Your generator could be overloading because the extension cord gauge is too small. Try running your loads by plugging them in directly in the generator outlets. If the loads run well you will need larger gauge extension cords. If it still stalls you will have to investigate the fuel and air supply to the generator's engine. P.S. if you are using your RV's power distribution panel connected with a 30A cord there could be some bad connections in the panel wiring or the 30A inlet.
I would definitely get better cords 12 or 10 gauge should be good. Using bad cords is not only a fire hazard but will destroy your appliances. ( lived off grid in my early 20s and use a generator and power tools/ sprayers ect for work it's worth the investment it's much cheaper than replacing appliances and batteries ect. I say this trying to help awesome to see people off grid I am trying to convince my wife and kids it's the right move for us:) good luck and God bless!
Im sure many in the comments will point out to better winterize the scoot you can shut off the fuel to the carb and run it until it dies draining all gas from the carb which will keep those pin hole jets from clogging which can still happen even with stabilizer in the fuel because of all that nasty ethanol, thanks for the great video
Home maintenance can be very trying. Glad the bike got winterized. Darn wood, just hanging around. Wood heat wonderful, frozen regulators are not fun. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
Remember that cold zaps the life out of batteries, so making a place inside under anything with a vent outside will make them last. If you're using regular gas, the fuel lines maybe collapsing in the lines. Run ethanol free gas and your rubber fuel lines will thank you. Over filling the propane tanks will push liquid fuel up and into the regulator. Remember propane is colder and a little pushed up and thru the lines when you turned on the burner, probably pulled up the liquid instead of gas. Keeping them covered will help. Stay warm and enjoy the snow.
Regarding your temp sensor in cold weather: Alkaline batteries (the AA you used) are strongly affected by cold because they contain a water-based electrolyte; as it gets colder the performance will decrease. Lithium batteries (for example Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA) contain a non-aqueous electrolyte. Since there is no water they are less impacted by lower temperatures and will perform MUCH better in the cold, down to -40* actually. They are more expensive but will power devices for a lot longer before needing replacement.
I've had those lithium Energizers in the tail light on my bicycle for several years and it still works. It's in the shed in 30 to 40 below in the winter.
After a lifetime of refrigeration service work, I learned to eliminate the simplest possible problems first. Fuel filter will be an easy task, then look for cracked/loose wiring. The steps will likely eliminate the problem before you have to dig any deeper. 🙂 Also I don’t know what grade of fuel you run but it’s been my choice for many many years to use recreational vehicle fuel. No ethanol means longer equipment life and better performance.
Propane is a good option down here in south Texas but a small tank will still freeze up when running a torpedo shop heater. I don’t have a clue what caused your tank/valve to freeze but you were prepared with a backup. Great job!
Hi Jenna, you must be in Canada, getting snow and extreme cold weather in November. Really enjoy your content, no whining from you, just take on each problem as they pop up. Thanks for keeping it real and sharing your little slice of cold heaven...
Something you may want to consider to save on your energy bank is doing away with things that are not really needed. My hair is down to my waist, and I haven't used a hair dryer in 30 to 40 yrs. I just let it air dry. It is healthier for your hair as well. The other is getting rid of your vacuum. I finally was able to order a Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper with Dual Rotating System. It works on static, and does a very good job. It's been around since the 1890s. It was recommended by a clean freak in her 80's who used to manage a McDonalds. I got it from amazon. Just read the reviews. And no stupid cord to get in the way which I love. The less you use electric things the more power will be available for things that really matter. You just have to adjust which really isn't that difficult. Best Regards
FT van living 25+ years. I remember the first years I stayed up north. It was a challenge I loved. Staying in the desert is easy compared. Generator, if it has eco-mode? Flip the switch. In the cold the governor is to slow to throttle up for a big load and dies. Just one of many things it could be. You have same MT 50 monitor as I have. Ive had the bluetooth ones that hook to your phone and its not necessary. You want a big enough system so you really dont have to baby set it. Lifepo batteries are a big game changer. I have 4-110ah. 300w pure sine wave inverter I can go 7 days no sun or AC charge. Water in the winter. I have heated water tank but I also have a 36 gal. bladder bag I can place inside by my heat when it hits -40. My van is a diesel so i have a diesel heater hooked into my van fuel tank. I also have a Cubic cub wood stove that can run on pellets, coal, logs, Mr heater big buddy. (Back-ups). My propane is inside the van in the garage under bed. Ive done this for decades but don’t you try it. I’m magic. LOL. The 2 40lb’ers go into storage in the summer, my 20lb. Gets used as a refiller for my flameking 1lb bottles that I use for almost everything. Its just to convenient. Its fun watching you deal with being a weirdo. Have fun with life…❤
The recent regulator for your propane might be freezing is the fact that there might be a little moisture in the system... By keeping it covered it will help retain a little bit of heat... If there's a way that you can carefully put an old fashioned incandescent light bulb in there that'll keep that area warm to keep it from freezing
I lived in a trailer about the same as ours, mine was 28 ft. but was in Florida. My problem was the heat down there. I installed a small AC. When I got home from work (construction) I turned on the AC until after dark, that got rid of the humidity and cooled everything down for the night so I could sleep.
Generators bog down and lose power under load when too much load is applied for the size of the generator, the carburetor is dirty, the fuel filter is clogged, the air filter is plugged, the choke is stuck, or the spark arrestor is plugged. I copied that from Powered outdoors. Hope that helps.
I will say this, I think your a very brave woman for living off grid by yourself.i admire you for doing that.😊 keep doing what your doing.it takes a tough lady to do what your doing.not many like you.😊
I worked for an LP gas company for 20 years, there are many things that can cause negative effects on your propane system operation. One is small tanks in cold weather, they have limited wet area, this is the part of the tank in contact with the liquid portion of the gas and has a direct effect on vaporization rates. Actual air temperature, not wind chill, wind chill has minimum effect on the tanks vaporization rate. Propane has water in it, this comes from the compressors used to move it down a pipeline, this is what freezes, not the gas. Most gas companies will inject methanol to help with the freezing, but it does not always work. The regulator installed on the tanks should be a two-stage system, always have the vent pointing down, this is where the freezing takes place, single stage systems are more prone to this problem. Pressure reduction causes a chilling effect in the regulator orifice which will freeze the water droplets in the vapor. I have had situations where I had to place a light near the regulator to prevent freezing. The tank valves have excess flow devices in them which can close if opened too fast on a line with no pressure downstream of the regulator, it will generally make a click sound. The valve will reset automatically when the pressure equalizes, this can take a while, don't use any devices on the line until it does as the weep hole in the valve is very small. The potable tanks for years now had been required to have overfill protection devices installed (OPD), this is incorporated in the valve, they can have issues as well, but it is not common. One last thing, when you open the valves open them completely, this will help prevent leaks around the stem as it will back seat the valve. I hope these tidbits are of help, just things I ran across during that time.
I came across this and love it! Hopefully things get better but remember 1 plan in none and 2 plans are 1! Gen back up is smart along with propane, kerosene, and diesel heater!
