I know there are some around, but if I have to drive a good distance to shop there then Amazon is allready cheaper.
This weeks preps check-in
- Thread starter Trapper
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
Ah, just got the stuff to finish the campers solar system! I love amazon, great price and shipped to my door in a couple days, awesome. Looking forward to beginning to put it together tomorrow. This was the new inverter, cables to hook it up and fuse holders and fuses to protect everything. Can’t wait to have everything ready to camp!
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
- Messages
- 18,394
What rating did you say those cables were? They look like 2 AWG not 2/0 AWG. In fact, unless that's a honkin' big inverter, they look smaller than 2 AWG.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
- Messages
- 18,394
Here is a 2 AWG cable and a 2/0 (00) AWG cable with an AA battery for comparison. Of course the thickness of the insulation can affect how thick the cable looks. The hole is the same diameter on both.
The two I bought for joining the batteries are 2/0. The two for connecting the inverter, which came with it are 2AWG. the manual warns that they are only for small loads, not full power. Why even supply them then..... good eye on seeing that in a picture! I noticed it on the table before I looked at the manual, but doubt I would have caught it from a picture.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
- Messages
- 18,394
Most of the charts I've seen are very confusing. I think one reason is the temperature and cable length have big effects on capacity.
Here is the best site I've found so far. It even has a calculator for determining voltage drop.
https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
For short inverter wires, you want to use the "Chassis Wiring" amperage, not the "Power Transmission" amperage, which is for long runs through conduits, etc.
Pure Sine Wave inverters have an efficiency of between 90%-95%. So taking 90% as the worst case scenario, you want to take your max output of the inverter in watts, divide by .9, then divide by 12 to get the 12 v amperage at full load.
So taking your 3000 watt peak inverter that would be 277.8 amps at peak "Surge Power". Max chassis wiring amps for 00 AWG is 283, so that works out just right for 00 AWG cables and your inverter.
Now working backwards for 2 AWG cables, 81 max chassis wiring amps gives a capacity of 1955 watts. That's higher than your "Continuous Power" rating, so for most purposes that would probably be fine. But something like a big compressor motor at startup (which is what the "Surge Power" rating is for) could shut down your inverter using 2 AWG cables.
Here is the best site I've found so far. It even has a calculator for determining voltage drop.
https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
For short inverter wires, you want to use the "Chassis Wiring" amperage, not the "Power Transmission" amperage, which is for long runs through conduits, etc.
Pure Sine Wave inverters have an efficiency of between 90%-95%. So taking 90% as the worst case scenario, you want to take your max output of the inverter in watts, divide by .9, then divide by 12 to get the 12 v amperage at full load.
So taking your 3000 watt peak inverter that would be 277.8 amps at peak "Surge Power". Max chassis wiring amps for 00 AWG is 283, so that works out just right for 00 AWG cables and your inverter.
Now working backwards for 2 AWG cables, 81 max chassis wiring amps gives a capacity of 1955 watts. That's higher than your "Continuous Power" rating, so for most purposes that would probably be fine. But something like a big compressor motor at startup (which is what the "Surge Power" rating is for) could shut down your inverter using 2 AWG cables.
I don’t know wire sizes by heart by any means, but am smart enough to look them up. Google is fantastic for finding out almost anything! One thing I’m concerned about is today when I took the panel cover in the camper off I found it has a converter, for turning AC to DC. I’m not sure if when I connect my inverter to the main panel if it will backfeed and affect it or not. Well, I will find out soon! There’s nothing worse than when you hook something up and you end up letting all the smoke out of it. In electrical theory there is a rule that everything has smoke inside of it. An electricians job is to try and keep the smoke inside of things.
I finished the work on the tongue of the trailer today. Got the gas regulator mounted, reinstalled all the cables mounted underneath, and connected the two batteries up to the camper and each other. Tomorrow will be the solar charger and cable installs. I have to penetrate the shell of the camper for that and am still deciding where to do that. Moving forwards at least. Now the camper is back to where it was when I first got it but with double the battery and propane capacity, and the tongue was cleaned and repainted.
Ok. like 100 miles. I did a search, so that is a nah.
They do deliver, iirc. Don’t know if the numbers would work for you, though.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I'm in limbo with the house, everything packed up and waiting to go into storage, and busy with the new masters study (and getting to grips with the new laptop), so prepping has gone into limbo, too. Other than picking up some very useful second-hand kilner jars and sturdy, high-quality, food-grade plastic containers from the local grocery co-op, I've got nothing to be getting on with. Can't wait to be off on the search for my new place 
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 16,495
A couple days ago I received a 10% off coupon to Tractor Supply. So today I got up early and made the all day drive to TS in another State. I bought a load of livestock feed, canning jars, tinned food, batteries, motor oil and a 30 ton log splitter. Oh, and some beer. Along with the 10% coupon this State doesn't have a sales tax either. The tax savings alone more than paid for my fuel, plus breakfast and lunch for me and the mutt.
ordered (12) 14500, (4) LL14500 and (10) rcr123a batteries
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2012
- Messages
- 18,442
Gotta love their rewards program. I made a stop there on my way home from work today to get some complex b & safeguard dewormer. I did happen to notice 1 bottle of fish bots 100 pills of 250mg penicillin. Never seen them carry that before so I grabbed it too. You just have made one more stop though. . . I know they don't sell beer there.
Is that rechargeable 123a batteries?
yes
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 16,495
Yes I did. Tractor Supply doesn't sell the 10w-30 diesel engine oil that I use either so I had to go to another place to buy it. Eventually I'll start buying the oil in bulk.Gotta love their rewards program. You just have made one more stop though. . . I know they don't sell beer there.
