the fix was to alter the suggested route by setting way points to force the GPS to create routes around problem areas. Garmin had a piece of software for a PC to aid in changing routes, but it was cumbersome and very difficult to use. So after 2 years of fighting the navigation systems, I threw them in a drawer and used paper maps for the details and a smart phone general routing.
Positive Features of the Garmin RV 895 GPS
In 8 years, much has changed with these dedicated GPS navigation systems, and that held true for the Garmin RV 895. First impression was the large 8 inch touch screen and easy to access apps and routing features. There was a number of accessories included for mounting to the windshield and a ball mount for systems such as Bulletproof. The magnetic connection for the mount made it easy to store the unit after travel. The 12V DC power cable was long enough to move the unit to any dash location. Below is a short list of features we’ve found useful for our RV travels.
Garmin RV 895 GPS Features and Apps
8” touch navigation screen
Custom RV routing to meet the dimensions of our truck and 5th wheel combination
Road warnings
Real time speed limits and speed limit warnings
Railroad warning notification
Real time route overview
Real time traffic information
Campground locations
Trendy places to visit
Local spots at each exit
Integrates with Garmin Dash Cam to record eye witness proof.
Garmin Drive Smartphone App – Providing live traffic information, weather, and more.
Using the Garmin RV 895 GPS
Before I placed the unit in the truck it only took a few minutes to set the unit up to match our travel configuration and create our first route. Our first route took us south on Interstate I-75 to the Daytona Beach, FL area. We’ve traveled this route often and wanted to see if the Garmin RV 895 would offer the best options for road selection. The route was perfect and more so it suggested the I-295 bypass vs taking I-10 through downtown Jacksonville to I-95 which isn’t very friendly for RVs.
Our next trip took us from Daytona through Georgia, South Carolina to the mountains at Bryson City, NC. Again the Garmin 895 RV provided a very good route to follow except for the last mile to the campground. We verified the last mile of the route with Google Maps and it provided the same road. Calling the campground in advance we were warned not to follow the last mile directions and they gave us an alternative to use which proved to be more conducive for our large 5th wheel.
We have continued to use the Garmin 895 as we travel and over all the experience has been positive. We took the steps to create a route to bypass Atlanta and use nothing but state roads. This took time, more so learning the features to create way points to force the GPS away from the suggested shortest drive using Interstate roads. We found it much easier to make these route changes using the GPS touch screen and not relying on a cumbersome external software app. I’m confident this process will shorten as we become more familiar with the various apps.
The Garmin Drive Smartphone App was an added welcomed benefit. Using the app allowed the Garmin RV 895 GPS to connect to our smart phone via Bluetooth and use cellular WiFi for app data. We were able to get real time traffic and weather information.
Conclusion
Overall, we found using the Garmin RV 895 GPS for our travels to be a positive experience. Something to remember with RV route planning and the use of any technology. A GPS navigation systems, its software, and the algorithms to used create routes may not always work in the best interest in the way we travel. It’s still up to us, the operator of the moving vehicle to verify what is best and safest routes to take. A GPS in just one of the tools to use and routes are merely a suggestion.
We are still in the process of learning all the apps and will become more confident in their use over the next several months. We also have plans to install a Garmin Dash Cam 57 in our F-350 and look forward to integrating its functions with the GPS. We’ll provide an update on our use within the next 6 months as we continue to use in our RV travels.
Out thanks to TechnoRV for providing the Garmin RV 895 GPS for our evaluation. We have provided helpful links below the video if you are interested in purchasing this GPS for your RV travels.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We had a long tow from central Florida to the North Carolina mountains. The end-to-end trip was going to be over 12 hours and was more than I wanted to bear in a single drive. We searched for a mid-stop somewhere in South Carolina for an overnight. We wanted at a minimum, water and electricity with the 100 degree July days and knew both the front and rear air conditioners would be needed. We found a new campground, Big Rig Friendly RV Resort, located in West Columbia, SC. This is a very nice campground and as the name implies, is very big rig friendly. A campground we’ll definitely add to our return list for future travels.
Big Rig Friendly RV Resort
Aside from all the amenities, we could instantly tell the campground was designed with the strong understanding of what RV travelers need to access a campground and park with ease. The roads were wide. Campsite access and exit proved little effort to park and leave. The campground is new, but sites were well maintained and each offered, 50A power, water, sewer, cable, and WiFi.
The campground has a number of pull-through sites, along with spacious back-ins. Check-in process was simple, took minutes to receive documentation, and the office staff was very friendly and helpful sharing the amenities of the campground along with restaurants nearby.
At check in, the campground provides a guide to take you to the site and offer parking guidance if needed. Not something Joan and I typically need, but we thought is was a nice touch.
Along with the site amenities the campground offers a playground for the kids, well equipped exercise facility, clubhouse, fenced dog walk and dog wash station, very large laundry with side area with comfortable seating, TV, and games to keep the kids happy. The campground also has a new, large swimming pool and 4 pickle ball courts that were a few short weeks from opening.
Something we thought was novel are the buddy sites. These offer covered door facing sites for a pair of RVs, great for family and friends to hang out. See the video below for details
Feature Listing:
70 to 120 foot RV sites mostly pull-throughs
All full hookups
Buddy sites available
Lots of shade and privacy
3 miles from I 77 and I 26 interchange
10 minutes from downtown Columbia
Multiple golf courses within 10 minute drive
Restaurants – Shopping – Museums – Riverbanks Zoo
State Farmers market within one mile
Lake Murray, Congaree River, and Congaree Park
The campground offers a number of options for short and long term stays as well as site options. Check the website for details or call for more information.
Driving to the Campground from I-26
One tip we strongly recommend to access the site from I-26. DO NOT follow the route offered by your GPS or Google Maps. There’s a lot of construction in the area and you want to follow the directions from the Big Rig Friendly RV Resort website. When we called the campground offices prior to arrival to confirm our spot was available, they were kind to share their suggested route which made the drive from the Interstate to the campground a breeze.
We only stayed overnight, but we were very impressed with the campground, staff and all the location has to offer.
We received no compensation for this review, paid full price for our campsite, and share this information to help others find quality places to enjoy during their RV travels.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Our iLoveRVlife summer RV travel season has begun. We took a little time off for business demands and some family time. It was good to take a break, and great to be back traveling to some of our favorite places. This is a short video with a few highlights of travel with the family. We were fortunate to have time with all the “J’s”. Along with Me (Jerry) and Joan, we were able to spend time with our son Joel, our daughter Julie and her husband Josh, and our grandkids, Jake, Jaymi Kate, and Jilli Beth.
We’ll have much more to share over the coming days and weeks. I hope you’ll enjoying this short video with what we J’s do in the background that rarely makes the final cut.
You’ll see that we grill often in our RV travels. With over 10 years of RV travel, we’ve tried and wore out many portable grills. The Monument G22 Portable Gas Grill has become our favorite. Quality construction. Stainless steel. Even heat and hot enough to sear a steak. And most important, we can purchase parts if needed as a very reasonable price. Below are links for the two high quality portable gas grills we use.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Joan and I have covered thousands of miles in our RV travels. Now on the second 5th wheel, we’ve learned much about towing and traveling in heavy traffic. Towing a 42 foot 5th wheel with a F350 dually, we’re long, we’re heavy, and it takes some distance to stop. Something that hasn’t changed are those aggressive drivers when we’re towing through a busy city. We have to maintain that every important long gap to ensure we have ample room to stop. Our concern has always been that of an aggressive driver that will jump in front of us when we’re trying to stop. We’ll bump their rear bummer (or worse), and it will be their word against ours that were were following too close. Hence, the need for a good quality dash cam that is always on while traveling with high quality recording of all the events in front of our truck. We’re using the VIOFO VS1 Mini 2K Dash Cam and found it’s a perfect companion for our RV travels.
VIOFO VS1 Mini 2K Dash Cam
We like the size of the VIOFO VS1 Mini, as the name implies, measuring only 3 inches tall and 1.3 inches wide. We installed the dash cam on our windshield next to our rear view mirror and liked that it had no screens or excessive lights to distract us will driving.
As you will see in the video, the VS1 dash cam records front road scenes in 2K resolution with a 140° wide angle and uses the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor providing distortion-free images that easily captures licenses plates and road signs.
Installing Dash Cam
Installation was very simple, mounting securely to our windshield in seconds using the attached sticky pad. If using the supplied car accessory power plug, it’s just stick the dash cam to the windshield, plug in power, and in minutes your able to record your travels. We chose the optional HK5 hardwired kit to make the camera turn on and off with the ignition key. Simple install taking a little over an hour to run the wires.
Using the Dash Cam
As shown in the video clips, the integrated GPS displays the precise location to record our driving route, speed, exact time and date. The built-in WiFi allows us to wirelessly connect the car dash camera to our smartphone for video clip playback and transfers without having to remove the memory card.
Our thanks to VIOFO for providing the VS1 Mini 2K Dash Cam. This will be an excellent addition for our RV travels.
We have provided a link below the video for more information about the VS1 and a discount code for our iLoveRVlife viewers.
VIOFO VS1 Mini Dash Cam, 1440P/2K HDR Dashcam, STARVIS 2 Sensor, Free 32GB SD Card, 5GHz Wi-Fi Voice Control Car Dash Camera with GPS, Night Vision 2.0
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
E-bike along Daytona Beach Parks on a HOVSCO 27 Inch Cruiser
We travel to the Daytona Beach area to visit family throughout the year. We love the beaches, food, and wide variety of activities offered. But one of the areas that is often overlooked are the numerous parks throughout Daytona Beach, South Daytona, and Port Orange. These parks are bike and walker friendly with paved and unpaved trails, and many have small lakes, great places for picnics, some have a variety of activities for the kids, and they are pet friendly. As I do often, I ride around the area on my ebike to take in the sites and in this blog and video I show three parks close to our campground that has many of the amenities mentioned.
Daytona Beach Is Very Bike Friendly
The largest percentage of the roads in Daytona Beach and the surrounding area are bike friendly with well marked bike lanes or wide sidewalks. Several times a week I’m on our e-bike riding to the beach or a short shopping trip. Many times we’re traveling 25 to 30 miles and using an ebike makes these excursions much more enjoyable.
E-bike To 3 Nearby Parks
On this day, I traveled to three parks that are a very short distance from campground:
Reed Canal Park – 2871 S. Nova Road, South Daytona, FL has a 30 acres and a lake featuring shell hiking trails in the nature portion, a Disc golf course, a multipurpose play field, playground, dog park, pavilion and picnic facilities, and paved paths around the park’s developed sections.
Riverwalk Park – 3459 S Ridgewood Avenue, Port Orange, FL is split into two sections bordering the Riverside Pavilion on the Halifax River. The south section of includes a splash pad, playground, restroom facility, picnic pavilions, and a trail around the park. The north section of the park includes a kayak/canoe/paddle board launch, boardwalk, fishing piers, a trail, and restroom facility.
Port Orange Causeway Park – 93 Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange, FL is located on the Halifax River at the Port Orange Bridge. The park has a wide roadside along the river with fishing piers, boat ramps, covered pavilions, and picnic tables and grills.
The HOVSCO 27” HovRanger Ebike
The HOVSCO HovRanger ebike is adult sized supporting riders in weight not exceeding 300lbs. The HovRanger is loaded with features including:
Single-Butted Aluminum Alloy with Internal Battery
Weight 55lbs with battery installed
970W (Peak) 500W (Sustained), 48V Brushless Rear Hub Motor
Removable Internal Lithium-ion 48V, 15Ah (720Wh)
LCD Smart Easy Read Display with Back-light screen with app
7 Speed – rear derailleur
Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 180mm Rotors
Max speed of 28 mph
Average range of 40-60 miles per charge depending on terrain and riding style
What really makes the HovRanger 27” Ebike and all of the other HOVSCO ebikes standout is their Torque Sensor. The ebike has 5 peddle assist modes. While peddling, the HOVSCO Torque Sensor feature automatically senses the need to assist, providing power to the rear wheel. A fun bike to tour the site or augment your RV campground local travels.
Visiting the many parks in the area is a great way to relax and spend a few hours enjoying the sites and sounds of the Daytona Beach area. And riding the HovRanger 27” Ebike is not only fun, but take the physical stress our of the ride.
Our thanks to HOVSCO providing the HovRanger 27” Ebike for our review. See the links below the video for more information about the entire line of HOVSCO Ebikes.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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REDODO 12V 100A Battery With Low Temperature Protection
We see a number of blogs and video where lithium batteries are used in RV installations and usually these are associated with a large and very expensive solar build out. While these types of installations are worthwhile for those who’s RV travel takes them off grid, there many who own RVs who want the benefit of using lithium batteries who are wanting to replace their heavy, limited capacity Group 27 style lead acid batteries. We wanted to find a lithium replacement for lead acid batteries that were feature rich, at a reasonable cost, and could be used for campers, van builders and small bus builders. We have reviewed a number of larger 200Ah and 300Ah lithium batteries and wanted to give an option for those needing a 100Ah lithium battery that cost less, but maintained all the advanced features found in the more expensive, larger batteries. We evaluated the REDODO 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery with Low Temp Protection and found it not only performed very well, but meet all the features were were looking for in an affordable 12V lithium battery, and cost less or equal to most popular AGM lead acid batteries.
REDODO 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery
The REDODO 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery tested offers a number of benefits when compared to traditional 12V 100Ah AGM batteries having a discharge rate of only 50% and weighing 60lbs or more.
