CM16FFBS Mods

[wahoonc]

Got my new Renogy Solar Suitcase.

I bought this rather than fixed panels for the time being. I can use this to charge up tractor batteries and such at the remote barn where there isn't any power. It puts out about 10 amps at full power. During the summer months I can get that for a good 8 hours a day.

Got is hooked up to one of my pickups at the moment and it is pushing 5-6 amps even with the winter sunshine angles and partly cloudy.

Aaron

[EricNSTL]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Got my new Renogy Solar Suitcase.

Thanks for posting, I was looking at the same thing. I usually have power when camping, but I was thinking about getting one of these for that "just in case" moments. Please let me know how this is working out as you use it this summer.

Eric

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by EricNSTL

Thanks for posting, I was looking at the same thing. I usually have power when camping, but I was thinking about getting one of these for that "just in case" moments. Please let me know how this is working out as you use it this summer.

Eric

Will do! We have a planned 4 day boon docking trip coming up in late May. Much prefer hookups but beggars can't be choosers.

FWIW I have it outside hooked up to a pickup that hasn't been cranked in over two weeks. Even with the winter sun angles and some light cloud cover pushing through I am getting 14.2v and 4-5 amps at the battery.

Aaron

[wahoonc]

Square: a four-sided shape that is made up of four straight sides that are the same length and that has four right angles

Apparently Dutchmen has a different definition...


Finally got around to tackling the non-square dinette bed issue. Holy Crap Marie!

Taking the whole thing apart and rebuilding the top frame and tweaking (no not twerking) the lower frame. I had a 1972 Pathfinder that had a similar bed... built a helluva lot better too.

Aaron

[wahoonc]

I was in the camper again today, make that everyday.

Got to looking at the wasted space above the stereo, going to take the piece of plywood off and build a shallow shelf above it. Also going to add a couple of USB ports. It will give me a place to put cellphones and iPods, for charging as well as playing music.

Aaron

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Square: a four-sided shape that is made up of four straight sides that are the same length and that has four right angles

Apparently Dutchmen has a different definition...


Finally got around to tackling the non-square dinette bed issue. Holy Crap Marie!

Taking the whole thing apart and rebuilding the top frame and tweaking (no not twerking) the lower frame. I had a 1972 Pathfinder that had a similar bed... built a helluva lot better too.

Aaron

Couldn't be a Dutchman product, hasta be your speed square is jacked up

The blind installers don't get issued squares and levels because of obvious reasons.......

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Couldn't be a Dutchman product, hasta be your speed square is jacked up

The blind installers don't get issued squares and levels because of obvious reasons.......

RIIIIIGHT!

True Story: years ago (mid 80's?) went into Sears to purchase a couple of framing squares, took a big chunk of plywood that we had cut on our big table saw. We were checking the squares for square (novel thought) we had a good sized pile of not so square squares... the salesperson wasn't amused but we got a couple/three good ones and got out of there.

Swanson Speed Squares are the cat's ass as far as I am concerned. I also have a couple of machinist squares that are accurate to .001 Dutchmen can't even get in the same county! (much less state) I expect some intolerance, but what I have seen they ain't even in the eyeball range, not only are they blind they are stoopid to boot!

Aaron

[EricNSTL]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Got the bed struts in

Used the HatchLift Kit in the small size. I did have to move the bottom anchors towards the front of the trailer about an 1" after the initial install.

Aaron

Do you see any reason why I couldn't mount these on the outside of my storage? My storage is only 18" but the hatch over hangs about 6". and the end and about 3" on the sides.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by EricNSTL

Do you see any reason why I couldn't mount these on the outside of my storage? My storage is only 18" but the hatch over hangs about 6". and the end and about 3" on the sides.

Other than aesthetics and the possibility of pinching a finger or catching the bedding in it, I don't see any reason you couldn't mount them on the out side of the box. You will probably still need to add bracing to the inside frame to fasten to.

Aaron

[wahoonc]

Took a two hour nap in the camper today, gray and raining, slept good!

Then got around to putting a light just inside the entry door. You used to have to take a couple of steps into the camper to get to the first available overhead light. Now there is one that can be reached as you step into the trailer. It also provides light for the thermostat and for finding things in the rear storage cabinet. Pretty simple mod in this case. I pulled the bathroom light and the vent shroud, drilled a hole where I wanted the light and pulled a piece of wire over to the bath light. One advantage of having a wood framed trailer.

Aaron

[MartyG]

Nice job, Aaron!

