Campers 101

[Great-Kazoo]

Camping season is approaching!

Time to prep the camper for summer. I have some solar panels on their way from Amazon and will install them next weekend.

what do you do to your camper before the season starts?

Drain anti-freeze from lines, flush then do a bleach disinfecting rinse of system. Pull battery off the tender, check for any damage done by small furry creatures. That fortunately we don't have an issue with, thanks to our dogs and numerous cats that wander the hood.

[gnihcraes]

What solar panels did you get, i need to order one or two for mine.

[ruthabagah]

What solar panels did you get, i need to order one or two for mine.

I was ready to buy a renogy kit with a 100w pannel, cable, charge controller and z bracket. But when i looked into the charge controller i realized it would be limited if i wanted to add more pannels. http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-100W-Mo...ds=solar+panel

Pannel http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Controllerhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FB3OPKM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And instead of z bracket, i am going to try thesehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TTZSUYK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Total so far= 250$.

With 100w 5.7a it should be enough to replenish the battery on an average day in colorado. If i can, i will probably add 200w by the summer (1 or 2 pannel). This should be enough to also recharge most electronics during the day and allow me to add an extra battery.

[ruthabagah]

Drain anti-freeze from lines, flush then do a bleach disinfecting rinse of system. Pull battery off the tender, check for any damage done by small furry creatures. That fortunately we don't have an issue with, thanks to our dogs and numerous cats that wander the hood.

Just wondering: why do you bleach the system?

[Great-Kazoo]

Just wondering: why do you bleach the system?

It's a bleach solution. Most if not all camper manuals have info for it within the Water Systems section.
We're concerned about bacteria in the water lines from sitting X time frame. WE don't like wasting water, however being sick when out camping over rules the water used. It's rare one does have issues with the water system however why chance it. Especially if one is out for a prolong period OR the SHTF and you're relying on that water supply (however brief it is)

It's 1/4 C. bleach to 1gal of water for every 15 gallons your system holds. pour solution on tank, let it sit 1/2hr then fill tank. Once filled run water through system. Sit for 3 hrs then flush system. If you have a chlorine taste after flushing th esystem 2x, you can use a white vinegar solution to remove said taste.

[brutal]

We don't drink the water from the onboard system. Use it to bath, wash dishes, and boil coffee. 99% we're camping at the lake with full hookup or maybe water/elec if we got unlucky.

[ruthabagah]

It's a bleach solution. Most if not all camper manuals have info for it within the Water Systems section.
We're concerned about bacteria in the water lines from sitting X time frame. WE don't like wasting water, however being sick when out camping over rules the water used. It's rare one does have issues with the water system however why chance it. Especially if one is out for a prolong period OR the SHTF and you're relying on that water supply (however brief it is)

It's 1/4 C. bleach to 1gal of water for every 15 gallons your system holds. pour solution on tank, let it sit 1/2hr then fill tank. Once filled run water through system. Sit for 3 hrs then flush system. If you have a chlorine taste after flushing th esystem 2x, you can use a white vinegar solution to remove said taste.

Good to know. i'll try

[SamuraiCO]

On my short list. Maybe next year I can pull the trigger on a camper.

[Great-Kazoo]

We don't drink the water from the onboard system. Use it to bath, wash dishes, and boil coffee. 99% we're camping at the lake with full hookup or maybe water/elec if we got unlucky.

All our drinking water is carried in. The holding tank is for washing , cooking etc. HOWEVER IF an event were to happen while camping, like a freak snow storm, mud or rock slide close off access. One must exist with on has. If you take care of a camper why skimp when it comes to the water system?

[gnihcraes]

I'll usually add some bleach and fully load the system, let it sit for a day or two and then flush it all back out again. Just because. Someone might drink it.

ruthabagah thanks for the info on the panels you're getting. I still need to figure this out sometime soon. I was hoping to get a canoe rack put on the camper, use that for the mounting points of the panel. (ham radio antennas and such too)

I need to add some USB ports to the inside of the camper too! So much to do... ugh.