The REDODO 12V battery tested is equipped with a battery management system (BMS) that will automatically cut off of charging when the battery temperature is lower than 32°F (0℃), and automatically resume charging when the temperature is higher than 41°F (5℃). This is critical for all lithium batteries preventing damage to the battery during freezing temperatures.
REDODO 12V 100ah Lithium Battery is made of high-quality Grade A prismatic cells which we prefer over other types of lithium battery construction. This battery supports 4000+ deep cycle charges at 100% and has a 10-year service life which is superior to most AGM batteries having only 2-3 years and 200-500 cycles.
Specifications
Same size as a standard Group 27 Battery
Weight: 22lbs
BMS: 100A
Max Continuous Discharge: 1280W
Max Continuous Discharge Current: 100A
Low Temp cutoff: 32F
Charge temp: 32F to 122F
Discharge temp: -4F to 140F
Recommended charge: 20A @ 14.4V
4 identical batteries for PARALLEL connection to 12.8V400Ah battery system
4 identical batteries for SERIES connection to 51.2V100Ah battery system
Evaluating the REDODO 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery
As with all of our lithium battery evaluations, we place the batteries in an environment that demonstrates daily use in an RV where no campground power is available. It the video below, we show how long the battery will sustain a number of 12V DC and 110V AC appliances until the battery is depleted. The test was done with no external charging using the battery only for power. We found the battery performed very well with one 10 hour test period that included the charging of two tablets, and using a 1000 Watt pure sine wave inverter powering a number 110V AC devices including a LED light, small campus style refrigerator that had not been pre-chilled, an oscillating floor fan, 19 inch TV, and a Roku streaming device. After the test, we left the refrigerator running for another 12 hours to deplete the battery. We also tested the battery using a 3000 Watt inverter to see how the battery performed when the max continuous discharge current exceeded 100 Amps.
Results
Overall, the REDODO 12V 100Ah Lithium Battery performed very well. The battery is a very good solution for those who are wanting to replace their 12V lead acid battery with the benefits of greater power and less weight in a Group 27 form factor. And the REDODO 12V Lithium Battery offers a path for the budget conscious who are wanting to add lithium now, with plans to add additional additional batteries in the future.
Our thanks to REDODO for providing the battery for our evaluation. We have provided helpful links below if you are interested in knowing more about this and other REDODO battery products.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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We have become big fans of e-bikes to use in our RV travels. We’ve evaluated a number of different e-bikes from small to large folders, large cruisers, and in this blog we’re experiencing the new Troxus Lynx Cargo E-bike.
The Troxus Lynx Cargo E-bike is a two-wheeled cargo hauler- a perfect solutions to haul the kids, groceries, or supplies for a day at the beach. The Lynx Cargo E-bike is built for fun and adaptability, with optional running boards and a rear seat with rails, capable of carrying more than 500 lbs.
Display: Color Display, Bluetooth, w/ Turn Light Signals
Throttle: Thumb Throttle on Handlebar
Pedal Assist: 0-5 Level Pedal Assist
Charger: 3A / 100-240V Input / 54.6V Output
Lights: Front Light, Rear Light w/ Turn & Hazard Signals
Frame: 6061-T6 Aluminum Step-Thru Cargo Frame
Derailleur: Shimano 8-Speed
Tires: 20″x4.0″
Brakes: Hydraulic w/ Brake Sensors
Our Experience with the Troxus Lynx Cargo E-bike
We found the e-bike to be a pleasure to ride. We were able to cruise with ease around town and along the beach using the pedal assist. There was ample power to climb the tall Silver Beach Bridge crossing the Halifax River, then a 5 mile beach ride against the wind proved to be effortless.
Watch the video below are we show the easy of assembly and a 25 mile ride from our campground to the beach and back.
The cargo ebike with it large font and rear cargo carriers gave us plenty of space to carry a small cooler and chairs to the beach, and was perfect for those grocery store runs from the campground.
Our thanks to Troxus for sending us the Lynx Cargo E-bike for our evaluation. Use the links below for more information about this e-bike.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Evaluating The LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter
We are needing to expand our inverter power in our Montana 5th wheel. Our current inverter is used for our residential refrigerator and a few accessories outlets. We also have the need to power our 1800 Watt microwave for lunch stops while towing and Harvest Host overnight stays. With our solar and large 300 amps of lithium batteries, we have ample power to support other 110V AC appliances. Not wanting to change our our current inverter, we wanted to add a second unit dedicated inverter for the microwave. We’re evaluating the LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter to see if it will meet our needs.
The LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter
The LiTime pure sine wave inverter 3000W is reported to efficiently convert 12V DC to 110-120V AC power. Considering this inverter for our use is it’s ability to handle a peak surge of 6000W power while providing clean, stable, and low interference power output for all appliances to operate.
Inverter Features
Under/over voltage
Overheating prevention
Overload protections
Short circuit protections for connected devices
LCD screen provides instant access to the real-time status of the battery, inverter, and loads
Continuous Power：3000W
Peak of Surge Power：6000W
Input Voltage：12V DC V
Input Voltage Range (VDC)：9.5V-16.5V DC
AC Output Voltage：110V AC±10%
USB Output：5.0V DC/2.4A
Frequency：60Hz
Efficiency：85% to 95%
4 – 20 Amp AC outlets
1 – 30 Amp AC hard wire outlet
2 USB outputs
remote control
Testing The Inverter
We put the LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter on our test bench to determine it’s standby power requirements and ability to handle high power devices, especially those creating large startup surges. We used a heat gun and a pancake air compressor to generate the compressor surges. The combined usage of both units created 2450 Watts of power and ran continuously without any overload or pause in power by the inverter.
We also connected a small apartment/campus style 110V AC refrigerator to the inverter to determine demand by this type appliance. These refrigerators are very low cost and popular for budget conscious van and bus builders as well as those upgrading older campers. The refrigerator had a 90 Watt demand from the inverter, but the inverter surprised us with it 12V to 110 volt conversion at this low wattage running with a 95% efficiency. Very good news for extend battery life.
Conclusion
Overall the LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter performed very well with the loads we used and our oscilloscope tests showed the inverter provided very clean power regardless of the demand required.
With the rich line of features and efficiency provided, the LiTime 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter will be a great addition to our Montana.
Our thanks to LiTime providing the 3000 Watt 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter for our evaluation. We have provided links below if you are needing more information or wanting to purchase this inverer for your RV, van, or bus builds or if you’re needing high wattage 110V AC power for your off-grid needs.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Installing the Active Start 50 AMP ACS50W Softstart and EMS
I’m always looking for very innovative solutions for the power of our Montana Fifth Wheel. One of the challenges with RVs, especially 50 AMP powered models, concerns a 30 AMP connection at a state or federal RV park or when connected to a 3500 watt generators and have the ability to efficiently run an air conditioner. To accomplish this, RV owners often use a soft start device. A soft start prevents that surge or significantly reduces the surge when the air conditioner compressor starts. Most RV air conditioners typically run in the 10 to 11 amps which is well within the operating budget of a 3500 watt generator. But, you can experience a start-up surge ranging from 50, 60, or 70 amps and I’ve even seen some RV air conditioners generate a 100 amp momentary surge that can run for 1 to 3 seconds. We remedied this problem by installing the Active Start 50 AMP ACS50W Softstart and EMS.
Benefits of an RV Air Conditioner Softstart
When an air conditioner start-up surge occurs, if often trips the breaker on that 30 amp campground pedestal or will create an overload conditioner that shuts down the generator and you can never get that generator to level off to where it can meet the demand of the air conditioner.
If a condition can be created to get past that surge, the generator operated wthout any problem with the 10 to 11 amps the air conditioner requires.
A soft starts can reduce the air conditioner initial surge by 50% giving the generator the ability to operate when the air conditioner first starts.
Installing the Active Start 50 AMP ACS50W Softstart and EMS
The Active Start 50 Amp ACS50W is a permanently install unit that will be installed inside the fifth wheel between the power connection located on the outside of the fifth wheel and the breaker panel. This is a good options for those that are full-time RVer’s not want to deal with another item when setting up their RV, or if there’s security issues in a camping location.
This unit must be physically wired into the RV 50 Amp main power feed and something the average RV owner may not have the skill set to do. I strongly recommend that if you are not an electrician, then consider hiring one if you’re planning to install one of these units in your RV. This is a high voltage connection to the RV and using a qualified electrician reduces your exposure to electrical shock or possible damage to your RV. Our installation took the electrician less than an hour.
Features
Two softstarts for each 50 amp leg
Bluetooth control
Over Voltage Limits: 132 VAC per leg
Under Voltage Limits: 103 VAC per leg
Surge Protection: 5250 Joules
Current: Maximum nominal= 50 Amps
Over Current Limits: ACS50xx = 53A
Disable EMS function
Disable SoftStart for high amperage devices
Testing the Active Start 50 AMP ACS50W Softstart
We tested the ACS50W our 3500 watt generator. The generator is rated to a max of 30 amps total output. The ACS50W did a great job allowing us to run both 15000 BTU air conditioners and our residential refrigerator with power to spare for TVs and our cellular Internet router.
The ACS50W ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart with enhanced EMS, and Surge Protection is an excellent device to consider for hardwired installation of 50 Amp powered RVs. And with the added benefit of surge protection and energy management, the ACS50W provides a cost effect solution for RV power needs.
Our thanks to Active Control for providing the ACS50W for our review. We have provided helpful links below the video for more information about the ACS50W along with the checkout code “Jerry” for additional savings at purchase.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
2 Year Update On Our 2022 Keystone Montana 3931FB. It’s been great!
We bought our new Keystone Montana 3931FB 5th wheel in February 2022. Since that time, we are asked by many how we like the 5th wheel and if we’ve had any issues since purchase. After 2 years of ownership and towing thousands of mile, we wanted to give you an up date on the likes and dislikes, the couple of problems we’ve experience, and share some of the modifications to add to our long term travel needs.
See the video below where Joan and I share our experience in our Keystone Montana 3931FB 5th wheel. We have also provided links below to view videos of the projects we shared.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery – Did it survive the cold?
We reviewed the Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery back in November 2023. Since that time, it has been our primary 12V battery source and it performed well over several weeks of travel in December into January. During the November evaluation, I shared that we would not be traveling for most of the colder months and I planned to leave both the solar charger and 75 amp converter/charger connected to maintain the battery. Epoch stated the 300ah V2 battery had low temperature disconnect and it was heated for temperatures below 32 degrees. Without these features, any charging that may have occurred during temperatures below 32F would have damaged, or worse, destroyed the battery. For a number of weeks in January and early February, we experienced extended periods with temperatures in the teens and 20s. Now as we prepare for our 2024 travel season, it was time to see of the Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery survived the cold.
Multi-day Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah Testing
Over two days, we put the Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery to the test in our Montana 5th wheel continuously powering a large GE residential refrigerator, lights, TV, and slides, and we also put a large load on the inverter making toast and coffee.
Throughout the evaluation period, we used the iOS Epoch LI-Ion Bluetooth app for iPhones and our Victron Smart Shunt to monitor the performance of the battery. As a check and balance between both monitoring platforms, we found the reporting to be within a percentage point of remaining capacity and available voltage.
Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery Cold Test Results
With the battery at full charge, we started testing the Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery. During both days of use, we had misty rain and they sky was heavily overcast. I disconnected the 5th wheel from the 50A pedestal, and left the solar charger connected. On day 1 we had no input and day 2 we had about 2 to 3 hours where the solar charger provided less than 50 watts. After 30 hours of testing, we had 40 percent left in the battery.
With the battery experiencing heavily load conditions and the continuous power demand from all the appliances, lights, and the residential refrigerator, we can share with confidence, the battery low temperature and heater features worked as designed during those cold winter weeks.
With the battery’s heavy duty construction, metal case, low temperature disconnect, internal heating, 11 year warranty, and much more, this is a perfect solution for our 12V power needs.
See our video below for the highlights from the two days of testing and the real time battery performance.
Out thanks to Epoch for supplying iLoveRVlife with the Epoch 300ah V2 LifePO4 Battery for our testing. We have provided helpful links below if you’re interested in learning more about the Epoch LifePO4 product line.
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah Specifications
LiFePO4 Chemistry – Deep Cycle Battery
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah HEATED – Internal heating allows for charging in sub-zero conditions
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
We have evaluated a number of ebikes over the past 18 months with the thought of what works best for the RV traveler. All the ebikes have been been folding with 20 inch tires to ease transport. We had a number of YouTube viewers and emails from our iLoverRVlife.com contact page asking us to review a larger frame, adults sized bike. To meet the request, we contacted HOVSCO who provided ebikes for our review last year, and they provided their HOVSCO HovRanger 27.5″ Electric Bike For Adults.
The HOVSCO HovRanger Ebike
The HOVSCO HovRanger ebike is recommended as adult sized for those who’s height range from 5’ 1” to 6’ 7” and a weight not exceeding 300lbs. The HovRanger is loaded with features including:
Single-Butted Aluminum Alloy with Internal Battery
Weight 55lbs with battery installed
970W (Peak) 500W (Sustained), 48V Brushless Rear Hub Motor
Removable Internal Lithium-ion 48V, 15Ah (720Wh)
LCD Smart Easy Read Display with Back-light screen with app
7 Speed – rear derailleur
Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 180mm Rotors
Max speed of 28 mph
Average range of 40-60 miles per charge depending on terrain and riding style
But what really makes the HovRanger Ebike and all of the other HOVSCO ebikes standout is their Torque Sensor. The ebike has 5 peddle assist modes. While peddling, the HOVSCO Torque Sensor feature automatically senses the need to assist, providing power to the rear wheel.