[kalm_in_NJ]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Finally got rolling on a few mods, and of course the list has change a bit.

Installed LED replacement bulbs in all the fixtures last night. Turn them all on and the converter fan doesn't even turn on. With the old 921 bulb turn two lights on and the fan would start running.

A new mod to the list is to add a switch to the end of the cabinet by the door so you can turn on a light without having to walk all the way into the trailer. Probably going to wire the dinette light to that switch, and possibly the porch light.

I also picked up a roll of LED light strip. Some of it is going into the storage compartment, the rest probably along the trailer side of the awning.

I installed a Vornado folding fan on the front end underside of the kitchen cabinet. Works great.

Aaron

Thanks now I know why that fan was running when we turned on all our lights like you did.

It turns out a single 921 bulb draws about 1.5 amps of current to deliver about 350 Lumens while a typical led replacement (for a 921) draws only about 0.100 amps while delivering the same or better Lumens. That's a huge difference!

I just ordered some leds for my RV.
Ken

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ

Thanks now I know why that fan was running when we turned on all our lights like you did.

It turns out a single 921 bulb draws about 1.5 amps of current to deliver about 350 Lumens while a typical led replacement (for a 921) draws only about 0.100 amps while delivering the same or better Lumens. That's a huge difference!

I just ordered some leds for my RV.
Ken

Probably the easiest mod you will ever do!

Get a tube of dielectric grease too, I put a dab on the end of the new bulbs so they would slide in easier.

Aaron

[kalm_in_NJ]

I replaced our 921 bulbs with LED "bulbs" last weekend. My GRV T10 Wedge 921 LEDs are a cylindrical shape as opposed to Aaron's paddle-shaped LEDs but mine work just fine and the AC-to-DC converter fan stays off now unless you turn every single light on. Even then it runs at much lower speed.



Even better than that, I like that these LEDs stay COOL inside the light fixtures.

Some of the old 921 bulbs I removed were black inside but my sockets are ok. See this post :
http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums...black-776.html

That tells me the el-cheapo 921s supplied by Dutchmen can get too hot so going LED might be considered a *required* mod.

Ken

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ

I replaced our 921 bulbs with LED "bulbs" last weekend. My GRV T10 Wedge 921 LEDs are a cylindrical shape as opposed to Aaron's paddle-shaped LEDs but mine work just fine and the AC-to-DC converter fan stays off now unless you turn every single light on. Even then it runs at much lower speed.



Even better than that, I like that these LEDs stay COOL inside the light fixtures.

Some of the old 921 bulbs I removed were black inside but my sockets are ok. See this post :
http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums...black-776.html

That tells me the el-cheapo 921s supplied by Dutchmen can get too hot so going LED might be considered a *required* mod.

Ken

Ken,
Where did you get those bulbs and how much?

Aaron

[kalm_in_NJ]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Ken,
Where did you get those bulbs and how much?

Aaron

Sure. No prob.

I ordered a 10-pack for 25 dollars from Amazon.com :
Wedge LED Bulb lamp Super Bright Warm White DC 12V Pack of 10

http://www.amazon.com/GRV-13-5050-We...Wedge+921+LEDs

Ken

[kalm_in_NJ]

I saw another good price on Amazon.com for flat ones like what you installed :

http://www.amazon.com/GRV-24-3528-Su...words=921+LEDs

[EricNSTL]

Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ

I saw another good price on Amazon.com for flat ones like what you installed :

Amazon.com: GRV T10 921 194 24-3528 SMD LED Bulb lamp Super Bright Cool White DC 12V Pack of 10: Automotive

I saw those too, but after reading the reviews, these can get hot if you have less then 12V and at almost 14V when on shore power. I found these also at amazon for a few more dollars, but has a better voltage range.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A2WYHIKT67HDGV

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by kalm_in_NJ

Sure. No prob.

I ordered a 10-pack for 25 dollars from Amazon.com :
Wedge LED Bulb lamp Super Bright Warm White DC 12V Pack of 10

http://www.amazon.com/GRV-13-5050-We...Wedge+921+LEDs

Ken

Thanks Ken!

That is the same company I ordered my pancake bulbs from. I have another project coming up that will need the full round type.

Aaron

[kalm_in_NJ]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Thanks Ken!

That is the same company I ordered my pancake bulbs from. I have another project coming up that will need the full round type.

Aaron

I was wrong on the specs for both types. The lumens are approx 180 versus 350 lumens for the original bulb. But we like them just fine anyway. Looks like if you want 350 lumens you have to buy a 200mA led at a higher price. Ken