Use a hand warmer to keep it from freezing Jenna u know one of those disposable ones the hot hands or feet underneath the propane tank cover on the regular 😀😘😎👍
You're always so industrious. Your brain's pretty industrious too, that's why you're so successful at figuring out all these challenges. Love your videos
Hi Jenna, I love how you live off grid, simple and pretty much free of paying big bills, 😜 I'm a little jealous of your life style!!! I take it that you live in Canada? Awe!!! Have a great day!!!
You know Jenna I've got a cheap set up on my trailer and I noticed that it works better if I line up so it doesn't have any interference, no electronic gadgets in it's path it works better too, I'm thinking about getting a new one soon!!!
My battery charger has a reconditioning function on it. Works very well on battery's that will still take a full charge. Cleans the plates and makes them like new again. Doesn't work on battery's that are already completely cruded over.
Cold temps wreck havoc on Battery's and the cold affects propane. Battery's need to be a stowed in a warm area and work best at 80F. Propane freezes at around negative 300f so yours tanks or regulator didn't freeze. What happens in low temps the propane contracts in the tanks and loses pressure. You can keep the tanks warm by special heat blankets installed on propane tanks but you should check how many watts they use and can your electrical supply keep up with the demand.. The only way the regulator may have froze is there was water/snow trapped in the lines due to changing out the tanks and water got into the lines somehow! My wife and I just bought a camper a few weeks ago and going to have ago at minimalist living for a year then make a decision as to selling our home and doing it as a new life style.. Good luck, stay warm and thanks for sharing your experiences!
If you can get a bit of pink insulation to wrap the propane regulator and tanks then cover with a small tarp will keep things from freezing. Leave a little on the bottom open. So many things to do and take care of when living in a travel trailer. But you are doing a great job and thanks for sharing. Have a great day.
I hope you've checked your electrolyte levels in your batteries. When the electrolyte level gets low the voltage will seem fine but the capacity will drop. Distilled water is best. Make sure your terminals are clean too. Stay warm. I'm sure you will be fine as long as the wood supply holds out.
@@gypsyjenna mm if they are not AGM or Gel Cells, get the caps off and take a look. Maintenance free can mean 'if you don't check them, they will fail and you get to buy new ones sooner'.
You need battery for lights if you had lamp oil for lighting and you don't need a freg if you have a nice box out on the porch for food and if you heat with wood and have a fan that sits on the wood stove for circulation you would be great
The A B C settings on those are for additional sensors. Like one outside out front, One on the catio, one in a greenhouse? wherever but you can have up to 3 of them. The batter dropping after you stop charging is normal. Takes them a few to level out.
Some Lithium Phosphate self-heating batteries would be really special if they weren't so damn expensive. Always enjoy your videos and old man winter is about to find out (again) that you're one tough customer.
You seem to be doing ok . I live offgrid too. 6 years . I heated my bath water every day . Used a small tub , in the bathtub . I bathed ever day when liveing in my trailor . Now I have a modern cabin . Still offgrid just modern stuff .
Hey girlie that Lucas stabilized will work real good I use it down here in Texas but if you have a shut off on your moped or no riding cart whatever it's called turn the fuel off start it up turn the fuel off and let it run out of the carburetor so that way it don't come up and you stay safer
Oh my goodness. Guess what, it's cloudy here too. I got one of the lithium iron phosphate batteries ⚡😎👍 installed, OMG what a difference! ⚡Volts at noon, 26.46. The other lithium battery should be here today. The wind is making a hundred watts every little bit. I put part of my wood in the greenhouse. I'm going to put the other half in the barn and go get another load at the truss company. I went and got meat, roasts, catfish, etc. this morning. I have the hole dug for the greenhouse corner post. It's a butt end of a telephone pole, I have to cut it off some. Why don't you build a little greenhouse type thing over your propane tanks?
@@gypsyjennamy other lithium iron phosphate battery 🔋 showed up, so it's connected now. It's showing 26.24 volts at nine p.m. I unhooked them for a minute putting two in parallel and the lead acid batteries were at 25.86 volts. Or 12.93 apiece. That's what yours need, not replace them but give them a boost...
Ah yes the wonderful winter season 🥶 🧊 ❄️ ⛄️ that side by side could be fun in the snow! Then again so could the moped/scooter 😏 time to finish winterizing and preparing for winter-that little mist of flakes was your warning ⚠️ sign. If you check your generator’s fuel tank and lines for leaks, and that isn’t the problem, then it could be the fuse or circuit breaker in the generator. Noting wrong with swapping out/replacing the fuse(s)/breaker(s), checking to make sure the control springs on the buttons are working properly, and give it a really thorough check all over. You also might want to consider enclosing the sides (simple door hinges with the metal venting could do) or similar, to help keep a little warmth in the generator in winter. If you like projects, get some parts for your scooter 🛴 so you can wrench on it in the spring for a little fun. Good to see things are still working well for you, and those back-ups that you’d think are just taking up space, can come in handy when electricity or other things don’t work. If nothing else works, you can build a fire 🔥 in the fire pit and stay warm, using camping gear ⛺️ one of these days, your cats will have to start doing chores, or make YOU breakfast once in a while 😏 😃 they gotta earn theirs too ya know! Anyway take care stay warm and safe ✌️
Hi Jenna, full-time RV over here in Alberta, South of Calgary. Mid October we got almost a foot of snow and dropped to -18 C for a couple days. It was an unnecessarily early test of the rv for the season but thankfully no issues. Hopefully you get things figured out with the generator.
I live in my truck camper full time and in the mountains ski bumming and fly fishing . So spend cold winters in the snow etc. I also have a diesel heater that works great but I also carry a little buddy back up heater Just in case my batteries are low . It's already in the teens temp wise where im at now ...next month it will be in single digits so I can't not have a heat source . Ok back up heat is a must 👍
Check the generator for water. There may be a 'bowl' directly under the fuel valve with a nut-shape cast in- it's meant as a water-trap. Hold the valve, unscrew the bowl dump and refit. Use a good-fitting wrench and don't overtighten; that metal is kind of soft. There might also be an inline filter past there. Also look for a fuel drain screw on the carburator bowl. Good to drain these two things 2-4 times a year.
Hi Jenna, it is so early for snow you really have to keep on top of everything during the winter not so much in summer. I bet it,s nice and toasty with the wood burner.
The 3 different choices on your weather station are different wifi signals, so if you don't get good reception on one like say A you can try B, and if B doesn't work much better try C. As for the Generator Like Jett said, the cord may need to be bigger. for a larger guage you want a lower number, Like in a regular extension cord it is maybe 14 guage, but if you get a 10 guage it would be better, Think of Guage size as like a water hose, and a half inch diameter hose as 14 guage, and a 5/8" hose as 12 guage, and a one onch hose as 10 guage. The bigger the hose the more water you can get out of it in less time. Wires are the same, The thicker the wire the more power can go through it easier. But Also when you turn something like that 1400 to 1500 watt hair dryer on it can use as much as tripple that when you first turn it on, maybe for only a second or two or even 3, but with other things running using maybe 500 watts it can be enough to trigger the generator to shut down because it couldn't supply that much power.
moisture in the air at a given temp will lock the bellows into place. A warm towell or a hair dryer to WARM regulator. DO NOT HEAT the unit a lot........gentle heat will make the ice melt and go away. It happened to me 3x last year .