Regardless of terrain, the HOVSCO Torque Sensor makes riding the ebike a breeze. Aside from the added power assist when peddling, we like the ebike controller response. Torque assist is applied when the controller senses peddling and stops assisting when peddling has ended. We have have evaluated other ebikes and found a substantial lag in response where the controller continues for 1 to 2 seconds providing power to the rear motor after peddling has stopped. This is not the case with the well designed HOVSCO Torque Sensor.
Riding the HOVSCO HovRanger Ebike
We took the HOVSCO HovRanger Ebike to Amerson River Park located in Middle Georgia. This is a beautiful park with wooded and river views, and friendly to ebikes. Our granddaughter Jaymi Kate joined me and we spent the afternoon riding the trails.
Both Jaymi and I took turns riding the HOVSCO HovRanger Ebike. We found the ebike to be very comfortable and enjoyed the longer stride from seat to peddle, along with the excellent HOVSCO Torque Sensor feature. Riding the ebike was effortless, allowing us to extend our day in the park with little fatigue.
The controls for breaking, shifting gears, and changing the peddle assist mode are easy to access while riding. The breaks are hydraulic and take little hand strength to operate. When addressing a hill, the mode change to add more power to the HOVSCO Torque Sensor is a simple reach with the thumb.
See the video below to view our ride and evaluation of the HOVSCO HovRanger Ebike.
Conclusion
We like the fact that all HOVSCO ebikes come with free shipping from their US based warehouse. Each ebike comes with a 2-year warranty and they partner with over 100 dealers and storefronts to offer Test Ride and Maintenance Service.
They also have other models, and at the release date of this blog, offer the Entry-Level HovCity Ebike for $999 or 2 HovCity ebikes at $1499.
The HOVSCO line of ebikes is one of our favorites. From construction to features, the HOVSCO HovRanger 27.5” Ebike is a joy to ride. This is why we believe this ebike is a great RV travel addition.
We have provided help links below the video for more information about HOVSCO ebikes along with a link and code to save an addition $100 off your purchase.
Out thanks to HOVSCO for proving the HOVSCO™ HovRanger 27.5″ Electric Bike for our review.
Limited-Time Offer in Feb 2024: $999 for single HovCity Ebike, $1499 for two HovCity Ebikes (Auto-Code at Cart)
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station – Powering Our 5th Wheel Off-Grid
The evolution of portable power stations continue to show substantial advances in features and function while decreasing costs for watt hour performance. At iLoveRVlife, we have used a wide variety of portable power stations for a number of years and are excited to see the manufacturers create units that work very well for RV travel. We have been looking at portable power stations that have increased watt hours, higher capacity pure sine wave inverters, and the ever important, 30 amp RV style power connector. We tested the new Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station and found its features and performance to be a perfect fit for our RV lifestyle.
The Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station
As we consider portable power stations, we are looking for those that will operate all of our RV 120V AC devices and appliances for an extended period of time. The Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station does that with 15 ports supporting USB, 12V and both 20 Amp and 30 Amp 120V receptacles. With the equipped 2048Wh of battery capacity, we are able to make our overnight Harvest Host stops without the need of a gas power generator, powering our GE residential refrigerator, microwave for a quick meal, watch TV, charge our portable devices, and watch a few hours of TV before we call it a night and resume travel the next morning.
For longer stays, the Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station can support up to 2,100 Watts of solar input using either fix or portable solar panels. With this increase solar capability, we are able to replace power used during the day with excess solar capacity recharging the unit for evening use.
We also like the ability to expand the watt hour capacity of the unit with the addition of one or more B2 Multi-functional Batteries each adding 2,100Wh with the ability to increase the MEGA 2 to a total of 10,240Wh of capacity. This gives that extra capacity for longer periods operating higher wattage appliances and storing power when solar production may be degraded due to weather conditions.
We put the Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station to the test. View the video below to see the full testing over 3 days using a wide range RV appliances and solar charging.
Fast AC Charge Input – 100~120Va.c 16A Max 1600W Max
Slow AC Charge Input – 100~120Va.c 16A Max 800W Max
Solar Input – 12~150Vd.c 15A Max 2100W Max
Smart Control
Connectivity – Bluetooth, WiFi
App Control – Yes
4 modes to charge the unit
AC Fast Charge – 1600W
AC Slow Charge – 800W
Solar – 12V to 150V 15A Max Up to 2100W
12V Car Outlet
AC and Solar combined for 3700W
General
Net Weight – 45.81b.(22kg)
Dimensions – 18.1*10.6*12in (460*270*305mm)
Operating Temperature – 0℃~40℃/30℉~104℉
Storage Temperature – 0℃~40℃/30℉~104℉
Certification – UN38.3.MSDs
Warranty – 36 Months
Conclusion
The Oupes MEGA 2 Power Station ran all of the appliance we use in our Montana 5th wheel. With the higher capacity solar connectivity, we are able to use the MEGA 2 during the day and keep the internal batteries charged for evening use. And with the ability to add the B2 Multi-functional Batteries, we can run higher wattage appliances for longer periods while storing power for the days when solar production maybe limited.
Out thanks to Oupes providing the MEGA 2 Power Station for our review. I have provided links below for more information about the MEGA 2 power station along with a code to use at check out for additional savings.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
The New Active Controls ACS50P ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart with Enhanced EMS, and Surge Protection
We are a big fan of surge and energy management for our Montana 5th wheel. With over 10 years of RV travel, we’ve seen to many instances where sever weather or poor power systems in the campground can cause damage to the electronic and appliances in an RV. Adding to RV power challenges are those times when an RV is required to operate on 30 amp campground power or a small to midsize generator. 30 amp power can be especially challenging for RVs with a 50 amp need when attempting to power multiple air conditioners and residential refrigerators either constantly tripping breakers or the generator shutting off due to power overload. The good news is softstart devices are available to reduce air conditioner surge minimizing amperage demand and preventing overloads on 30 amp power. The issue of purchasing multiple power management devices for an RV is the overall cost to purchase a surge protector with energy management, multiple softstart devices, and then the cost for installation. The good news is Active Controls has created their new ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart with Enhanced EMS, and Surge Protection in a plug-in device that is very cost effective.
How we use the new ACS50P ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart
We have experienced a number of times when we were out of power in a campground due to bad weather. We also have the ability to stay overnight in Harvest Host locations where an RV must be self-contained. For these instances, especially during the hot Summer months, we need to run a 3500 watt gasoline generator to power our air conditioners and microwave. We also like to stay in state parks and many times 30 amp power is all that is available. For these instances we want to have our air conditioners equipped with a softstart preventing an overload on the 30 amp power due to effects of the compressor start up.
Active Controls has created a unique product for RV travel, the ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart with enhanced EMS, and Surge Protection model ACS50P. This device plugs into the campground power pedestal or a portable generator along with the RV power cord. For the 50 amp power, the ACS50P is equipped with 2 softstarts, one for each the L1 and L2 power circuits. The ACS50P eliminates the need and installation costs to install dedicated softstart to the RV air conditioners.
We also have the benefit of the ACS50P’s very capable surge protection. The unit’s surge protection is rated at 5250 Joules, one of the highest rating in the RV industry for a plug in device.
This new release of the ACS50P is controlled with an easy to navigate Bluetooth smartphone app that now has a number of enhancements for the energy management including:
Over Voltage Limits: 132 VAC per leg
Under Voltage Limits: 103 VAC per leg
Surge Protection: 5250 Joules
Current: Maximum nominal= 50 Amps
Over Current Limits: ACS50xx = 53A
Disable EMS function
Disable SoftStart for high amperage devices
Plug LEDs validating 50 Amp power connection
Click the spec sheet for more information.
Testing the new ACS50P ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart
We tested the ACS50P on both a 50 Amp campground power pedestal and our 3500 watt generator. In the video below we show the values provided by the Bluetooth app during operation. The ACS50P gave the condition of the 50 Amp power along with the power demand within our RV.
We then connected the ACS50P to our 3500 watt generator. The generator is rated to a max of 30 amps total output. The ACS50P did a great job allowing us to run both 15000 BTU air conditioners and our residential refrigerator with power to spare for TVs and our cellular Internet router.
Conclusion
The ACS50P ActiveStart 50 Amp SoftStart with enhanced EMS, and Surge Protection is an excellent device to consider for 50 Amp powered RVs operating on 30 Amp campground power or small generators. And with the added benefit of surge protection and energy management, the ACS50P provides a cost effect solution for RV power needs.
And for those RV that are equipped with 30 Amp or 20 Amp power, Active Controls also offers the 20 Amp and 30 Amp ActiveStart plug-in units.
We have provided helpful links below the video for more information about the ACS50P along with the checkout code “Jerry” for additional savings at purchase.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel & Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
We have limited reviews of solar panels due so many YouTube videos and blogs that have covered the topic. We left the door open for a solar panel review in the event we found a unique product that would be beneficial for RV travel. And we found one!
We tested the BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel with the Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller. The flexible solar panel has a wide range of applications with its solar performance, durability, lightweight, and flexibility for even the most challenging installation. And the Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charger is feature rich and took minutes to install and configure. A great pair for the RV traveler needing solar power.
BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel
The solar panel is designed to be extremely flexible and we tested dozens of times bending over 270 degrees end to end with no change in the panel surface or damage to the solar cells. The panel is lightweight at 4.6 pounds and can be mounted on a wide range of surfaces using the reinforced gussets or an adhesive.
Features The BougeRV fiberglass curved solar panel features an efficient 10BB cell design, achieving a high conversion rate of up to 23%. Its design also minimizes shading on the cells, enhancing light absorption and potentially contributing to the panel’s overall longevity.
Flexible – Can fit around curved structures, flexible for all shapes.
Stable output – Stable output can still be guaranteed in shadow occlusion environments.
Waterproof – Suitable for wet environments.
Lightweight – No frames, no special stands or mounting brackets needed.
Glass Free – Nothing to be broken.
BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel Specifications
Currently available in 100 Watt version
Solar panels are IP68 waterproof, ensuring durability and functionality
Weighs 3.81 lbs
17.1V of max voltage
5.85 amps of max current
Supports a 270 degree curve
No drilling to mount with existing reinforced holes or can be glued
We have plans for a larger solar installation and didn’t permanently install. To test the BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel, we set up a lithium battery, installed the solar charger, and ran 20 feet of 10 gauge wire to the panel to simulate a typical roof install.
We tested the panel mid December on a sunny day knowing the angle of the winter sun would be less than optimum to maximize solar panel wattage production. As expected we were able to create 50 watts from the panel.
BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
To test the solar panel, we used the BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charger controller. Installation was very simple and configuration using the Bluetooth smartphone app was straightforward with the entire process taking minutes.
The solar controller has a wide range of robust features. The controller can adjust the charge current from 0A to 30A and its high tracking efficiency is up to 99.5% with a peak conversion efficiency up to 99%.
The controller is compatible with Lithium LiFePO4 batteries. One of the challenges with lithium batteries is sub-freezing (32°F) temperatures where a charge will permanently deteriorate performance and safety. The BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charge controller can protect lithium batteries supporting low-temp cut-off at the solar charge controller end. The controller can also restart or activate dormant lithium batteries that are turned off due to short circuits or excessive amp draw.
We especially liked the smartphone remote control app with a Bluetooth range up to 32 feet. Using the app inside our 5th wheel living area we were able to stay informed with the charging and performance of the attached solar panel, lithium battery and solar charge controller.
BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller Specifications
System Voltage 12V/24V
40 Amp Charging Currently
Max PV input 600W/12V or 1200W/24V
Rated load current 20 Amps
Battery operating voltage of 8 to 32V
Built in Bluetooth
Final Thoughts
The BougeRV 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel has a wide range of applications. With it’s flexibility and ease of installation the solar panel is an an excellent option for RV’s of all styles, vans, buses, as well as marine applications.
The BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller is an affordable solution for small to mid-sized solar installations, yet offers the features needed to charge and manage RV, marine, and off-grid solar projects.
Out thanks to BougeRV who provided the 100W Fiberglass Curved Solar Panel and Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller for our review.
See the video below for our testing and addition information about BougeRV solar products.
We have provided helpful links below for additional information for these and other BougeRV products.
Use the code “bougerv” and get 16% off on all products!
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel & Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
We have limited reviews of solar panels due so many YouTube videos and blogs that have covered the topic. We left the door open for a solar panel review in the event we found a unique product that would be beneficial for RV travel. And we found one!
We tested the BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel with the Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller. The flexible solar panel has a wide range of applications with its solar performance, durability, lightweight, and flexibility for even the most challenging installation. And the Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charger is feature rich and took minutes to install and configure. A great pair for the RV traveler needing solar power.
BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel
The solar panel is designed to be extremely flexible and we tested dozens of times bending over 270 degrees end to end with no change in the panel surface or damage to the solar cells. The panel is lightweight at 4.6 pounds and can be mounted on a wide range of surfaces using the reinforced gussets or an adhesive.
Features CIGS solar cell is a full copper indium gallium selenide solar cell, thin-film photovoltaic device that uses semiconductor layers of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Flexible – Can fit around curved structures, flexible for all shapes.
