Zulu

OP, it can be done, but you'll have to compromise . . .

First, I live in Mariposa, CA which is about an hour from Yosemite National Park. My wife and I have been to the park several times and have camped in the area for a couple of years. So . . .

I suggest using a web application called RV Trip Wizard. It's great for planning RV trips as it lists RV parks, travel distances, reviews, maps, etc.

From Anaheim, I'd suggest you travel to Three Rivers Hideaway campground. It's near Sequoia National Park, but it is a 230 or so mile drive.

Next, I'd camp at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds or up Highway 140 (going to Yosemite) at AutoCamp Yosemite.

From one of these two campgrounds, take the YARTS public transit bus to Yosemite. Then in Yosemite sign up for a bus tour of the park. When you take the bus into the park, you do NOT need reservations.

Plus, even with reservations, you do NOT want to drive around Yosemite in a Class C RV.

The time to make reservations is NOW.

Finally, your Class C will probably be 30 amps.

4 minutes ago, Dutch_12078 said:

Cites I used from Nature articles in my doctoral dissertation were one of the few elements I was not asked to defend. Not one examiner questioned the source.

Good to know. What's your doctorate in?

28 minutes ago, RV_ said:

. . . credible sources are my thing

Here is a good article from Tesla co founder and battery recycler in the US JB Straubel:

https://cleantechnica.com/2022/03/29/tesla-founder-ex-cto-says-ev-batteries-will-last-15-years/

Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2021/09/14/jb-straubel-plans-circular-supply-chain-for-batteries-with-emphasis-on-usa/

While these CleanTechnica articles may be interesting, they don't prove a thing. Both are just summaries of what a Tesla CEO thinks. Marketing hype.

This is a credible source on battery recycling – Joule (10/15/2021).

1 hour ago, franco-bolli said:

As I mentioned, a "quick" search of the web yielded much the same information on each site. Many of them looked like it was exactly the same information, slightly reworded.

I would guess that the reason that many of the articles in your search sounded alike is that they came from the same "source".

For example, in RV's opening post, he link to two articles that both come from the same source – Nature Energy (16-June-2022).

Science-type web sites and bloggers do this a lot.

1 hour ago, franco-bolli said:

I have to mention that with so much dis-information floating about, I've begun to question information from what used to be reliable web sites. I approach each new data point with skepticism now and try to find corroboration through other "reliable" sites.

Nature Energy and Nature Materials are both published by Nature magazine, one of the gold standards for credible scientific research.

53 minutes ago, franco-bolli said:

a quick search of other web sites about the topic, yields much the same information on all of them

For sure and be careful what you quote.

For example, the source article in RV's first post is from Nature Energy June 6, 2022. To me, the crux of the article Abstract  (I didn't purchase the whole article) is this quote:

Our HC||NaNMC full cell with this electrolyte demonstrates >90% capacity retention after 300 cycles when charged to 4.2 V.

However, in another article from Nature Materials July 4, 2022 (which I also didn't purchase) reported:

Finally, the assembled all-solid-state sodium metal batteries demonstrate outstanding capacity retention, long-term charge/discharge stability (Coulombic efficiency, 99.91%; >900 cycles with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode) and good capability with high loading NaFePO4 cathode (>1 mAh cm−2)

So we can expect sodium-ion battery cycling to triple every month?

If so, then in a few months we should expect sodium-ion battery cycle rates comparable to lithium-ion 8,000+ cycle rates, right?

17 hours ago, GR "Scott" Cundiff said:

All this to say we are retiring from fulltime RVing, at least for the foreseeable future. Even as I write this the motorhome is on a consignment lot waiting for the right buyer to come along. I expect to get a smaller rig at some point in the future so we can do some seasonal, short-term travel. Time will tell.

We ended up doing the same thing.

Sold the 41-foot Newmar DP after 8 years of full timing. Bought a much smaller 31-foot SeaView about 4 months later. We missed not having the "travel" option. (Also, we're now in CA fire country, so our RV is literally a 2nd home.)

Anyway, best of luck to you.

On 7/5/2022 at 6:06 PM, GlennWest said:

Chad, we don't own a PC. I have a Chromebook and my wife has an iPad. We both have android phones. Are we not able to program a multiplus

Good luck. I ended up running a 25' ethernet cable from my Multiplus II to my Apple Mac running Windows . . .

Gotta share this latest Victron experience . . . Not Your Average Software Bug

1 hour ago, sandsys said:

Here's link to an excellent article . . .

Not so much. This Onion article does a better job.

The blogger uses "four measures social workers use" to differentiate "pioneers of alternative living" (RVers) from "glorified wandering vagrants" (the homeless).

Would love to know the blogger's source for the four measures or 4 Ps . . .

PRESENTATION -- RVers are neat, the homeless are dirty.

PLANNING -- RVers plan, the homeless don't.

POSSESSIONS -- RVers are minimalists, the homeless are hoarders.

PERCEPTION -- RVers don't consider themselves homeless, the homeless do.

1 hour ago, GlennWest said:

I installed the smart dongle on my Phoneix 48/1200 today. I can get on Bluetooth anywhere in camper. My Smart shunt is within inches of it. Can only get it in room directly above it. 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Victron. I keep finding "interesting" things all the time.

I have a MultiPlus II + Cerbo & Touch 50 display + SmartShunt + VE.Bus Smart dongle and now the VE.Bus to USB dongle.

Pretty sure I didn't need all of these. Anyway . . .

The Touch 50 display & VE.Bus Smart dongle "interfere" with each other. I don't remember which, but one prevents some info displaying on the other.

VE.Bus to USB dongle is essential. It allows setting parameters that the other dongle & display can't.