One reason your regulator is freezing is that where ever you got the propane from apparently there has not been any methanol injected into the propane so I would tell the people at the place you bought it what’s going on because propane itself does not freeze it’s moisture that in the propane
Nov 1st I was loading my van with a bunch of equipment and saw those flakes coming down. First thought, NO! Not now. Today being the 9th, I unfortunately had to do a bunch of work out on an island off the coast and it was snowing way more then what I anticipated. Couldn’t see much while on the boat. Everything got coated white…. Blah. Thank God it was high tide. The ramps weren’t steep. I had a generator sometime back and it was acting very similar to the issue that you experienced. No heavy load, gfci button didn’t pop out, oil was perfect. I definitely wouldn’t rule out your fuel filter because it’s always good measure to replace those from time to time. My issue was the low oil shut off sensor itself. Replaced that and everything was fine. Another great vid, Gypsy J. No rest for the wicked. You done good, Deah. Cheers 🍻
Hello I don't know this channel But I was inspired by the effort You where saying 7 yrs in off grid. (Me to) try not to experiment to much. I would believe it's a learning curve we all do.. I would love to share my off grid live in refrigerator Lol a . A nice little ground mount of solar would give you more and easy to clean the snow off 500 watts Thank you all that inspire Curtis
Enjoyed the video Jenna, I live down south and I winterize my 5th wheel every winter also like you said too many hidden lines but I dont use it in winter anyway Take care 👍
I built a little room over the propane tanks this year since I had my regulator freeze last year. So far so good. My generator has stopped giving output. It seems like ethanol in the gas attracts moisture and we had a big rainfall. My generator is covered, but the humidity still seems to affect it. Stabilizer hasn’t helped, so I am going through waiting to see if it can be returned. Off grid is hard! Hope all goes well for you!
@@gypsyjennathere’s a comment a few down that talks about the carbs and running it until it stops. It worked for me! I have power output again and it doesn’t sound like a helicopter anymore ☺️
Sooo this is her land right? This is not a mobile mobile home. This came up in my feed bec I’ve been watching tons of Van life videos past 2 months. This is confusing. Looks like a camp site but the trailer is planted there so I assume it’s her land
those letters are for different sensors,you can add 2 more,, I put sensors in my water compartment , under floor of trailer at black and grey tanks,my sewer drain compartment,, we hit -8 celcius ,out here ,no tanks freezing yet,but i do have tank heaters you have a good setup,
@@gypsyjennaThanks I bought vevor diesel heater similar to yours,that im going to duct undernieth the floors,,,might even get warm floors from doing so
If you still have the echoflow I would think that would run the battery charger for a little bit in a pinch. I'm in favor of keeping the bat girl scooter also anyway I enjoy your vlogs and wish you well.
if i can give you a advice try to take the batteries of the ground and put them ina box isolate the box and your batteries will store power way better and try to plug your Generator into the solarcharger will put the balanced power into your batteries
Check your carburetor 2 metal springs cables 1 is your accelerator, if it broke it wont idle up higher you won't have full power. We had the same issues .trying to use a vacuum cleaner shut-off generator..replaced throttle spring we were back in busses
The generator fuel problem can be eliminated by using non- ethanol fuel. Some areas call it marine gas. Ethanol fuel is hygroscopic. Alcohol in the fuel attracts moisture. I use only non- ethanol in all of my small engines and have not replaced a carburetor since doing so. Hope this helps.
I lived in my camper for a winter (no wood stove) camper furnace and electric heat it was brutal. I had to switch tanks based on the temperature outside. propane freezes at -188 C BUT will not produce enough pressure if its less than half full in the 0 degrees C range. so, lack of pressure could have been the problem. I don't know.
You don’t need a switch for your tanks. They draw equally without it. There may have been some condensation that the propane froze which caused it to lock and the regulator or hose to get blocked.
@@gypsyjenna get rid of the switch. Every time you fill your tanks and depending on where you get them filled, it just might happen again because atmosphere gets in your system.
Hey girl put those batteries on 2x6 boards and keep them off the wet cold ground they will do better and I start my gas generator to charge my cabin batteries and solar generator when it’s a cloudy day or days and raining one good thing about the rainy days is my two ibc totes like you got I’ve got a leaking valve on my receiving tank I gotta go get a free tank if I get off my ass and do it lol
You need to replace the lead acid batteries with lithium one's and keep them inside where it's warm constantly. Also, exposing your generator to the outside elements is not good idea.
Maybe your propane regulator is going into shut down and when it gets too much pressure from the gas it shuts off and you have to turn off the gas and remove the pigtail to reset the valve in the regulator. If you crank the tap on the propane tank wide open, maybe stop doing that and just give it a quarter twist. those are larger tanks. My shower is a rubbermaid tub that fits inside my tub perfectly, and I just boil a lobster pot and have a submersible pump with a thermometer. Cheers!
Google your generator and you can find a book/manual on it somewhere to find fuel filter. It may be fuel filter. If not that - ??? I really like your little place. And where it is looks neat. I am a great grandma and have always loved out in the country. I sold my acreage 2 years ago and now live in a 5th wheel in an RV park. In a very small town in Oklahoma. For me I think it works - there's a park just at end of road through rv park. Mine has never frozen (propane) - but I have a 200 gal. tank. And looks like you live in a lot colder area than I do. I like how you have different power sources. I used a wood burning stove for 35 years or more. I miss that. I put a skirting around bottom of 5th wheel - no frozen lines yeah!!! :-) I do leave a heater underneath so if it gets below 25 I turn it on. I am selling my 5th wheel and making a Micro MIni Tiny Cottage out of my 8x12 building. :-) Hey at 74 I can do what I want!!! LOL I've lived in a tent, a 12x16 building, a small living quarters under my horse barn roof. I now am no longer on acreage, no horses, I have my two schnauzers! :-) But, I am going to start next spring taking my blow up kayak to the lake about 5 miles from here. Keep me busy! Yup. Sounds like you enjoy your life. Here's to your life - enjoy and stay happy young lady! God Bless! Stay warm for sure.
Wow, you're keeping busy! Lots of tiny living, keep me updated on how it's going! My mom has a miniature schnauzer and she's a real sweetie! Staying busy isn't bad thing! Enjoy retirement to the fullest! 🙂
A quick jump will be take your battery from your car take jumper cables and jump it for a couple minutes to charge your batteries in your trailer to one at a time it should charge your batteries fully charged going and look at your batteries setting to see if all the batteries are charged all the way updon’t take long to take a dead battery or almost dead and hook it up to jumper cables. If you got any to your vehicle and tried to charge up your batteries quickly you said you got a generator with that that’s why you’ll mess up your car
12.7 is a full charge which really only happens with fairly new batteries. The only way to see true voltage is to check battery in the morning like you have been because the charge needs to equalize. Honestly just wait for Black Friday and have a look for lithium with a charger because the charger you have won’t work. One lithium 100ah battery will likely give you more power than you have now. I’m using redodo batteries and they are fantastic for the money and my setup. 🍻
Clean the fuel filter on your generator. In our motorhome if the generator starts shutting of like that the fuel filter needs to be cleaned and/ or replaced.