Stable output – Stable output can still be guaranteed in shadow occlusion environments.
Waterproof – Suitable for wet environments.
Lightweight – No frames, no special stands or mounting brackets needed.
Glass Free – Nothing to be broken.
BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel Specifications
Currently available in 100 and 200 Watt versions
Copper Indium Gallium Selenide thin-film solar cell technology
Weighs 4.6 lbs
25V of max voltage
4 amps of max current
Supports a 270 degree curve
No drilling to mount with existing reinforced holes or can be glued
We have plans for a larger solar installation and didn’t permanently install. To test the BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel, we set up a lithium battery, installed the solar charger, and ran 20 feet of 10 gauge wire to the panel to simulate a typical roof install.
We tested the panel mid December on a sunny day knowing the angle of the winter sun would be less than optimum to maximize solar panel wattage production. As expected we were able to create 50 watts from the panel.
BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
To test the solar panel, we used the BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charger controller. Installation was very simple and configuration using the Bluetooth smartphone app was straightforward with the entire process taking minutes.
The solar controller has a wide range of robust features. The controller can adjust the charge current from 0A to 30A and its high tracking efficiency is up to 99.5% with a peak conversion efficiency up to 99%.
The controller is compatible with Lithium LiFePO4 batteries. One of the challenges with lithium batteries is sub-freezing (32°F) temperatures where a charge will permanently deteriorate performance and safety. The BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT solar charge controller can protect lithium batteries supporting low-temp cut-off at the solar charge controller end. The controller can also restart or activate dormant lithium batteries that are turned off due to short circuits or excessive amp draw.
We especially liked the smartphone remote control app with a Bluetooth range up to 32 feet. Using the app inside our 5th wheel living area we were able to stay informed with the charging and performance of the attached solar panel, lithium battery and solar charge controller.
BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller Specifications
System Voltage 12V/24V
40 Amp Charging Currently
Max PV input 600W/12V or 1200W/24V
Rated load current 20 Amps
Battery operating voltage of 8 to 32V
Built in Bluetooth
Final Thoughts
The BougeRV 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel has a wide range of applications in its 100W and 200W capacities. With it’s flexibility and ease of installation the solar panels are an excellent option for RV’s of all styles, vans, buses, as well as marine applications.
The BougeRV Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller is an affordable solution for small to mid-sized solar installations, yet offers the features needed to charge and manage RV, marine, and off-grid solar projects.
Out thanks to BougeRV who provided the 100W CIGS Flexible Solar Panel and Sunflow 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller for our review.
See the video below for our testing and addition information about BougeRV solar products.
We have provided helpful links below for additional information for these and other BougeRV products.
Use the code “bougerv” and get 16% off on all products!
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro Power Station with 30 Amp Connector
We are always on the lookout for efficient yet simple systems to extend our power needs in our RV travels. When towing for long days and overnight stays where there’s no opportunity to connect to a power pedestal, our option has been to power the 110 Volt appliances with a gasoline 4500 Watt generator. Sometimes this is overkill when we need to stop for 30 minutes for lunch or our overnight stay at a Harvest host occurs during the months when no air conditioning is needed. For these stops, we needed a midsize portable power stations. To meet these off-grid power needs, we tested the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro portable power station and this unit exceeded our expectations especially with it’s 30 Amp RV connection.
ALLPOWERS S2000 PRO Portable Power Station
The ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro has a 1500Wh capacity and 2400W output making it capable of running most RV and home appliances. The power station can operate as a UPS immediately supplying battery backup power. This is a great applications for both RV travelers and off-grid homes when refrigerators, computers, and other delicate equipment loose 110V AC power or power fluctuates above or below safe levels.
We were impressed with the speed when recharging the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro portable power station and fully recharging within 1.5 hours when plugged into a household 110V outlet. Via the MPPT 650W max solar input and using 600 Watts of solar power, the power station has the opportunity to be fully recharged within 3 hours.
The ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro portable power station supports Bluetooth wireless connections with ALLPOWERS smart phone app. We were able to monitor and control the power station from 30 feet away. Using the power station LCD display and the smart phone app, we could accurately determine the power station’s remaining battery, input and output wattage.
S2000 Pro Specifications
Capacity – 1500Wh / 405405mAh
Battery Type – Ternary lithium battery
Wattage – 37.5 x 24.5 x 25 centimeters / 14.76 x 9.64 x 9.84 inch
AC Power – 2400W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (4,000W Surge)
Weight – 32 lbs
1 – 30 A RV outlet
4 – AC Output
4 – USB A Output
1 – Car Output
2- USB C Output
Solar Input – MPPT 18-70V, 18A 650W Max
ALLPOWERS also provided two 200 Watt portable solar panels, Model AP-SP-033. The panels were simple to set up and came with a number of adapters to connect to various solar powered devices. Since the panels and power station are not sold as a kit, the panels did not connect MC4 adapters to connect the panels together or a MC4 to XT60 cable to connect the panels to the power station. These are not expensive items and I had both in my power kit. I also prefer using a longer power cord from the solar panels to the power station allowing me to extend the connection from outdoors to the 5th wheel storage bay.
AP-SP-033 Portable Solar Panel Specifications
Peak power – 200 Watts
Open circuit voltage – 22.2V
Maximum power voltage – 18V
Maximum power current – 11A
Weight – 13.9 lbs
Size folded for transport – 25.6 inches x 20.3 inches
Size unfolded for use – 87.8 inches x 25.6 inches
How we tested the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro Power Station
As with all our power systems testing at iLoveRVlife, we set up the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro as our primary power source. Now with the advantage of having a 30 Amp RV style receptacle, we used a 50 Amp to 30 Amp adapter to connect the power station to the side of the 5th wheel. With this connection, we were able to run all 110V devices located inside our Montana.
Testing the S2000 Pro Power station Our Montana 5th wheel is set up for long term living plus we’ve added a number of 110 volt powered devices to the factory installation adding to our entertainment and work-on-the-road requirements. To test the power station, I wanted to use as many devices at one time just as if we stopped along our travels for a long lunch break or an overnight stop at a Harvest Host.
Our first test was connecting an oscilloscope to the power station. Before we connected this power station to the 5th wheel, I wanted to ensure the inverter was capable of producing clean power. We found the inverter produced a smooth sine wave with no jagged edges or clipping. This occur at idle and with a load. This is important especially with the use of sensitive electronics such as TVs, computers, routers, etc. to where a jagged sine wave, also known as dirty power, can prevent these devices from operating properly.
For our load test we powered the following devices at the same time to maximize wattage consumption using the power station.
GE 3-door residential refrigerator
1500 Watt microwave
50 inch TV
ROKU soundbar
Cradlepoint 5G R1900 cellular router
I also wanted to test the power station for those times when Joan would be spending time at her make-up desk running both a curling iron and a 1500 Watt hair dryer. I tuned these on while running all the devices listed above without the microwave.
This test would be a typical usage load on our 110V service. All the devices would operate at the same time with the exception of the microwave which would be used for short a duration during meal preparation time. Running all the device above used 1600 Watts of power for both tests. The test performed is to ensure a refrigerator with the compressor starting and causing a brief power surge would not cause the power station to overload and shut off when other 110 Volt devices were in use. With the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro power station having the ability to handle a 4000 Watt surge, no overload or shutdown was experienced.
Testing the ALLPOWERS 200 Watt portable solar panels We had a sunny December day with no clouds to test the panels. We connected the two panels to the S2000 Pro power station and were able to achieve 260 Watts of power at 20 volts. This was a reasonable output considering the angle of the winter sun.
The power station was at 81% remaining capacity from our testing and we charged the unit to 100% withing 1 hour and 20 minutes.
To see the actual testing, view the video below.
Final Thoughts
Overall I was very impressed with the performance of the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro power station and the AP-SP-033 200 Watt foldable solar panels. Given all the appliances we have in the 5th wheel that we use on a regular basis, the power station operated with ample wattage to spare.
Replenishing the capacity of the power station would be easily sustained throughout the day and we found using for our general power use and the two 200 Watt solar panels should replace the power daily power used on those sunny days.
When comparing price to performance, the ALLPOWERS S2000 Pro power station is an excellent addition when off-grid RV power is needed.
Out thanks to ALLPOWERS for providing the S2000 Pro power station and the AP-SP-033 portable solar panels for our review.
Below the video, we have provided helpful links for products used.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Serenity Cellars, Helen GA Side Streets, 12 Spies Vineyards
This is our last week in the North Georgia mountains for this year. The Fall scenery has been a great treat and we’re traveling to Serenity Cellars, Helen GA Side Streets, 12 Spies Vineyards, some of our favorite locations.
Serenity Cellars, Cleveland, GA
I took a short trip from the campground and stopped at Serenity Cellars, one of our favorite wineries located in the Cleveland, GA. We found Serenity Cellars several year ago as we traveled the area looking for the different styles of wines created by the local vintners.
The Serenity Cellar’s tasting room is located on a large hillside with both indoor and outdoor seating. Weekends are always special with musical entertainment along with the great wines offered. We often bring food and spend a while enjoying the wine and talented singers. But, on this visit I stopped by mid-week when less crowded to talk with the Edwardo who is the resident sommelier. Edwardo took me on a tasting journey of their delicious wines and of course, good conversation.
I couldn’t leave Serenity Cellars without wine for the holidays. Always a great visit.
The Side Streets of Helen, GA
A trip to North Georgia wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the pretty Bavarian village of Helen, GA. We have traveled here for years and watched as it has transitioned into one of the more popular locations in the area with people visiting from all across the world. This year, I wanted to do something a little different and spend the afternoon visiting some of the side streets around Helen to experience what the village had to offer other than the typical shops, restaurants, and Oktoberfest Halls.
Helen Arts & Heritage Center I stopped first at Helen Arts & Heritage Center to take in the wears from many of the local craft persons. The Center has a wide assortment of quality painting, jewelry, pottery and much more on display with each item available for purchase.
I also had the opportunity to speak with one of the local jewelry makers who shared her experience and also gave me a tour of the center. Make sure you catch her sharing her craft in the video below.
Helen Glass Blowing Shop The staff at the Arts Center suggested I stop at the Helen Glass Blowing Shop to see the many pieces of glass art made locally. I was treated by the local glass blower making a number of items. I also found unique jewelry created in the shop and couldn’t leave without purchasing a piece for Joan. You should have seen Joan when I surprised her with a unique turquoise necklace and matching earrings.
Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill & Country Store I also stopped at the Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill & Country Store to tour the grain making process and of course, purchase some fresh ground corn meal and buckwheat pancake mix.
Nora Mill Granary is an operational gristmill built in 1876 and is located on the edge of the Chattahoochee River on the outskirts of Helen. The mill is unique, not powered by a vertical water wheel, but uses a water turbine fed by a 100 ft. wooden raceway. During many of the weekends, you can visit the Granary and see the mill in action.
It’s wonderful that the third and fourth generation of the Fain family continue to operate the mill providing high quality milled corn products and allowing visitors to experience this historic general store and granary.
12 Spies Vineyards, Rabun Gap, GA
Much has changed in Raburn Gap, GA along with the nearby villages of Clayton and Dillard since my first visit in 1980. A few years out of the US Air Force and then college, I was working for the Continental Telephone Company who served over 1,400 rural telephone companies operating in 31 states. I was a central office technician and part of the team converting this area to digital telephone.
I fell in love with these North Georgia mountains – the beautify of the rolling hills, the lifestyle and pace of the mountains, and the friendly people who treated me as one of their own. Much has changed over the years and the area has grown offering a wide range of real estate options and service businesses.
One addition to the North Georgia mountains has been wine making. The area has attracted a variety of vineyard growers and wine makers each offering their unique approach to wine making as well as tasting rooms. One of our favorites is 12 Spies Vineyards. We have become friends with Shelly and Mike Brown, vintners and owners of this winery. They have transformed their piece of a valley into a beautiful tasting room and outdoor space treating visitors to that unique experience of local wine, beautiful landscape, and on the weekends local entertainment talent. And on our last day in the North Georgia mountains, we were able to again experience a great Saturday, spending time with our friends all while enjoying great 12 Spies Vineyards wine and song from Teddy Baker.
This season for North Georgia is over, but we know much more lies ahead. Joan and I often find ourselves counting the days until we return and hope you too will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful North Georgia mountains in the near future.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We evaluated the Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah with Bluetooth, self-heating, and Victron communications as our primary off-road power source. This the perfect 12 DC power solution for those who have large RVs with residential appliances and the need to operate when no campground power is available. The Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah is a strong contender for those who camp off-grid and need the extra amperage to extend these stays for those days when solar production is a challenge.
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah Evaluation
We put the Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah to the test using our Montana 5th wheel as a real-world environment powering a large GE residential refrigerator, lights, TV, and slides over an extended period of time without any means to charge the battery. Our efforts were to simulate a long tow lasting 10 hours, an over night stay, and then continuing to the next destination for another 7 hours. We relied on the Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah only, with no provisions for solar, campground, or the 7-pin connection to our truck for charging power.
Over the evaluation period, we used both the iOS Epoch LI-Ion Bluetooth app for iPhones and our Victron Smart Shunt monitor the performance of the battery. As a check and balance between both monitoring platforms, we found the reporting to be within a percentage point of remaining capacity and available voltage.
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah Results
With the battery at full charge, the evaluation for the Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah exceeded our expectations. We ran our test over 31 hours and at the end of two days, we still had 26 percent, one quarter of the battery capacity remaining.
