Weekend Get Away - Ft Hamby

We arrived Thursday at Ft. Hamby near Wilkesboro, and for the first time we got caught in two different traffic backups, which added one plus hours to the travel time.  

When we arrived we were told they had a play going on at the amphitheater about Tom Dooley, which we went to.  I never realized the song from Kingston Trio was based on a true story.

Yesterday I made the hike to the little water fall here at Ft. Hamby, but I can't find where my phone stored the picture, maybe I didn't save it.

Ft. Hamby is COE campground, and we are in campsite #21. We have been at this site 2-3 time before.  Sites are level and have lots of space around them, sites have water and 30/50 amp service.

The best part is with the America The Beautiful (Senior Pass) a three night stay is only $36.

First Three Trips with new Montana

Hi Folks,

I am really far behind in my blogging, this is our third trip out.  Cindy should be doing this, since she is a reader and writer.  I don't care for much of either.  I stare at he computer all day and turn if off when I am done working for the day.

First trip was Huntington Beach State Park, SC (May 2 to 10, 2015).  We try to go there twice a year, once in early May and again in October.  This time we had a site with lots of trees, lots of sand gnats and no satellite (due to trees).  We walked on the beach, and I road my bicycle 8-11 miles a day.  The State Park has 3 miles of undeveloped beach, and bike path that runs along US 17 is in the trees for the most part.

Cindy making tasty breakfast.

Huntington Beach State Park, SC Site #51

Huntington Beach State Park, SC Site #51

Huntington Beach State Park, SC Site #51

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Next trip out was River Bend RV near Lake Toxaway, NC.  This is a great campground for Empty Nester's.  Quite and friendly, full hookups, but little for children to do.  Rates are $33 to $37, and with Passport America half off except for Holidays.  They had BBQ dinner one night for Memorial Day Weekend ($6), and leftovers on Wednesday ($5).

Since rain was in the forecast, I spent the first two days washing and waxing the Montana.  Was going to do that at Huntington Beach, but sand gnats were just to bad to be outside in one place.

River Bend RV Park, neaf Lake Toxaway, NC

Pavilion at River Bend, they Happy Hour most nights.

Tables next to creek, to eat BBQ dinner.

Since we knew some days were going to get rained out, Cindy brought her sewing machines.

Just one of the projects done.

Didn't realize just how hot Charlotte, NC area had been until we got home.  The mountains were cool, even had to turn the fireplace on a few times in the morning.  

And now we get to where we are now, Cane Creek County Park, in Union County, NC.  We arrived on Wednesday, and park was quiet, and only a few campers here.  On Friday we were invaded, lots of kids, and smoke.  I can't figure why people make a campfire when it is 90+ degrees outside, and then leave it unattended and filling the air with smoke because they are burning wet wood.

 The sites that backup to the lake are full hookups, all sites have water and 50 Amp service.  Our site is shaded by trees all the way around, so no satellite.  Because the lots are angled we have a nice view of the lake and swimming beach (open on weekends only).  The temps have been in mid to high 90's (unusual for this time of the year).  Also the trees have pretty much killed any solar power, but with 50 Amp service, it is not really needed.

Cindy coming back from the lake.

Cane Creek County Park, Union County, NC  Site # 43

Cane Creek County Park, Union County, NC  Site # 43

Cane Creek County Park, Union County, NC  Site # 43

Cane Creek County Park, Union County, NC  Site # 43

Water (well is the source) has a lot of iron in it.  This is my water filter after 24 hours, and it was white when we arrived.  I also have a water softener down stream of the water filter.

Our table and fire ring is 25-30 feet away from our unit.  Most sites they are within 10-15 feet.

Footnote, washer / dryer working very well.  Might be different when we have a full closet.

Shakedown Cruise and Washer / Dryer Combo Installed

Since we weren't sure when we could get out for the shakedown cruise, it was a last minute deal, and the only place Cindy could find open with availability close by, was Wateree Lake RV Park and Marina.  Not a place we would go back to, sites were sloped in two directions.  The tires on the left side were about six inches off the ground when we leveled the Montana.  They did have 50 Amp services, and full hookups, which is about the only good thing I have to say about the place.  I didn't take any pictures, but we will avoid the place in the future.