I used to have the same problem with my regulatorwhen I lived in my rv. I would have to light the pilot on my stove because it was all that would work and afterawhilethe regulator would eventually do its thing but it was frustrating.
You need a better charger, I had one years ago when I was building my cabin, ordered from real goods solar catalog. It might have been a iota charge two golf cart batteries about a hour from really low.
If you throw a couple hand full of rock salt on your fire when it's at its hottest, it will help the criosot not to build up and it will clean out easier.
Hi, really interesting to see your set up, I live off grid in the uk. I get all my electricity and hot water from solar in the summer, then it drops to just electricity in the winter. Like you I have a backup battery charging system using a 24v truck alternator driven by a honda engine running on propane. I run a 24v battery system, a 240v ac pure sign wave inverter for the fridge and any domestic appliances. I also run a diesel heater with a woodburner on really cold nights just to save kerosene, I run the heater on. I don't know if it is more efficient to run a generator and battery charger or a dedicated 24v charging system. My honda engine runs slower than a generator, so may use less fuel. Funny, we have very similar living arrangements in opposite ends of the world. If you want to make a dedicated 12v battery charging system using a car alternator and suitable engine it's not difficult.
Run a seperate cord into your camper, from the other outlet when youre running your charger. Each of your outlets are 16.5 amps. You cant get the full power of your generator out of one outlet.
@gypsyjenna use both outlets. You've got two cords plugged into the one on the right. You may need to do some maintenance on the generator, if it's stalling. But, you'll get more from it by plugging each cord into a separate outlet.
@@Mr.Schitzengigglez thanks. The one cord wasn't being used it just plugs into the camper outlet I installed myself. I have the genny fixed now, will update in a future vid
Just found your channel and subbed. Im in a 5x8 cargo trailer (by choice). If at all possible get an extra regulator to keep for an emergency. I learned the very hard way 🥶✌️
I wouldn't trust that meter on the charger.....yes, it should be sensing voltage (which is slightly impacted by the current and cable gauge but I'd assume the manufacturer compensates for that?) Low to 80% in two hours....for multiple batteries? Even if they are 50Ah each...thats...extremely strange or a sign of serious degradation.
So your led acid batteries should never be allowed to drop below a12.5. You need more capacity. The more times you cycle them very low the more damage you do. Try to keep em from not dropping below 80 percent
My generator did the same thing it would run for 30 minutes at a time and quit running and I'd start right back up ,did this over and over again. I took carburetor off and it had jelly all in bottom of bowl. Hope this helps.
Jenna that old gennie is on her way out go to a harbor freight and get you a preadator brand they carry the have the electric start w/ remote control I’ve got two 3500/4000 watt ones one at my cabin and one here at home mine are pull start type 1 or 1 1/2 pulls they start and they can use 10percent ethanol regular gas I cut my fuel off and run it till it dies I have never had any problems with either one ever Jenna they have the dual fuel types too mine are 4 years old I use them very little I put stabil in the full tank of fuel I keep them full all of the time ready to go at any time and they work well 😀😎👍
DURECEL BATTERIES SUCK BIG TIME THEY HAVE DESTORYED TOO MANY OF MY HAM RADIO TOYS...NOW I ONLY USE THE BUNNY BATTERIES👍👍👍👍👍🙏 PS Get a black cover for your LP tanks. GOOD THING YOU HAVE BACKUPS!
Where did you find your panel you have above your charge controller? We don’t have solar panels connected to our batteries that our heater run off, so we would like to get one of those controllers so we know whether those batteries need a charge
Your generator could be overloading because the extension cord gauge is too small. Try running your loads by plugging them in directly in the generator outlets. If the loads run well you will need larger gauge extension cords. If it still stalls you will have to investigate the fuel and air supply to the generator's engine. P.S. if you are using your RV's power distribution panel connected with a 30A cord there could be some bad connections in the panel wiring or the 30A inlet.
Great advice, Thanks. Even tho it was not to me 🌱🌳
I would definitely get better cords 12 or 10 gauge should be good. Using bad cords is not only a fire hazard but will destroy your appliances. ( lived off grid in my early 20s and use a generator and power tools/ sprayers ect for work it's worth the investment it's much cheaper than replacing appliances and batteries ect. I say this trying to help awesome to see people off grid I am trying to convince my wife and kids it's the right move for us:) good luck and God bless!
Good call 👍
Im sure many in the comments will point out to better winterize the scoot you can shut off the fuel to the carb and run it until it dies draining all gas from the carb which will keep those pin hole jets from clogging which can still happen even with stabilizer in the fuel because of all that nasty ethanol, thanks for the great video
Thank you!! Your comment helped me a lot! I followed your advice and I got power output to mine again. Very grateful for your help! 💐
Home maintenance can be very trying. Glad the bike got winterized. Darn wood, just hanging around. Wood heat wonderful, frozen regulators are not fun. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
Remember that cold zaps the life out of batteries, so making a place inside under anything with a vent outside will make them last. If you're using regular gas, the fuel lines maybe collapsing in the lines. Run ethanol free gas and your rubber fuel lines will thank you. Over filling the propane tanks will push liquid fuel up and into the regulator. Remember propane is colder and a little pushed up and thru the lines when you turned on the burner, probably pulled up the liquid instead of gas. Keeping them covered will help. Stay warm and enjoy the snow.
Regarding your temp sensor in cold weather: Alkaline batteries (the AA you used) are strongly affected by cold because they contain a water-based electrolyte; as it gets colder the performance will decrease.
Lithium batteries (for example Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA) contain a non-aqueous electrolyte. Since there is no water they are less impacted by lower temperatures and will perform MUCH better in the cold, down to -40* actually. They are more expensive but will power devices for a lot longer before needing replacement.
I've had those lithium Energizers in the tail light on my bicycle for several years and it still works. It's in the shed in 30 to 40 below in the winter.
After a lifetime of refrigeration service work, I learned to eliminate the simplest possible problems first. Fuel filter will be an easy task, then look for cracked/loose wiring. The steps will likely eliminate the problem before you have to dig any deeper. 🙂 Also I don’t know what grade of fuel you run but it’s been my choice for many many years to use recreational vehicle fuel. No ethanol means longer equipment life and better performance.
Good advice thank you I learned something today .. I didn't know they made recreational vehicle fuel..
@@alfheib glad to help!😊
In America we call it "RECREATIONAL FUEL (REC 90)"
Propane is a good option down here in south Texas but a small tank will still freeze up when running a torpedo shop heater. I don’t have a clue what caused your tank/valve to freeze but you were prepared with a backup. Great job!