Recharging the battery with our Progressive Dynamics 75 amp charger took around 3 hours. The shortest time when have experience with any of the batteries we’ve tested to date.
With the batteries heavy duty construction, metal case, low temperature disconnect, internal heating, 11 year warranty, and much more, this is a perfect solution for our 12V power needs.
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah Specifications
LiFePO4 Chemistry – Deep Cycle Battery
Epoch RV Battery 12V 300Ah HEATED – Internal heating allows for charging in sub-zero conditions
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Hiking Duke Creek Falls and Biking Smithgall Woods State Park in Helen, GA
We had several weeks of great weather in North Georgia to go out and experience the hills and trails. This week I visited two popular spots, Dukes Creek Falls for a hike to a series of beautiful waterfalls and Smithgall Woods State Park to bike over 5 miles in this amazing conservation area.
Duke Creek Falls
Dukes Creek Falls is located on Russell-Brasstown National Scenic Highway a few minutes outside of Helen, GA and 20 minutes from Leisure Acres Campground. This was one of our shorter hikes we experienced this year providing great views of the surrounding mountains, vibrant Fall foliage, and the series of waterfalls at the end of the trail did not disappoint.
The trail is well walked and offers a number of short steps and wooden walkways along the trail and at the bottom to observe the waterfalls. The walk is gradual, well maintained, and did not contain any obstacles to navigate. There were several spot along the trail where we could stop and see the mountains with this year’s Fall canopy rich in yellows, oranges and reds. As we walked the trail, we were able to view Dukes Creek and teased with a number of small cascading flows along the rock formations as a hint to what we would find at the end of the trail.
Reaching the bottom of the trail, we were greeted with a number of waterfalls. One was a small stream starting several hundreds hundreds of feet above and gracefully flowing down the mountain side to the stream below. Continuing along the observation deck, a series of falls flowed over a large rock formation. The waterfalls and the cascading steam below gave a beautiful show with the hills and Fall foliage in the background.
The hike back to the top took around 30 minutes and took moderate effort. At the top, is another view of the mountain vistas in the distance capping off this hike in the North Georgia mountains.
Smithgall Woods State Park
Leaving Dukes Creek Falls and heading back to the campground, we stopped at Smithgall Woods State Park located at 61 Tsalaki Trail next to Helen, GA.
Smithgall Woods is a Conservation Area consisting of 5,664 acres as a protected wilderness area. It contains old growth forests, trout streams, and abundance of wildlife. The area is named for Charles A. Smithgall Jr., a Georgia publisher and philanthropist who sold the property to the state in 1994 for half its appraised value. During his time of ownership, he had teams restock streams and plant thousands of trees to restore the natural beauty.
I took the bike to ride along 5 miles of trails. The bike trails were a mix of paved and gravel roads where I experienced the beautiful hardwood trees in their fall colors along with the streams and wildlife. We didn’t have time to enjoy the many trails in the park during this trip, but the bike ride didn’t disappoint.
I hope you have an opportunity to visit these sites in the future. They are easy to hike and bike and there’s so much to see in these nature wonderlands.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We are always on the lookout for innovative power solutions for the RV traveler. We have looked at both power stations and lithium batteries as sources when campground power isn’t available. Today we are evaluating the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery due to it’s large capacity and value pricing. We also wanted to take this opportunity to go a step farther providing a power station environment using the battery along with a 14.4V 20 Amp battery charger and DC Battery Outlet also provided by Time USB. This solution supplies battery power to the RV along with charging and outlets to power DC and USB devices at a very affordable price.
Why Lithium Batteries Vs Lead Acid Batteries
Over the last 18 months we have become big fans of lithium batteries. We’re not long term boondockers, but we often tow our 5th wheel for extended periods or have overnight stops where pedestal power may not be available. The power offered by lithium over lead acid batteries makes a substantial difference in these instances.
Many RVs, our Montana 5th wheel included, come from the factory with Group 27 lead acid batteries. These batteries have been a main stay in the industry providing reliable power for the 12V DC devices and lighting found in most motorized and pull behind RVs.
The downside of lead acid batteries has been their weight and capacity. Most 100 Amp Group 27 lead acid batteries are capable of providing 50 amps of usable power. This is the result of the damage that can occur when discharging a lead acid battery below 12V DC which is one half or 50 remaining amps in the battery. To achieve 100 amps of usable power, two Group 27 batteries are used, configured in parallel.
Using a Lithium battery such as the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery, we can provide 4 times the amp hour capacity found in two Group 27 lead acid batteries with less than half of the weight. This increase in available amps is the result of the LifePO4 cells that make up the 12V battery and the battery management system (BMS) limiting the discharge to 10% without damaging the battery cells.
Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery Specifications
12.8V Nominal voltage
230Ah Capacity
50A BMS board
2944Wh energy
1920 Max. power
150A Max. current
44lb battery weight
19 x 6.7 x 9.5 in Dimensions (L*W*H)
15000 Cycles & 10-year Service Life
There is a temperature issue to consider with the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery and other lithium batteries that do not have low temperature protection. These LifePO4 batteries cannot be charged below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or the battery cells will experience permanent damage.
Evaluating the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery
Charging the Battery We started our test with a fully charged battery. As part of the evaluation, we used the 14.4V 20 amp charger provided by Time USB. This is a cost effective charger that was simple to use with a status LED glowing red while charging and green when complete. We started the charge late in the afternoon and it was complete the following morning to start our battery evaluation.
Real World Battery Test Our process to evaluate RV batteries is to place in a real operating environment where devices and lighting in our Montana 5th wheel are powered as we tow and use the RV. In the evaluation we use the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery without any external power from our F-350 Super Duty, the solar panel, or 110V pedestal power. Our effort was to determine how the battery would perform over an extended period of time in an actual use environment with no external charging.
Our evaluation lasted over 25 hours running a large 110V AC 3-door GE residential refrigerator through a 2000 watt DC to AC inverter. We also operated 12V LED lights throughout the 5th wheel along with constant demands from various devices such as thermostats, 12V to USB chargers, etc.
Battery Test Results At the end of the 25 hours of use, we still had an estimated 35% of battery capacity available. This exceeded our expectations for this battery, but we had one more device to evaluate – the Time USB DC Battery Socket Outlet.
Using the Time USB DC Battery Socket Outlet The Time USB DC Battery Socket Outlet was inexpensive yet a convent way to have a number of power connections supporting a wide variety of options. It took minutes to mount the outlet on a wall and connect to the battery with the supplied cable. The unit has a LED power display to show the current state of the battery along with a 12V cigarette style accessory outlet, 2 – USB 2.4A, 2 – QC 3.0 USB, and 2 – USB C connections.
We tested the Outlet with a 55 Quart 12V chest style refrigerator and all of the USB connections using a cell phone. Each device powered or charged with no issues.
Final Thoughts
The Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery performed well and gave an affordable solution to extend our travels using a single lithium battery. In our use with the addition of our solar charging, we will be able to extend our time in towing and overnight night stays where pedestal power isn’t available and the use of a gas generator isn’t convenient.
Out thanks to Time USB for providing the Time USB 230Ah LifePO4 Battery, charger and socket outlet for our evaluation.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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One of the fun activities I enjoy when we travel to the mountains are all the great trails to hike. On this years trip to North Georgia I wanted to find trails that I haven’t experienced and if water falls were in the mix then even better. In this video I share Raven Cliff Falls in Helen, GA. It’s the peak of Fall and the scenery if spectacular.
Hiking Raven Cliff Falls
A short drive from the campground and minutes from Helen is Raven Cliff Falls located off 3000 Richard Russell Hwy, Helen, GA. The trail to the falls follows Dodd Creek and offers a wide variety of scenery.
Most trail maps rate the trail as moderate and I agree. I found the trail to be well hiked, easy to follow with a few easy creek crossing. The area that had the most difficulty was at the end along the steep cliffs.
There were a number of smaller waterfalls along the trail that were easy to access and provided a great location for photos. At the end are very large and shear granite cliffs where the highest waterfalls are located. Unfortunately, there has been little rain over the past few weeks when and the falls were not very prominent. But, the lack of water did not detract from the beauty of the area.
I hiked mid week and it wasn’t crowded, but weekends during the popular seasons can be very busy. This was a fun hike that took most of the morning. Great views along the way and opportunities for great views across the seasons.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Joan and I enjoy wandering around North Georgia. This area has been one of our favorite RV destinations for the last 10 years. And this year continues to amaze us as we return to some past destinations and as well as discovering new places never visited.
Crane Creek Vineyards
In this video below, we start at Crane Creek Vineyards located in Young Harris, GA. We missed this vineyard last year and on this trip went to the Farm House tasting room located at the base of the vineyard. This was a first usually going to the top of the vineyard to the newer Stone House. The Farm House was built in 1901 and still retrains much of the old charm. Located at the bottom section of the vineyard, covered sitting areas have been added along with seating along the edge near the vines.
We visited on this crisp Fall day enjoying this years wine vintages along with excellent Barbecue from the food truck. Crane Creek Vineyards is pet friendly and Joan and I were entertained by a number of the fur babies who visited. This was a great start this years wandering around North Georgia.
Blue Ridge Honey Company – North Georgia
Located a few miles south of Clayton, GA on US 441, is Blue Ridge Honey Company. This is one of those places we pass often when I suggest to Joan that we need to check out. Embarrassed to say how many times we have said that over the years of our North Georgia travels. Finally, we stopped and were not disappointed.
Blue Ridge Honey Co. is a family business with bee yards located in Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina and South Georgia. Something that impressed us was the quality of the honey. Their honey is pure, natural and raw. They do not pasteurize or micro filter the honey. And the results were proof. We sampled each variety from the often found clover and wildflower to more unique types of blueberry, black sage, and more. You may be asking what was our favorite? All of them!!!
Aside from tasting the honey, we were able to see the production area, a live hive (safely behind glass) and many other products made from beeswax and honey.
Jumpin Goat Coffee Roasters
A few minutes from the campground is Jumpin Goat Coffee Roasters located at 2404 Helen Highway in Cleveland GA. Pulling off the highway and continuing up the hillside driveway, we were greeted with one of the most stunning views in Cleveland. The cafe and roaster is located on a ridge overlooking gentle rolling hills with an amazing presentation of Mt Yonah in the background.
Walking to the cafe, I was greeted with the wonderful aroma of fresh roasted beans and seeing the smoke rolling along the side of the building, Inside the cafe, the friendly staff welcomed me and I couldn’t wait to have a fresh brewed coffee. I treated myself to a delicious Americana and returned outside to enjoy the views.
Before I returned to the campground, I couldn’t leave without purchasing a number of their excellent coffees and gazing at the incredible views one more time.
We’ll be in this area for a while and looking forward to sharing this years adventures as we continue our wandering around North Georgia.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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We have been testing e-bikes that fit our RV lifestyle for the past 12 months. Some of these have been expensive e-bikes that have been feature rich. We’ve had many comments on our YouTube channel as well as contacts from our lovervlife.com website stating they wanted an e-bike, but needed a more affordable solution yet retain many of they features to make the e-bike experience enjoyable. So we took up the challenge to find an e-bike that met those requirements. We are contacted by many e-bike manufacturers and settled on the HiBoy EX6 Electric Bike. At the time of this video and blog, the direct purchase from HiBoy or from Amazon with coupon, the e-bike is below the $1,000 price and maintains all the features we find important for an enjoyable experience.
HiBoy EX6 E-Bike Features
500W powerful brushless motor – 500w high speed brushless motor, with high torque and a top speed 25+mph.
15AH Large capacity battery – 15AH/48V removable battery that can help you go 41 miles on electricity alone and 75 miles with pedal assistance depending on terrain.
All-terrain fat tire and fork shocks – The 20″ x 4.0″ all-terrain fat tire e-bike is suitable for riding on all kinds of bumpy terrain, mud and beach. The 4″ fat tire is large wheel to ground contact area and cave-in resistance as well as better grip. The fork shocks provide a smooth and comfortable riding experience on rough and rocky terrain.
Ergonomic riding design – Adjustable handlebars provide a comfortable riding experience along with a memory foam adjustable seat. The seat height is adjustable and along with the low step-in frame and the step-in design allows riders to get on/off the bike quickly and with little effort.
Comfortable riding experience – Built in 3 riding modes, easy to switch by button. The e-bike can be used as a standard bike with now assistance. The power of the HiBoy EX6 E-bike comes from the 5 modes of torque assist and 500 watt motor. Making changes from the handlebar mounted controller can be handled with ease. The Shimano 7 speed shifting package gives the e-bike greater versatility to handle the step hills and rough terrain.
See the video below for our experience with the HiBoy EX6 E-Bike. Our thanks to HiBoy providing the EX6 e-bike for our evaluation. We have provided links below for the purchase of the e-bike and available discounts.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
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Due to some medical issues, we had to limit our summer travel. I share more in the video below. The very good news is all is well and after many months we are heading back out to enjoy some extended RV travel. With the 5th wheel sitting for these many months and time for some annual maintenance, I thought this would be a good time to share preparing our RV for a trip.
RV roof inspection
Owning an RV for 10 years, we’ve learned from experience (not always positive) to give the roof a thorough inspection. I look at all the roof seams that have lap sealant, and check the plastic skylight and roof vents for cracks. It never fails that after a year of travel, there are locations in the lap sealant that crack or separate the will allow water to intrude. A few minutes of inspection and follow up with a little lap sealant will prevent leaks and worse, damage to the RV roof and ceiling.