Last weekend I got the Washer / Dryer Combo installed.  I don't have anything good to say about Keystones design here.  I had to install the 90 degree extension cord, because there wasn't enough clearance for the plug that came on the Washer / Dryer Combo.  Access to water shut off values is near impossible when the unit is installed.

Selves removed, looking under the self that holds the Washer.

Dryer Vent installed and drain pan installed.
No room to run a drain line from the pan to outside.

Here it is installed and tested
Let me tell you it is a job to get in there.

I don't know what Keystone is thinking here.
You have to remove or slide you cloths over to get the laundry in and out
the Washer / Dryer Combo.

Here we have the doors closed.

Also if you are looking for generator that you can lift, I recommend Champion 3100 Watts Inverter generator.  It can run AC or Large Microwave without having to use a pair of 2000 Watt generators.  Weighs in at 80 lbs, very quite, and cost less than half of a Honda.

Less than $800 on Amazon.
I have seen it put out 34 Amps for short period when thing start up.

Update on Modifications and Packed up.

Most to the modification are done, except the Combo Washer/Dryer is still yet to install.  I climb up on the roof and got some better picture on wiring up top.  When the weather is nice and I have time off, I will put another round of Dicor on all the seems and roof penetrations.

Fist we will start off with better pictures of solar panel wiring.

Solar panel wire go into the box and down to through the kids jacket closet.
Just in front of the box is the satellite antenna wires.

Standing in the front looking back.

The next project was to install generator plug, second 30 Amp transfer switch, that switches between generator and inverter.  This makes it fool proof power connections, between shore power, inverter and generator, only one power source can apply power to the coach circuit panel at one time.

30 Amp Transfer Switch

Generator Plug with Stainless Steel Cover

Finish battery box Installation.  I kept the original stock 12 Volt 84 AH battery and added my six Trojan T-105 Golf Cart batteries I had from previous Montana.  This gives me 756 AH at 12 Volts.

Batter box vent.

Batter Box Vent

The next project was to install the self for my forth 280 Watt solar panel, I will use in Winter and when camping under the trees.  Also mounting Cell Phone 3G / 4G LTE Booster.

Tray is made out 3/16" plywood, sandwiched between 1x3 on top and 1x2 on the bottom all the way around the edge.  The right side is screwed to the basement wall, and the left side hangs via two supports.  Tray has carpet on it that the solar panel lays sunny side down on the carpet.

Pulled the panel out a little so you could see the panel in the tray.

Here is view of the tray from the other side.   You can see the Cell Phone Booster is mounted to bottom side of the tray.

Now the fun of packing almost everything we had in the other Montana.

Only thing missing are my tools which go right there in front.

Since we are headed out for shakedown cruise next Friday, I turned the refrigerator on last Saturday morning when I went to pick it up to work on it.  Saturday and Sunday were mostly sunny, but today, Monday, it was cloudy and rained, until around lunch time and then the sun came out.  Below are a couple pictures of my smart phone with information from my solar controller.  When the sun has gone down, my load is around 11-13 amps, so I need around 180 to 230 AH to go through the night in winter.  That will be about 1/3 my battery capacity.

Today with rain until noon, I still got 256 Amp Hours (3700 Watt Hours)

Installing Solar Panels, Automatic Satellite Antenna, and Other Electrical Stuff.

I purchased four Solar World Sunmodule Plus SW 280 Mono Panels, back in November 2014, while I had the money.  I figure three would fit on the roof and would crank out 840 Watts peak, which is all my Morning Star Tristar 60 MPPT controller could handle.  I plan to make a tray to store the forth panel in, and use it during the Winter, or when camped under trees.

First two panels up, with enough room to walk between.  I used ARM-UNI Camanah Tilt Mount Kit.  Gives me the option to tilt if needed, and allows me to tilt them to clean the roof under the panels.