Hi Jenna, you must be in Canada, getting snow and extreme cold weather in November. Really enjoy your content, no whining from you, just take on each problem as they pop up. Thanks for keeping it real and sharing your little slice of cold heaven...
U guessed it - in Canada 😊 and thank you
@@gypsyjennaYou need a buck booster on your system so your Diesel heater will run down to 10.8 volts on the battery but still give the heater 13.8
Something you may want to consider to save on your energy bank is doing away with things that are not really needed. My hair is down to my waist, and I haven't used a hair dryer in 30 to 40 yrs. I just let it air dry. It is healthier for your hair as well.
The other is getting rid of your vacuum. I finally was able to order a Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper with Dual Rotating System. It works on static, and does a very good job. It's been around since the 1890s. It was recommended by a clean freak in her 80's who used to manage a McDonalds. I got it from amazon. Just read the reviews. And no stupid cord to get in the way which I love.
The less you use electric things the more power will be available for things that really matter. You just have to adjust which really isn't that difficult. Best Regards
FT van living 25+ years. I remember the first years I stayed up north. It was a challenge I loved. Staying in the desert is easy compared.
Generator, if it has eco-mode? Flip the switch. In the cold the governor is to slow to throttle up for a big load and dies. Just one of many things it could be.
You have same MT 50 monitor as I have. Ive had the bluetooth ones that hook to your phone and its not necessary. You want a big enough system so you really dont have to baby set it.
Lifepo batteries are a big game changer. I have 4-110ah. 300w pure sine wave inverter
I can go 7 days no sun or AC charge.
Water in the winter. I have heated water tank but I also have a 36 gal. bladder bag I can place inside by my heat when it hits -40. My van is a diesel so i have a diesel heater hooked into my van fuel tank. I also have a Cubic cub wood stove that can run on pellets, coal, logs, Mr heater big buddy. (Back-ups). My propane is inside the van in the garage under bed.
Ive done this for decades but don’t you try it. I’m magic. LOL. The 2 40lb’ers go into storage in the summer, my 20lb. Gets used as a refiller for my flameking 1lb bottles that I use for almost everything. Its just to convenient.
Its fun watching you deal with being a weirdo.
Have fun with life…❤
The recent regulator for your propane might be freezing is the fact that there might be a little moisture in the system... By keeping it covered it will help retain a little bit of heat... If there's a way that you can carefully put an old fashioned incandescent light bulb in there that'll keep that area warm to keep it from freezing
👍👍👍👍👍
I lived in a trailer about the same as ours, mine was 28 ft. but was in Florida. My problem was the heat down there. I installed a small AC. When I got home from work (construction) I turned on the AC until after dark, that got rid of the humidity and cooled everything down for the night so I could sleep.
Yeah humidity would be real bad there eh!?
Generators bog down and lose power under load when too much load is applied for the size of the generator, the carburetor is dirty, the fuel filter is clogged, the air filter is plugged, the choke is stuck, or the spark arrestor is plugged. I copied that from Powered outdoors. Hope that helps.
Process of elimination eh?? Thank you for the info
I will say this, I think your a very brave woman for living off grid by yourself.i admire you for doing that.😊 keep doing what your doing.it takes a tough lady to do what your doing.not many like you.😊
I worked for an LP gas company for 20 years, there are many things that can cause negative effects on your propane system operation. One is small tanks in cold weather, they have limited wet area, this is the part of the tank in contact with the liquid portion of the gas and has a direct effect on vaporization rates. Actual air temperature, not wind chill, wind chill has minimum effect on the tanks vaporization rate. Propane has water in it, this comes from the compressors used to move it down a pipeline, this is what freezes, not the gas. Most gas companies will inject methanol to help with the freezing, but it does not always work. The regulator installed on the tanks should be a two-stage system, always have the vent pointing down, this is where the freezing takes place, single stage systems are more prone to this problem. Pressure reduction causes a chilling effect in the regulator orifice which will freeze the water droplets in the vapor. I have had situations where I had to place a light near the regulator to prevent freezing. The tank valves have excess flow devices in them which can close if opened too fast on a line with no pressure downstream of the regulator, it will generally make a click sound. The valve will reset automatically when the pressure equalizes, this can take a while, don't use any devices on the line until it does as the weep hole in the valve is very small. The potable tanks for years now had been required to have overfill protection devices installed (OPD), this is incorporated in the valve, they can have issues as well, but it is not common. One last thing, when you open the valves open them completely, this will help prevent leaks around the stem as it will back seat the valve. I hope these tidbits are of help, just things I ran across during that time.
Thanks so much for all the info, appreciate it!
I love to see snow! So beautiful, stay warm Jenna during all your winter prep stuff❤
I m also living in an RV while restoring it. Love your setup. Much better than mine. Too bad your not closer
I came across this and love it! Hopefully things get better but remember 1 plan in none and 2 plans are 1! Gen back up is smart along with propane, kerosene, and diesel heater!
Use a hand warmer to keep it from freezing Jenna u know one of those disposable ones the hot hands or feet underneath the propane tank cover on the regular 😀😘😎👍
Congrats on your new fridge! You are a definite warrior! 💪🏻
Thank you 🙂
You're always so industrious. Your brain's pretty industrious too, that's why you're so successful at figuring out all these challenges. Love your videos
Thank you 😊
Hi Jenna, I love how you live off grid, simple and pretty much free of paying big bills, 😜 I'm a little jealous of your life style!!! I take it that you live in Canada? Awe!!! Have a great day!!!
Yeppers, Canada here
You know Jenna I've got a cheap set up on my trailer and I noticed that it works better if I line up so it doesn't have any interference, no electronic gadgets in it's path it works better too, I'm thinking about getting a new one soon!!!
My battery charger has a reconditioning function on it. Works very well on battery's that will still take a full charge. Cleans the plates and makes them like new again. Doesn't work on battery's that are already completely cruded over.
Pool Noodles work really well around hoses and outside wires ,cords .
You are a brave lady but darn smart. Take it easy in the severe cold. Good luck.
Thank you so much
Cold temps wreck havoc on Battery's and the cold affects propane. Battery's need to be a stowed in a warm area and work best at 80F. Propane freezes at around negative 300f so yours tanks or regulator didn't freeze. What happens in low temps the propane contracts in the tanks and loses pressure. You can keep the tanks warm by special heat blankets installed on propane tanks but you should check how many watts they use and can your electrical supply keep up with the demand.. The only way the regulator may have froze is there was water/snow trapped in the lines due to changing out the tanks and water got into the lines somehow! My wife and I just bought a camper a few weeks ago and going to have ago at minimalist living for a year then make a decision as to selling our home and doing it as a new life style.. Good luck, stay warm and thanks for sharing your experiences!
If you can get a bit of pink insulation to wrap the propane regulator and tanks then cover with a small tarp will keep things from freezing. Leave a little on the bottom open. So many things to do and take care of when living in a travel trailer. But you are doing a great job and thanks for sharing. Have a great day.
Thanks and you're right. Many things require maintenance for sure!