Cleaning a very dirty 5th wheel
We had a heavy travel scheduled planned for the year, with the July 1 injury everything stopped. We parked a dirty 5th wheel only to get worse from dirt and pollen along with the road scum hardening on the surface. Our next step for preparing our RV for a trip was to give the 5th wheel a good scrub.
It takes us around 3 hours to wash the external surfaces of our 5th wheel. The roof had gone from a bright white to an ugly gray and black. Aside from it dirty appearance, a dark roof adsorbs the sun and doesn’t reflect causing unwanted heat. Our roof is PVC and when clean reflects the sun and reduces the hot temperatures in the 5th wheel.
We don’t use a pressure washer. I don’t have an issue with those who have pressure washer skills, I don’t. I prefer to use a large, soft bristle car wash brush. Also, harsh detergents such as Dawn or similar products can cause damage to the RV surface finish stripping the wax and causing premature oxidation. I’ve had good success using Meguiar’s M4364 Marine/RV Boat Wash. A large bottle will last several years and I use on our F-350 too.
Tow vehicle tire inspection
Having experienced two RV tire blow outs during our early RV travels, I never start a long trip without inspecting the condition of our tires and tire pressure. We also use TST tire monitoring on our 5th wheels and F-350 to watch for changes in temperatures and pressure that could result in a blow out while traveling.
We always follow the tire pressures recommended by the RV and tire manufacturer. These are posted on the side or inside the doorway of the RV and on the side of the tire. Under or over inflating the tires can cause excessive tire pressure or over heating and result in failure.
We also inspect the condition of the tires. We look for damage to the sidewalls or the treads resulting for pot holes or other road hazards. We check the bead next to the rim. We look for cracks, defects or any indication of dry rot. If found, we have the tires replaced.
Also check the tire lugs to ensure each are tight. You can find the manufacturer axle recommendations for lugs online.
Failing to inspect and remedy RV tire issues can cause failure and when these tires blow, they destroy the sides of the RV and can blow holes in the floor.
Tow vehicle hitch and tires
For those that have a tow vehicle, the hitch should be inspected at least once a year. This included both 5th wheel and camper hitches. Inspect and tighten all the bolts. Look for cracks or failed welds in the hitch, tongue or pin. Lube the hitch per manufacturers recommendations.
For those of us who tow 5th wheels and have older trucks without the puck system, check the bolts connecting the rails to the frame. Make sure all are tight to the brackets and frame.
Those miscellaneous tasks before travel
There are a number of small, yet important tasks to perform before RV travel and more so if the RV has been sitting for a period of time. In the video below, I share our steps for each as they relate to our needs and may be helpful as you prepare for your travels.
If you need more information about the products used in the video, we have provided helpful links below.
Our thanks to Brooklyn Bedding who sponsored today’s video. Go to https://rvmattress.com/ilovervlife and use discount code “ilovervlife” for 25% off any mattress.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Can you earn a living with YouTube Part 2 – How much we earn from YouTube
This is Part 2 of our two part series “Can you earn a living with YouTube?” In this installment I share how much we make from YouTube and our efforts to off set the expenses to create content and supplement these costs with income from YouTube.
If you missed Part 1 – Tips to help you start your YouTube channelclick here to view.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Can you earn a living with YouTube Part 1 – Tips to help start your YouTube channel
This is Part 1 of a two part series titled “Can you earn a living with YouTube?” The simple answer is maybe. Their are a number of parts that we have learned as to what makes a YouTube channel successful and more so, the challenge to making money from our efforts.
In Part 1, I cover the landscape for YouTube, how large and an intro as to the overall volume of YouTube. I also cover a number of helpful tips as to how to be successful from content creation and the overall channel and video creation process.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Replacing RV bed gas struts are a relatively easy task. These bed struts go bad after a few years of use or are needed when bedding is replaced with a heavier mattress. In our case, we replaced our mattress with a Brooklyn Bedding Signature series and along with the added comfort, increased the weight by two and half times. This overloaded the existing gas struts and it was difficult to raise the bed for storage access and the bed would not stay in the raised position. The fix is very easy and cost us around $20.
It’s Easy Replacing the RV Gas Struts
Our first task was to determine the load rating and length of the existing gas struts. This may be found on the gas strut label or a quick search of the model number on Google will give the data needed. Also, measure both the length of the black section of the strut and the overall length when extended before purchasing a new strut.
If the existing bedding is used, stay with the same weight strut as installed at the factory. We knew we increased the weight of our bedding and looked for struts around two times stronger than factory. Our Montana 5th wheel came with 80lb struts and we increased the strength to 150lbs. With a bedding increase, using too little will not ease lifting and staying in place, and too strong could cause attachment pull out from the wood or the bed platform will not stay in place when closed.
We show our process of removing old struts and replacing with new in the video below. It took us less than hour. It’s important to look at the strut used. Some can be removed from the hardware, others may be permanently installed and the struts will need to be unscrewed from the platform and new strut installed. Our installation required us to remove a spring clip holding the strut to the hardware, remove strut, install new strut and replace with the provided spring clip.
I can’t confirm your specific installation needs, but if you have used similar bedding and have the same length in gas strut, I’ve providing a link to the unit we purchased below.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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BigBlue SolarPowa 20 – USB Charging for the Campsite and Beach
Our RV travels take Joan and I to places where there’s no power for our devices such as cell phones, tablets or our Internet hotspot. For the past year, we have used the large power stations for supplemental power and they have worked great, but they are large, bulky and heavy for short trips when we need to charge our phones. We now have an alternative, the BigBlue SolarPowa 20 portable solar panel with two USB ports. With the SolarPowa 20, we can head to the beach or a weekend outing, pack light and keep our phones and tablets charged.
BigBlue SolarPowa 20
The BigBlue SolarPowa 20 is light weight and fits easily in a backpack or carry bag. The panel weighs 1.7 lbs and folded is 9” X 9” and with the attached USB power connection is 1.5″ thick. Open, the panel is 26” X 9”.
The back of the solar panel contains the USB charger with a USB Type-A and a USB Type-C connection, both rated at 5V and 2.4A. Also on the back is a folding arm that fits flat when stored and can be open to act as a kick stand to gain the best angle for sun exposure. We also like the reinforced eyelets on the corners where we can hang from our tent when we spend the day at the beach.
BigBlue SolaPowa 20 Features
EASY TO CARRY: Portable, rugged and lightweight. Easy solutions for portable USB charging.
HIGH-EFFICIENCY: Latest custom-designed N-Type PERC TOPCon Solar cells with energy conversion of 24.3%.
CONVERSION OPTIMIZATION: Easy to deploy adjustable stand to angle the panel from 30- to 60-degree. Reinforced eyelets to hang the panel.
WEATHER- PROOF: Weather-proof with a 10-year performance warranty.
Testing the BigBlue SolarPowa 20
We wanted a bright sunny day to test the BigBlue SolarPowa 20, but after two weeks of rain and overcast skies, decided to give the panel a real world test during a partly cloudy day. We expected this would be a challenge for the panel, but perfect sunny days aren’t always available when we travel and we need to charge our phones.
For the test we used a Samsung 8+ cell phone and a Samsung 8” tablet. The phone was completely discharged and the tablet was at 26%. We connected both devices using a USB cable to the BigBlue SolarPowa 20 and gave the panel 3 hours to charge. During the test, we experienced several large clouds obstructing the sun from panel for short periods and estimate full sun for about half of the charging time.
At the end of 3 hours hours, the phone battery charged from 0 to 63% and the tablet charged from 26% to 81%. We didn’t use the devices during the charge, but background tasks continued including messaging and emails.
Conclusion
We found the BigBlue SolarPowa 20 to be a light weight, easy to deploy solution when we need USB power for our communications and entertainment devices. Even in less than optimal sun, the panel provided enough power to charge our devices with power to finish our day of travel.
Our thanks to BigBlue for providing the device for our evaluation. We have provided helpful links below for more information about this unit and how to purchase for your next RV outing.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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We started the day with no hot water when connected to the campground power and using the 120V power option for the water heater. Fortunately, we were able to use the propane switch and the water heater functioned well. For most RV water heaters, the parts that are most likely to fail are easy to test and replace if needed. This held true for our 12 Gallon Suburban Advantage Tank Water Heater model 5146A/F. Now it was time for RV water heater troubleshooting and repair.
Troubleshooting An RV Water Heater
We’ve all forgot to turn on the water heater when we arrive at the campground. This was the most obvious starting point. I checked to ensure both the 120V water heater switch was on and the breaker feeding the water heater had not tripped. Both were on and still no hot water. Next step was troubleshooting the water heater components.
The components mostly likely to fail are the 120V water heater element or the thermostat switch. Starting with the water heater element, first ensure no AC or DC power is going the water heater. If the unit has been heating with propane, give the water heater time to cool.
We removed the heating element cover and use a digital voltmeter set to AC voltage to ensure no AC power is going to the heater element. Once confirmed, I removed one power lead from the electric heater element, set the digital meter to OHMS, and placed the probes on each heater element. We had a reading of 10 OHMS indicating a functional heater element.
Our next step was to test the 120 volt thermostat switch. On the 12 Gallon Suburban Advantage Tank Water Heater model 5146A/F there are two thermostat switches. This can be found near the top of the water heater with two rubber inserts used to reset the switches if overheating occurs. With the cover removed you’ll find the 12V thermostat switch on the right and the 120V on the left. The 12V has a wide, flat conductor running top to bottom and the 120V has a thin wire located in the same place.
First we found the power wire located at the bottom of the 120V thermostat switch had overheated and some of the insulation wire was burned. We removed the wire and tested the switch with the digital voltmeter. The bottom of the switch has two tabs, one where the power wire connects and the second with a soldered wire going to the top of the switch. I set the digital volt meter to OHMS and placed a lead on each post. A working switch will read a short, zero on the digital voltmeter. If the switch has failed, the reading will be low or open depending on the voltmeter’s display. Our reading was low indicating a bad switch.
It was time to order parts and begin the repair.
Repairing An RV Water Heater
We ordered a new Suburban 232306 Thermostat Switch, Model: 232306 from Amazon. Looking at the back of the thermostat switch ensure you see the 2306 before ordering. Replacing the switch was simple, slip off the power wires, remove the center nut, pull off the old thermostat switch and reverse the process to install the new unit. Make sure the nut is tight to create a thermal bond between the water tank and the switch, but do not over tighten and risk breaking the threaded stud from the tank.
We also suspect the power wire either rubbed the metal edge and the wire shorted, or the power connector wasn’t tight causing overheating, but most likely the thermostat switch overheated causing the wire to burn before the switch completely failed. We replaced the connector, reconnected all wires, replaced all the covers, and it was time to turn on the 120V switch to the water heater and see if our repairs worked.
RV Water Heater Troubleshooting And Repair Results
Our RV water heater troubleshooting and repair was a success. Turning the 120V power to the water heater and waiting about an hour, hot water had returned. The troubleshooting process discussed took less than 30 minutes. With Amazon Prime, we had the Suburban 232306 Thermostat Switch, Model: 232306 in two days and the repairs took less than an hour.
If you have basic skills using small tools, RV water heater troubleshooting and repair is simple. The two most common parts to fail are inexpensive. At the time of this blog, the Suburban 232306 Thermostat Switch, Model: 232306 was $16 and if the heating element failed, its cost would have been $20. With a few minutes of troubleshooting and repair we were able to have 120V heated water again.
If using tools and wiring isn’t your skill set and a RV technician is needed, this is one of the lessor cost repairs for parts with labor being the higher cost component.
The video below shows our step-by-step process to troubleshoot and repair. I’ve also included helpful links below for parts, tools, and our blog showing how to use a digital voltmeter.
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It was the Monday before Labor Day 2023 in Daytona Beach, FL and the calm before the storm. Hurricane Idalia was starting to make progress north from Cuba and the weather reports were the possibility of making landfall on Wednesday along the section of the Florida Panhandle known as the Bend. On this Monday, the sky was clear, a gentle breeze and it was a great time to take an ebike ride from the campground to the beach and back. In the video below I share the beach repair progress from last years Hurricane Ian along with the great views of Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach Hurricane Repair Progress
Joan and I return to Daytona Beach, FL each quarter to visit our son who lives in the area. We were in Daytona Beach last September 2022 weeks before Hurricane Ian struck the coast and created substantial damage to many of the condos, hotels, homes and businesses that stretch along Hwy A1A from Ormand Beach south to New Symrna Beach. Buildings were damaged, but the big impact was the result of the sea walls failing along the beach.
In the video below we show the repair progress as well as shots from the beautiful Daytona Beach. We also share tips for those interested in visiting the area especially during the “shoulder season” periods.
Daytona Beach and Hurricane Idalia
For most of the Daytona Beach area south faired well during Hurricane Idalia. We were fortunate to only experience some moderate wind gusts that lasted from sundown on Tuesday and continued for most of the day Wednesday.
For those along the west coast of Florida and through the pan handle we pray for your safety and a speedy recovery.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Our daughter Julie and her husband Josh along with the grandkids camp each year at the Smoky Mountain Campground located just outside of Bryson City, NC. The campground is located at the Deep Creek entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain Nation Park and is a favorite for tubers along with the many trails for hikers and bikes. We wanted them to have an extras special time and thought it would be fun to share our CyCrown CyFree so they could e-bike in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the video below Julie shares their experience with the e-bike along with many of the beautiful views along Deep Creek.