However, the VE.Bus to USB dongle only appears to work with a standard Windows PC. But I have a Mac. Luckily, I can install Windows on my Mac so I think that should work. I'll find out in a few days when I drive my RV up to my house window near my computer and run 25' of ethernet cord from Computer -> VE.Bus-USB dongle -> MultiPlus inverter VE.Bus. Lovely.

Finally, the advice I've been getting from the Victron support web site has been problematic -- some folks there don't know what they're talking about, and I'm too new to tell the diff. Luckily, Chad has been around here.

Finally, finally, the cherry on top was discovering that I can only use 1/2 my generator's power with the MultiPlus (see Combining L1 and L2 ...) unless I modify my gen's output.

Finally, finally, finally, despite the gotchas, I think (hope) these are growing pains. When I start wishing that I had installed a Magnum inverter instead, I think about the two Magnum MS2000s that failed me.

On 7/7/2022 at 12:49 AM, Chad Heiser said:

The work around to get all the generator power to pass through the MP II is one of two things.  The simplest one is to combine the L1 and L2 generator lines in the transfer switch (move L2 to the lug where L1 is connected).  This will push all the generators output onto L1 and the MP II will then spread that output over both L1 and L2.  This can be done as long as the generators total output isn’t greater than the 50 amp (single phase) pass through capability of the inverter.

Probably do the L1+L2 combine. However, in the mean time . . .

When using the gen in its current config, do I set my AC Input Limit to 25A and just run a single AC?

SoftStart units are in definitely in my future.

Washburn Fire - started on Thursday, July 7. As of Friday, the fire is about 500 acres.

The other western side entrance into Yosemite, Highway 140 from Merced, is still open.

43 minutes ago, RV_ said:

Please feel free to report my post Glenn if you feel commiserating with Joel on second and third hand comments trying to contradict first hand comments is frustrating was out of line.

Now let's talk about EVs!

I discovered this issue after finishing my Victron MultiPlus II inverter/charger. A brief summary . . .

Since the MP II is 50A, you can run the entire load of a 50A RV through it. For example, unlike smaller inverters that can require a separate load center, the MP II can be directly connected to the output of a 50A panel. Since an RV’s transfer switch is upstream from the 50A panel, an MP II can be fed from either shore power or a generator.

But the generator input can be the rub.

The issue is a missing L2 from the genny. I noticed this on my Victron Touch 50 display when I was getting power from my generator - L2 would always be 0. I wasn’t getting full power from my generator as I discovered when I tried turning on both my ACs. Generator couldn’t do it.

Then I read this thread on DIY Solar Power Forum which recommended this solution (starts about 11 min into video) — From Changing Lanes.

Any MP II users out there experience this? What did you do?
 

2 hours ago, Kirk W said:

How to Manage Credit Responsibly

Your unsolicited advice won’t work for everyone.

56 minutes ago, bruce t said:

I haven't seen or read any blatantly political post on this thread.

We’re not sure who discovered water, but we’re certain it wasn’t a fish.

21 minutes ago, 2gypsies said:

I don't think this is political or religious.  It's about RVers, campgrounds and encounters with homeless.  That's not political.

Like many threads, it drifted.

It took a political turn as soon as people began started discussing who the homeless are and why they’re homeless.

Anyone using REC panels? If so, can the panel’s stock 12 AWG wire be changed to 10 AWG? Or are the panel’s wires fixed in place?

3 hours ago, GlennWest said:

Actually they hundreds higher even with discount. Thanks though

I think it depends on what you’re buying . . . the Victron MultiPlus II lists for the same price on both sites.

2 hours ago, Danfreda1 said:

. . . don’t believe half the news whenever I see it

Which half?

Check  Northern Arizona. They have a 7% Off sale going on.

Whoever you chose, make sure to factor in shipping & tax.

4 minutes ago, Danfreda1 said:

It’s all about choices. 

Are you saying homelessness is a choice?

2 hours ago, Vegas Teacher said:

Watchman campground is to crowded and you won't be able to get your rig in there without jumping through hoops.

A few years ago we got our 41 foot Class A into a Watchman site. We reserved well in advance though. Well worth it.

We could walk to the Virgin River and take a dip. Plus, we could use the Zion shuttle bus service to get around the park. Far better than trying to drive in from an outside campground.

Months in the making . . .

This is my 4th solar install since 2006:

2006 - 240W solar (series), Solar Boost 2000E charge controller, Xantrex RS2000 inverter/charger
2009 - 760W solar (series-parallel), Xantrex XW-MPPT60-150 charge controller, Xantrex RS2000 inverter/charger
2012 - 735W solar (parallel), MidNite Classic 150 charge controller, Magnum MS2000 inverter charger
2022 (last year for 26% tax credit) - 1110W solar (series), Victron SmartSolar 150/70 charge controller, Victron MultiPlus II inverter/charger

Can't say enough about Victron equipment, especially the network monitoring capability, but the animated Touch 50 display takes the cake . . .

51 minutes ago, agesilaus said:

But back to the original topic, park officials are saying it could cost up to $1,000,000,000 to rebuild. A similar disaster in another park was delayed for 15 years by environmental lawsuits.

Another bazinga!

1 hour ago, bruce t said:

Approx 60000 folks went to the Glasgow climate summit. It's an industry supported mostly by government funds.

Whereas industry-sponsored climate summits draw 0 participants.

1 hour ago, bruce t said:

When white man settled the area the local aboriginals told them not to build on the flood plain. They did anyway . . .

So these folks would be the "not clever" people . . .

1 hour ago, bruce t said:

It's so called 'clever' people who ignore history and think that they can freeze us in a time warp.

Your analogy is back asswards. The clever people didn't build in the flood plain.