Hi Jenna, always enjoy your videos and how well you solve inconveniences 😊 glad you’re staying warm
Thank you 😊
I hope you've checked your electrolyte levels in your batteries. When the electrolyte level gets low the voltage will seem fine but the capacity will drop.
Distilled water is best. Make sure your terminals are clean too.
Stay warm. I'm sure you will be fine as long as the wood supply holds out.
Thanks, I have maintenance free batteries.
@@gypsyjennaMatinace free Batteries...R...the best!!!!
@@gypsyjenna mm if they are not AGM or Gel Cells, get the caps off and take a look. Maintenance free can mean 'if you don't check them, they will fail and you get to buy new ones sooner'.
You need battery for lights if you had lamp oil for lighting and you don't need a freg if you have a nice box out on the porch for food and if you heat with wood and have a fan that sits on the wood stove for circulation you would be great
The A B C settings on those are for additional sensors. Like one outside out front, One on the catio, one in a greenhouse? wherever but you can have up to 3 of them. The batter dropping after you stop charging is normal. Takes them a few to level out.
Thank you for posting Jenna. Hope you are able to solve the generator problem. Take care.
Some Lithium Phosphate self-heating batteries would be really special if they weren't so damn expensive. Always enjoy your videos and old man winter is about to find out (again) that you're one tough customer.
Thanks, I hope I can be tough, I feel like a big whiny baby each year he shows up! 😂🤣
They are damned expensive.
@@davidpotter9462 Cheaper in the long run with the good stuff, but not all are good.
You seem to be doing ok .
I live offgrid too. 6 years .
I heated my bath water every day .
Used a small tub , in the bathtub . I bathed ever day when liveing in my trailor .
Now I have a modern cabin . Still offgrid just modern stuff .
Awesome! It's a great way to live!
Hey girlie that Lucas stabilized will work real good I use it down here in Texas but if you have a shut off on your moped or no riding cart whatever it's called turn the fuel off start it up turn the fuel off and let it run out of the carburetor so that way it don't come up and you stay safer
Easy off oven cleaner works great on cleaning the glass on wood stove
Oh my goodness. Guess what, it's cloudy here too. I got one of the lithium iron phosphate batteries ⚡😎👍 installed, OMG what a difference! ⚡Volts at noon, 26.46. The other lithium battery should be here today. The wind is making a hundred watts every little bit. I put part of my wood in the greenhouse. I'm going to put the other half in the barn and go get another load at the truss company. I went and got meat, roasts, catfish, etc. this morning. I have the hole dug for the greenhouse corner post. It's a butt end of a telephone pole, I have to cut it off some. Why don't you build a little greenhouse type thing over your propane tanks?
I suppose it is an idea
@@gypsyjenna You have to get one and add it. One good day to charge it, you'll be good on power. Just try it.
@@gypsyjenna lol, I thought you meant the other good idea 💡🤣
@@gypsyjennamy other lithium iron phosphate battery 🔋 showed up, so it's connected now. It's showing 26.24 volts at nine p.m. I unhooked them for a minute putting two in parallel and the lead acid batteries were at 25.86 volts. Or 12.93 apiece. That's what yours need, not replace them but give them a boost...
Ah yes the wonderful winter season 🥶 🧊 ❄️ ⛄️ that side by side could be fun in the snow! Then again so could the moped/scooter 😏 time to finish winterizing and preparing for winter-that little mist of flakes was your warning ⚠️ sign. If you check your generator’s fuel tank and lines for leaks, and that isn’t the problem, then it could be the fuse or circuit breaker in the generator. Noting wrong with swapping out/replacing the fuse(s)/breaker(s), checking to make sure the control springs on the buttons are working properly, and give it a really thorough check all over. You also might want to consider enclosing the sides (simple door hinges with the metal venting could do) or similar, to help keep a little warmth in the generator in winter. If you like projects, get some parts for your scooter 🛴 so you can wrench on it in the spring for a little fun. Good to see things are still working well for you, and those back-ups that you’d think are just taking up space, can come in handy when electricity or other things don’t work. If nothing else works, you can build a fire 🔥 in the fire pit and stay warm, using camping gear ⛺️ one of these days, your cats will have to start doing chores, or make YOU breakfast once in a while 😏 😃 they gotta earn theirs too ya know! Anyway take care stay warm and safe ✌️
Thanks for the info, I really gotta get that generator figured out
Hi Jenna, full-time RV over here in Alberta, South of Calgary. Mid October we got almost a foot of snow and dropped to -18 C for a couple days. It was an unnecessarily early test of the rv for the season but thankfully no issues. Hopefully you get things figured out with the generator.
Brrr, that's so cold. You guys get a BRUTAL winter over there for sure! Good luck this winter! 🍀❄☃️
I forgot to add that I love your sense of humor.
I live in my truck camper full time and in the mountains ski bumming and fly fishing . So spend cold winters in the snow etc. I also have a diesel heater that works great but I also carry a little buddy back up heater Just in case my batteries are low . It's already in the teens temp wise where im at now ...next month it will be in single digits so I can't not have a heat source . Ok back up heat is a must 👍
Absolutely. I have several heat sources too
Check the generator for water. There may be a 'bowl' directly under the fuel valve with a nut-shape cast in- it's meant as a water-trap. Hold the valve, unscrew the bowl dump and refit. Use a good-fitting wrench and don't overtighten; that metal is kind of soft. There might also be an inline filter past there. Also look for a fuel drain screw on the carburator bowl. Good to drain these two things 2-4 times a year.
Thanks for the tips!
@@gypsyjenna Wish I could help with the propane, but it just doesn't do so well in the cold.
Hi Jenna, it is so early for snow you really have to keep on top of everything during the winter not so much in summer. I bet it,s nice and toasty with the wood burner.
Nice and warm as we speak! :)
The 3 different choices on your weather station are different wifi signals, so if you don't get good reception on one like say A you can try B, and if B doesn't work much better try C. As for the Generator Like Jett said, the cord may need to be bigger. for a larger guage you want a lower number, Like in a regular extension cord it is maybe 14 guage, but if you get a 10 guage it would be better, Think of Guage size as like a water hose, and a half inch diameter hose as 14 guage, and a 5/8" hose as 12 guage, and a one onch hose as 10 guage. The bigger the hose the more water you can get out of it in less time. Wires are the same, The thicker the wire the more power can go through it easier. But Also when you turn something like that 1400 to 1500 watt hair dryer on it can use as much as tripple that when you first turn it on, maybe for only a second or two or even 3, but with other things running using maybe 500 watts it can be enough to trigger the generator to shut down because it couldn't supply that much power.
moisture in the air at a given temp will lock the bellows into place. A warm towell or a hair dryer to WARM regulator. DO NOT HEAT the unit a lot........gentle heat will make the ice melt and go away. It happened to me 3x last year .
Thanks for the info!