All Three panels and Satellite Antenna Mounted.  Just need to run wire down from the roof.

Here is the Montana at it's storage location.  Note the stands under the front four feet.  Without the stands, the Montana could not be leveled due slop from front to back.  The front legs do not have enough travel, and the middle jacks would be hanging in there air.

OK now the fun begins, running the wires down through the roof.  This model has a wall about six inch wide where the electric panel and control switch are.  So I bought a 1 foot long 1/4" drill bit, and unbolted the control center.

Eight screws removed, and let the panel hang by the wires.

Looking up threw the opening of the control center.
The gray wires are the solar panel wires.

Here you can see the box I put on the roof to feed the wire down from the roof.  Cables are secured with Galvanized Steel Clamps with rubber around the clamping part and stainless steel screw.  Tie wraps don't last but a year or two, so I don't recommend them.

Below the Control Center is a small closet to hang kids jackets, mine would never fit.
On the side where there is 3/4" wood I attached my first solar breaker panel.  One 10 Amp breaker for each of the four solar panels.  Each panel has MC-4 (10 GA) wires that go from panel to here.  Negative attached to the black bus, and the positive going threw the breaker and then to the red bus.  The four breaker goes to a plug in the convenience center to plug in the forth panel.  The wires leaving the bus are 6 GA wire.

Here you can see the Keystone neat wiring job (NOT).  The two red and black wire are the 6 GA wires going to the solar controller.

The positive 6 GA wire from the closet goes into a second circuit breaker (50 Amp), and from the breaker goes into the solar controller.

The output from the controller goes into the second 63 Amp breaker.  The reason for the second solar panel breaker is so I can disconnect incoming and out going power to the controller in one place.

On the output side of the solar controller after it leaves the circuit breaker goes to a selector switch, which allows me to route charging current to either my battery bank or the stock battery or both.

The larger selector switch below it, is for selecting feed power, 1 or 2  or both.

The inverter is installed just to the left of the solar breaker box.

Added labels

Battery box made out 1/4" plywood and 1" x 2".  Lined with shower pan liner.
This was in the old Montana.

Here you can see the 1" x 2"

Top cover, just sets on top, no fasteners needed

While I had the batteries out, washed down with backing soda.

Forth panel plug.

This one panel aimed at the Sun on a cloudy day put out more power than the three flat panels combined.

Shows wires going back to convenience center plug. 

Here I have my SeeLevel Tank monitor, Victor Battery Monitor, and EMS-50 Display. 

Cradle Point MBR1400 Router, with Verizon Modem Cap.  Solar controller is connected via Ethernet cable, and I can view status via PC or smart phone.

Here is sample screen of Solar Panel output.

Since it cost just $20 more to order an entire system, than to replace all for sensors, I order a new system.  I mounted the old display panel in the convenience center, so I can check tank levels at either location.  Displays tank levels at 6% increments.  Since the sensors mount on the outside of the tank, there are no false readings.

Had a rainy day, so worked on cleaning up Keystones rats nest.  Also adding a HDMI cable from TV to Satellite Receiver.

Here is the finished job.

Also mounted the inside Cell Phone Booster antenna.  The amplifier will go in the basement.  Mounted on the dresser in the bedroom and is aimed at the back of the Montana.

I mounted the satellite antenna control box in the basement.  This way I am outside and can monitor the antenna operations, and if it is still up when getting ready to move, it is easily accessible without having to go inside.

Here is where I mounted my 50 AMP Transfer Switch and my EMS-50 surge protector.
I have another 30 AMP Transfer switch on order, which will switch between the inverter and the generator.  This will make it foolproof, generator/inverter will have priority over shore power, and the generator will have priority over the inverter.  The switches will prevent two different power sources from entering the trailer.

Not really electrical.  I installed a small pressure tank on the water system.  The tank takes care of two things, one the water pump doesn't have to run as often, and two the tank will absorb water pressure spikes when hooked up to campground water systems.