CyCrown CyFree E-Bike
On this years trip we shared the CyCrown CyFree, a 20″ fat tire foldable e-bike with a 750W motor, dual front shock absorbers, along with Shimano 7-Speed gears to make the most difficult hill climbs easy. We’ve found the CyCrown CyFree to be one of the more affordable e-bikes for RV travelers yet very well built and wide range of features and options. We especially like the folding feature allowing us to easily store the e-bike in our 5th wheel storage area.
Smoky Mountain Campground
Joan and I understand why Julie, Josh and family love the Smoky Mountain Campground located in the community of Deep Creek, NC. This campground provides a family friendly environment located along the edge of Deep Creek, a favorite North Carolina tubing location. The campground is located at the Deep Creek entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and tubers can walk, bike, or drive along the creek for a long float through the park to the campground. Aside from the tubing, there are great trails, waterfalls as well as an abundance of nature for those perfect camping pictures.
We appreciate CyCrown providing the e-bike for our evaluation. If you’re interested in purchasing a CyFree or one of the other CyCrown e-bikes, we’ve provided helpful links below.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Using your RV blank tank does not have to be scary. Whether you’re a seasoned RV traveler or new to the world of camping, understanding how to maintain your RV black tank is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. From our 10 years of RV travel, we have created 9 tips to help you maintain your RV black tank. By following these tips you can to have a clean and well-maintained black tank so you can fully enjoy your RV travels without any unwanted odors or problems.
In the video below, we’ll walk you through the process of cleaning your RV’s black tank, provide expert tips, step-by-step instructions, and share answers to many of the RV black tank questions received from our YouTube comments or iLoveRVlife website contact page.
RV Black Tank Topics Covered In The Video
Take care of your black tank – RV toilet paper, enzymes, and cleaning products.
Your black tank needs water.
Never leave your black tank dump valve open.
Cleaning your black tank sensors.
Black tank hoses and connectors.
The 5 gallon bucket method.
Black tank hose storage.
Managing black tank hose storage container odor.
Using a portable camper tote. a.ka. The Blue Boy
So don’t fear the RV black tank. With our 9 tips to help you maintain your RV black tank video, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to keep your RV in top condition.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Over the last year of RV travel, we have become big fans of lithium batteries. We have reviewed a number of lithium battery manufacturers and had a great response finding quality products. The problem has been cost. Many viewers of our YouTube channel and from the responses from this website contact page have asked if there were others lithium options that were affordable. Our search lead use to the Goldenmate 200Ah Lithium Battery. This battery is well built, has the features that most need for RV travel, and at the time of this blog, one of the most affordable lithium batteries in the 200Ah category.
Why Use Lithium Batteries for RV Travel?
Lithium batteries are a great option to power the 12 volt devices in an RV and very proficient when it comes to powering traditional 120 volt AC appliances using an inverter. Much lighter that lead acid batteries, with zero maintenance, and where lead acid batteries can be discharged to 50% before damaging the cells, a lithium battery can be safely discharged to 90%.
The Goldenmate 200Ah Lithium Battery
The Goldenmate 200Ah Lithium Battery is a 12V LiFePO4 battery suitable for high-load and long-duration applications. Out testing found the performance was perfect for RV/outdoor camping. The LiFePO4 battery can withstand 5000+ cycles, which is more than 10 times the cycle life of traditional lead-acid batteries. The battery come with a built-in Battery Management System to safeguard against overcharging, over-discharging, overcurrent, overheating, and short circuits.
We found the Goldenmate 200Ah Lithium Battery to be a cost effective and well performing battery for RV travel. As a standalone battery, there was ample capacity to power all the devices in the RV including our large residential refrigerator on long tows with power to spare.
Our thanks to Goldenmate for providing the lithium battery for our review. See the helpful links below if you would like to learn more or purchase a Goldenmate lithium battery for your RV travel needs.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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If you’re seeking a journey through time, a visit to the Stone Mountain Park Historic Square is a must. Located in the center of Stone Mountain Park, this historic square offers a glimpse into the past. The Square contains a collections of building moved from a number of Georgia locations that were built between 1792 and 1875. Each building was moved and was carefully restored to much of it original state along with a collection of furnishing that were contained in the original house.
The Evolution of Stone Mountain Park Historic Square
Located on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, the Stone Mountain Park Historic Square is a unique destination for history enthusiasts, families, and curious minds alike. This well-preserved area offers a window into the past, taking visitors back in time for a glimpse of life as it was in the 1800’s.
The Historic Square within Stone Mountain Park showcases the evolution of Southern culture and architecture. From its humble beginnings, it has grown into a meticulously curated representation of the past. The square’s buildings, pathways, and decor all reflect the changing times and the merging of cultures that shaped the region.
Some of the Historic Square Buildings:
Allen House from Bartow County, GA – Circa 1845
Dr. Chapmon Powell’s Cabin from Dekalb County, GA – Circa 1826
Thorton House from Greene County, GA – Circa 1792
Davis House from Calhoun, GA – Circa 1856
Powell Academy Schoolhouse from Dekalb County, GA – Circa 1875
As we toured the Historic Square, it was as though we stepped into a time machine. I’m a huge fan of 1800 architecture and seeing the construction of each home was a testament to the craftsmanship of the past. Viewing each home, I had to admire the intricate details of furniture, textiles, and household items that were an part of daily life in bygone era.
Visiting Stone Mountain Park
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Stone Mountain Park, the Historic Square is an ideal starting point for outdoor adventures. Whether you’re into hiking, picnicking, or simply soaking in breathtaking views, the park offers a multitude of outdoor activities.
This living museum captures the essence of Southern heritage and invites you to be a part of its ongoing story. The Stone Mountain Park Historic Square isn’t just for entertainment – it’s a valuable educational resource with an experience that makes history come alive.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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When we travel in our 5th wheel, we enjoy our grilling time. Over the years of RV travel we have tried a number of portable gas grills. We are on the road for over half of the year and longer, and use our portable grill weekly. From our last live YouTube broadcast, I mentioned we cook often in our travels and many commented they wanted to see what we cook. We thought it would be fun to show 3 great outdoor meals on the Monument Grill.
We’ve used and burned out more grills than we can count with the biggest issue being the burners usually lasting less than a year. Good news is we found Monument Grills. We have been using a Monument Grill for over a year and other than heavy use, it’s works as good as new. And if we have issues, it’s easy to purchase spare parts and they are reasonably priced.
In the video, we show two Monument Gas Grills. Don’t fast forward the video! We have a number of tips, plus our son Joel is a great chef and he shared some of his cooking tips. And as promised in the video, here is Joel’s Steak Marinade.
Joel’s Steak Marinade
1 1/2 Cup Seet Red Wine
1 1/2 Cup Italian Dressing
1 Cup Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
2 Tbls Franks Hot Sauce
1 Tbls Garlic Powder
1 Tbls Onion Powder
1 Tbls Kosher Salt
Stir briskly. Set in refrigerator for 1 hour before use. Marinade steaks 4 hours before grilling.
I mentioned we show two grills in the video. Along with the G22 Tabletop Grill, we also show the Mesa 400. Traveling in June and July, we noticed a number of RVs camping together. These large groups would gather nightly and cookout. Each brought a large residential style grill along to have ample cooking space. We liked the idea and being that we have had great results with the G22 Tabletop Grill, we contacted Monument to try their Mesa 400 4-burner grill.
Below are the features for both grills shown in the video.
Monument G22 | Stainless 2 Burner Tabletop Gas Grill
Stainless steel body for easy cleaning and long-lasting quality. Two main stainless-steel burners with a total of 15,000 BTUs deliver fast and even heat and a great grilling experience. The design of the large front handle, locking lid, and four legs make this grill very portable, and easy to transport or store.
Features
Burners: Two independently controlled 304 stainless steel burners with 15,000 BTU to deliver powerful heat. Stainless flame tamers ensure even heat delivering great flavors.
Clear view lid is made of high heat tested, tempered glass that allows you to keep an eye on what you are cooking without letting heat out by opening the lid 200 square inches of the total cooking area offers plenty of grilling space.
Stainless steel cooking grates designed for even cooking.
Lightweight and Portable: Small in size, can be put RV storage area, ideal for outdoor cooking, camping, or traveling.
Versatile: Includes 40-inch hose to connect to 20lb Propane Tank(tank not included).
Easy to assemble and clean: Start a BBQ experience immediately without spending much time assembling. The removable drip tray and stainless-steel body are easy to clean after a barbecue.
Mesa 400 | 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Four burner gas grill upgraded with a viewing window keeps the slick design. High quality stainless classic sturdy design for durability, 4+1 burner design with 690 sq. cooking area plus 60,000 BTU keep the fast and even heat all the time.
Features
Burners: Four main 304 stainless steel burners and one stainless steel side burner with a total of 60,000 BTUs. Stainless flame tamers ensure even heat delivering great flavors.
Cooking Space: 690 square inches of the total cooking area. 480 square inches of primary cooking area and 210 square inches of warming rack area.
Grates: Porcelain cast-iron cooking grates designed for even cooking.
Construction: 430 stainless steel lid, firebox, door, and side shelves.
LED Control Knobs for increased visibility at night.
Electronic ignition system for easy burner starts.
Our thanks to Monument Gas Grills sending us the new G22 Table Top Grill and the Mesa 400 Gas for our review. See the helpful links below for more information about these and other Monument Grills.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
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Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Stone Mountain Park is a natural wonderland located just a short drive away from the center of downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The park spans over 3,200 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities and attractions. Whether you prefer RV camping with full hook-up sites or pitching a tent, Stone Mountain Campground offers a fun camping experience, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning views of Stone Mountain itself.
But, camping is just part of the experience at Stone Mountain Park. There is so much for the entire family to experience from hiking in nature, the trek to the top of Stone Mountain, great bike trails, fishing, nightly laser shows on the lawn, historic sites, two championship golf courses, ride the scenic railroad, visit the kids attraction park, and so much more.
Stone Mountain Campground
There are multiple campgrounds that range from large paved, full hook-up, big rig friendly sites, those that surround the pool and kids activity area, large wooded spots, tent camping along the edge of the lake, even yurts and camper rentals.
In the video below, we take you along for a brief review though some of the campgrounds. There are a wide variety of campgrounds with over 400 sites offering a wide variety of camping experiences. Site range from:
Very large “glamping” spots along the edge of the lake,
Big rig friendly, heavy wooded full hook-up sites,
Large and small sites around the pool and kid’s play area,
Wooded water and electric sites,
Beautiful tent sites along the lake, and
Yurt and camper rentals.
We had no problem finding a site in the mid-priced campground for our 42 foot Montana 5th wheel. Our site was located in L campground with wooded and graveled sites, full 50 amp hook-up with cable, picnic table, and grill. We liked the design of the campground providing ample space between the RVs along with the heavy wooded area giving us relief from the hot summer sun.
Stone Mountain Park Sites and Activities
In the video below we share some of the sites and activities we experienced during our stay. We had great bike rides, a stop at the old Grist Mill, on to the quarry exhibit, then off to lawn for a view of the mountain, the Stone Mountain Museum at Memorial Hall, and some of the attractions for the kids.
Here is a list of the some of the many amenities to experience at Stone Mountain Park.
Summit Skyride to the top of Stone Mountain
Historic Square: A Collection Of Georgia Homes and Antiques
Scenic Railroad: A 5 mile ride around Stone Mountain in open-air cars pulled by a full-size locomotive from the 1940’s.
Miniature golf course
4D Theater
Geyser Splash Pad
Camp Highland Outpost: With rock walls to climb and a low ropes course with multiple line bridges
SkyHike®: Experience treetops on one of the nation’s largest family adventure courses
Fishing in Stone Mountain Lake
Two 18-Hole golf courses
Abundance of walk, Jog and bike trails
Visit the Covered bridge, a historical pine and cedar bridge
Tour the grounds of the centuries old Grist Mill
And so much more!
Stone Mountain Park is one of those special destinations that Joan and I enjoy visiting again and again. The Park is that special place to escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. With its wide variety of campground offerings, the picturesque surroundings, a extensive list of recreational activities, and the many fun family attractions, it promises an unforgettable experience for all ages.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Thinking about your first e-bike? View the short video below of our son Joel’s 1st e-bike ride. And in true fashion, Joel likes to go all out and push the limits. His suggestion was “Hey Pops, let’s ride 30 miles!” And that’s exactly what we did.
The Florida Rails to Trails
We found a great trail, The Florida Rails to Trails, that started on the edge of New Smyrna Beach, FL and stretched to Titusville. As much as we want to go end -to-end on the trails, we road the e-bikes for 30 miles on this hot summer day. A beautiful ride with great scenery and abundance of wildlife. The trail is paved and there are virtually no hills, just a great ride to experience nature at its best.
HOVSCO HOVBeta
Joel road Joan’s new purple HOVSCO HOVBeta e-bike. The HOVSCO HOVBeta is a great companion for RV travel. This e-bike is foldable, portable and storable is a step-through style. We found the HOVBeta easiy to fold and place in our 5th wheel storage bay. With 4″ fat tires, a front suspension fork, and a 750W motor, we found the HovBeta preformed exceptionally well on pavement as well recent mountain trail runs.