One reason your regulator is freezing is that where ever you got the propane from apparently there has not been any methanol injected into the propane so I would tell the people at the place you bought it what’s going on because propane itself does not freeze it’s moisture that in the propane
Nov 1st I was loading my van with a bunch of equipment and saw those flakes coming down. First thought, NO! Not now. Today being the 9th, I unfortunately had to do a bunch of work out on an island off the coast and it was snowing way more then what I anticipated. Couldn’t see much while on the boat. Everything got coated white…. Blah. Thank God it was high tide. The ramps weren’t steep. I had a generator sometime back and it was acting very similar to the issue that you experienced. No heavy load, gfci button didn’t pop out, oil was perfect. I definitely wouldn’t rule out your fuel filter because it’s always good measure to replace those from time to time. My issue was the low oil shut off sensor itself. Replaced that and everything was fine. Another great vid, Gypsy J. No rest for the wicked. You done good, Deah. Cheers 🍻
Thanks, I never even considered the low oil sensor. There are so many different things it could be
Thats why I left Ontario 6 days ago for warmer pastures. Was on the coast in Florida last 2 days and now in Alabama on my way west to Arizona
Sounds amazing, you re lucky! Enjoy the snowbirding!
@@gypsyjenna Been planning and working toward it for years, thank you.
@livinginavwvan207 it's a great plan, wouldn't mind trying it out one of these years as well. Enjoy it and take it all in!
Always use high obtain fuel in winter and number 1 in diesel😊
Hello I don't know this channel
But I was inspired by the effort
You where saying 7 yrs in off grid.
(Me to) try not to experiment to much. I would believe it's a learning curve we all do..
I would love to share my off grid live in refrigerator Lol a .
A nice little ground mount of solar would give you more and easy to clean the snow off 500 watts
Thank you all that inspire
Curtis
Enjoyed the video Jenna, I live down south and I winterize my 5th wheel every winter also like you said too many hidden lines but I dont use it in winter anyway Take care 👍
I built a little room over the propane tanks this year since I had my regulator freeze last year. So far so good. My generator has stopped giving output. It seems like ethanol in the gas attracts moisture and we had a big rainfall. My generator is covered, but the humidity still seems to affect it. Stabilizer hasn’t helped, so I am going through waiting to see if it can be returned. Off grid is hard! Hope all goes well for you!
It sure is hard! Hopefully you get your generator issues resolved! I still don't know what's up with mine lol
@@gypsyjennathere’s a comment a few down that talks about the carbs and running it until it stops. It worked for me! I have power output again and it doesn’t sound like a helicopter anymore ☺️
@DebbieNobodyneedstoknow1 awesome! Glad to hear it!
Good to see you’re always ready to try something else, no matter what happens. Good job!
Sooo this is her land right? This is not a mobile mobile home. This came up in my feed bec I’ve been watching tons of Van life videos past 2 months. This is confusing. Looks like a camp site but the trailer is planted there so I assume it’s her land
Just a little trick I use when I replace batteries. Write the date of replacement on them.
Good idea
Brilliant. Now why didn’t I think of that? 🧐
those letters are for different sensors,you can add 2 more,,
I put sensors in my water compartment , under floor of trailer at black and grey tanks,my sewer drain compartment,,
we hit -8 celcius ,out here ,no tanks freezing yet,but i do have tank heaters
you have a good setup,
Thank you, I hope your tanks don't freeze on ya!
@@gypsyjennaThanks I bought vevor diesel heater similar to yours,that im going to duct undernieth the floors,,,might even get warm floors from doing so
If you still have the echoflow I would think that would run the battery charger for a little bit in a pinch. I'm in favor of keeping the bat girl scooter also anyway I enjoy your vlogs and wish you well.
if i can give you a advice try to take the batteries of the ground and put them ina box isolate the box and your batteries will store power way better and try to plug your Generator into the solarcharger will put the balanced power into your batteries
Thanks!
Thank you! 🙏
First snow in Nordic countries two weeks ago wee, happy winter!
As an emergency charger - you can use your car - car running - inverter on battery- battery charger
Check your carburetor 2 metal springs cables 1 is your accelerator, if it broke it wont idle up higher you won't have full power. We had the same issues .trying to use a vacuum cleaner shut-off generator..replaced throttle spring we were back in busses
Thank you for the advice
Also fuel filter is a small cylinder thing usually plastic with a hose on each end, attached with hose clamps.
Thanks, I've gotta look for that
Hey girl put those batteries on 2x6 boards and keep them off the wet cold ground they will do better
The generator fuel problem can be eliminated by using non- ethanol fuel. Some areas call it marine gas. Ethanol fuel is hygroscopic. Alcohol in the fuel attracts moisture. I use only non- ethanol in all of my small engines and have not replaced a carburetor since doing so. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info
Hi Jenna 👋 Great to hear from you as always 🙂 Hope you're doing well, stay safe, stay warm and take care my friend 🙏Appreciate you
I lived in my camper for a winter (no wood stove) camper furnace and electric heat it was brutal. I had to switch tanks based on the temperature outside. propane freezes at -188 C BUT will not produce enough pressure if its less than half full in the 0 degrees C range. so, lack of pressure could have been the problem. I don't know.
Thanks , it is still a mystery to me
ty jenna
Hello Jenna 👋 another great show
As always things go wrong in cold weather say safe and warm
Johno Darwin NT 🍺
You don’t need a switch for your tanks. They draw equally without it. There may have been some condensation that the propane froze which caused it to lock and the regulator or hose to get blocked.
I just hope it doesn't happen again, haha
@@gypsyjenna get rid of the switch. Every time you fill your tanks and depending on where you get them filled, it just might happen again because atmosphere gets in your system.
Propane won't light when the temperatures drop below a certain temperature. Rap the tanks with something or even put a blanket over them
Hey girl put those batteries on 2x6 boards and keep them off the wet cold ground they will do better and I start my gas generator to charge my cabin batteries and solar generator when it’s a cloudy day or days and raining one good thing about the rainy days is my two ibc totes like you got I’ve got a leaking valve on my receiving tank I gotta go get a free tank if I get off my ass and do it lol
You need to replace the lead acid batteries with lithium one's and keep them inside where it's warm constantly. Also, exposing your generator to the outside elements is not good idea.
It might be the spark plug coil going bad on your generator. It's a possibility, it's what it does when it gets hot.
Maybe your propane regulator is going into shut down and when it gets too much pressure from the gas it shuts off and you have to turn off the gas and remove the pigtail to reset the valve in the regulator. If you crank the tap on the propane tank wide open, maybe stop doing that and just give it a quarter twist. those are larger tanks.
My shower is a rubbermaid tub that fits inside my tub perfectly, and I just boil a lobster pot and have a submersible pump with a thermometer.
Cheers!