And speaking of beer, I hear another one calling me.
I got a 2 dollar beer brew set at a church store last week, well I screwed it up, it said buy 2.25 gallons of water if your water at home wasn't good, well mine is, so I added 2.25 gallons and it was way to much, ended up pouring the whole thing went over the side of the porch, it was to have 2.7 quarts of water added not 2.25 gallons. So much for that experiment, Now not sure why it said to purchase that much water but I still have the jug, thermometer and all the other what nots that were in the box, so not a total loss. That stuff really swells up and makes a mess, the coons didn't even eat it. I'm such a dope I was wondering how 2.25 gallons was supposed to fit in a one gallon jug eventually. LOL.
Homemade beer is so much better than bottled commercial stuff. I experimented with a mr brew from Walmart. Cheap plastic kit but made a few batches with it years ago. Just like any hobby, you will get better with it with practice.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2012
- Messages
- 18,442
I just been canning, dehydrating & freeze drying. Garden has been worked on but still have lots to go.
We are down both our big trucks right now and in need of getting both grain and hay. Think we have only 4 days left of grain and no hay at this point. Got 1 truck out of shop yesterday and headed for the feed store. Then the oil pressure didn't want to hold. . . So hunny changed out filter hoping it was just clogged, but nope. Had to keep engine revved up to make it home. Yeah it will go back on monday.
I pulled bean rows yesterday to feed to the cows to help supplement. That is where we are right now. . . We may need to sweet talk our neighbor into letting us borrow his truck, which I am not looking forward to. It will mean hand loading all 2000 lbs because heaven forbid he get a scratch if a pallet is loaded into the back. We could take a trailor but our barn is not set up to have a trailor backed up to it. . . . It's extra work and harder on our bodies either way we go. We could just get what we can loaded into the back of the expedition. Yeah I'm just typing out load on alternatives. You just miss having a good work horse when you don't have one any more and something's gotta give soon.
We are down both our big trucks right now and in need of getting both grain and hay. Think we have only 4 days left of grain and no hay at this point. Got 1 truck out of shop yesterday and headed for the feed store. Then the oil pressure didn't want to hold. . . So hunny changed out filter hoping it was just clogged, but nope. Had to keep engine revved up to make it home. Yeah it will go back on monday.
I pulled bean rows yesterday to feed to the cows to help supplement. That is where we are right now. . . We may need to sweet talk our neighbor into letting us borrow his truck, which I am not looking forward to. It will mean hand loading all 2000 lbs because heaven forbid he get a scratch if a pallet is loaded into the back. We could take a trailor but our barn is not set up to have a trailor backed up to it. . . . It's extra work and harder on our bodies either way we go. We could just get what we can loaded into the back of the expedition. Yeah I'm just typing out load on alternatives. You just miss having a good work horse when you don't have one any more and something's gotta give soon.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 16,495
Just got word that my Jeep will be in the shop for another few weeks. The damage was a lot more extensive than first thought. The front suspension all needs replaced, winch bumper, grill, air cleaner, battery, radiator, etc all needs replaced. The body panels and top need to be realigned. And the front fenders and wheel flares need replaced. Its going in to trapping season soon and I really need my Jeep back.
Still have a couple cords of firewood left to split. That new log splitter really takes a lot work out of putting up firewood. The wife will be home next Friday and she'll get to stack it.
Still have a couple cords of firewood left to split. That new log splitter really takes a lot work out of putting up firewood. The wife will be home next Friday and she'll get to stack it.
I picked the last tomatoes yesterday. I also ordered another Big Berky water filter for my house in Louisiana, i had brought the one I had to the house in the Ozarks. I missed that great tasting coffee every morning Im here.
I got the Berkey travel for the camper. It’s stainless too (I have seen pictures of a plastic one) but is smaller than the one I use in the house. It really does make the coffee better by far but I use it for everything I cook or drink. For today it’s just an improvement on our water quality but if shtf it could be the difference between life and death. Getting sick with dirrahea and vomiting from dirty water is not good anytime, but during an emergency it very well could kill you.
Speaking of water, I got the tin for the well house I framed a couple weeks ago. I hope to get it covered up and begin to insulate it today. I’m going to use two polyurethane insulation panels with an airspace between them. That should be more than enough for the mild winters we have here. Once that’s done I can install the whole house filter. I can’t wait to not have my water smell like granite anymore.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2012
- Messages
- 18,442
So we went to go get the 2000 lbs feed today in the expedition with the med sized trailor, which worked out fine and if backed to an angel could get close enough to the barn so yea. Had to make another trip to go get hay with the trailor, but only got 8 square bales so that won't last long. Hunny will stop for more on Tuesday when he gets a senior citizen discount.
Since we were at Tractor Supply for feed I noticed they started carrying some new stuff that I need periodically so no longer have to have it ordered from Jeffers like Selenium & Cooper boluses. And today I saw 1 bottle of fish Mox Amoxicillin so that is another 100 capsules of antibiotics that I have on hand. Finally they have started carrying more and more goat products in my area which is nice.
Since we were at Tractor Supply for feed I noticed they started carrying some new stuff that I need periodically so no longer have to have it ordered from Jeffers like Selenium & Cooper boluses. And today I saw 1 bottle of fish Mox Amoxicillin so that is another 100 capsules of antibiotics that I have on hand. Finally they have started carrying more and more goat products in my area which is nice.
I will have to check our local TSC. Checked a while back for the fish stuff, with no luck.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