Features include:
750w Upgraded hub motor
720Wh Samsung/LG battery
Weighs 66.4 lbs
Speeds up to 28mph after downloading app
Capable range of 60 miles on a single charge
Hydraulic disc brakes
SHIMANO 7 speed shift
5 torque sensor pedal assist settings
Throttle on demand
Our thanks to HOVSCO providing the HOVSCO e-bike for our evaluation. If you’re interested in purchasing one of HOVSCO quality e-bikes, see the helpful links below.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
One of the RV travel adventures that Joan and I enjoy during the summer months is visiting farms and the large farmers markets. During our recent trip, we visited several North Georgia Farms and Farm Stands that were outstanding. Our first stop was Jaemor Farms located on Hwy 23 near Lula, GA. Our second stop was as Allison’s Honey & Vineyard just a short drive from our stay at Leisure Acres Campground. And our last stop was one of our favorites, the Tomato House located on Hwy 115 halfway between Cleveland and Dahlonega, GA.
In our video, we also share a few short excepts from Leisure Acres Campground annual Freedom fest. This was a fun afternoon into the evening event with a powerful patriot theme along with one of the largest fireworks displays held in North Georgia.
Jaemor Farms
This was our first trip to Jaemor Farms and it did not disappoint. The farmers market is adjacent to one of the family farms a few miles north on Hwy 23 near Lula, GA. The farm has been in the family since 1912 growing fresh fruits and produce.
The stalls were loaded with all of our favorites along with an extensive selection of local jams, jellies, salsas, fresh bread and so much more. We cheated a little before we left and visited their cafe offering sandwiches, homemade fried pies and soft ice cream. Oh and the cheat – we had fried apple pie and peach ice cream for lunch.
Allison’s Honey & Vineyard
Allison’s Honey was another first and we thought this visit would be to satisfy our honey craving, but we also found an assortment of estate wines and mead.
We spent a few hours talking with our host about the wide assortment of delicious honeys, plus sampled there latest meads and wine. We did walk away with the standard wild flower and sour wood honeys, but my new favorite was mimosa honey.
The Tomato House
We have been visiting the Tomato House for sometime. Just a few miles from our annual visit at Leisure Acres Campground in Cleveland, GA, we affectionately refer to The Tomato House as Farmers Market eclectic.
Joan always has to stop outside first to investigate all of the mountain decorations for our porch and yard. Then as we walk inside we find a wide assortment of fresh produce and so much more. Our first stop is the wine area to see if we can find any deals on some of our favorite North Georgia wines, and yes we found the deals. Then its off to buy some of the unique jams, salsas, sauces and so much more. If we really want to treat ourselves, we visit the meat counter and have a thick steak cut from their hand select Iowa beef.
Freedom Fest at Leisure Acres Campground
For more than 10 years, John and Peggy Morris, the owners of Leisure Acres Campground have created a patriotic celebration that is held the week before the 4th of July. We were invited this year to attend where we provided a the video services for a Facebook live event on the Leisure Acres Campground Facebook page. We will include a link to the video in the Helpful Links below. The event includes a number of vendors offering various fanfare along with great food. Also, there is a wide assortment of inflatables for the kids.
The 5 hour celebration provided a mixture of single and group acts with contemporary Christian themed music and touching patriotic presentations including a tribute to all who served in the various branches of the military. The grand finally was one of the largest fireworks displays held in North Georgia. It was a great evening for the several thousands who attended.
I’ve provided links below for the places visited and the video from Leisure Acres Freedom Fest.
Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel?
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
Receive the latest updates from I Love RV Life!
Sign up to receive an email notification as we post new RV travels, RV tips and information about RV life in general. It’s simple. Just enter your name and email address on the Subscribe to our newsletter form located at the bottom of this page and click subscribe.
Purchased use of Digital Juice BackTraxx 1 End User License Agreement for Travelin. The Music may be used, altered, or incorporated according to the guidelines described herein into any production (including but not limited to, broadcast, commercial, industrial, educational, and personal).
Traditional RV power systems often face significant stress when starting high-demand appliances such as air conditioners or refrigerators. The Active Control ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start, significantly reduces this high amperage in-rush. The soft start feature gently ramps up the power preventing sudden high amperage spikes caused by the demands of appliance compressors when connected to portable generators, 30 Amp campground pedestals, or a 15 Amp home circuit.
Energy Efficiency
The ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is designed with energy efficiency in mind. By gradually introducing power to an RV’s electrical system, it prevents high amperage surges caused by the compressors found in appliances such air conditioners and refrigerators. This is beneficial when the RV is connected to a small generator or 30 Amp campground power. Minimizing this surge prevents small generators for going into overload or a tripped circuit breaker in the campground 30 Amp connection. With this in-rush surge eliminated, other 120V devices can be used within the parameters of the amperage available without overloading the power connections.
Compact and Easy Installation
The ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is designed for hassle-free RV installation. The ActiveStart is universal and can be used with any 50 Amp RV, or connected to 30 Amp power with a 30-50 Amp adapter, or connected to most common household circuits with a 15-50 Amp adapter.
No wiring is required. This plug-in unit is completely self contained with two soft start devices each serving both 50 Amp L1 and L2 circuits. No costly external wiring to the air conditioners are required. Just plug the unit into a generator or campground power and the soft start function is ready to use.
Enhanced Power Management
Another benefit of the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is its enhance power management capability. This all-in-one power management device not only provides a 50A RV soft start capability, but also provide surge protection and energy management. The unit will monitor system health including current, voltage, and frequency. An easy to use mobile app is available for iOS and Android giving real time readings of power used for each 50A leg.
Cost-Effective Solution
When compared to hard wire soft start solutions, the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start provides a competitive solution. Adding up the cost for two hardwired soft starts, installation of each by a qualified RV technician, along with the Bluetooth power management and surge protection, and the ability to use with any RV, the ActiveStart 50 Amp is a great option for the RV traveler.
ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start Specifications
Inputs: L1, L2, N and Ground
Nominal Voltage: 120-230 VAC, 50-60 Hz
Over Voltage Limits: 132 VAC per leg
Under Voltage Limits: 103 VAC per leg
Surge Protection: 5250 Joules
Current: Maximum nominal= 50 Amps
Over Current Limits: ACS50xx = 53A
Operating Temperature: -4ºF to 176ºF (-20ºC to 80ºC)
Storage Temperature: -40ºF to 149ºF (-20ºC to 65ºC)
Humidity: 5-95% Non-condensing.
Weight: 3 Lbs. (1.36kg)
Warranty: One year limited warranty (standard)
The ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is an essential component for any RV traveler looking to optimize their power management and enhance their overall RV experience. With its ability to mitigate power surges, reduce electrical stress, improve energy efficiency, and protect sensitive electronics and appliances, the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start complete energy management package provided in a simple to use plug-able device.
We have provided the video below with our testing results of this unit. Our thanks to Active Control for providing the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start for our evaluation. If you are interested in knowing more about the Active Control Soft Start units, see our helpful links below.
Traditional RV power systems often face significant stress when starting high-demand appliances such as air conditioners or refrigerators. The Active Control ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start, significantly reduces this high amperage in-rush. The soft start feature gently ramps up the power preventing sudden high amperage spikes caused by the demands of appliance compressors when connected to portable generators, 30 Amp campground pedestals, or a 15 Amp home circuit.
Energy Efficiency
The ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is designed with energy efficiency in mind. By gradually introducing power to an RV’s electrical system, it prevents high amperage surges caused by the compressors found in appliances such air conditioners and refrigerators. This is beneficial when the RV is connected to a small generator or 30 Amp campground power. Minimizing this surge prevents small generators for going into overload or a tripped circuit breaker in the campground 30 Amp connection. With this in-rush surge eliminated, other 120V devices can be used within the parameters of the amperage available without overloading the power connections.
Compact and Easy Installation
The ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is designed for hassle-free RV installation. The ActiveStart is universal and can be used with any 50 Amp RV, or connected to 30 Amp power with a 30-50 Amp adapter, or connected to most common household circuits with a 15-50 Amp adapter.
No wiring is required. This plug-in unit is completely self contained with two soft start devices each serving both 50 Amp L1 and L2 circuits. No costly external wiring to the air conditioners are required. Just plug the unit into a generator or campground power and the soft start function is ready to use.
Enhanced Power Management
Another benefit of the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start is its enhance power management capability. This all-in-one power management device not only provides a 50A RV soft start capability, but also provide surge protection and energy management. The unit will monitor system health including current, voltage, and frequency. An easy to use mobile app is available for iOS and Android giving real time readings of power used for each 50A leg.
Cost-Effective Solution
When compared to hard wire soft start solutions, the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start provides a competitive solution. Adding up the cost for two hardwired soft starts, installation of each by a qualified RV technician, along with the Bluetooth power management and surge protection, and the ability to use with any RV, the ActiveStart 50 Amp is a great option for the RV traveler.
ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start Specifications
Inputs: L1, L2, N and Ground
Nominal Voltage: 120-230 VAC, 50-60 Hz
Over Voltage Limits: 132 VAC per leg
Under Voltage Limits: 103 VAC per leg
Surge Protection: 5250 Joules
Current: Maximum nominal= 50 Amps
Over Current Limits: ACS50xx = 53A
Operating Temperature: -4ºF to 176ºF (-20ºC to 80ºC)
Storage Temperature: -40ºF to 149ºF (-20ºC to 65ºC)
Humidity: 5-95% Non-condensing.
Weight: 3 Lbs. (1.36kg)
Warranty: One year limited warranty (standard)
The ActiveStart 50amp Soft Start is an essential component for any RV traveler looking to optimize their power management and enhance their overall RV experience. With its ability to mitigate power surges, reduce electrical stress, improve energy efficiency, and protect sensitive electronics and appliances, the ActiveStart 50 Amp Soft Start complete energy management package provided in a simple to use plug-able device.
We have provided the video below with our testing results of this unit. Our thanks to Active Control for providing the ActiveStart 50amp Soft Start for our evaluation. If you are interested in knowing more about the Active Control Soft Start units, see our helpful links below.
Specifications
Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
We have another brand portable refrigerator freezer that is very large that we use for our long trips mounted on a slide-out tray in our lower 5th wheel storage bay. But for our outdoor activities, this refrigerator isn’t practical. It’s to large and too heavy especially when we are needing to walk long distances from our truck to wherever the outdoor activity is held.
Our plans are use the ICECO JP50 Pro for 8 or more hours of outdoor activities. We also received the ICECO 250Wh Magnetic Lithium Battery Power Station. This small and lightweight power station was perfect for a day at the beach. After 9 hours with the fridge set to cool at 37°F and opened frequently, we still had 48% of power remaining at the end of the day.
In 8 years, much has changed with these dedicated GPS navigation systems, and that held true for the Garmin RV 895. First impression was the large 8 inch touch screen and easy to access apps and routing features. There was a number of accessories included for mounting to the windshield and a ball mount for systems such as Bulletproof. The magnetic connection for the mount made it easy to store the unit after travel. The 12V DC power cable was long enough to move the unit to any dash location. Below is a short list of features we’ve found useful for our RV travels.
Before I placed the unit in the truck it only took a few minutes to set the unit up to match our travel configuration and create our first route. Our first route took us south on Interstate I-75 to the Daytona Beach, FL area. We’ve traveled this route often and wanted to see if the Garmin RV 895 would offer the best options for road selection. The route was perfect and more so it suggested the I-295 bypass vs taking I-10 through downtown Jacksonville to I-95 which isn’t very friendly for RVs.
We also like the ability to expand the watt hour capacity of the unit with the addition of one or more B2 Multi-functional Batteries each adding 2,100Wh with the ability to increase the MEGA 2 to a total of 10,240Wh of capacity. This gives that extra capacity for longer periods operating higher wattage appliances and storing power when solar production may be degraded due to weather conditions.
In this video below, we start at Crane Creek Vineyards located in Young Harris, GA. We missed this vineyard last year and on this trip went to the Farm House tasting room located at the base of the vineyard. This was a first usually going to the top of the vineyard to the newer Stone House. The Farm House was built in 1901 and still retrains much of the old charm. Located at the bottom section of the vineyard, covered sitting areas have been added along with seating along the edge near the vines.
Located a few miles south of Clayton, GA on US 441, is Blue Ridge Honey Company. This is one of those places we pass often when I suggest to Joan that we need to check out. Embarrassed to say how many times we have said that over the years of our North Georgia travels. Finally, we stopped and were not disappointed.
A few minutes from the campground is Jumpin Goat Coffee Roasters located at 2404 Helen Highway in Cleveland GA. Pulling off the highway and continuing up the hillside driveway, we were greeted with one of the most stunning views in Cleveland. The cafe and roaster is located on a ridge overlooking gentle rolling hills with an amazing presentation of Mt Yonah in the background.
We removed the heating element cover and use a digital voltmeter set to AC voltage to ensure no AC power is going to the heater element. Once confirmed, I removed one power lead from the electric heater element, set the digital meter to OHMS, and placed the probes on each heater element. We had a reading of 10 OHMS indicating a functional heater element.
First we found the power wire located at the bottom of the 120V thermostat switch had overheated and some of the insulation wire was burned. We removed the wire and tested the switch with the digital voltmeter. The bottom of the switch has two tabs, one where the power wire connects and the second with a soldered wire going to the top of the switch. I set the digital volt meter to OHMS and placed a lead on each post. A working switch will read a short, zero on the digital voltmeter. If the switch has failed, the reading will be low or open depending on the voltmeter’s display. Our reading was low indicating a bad switch.