Google your generator and you can find a book/manual on it somewhere to find fuel filter. It may be fuel filter. If not that - ??? I really like your little place. And where it is looks neat. I am a great grandma and have always loved out in the country. I sold my acreage 2 years ago and now live in a 5th wheel in an RV park. In a very small town in Oklahoma. For me I think it works - there's a park just at end of road through rv park. Mine has never frozen (propane) - but I have a 200 gal. tank. And looks like you live in a lot colder area than I do. I like how you have different power sources. I used a wood burning stove for 35 years or more. I miss that. I put a skirting around bottom of 5th wheel - no frozen lines yeah!!! :-) I do leave a heater underneath so if it gets below 25 I turn it on. I am selling my 5th wheel and making a Micro MIni Tiny Cottage out of my 8x12 building. :-) Hey at 74 I can do what I want!!! LOL I've lived in a tent, a 12x16 building, a small living quarters under my horse barn roof. I now am no longer on acreage, no horses, I have my two schnauzers! :-) But, I am going to start next spring taking my blow up kayak to the lake about 5 miles from here. Keep me busy! Yup. Sounds like you enjoy your life. Here's to your life - enjoy and stay happy young lady! God Bless! Stay warm for sure.
Wow, you're keeping busy! Lots of tiny living, keep me updated on how it's going! My mom has a miniature schnauzer and she's a real sweetie! Staying busy isn't bad thing! Enjoy retirement to the fullest! 🙂
Fuel filter is usually in the tank if not inline.
A quick jump will be take your battery from your car take jumper cables and jump it for a couple minutes to charge your batteries in your trailer to one at a time it should charge your batteries fully charged going and look at your batteries setting to see if all the batteries are charged all the way updon’t take long to take a dead battery or almost dead and hook it up to jumper cables. If you got any to your vehicle and tried to charge up your batteries quickly you said you got a generator with that that’s why you’ll mess up your car
12.7 is a full charge which really only happens with fairly new batteries. The only way to see true voltage is to check battery in the morning like you have been because the charge needs to equalize. Honestly just wait for Black Friday and have a look for lithium with a charger because the charger you have won’t work. One lithium 100ah battery will likely give you more power than you have now. I’m using redodo batteries and they are fantastic for the money and my setup. 🍻
Clean the fuel filter on your generator. In our motorhome if the generator starts shutting of like that the fuel filter needs to be cleaned and/ or replaced.
Thanks
Hi Girlie!!❤ its nov 9th on the border of AB/SK, in the Badlands of AB, and it snowed 1/2"!!❄️☃️🧦🧥🧤🥶 good thing Im headed outta here!🌵 🏜🌵🏕🌵🙋♀️🛻🇨🇦👍‼️
Won't it be nice to escape the cold eh! Safe travels!
I used to have the same problem with my regulatorwhen I lived in my rv. I would have to light the pilot on my stove because it was all that would work and afterawhilethe regulator would eventually do its thing but it was frustrating.
New to the Chanel. Randomly it popped up. Love the camper roof !!
Just subscribed. Your doing a Good job. I would add more solar panels. I use a 200amp charger boost can charge my batteries in less than an hour. ❤❤❤
Just found your channel.. you work things out like I seem to do. I'll have to start watching your vids... Hello Kitty, have a great day
The way I winterize machines that I won't use through the winter is I empty the fuel tank and let it run till the carb is dry.
I tried that with a lawnmower and couldn't get it started in the spring. Never again!
You need a better charger, I had one years ago when I was building my cabin, ordered from real goods solar catalog. It might have been a iota charge two golf cart batteries about a hour from really low.
If you throw a couple hand full of rock salt on your fire when it's at its hottest, it will help the criosot not to build up and it will clean out easier.
Good to know, thanks!
Hi, really interesting to see your set up, I live off grid in the uk. I get all my electricity and hot water from solar in the summer, then it drops to just electricity in the winter. Like you I have a backup battery charging system using a 24v truck alternator driven by a honda engine running on propane. I run a 24v battery system, a 240v ac pure sign wave inverter for the fridge and any domestic appliances. I also run a diesel heater with a woodburner on really cold nights just to save kerosene, I run the heater on. I don't know if it is more efficient to run a generator and battery charger or a dedicated 24v charging system. My honda engine runs slower than a generator, so may use less fuel. Funny, we have very similar living arrangements in opposite ends of the world. If you want to make a dedicated 12v battery charging system using a car alternator and suitable engine it's not difficult.
Thanks for the info, sounds like you got it all figured out!
Run a seperate cord into your camper, from the other outlet when youre running your charger.
Each of your outlets are 16.5 amps.
You cant get the full power of your generator out of one outlet.
Thabks for the info but I had the charger on one cord and the trailer was plugged in to the 30 amp genny plug on a seperate
@gypsyjenna use both outlets.
You've got two cords plugged into the one on the right.
You may need to do some maintenance on the generator, if it's stalling.
But, you'll get more from it by plugging each cord into a separate outlet.
@@Mr.Schitzengigglez thanks. The one cord wasn't being used it just plugs into the camper outlet I installed myself. I have the genny fixed now, will update in a future vid
Just found your channel and subbed.
Im in a 5x8 cargo trailer (by choice). If at all possible get an extra regulator to keep for an emergency. I learned the very hard way 🥶✌️
Thanks I do have an extra and kind of forgot about it 😊
I wouldn't trust that meter on the charger.....yes, it should be sensing voltage (which is slightly impacted by the current and cable gauge but I'd assume the manufacturer compensates for that?)
Low to 80% in two hours....for multiple batteries? Even if they are 50Ah each...thats...extremely strange or a sign of serious degradation.
Probably your gauge of wires. You need thick cables that can transport all that power.
Snow stayed for a few days in HRM but all gone now, I charge up my batteries once a week and usually good. If there is lots of sun I don’t bother.
I remember a time where I only needed to charge mine twice a year. I kind of miss those days lol
That was weird like a whole video of gages and numbers ❤❤
So your led acid batteries should never be allowed to drop below a12.5. You need more capacity. The more times you cycle them very low the more damage you do. Try to keep em from not dropping below 80 percent
My generator did the same thing it would run for 30 minutes at a time and quit running and I'd start right back up ,did this over and over again. I took carburetor off and it had jelly all in bottom of bowl. Hope this helps.
You might also check your water separator on your generator
Jenna that old gennie is on her way out go to a harbor freight and get you a preadator brand they carry the have the electric start w/ remote control I’ve got two 3500/4000 watt ones one at my cabin and one here at home mine are pull start type 1 or 1 1/2 pulls they start and they can use 10percent ethanol regular gas I cut my fuel off and run it till it dies I have never had any problems with either one ever Jenna they have the dual fuel types too mine are 4 years old I use them very little I put stabil in the full tank of fuel I keep them full all of the time ready to go at any time and they work well 😀😎👍
DURECEL BATTERIES SUCK BIG TIME THEY HAVE DESTORYED TOO MANY OF MY HAM RADIO TOYS...NOW I ONLY USE THE BUNNY BATTERIES👍👍👍👍👍🙏
PS Get a black cover for your LP tanks. GOOD THING YOU HAVE BACKUPS!
Hi Jenna 👋 just an idea 💡 but have you thought about wrapping your water tank with reflectix ?Might help 🤷♂️🙂
Where did you find your panel you have above your charge controller? We don’t have solar panels connected to our batteries that our heater run off, so we would like to get one of those controllers so we know whether those batteries need a charge
It's a monitor that came with my MPPT charge controller. U can buy them seperate I believe as well, on Amazon
@@gypsyjenna thanks!