theboondork's RV blog

truckless in Denver

7/24/2019

Pink Rose

My truck was held over for a second day appearance at the Big O tire store. I guess they loved my truck so much they just couldn't let it go. Without the use of my truck my accomplishments for the day were extremely limited, but my time for relaxation was unlimited and extremely lengthy.

One of the things I had planned on accomplishing this summer was lightning the load that the Arctic Fox has to haul around. I'm not sure how well I'm doing with that because even though I'm taking things out I'm also putting things in, so at this time it's hard to tell if the Fox is losing weight, gaining weight, or staying about the same. I think I've lost a little weight based on the fact that I got rid of my giant desktop computer, which weighed about 40 pounds, and the two 21 inch screens that the desktop used.

I've been giving some thought to how I want to hook up the two new solar panels on the Bronco. I'm supposed to use MC4 branch connectors but with the memories still fresh in my mind of what happened last time I used branch connectors, and one or more of them ended up being defective I'm hesitant to go that route again. So I'm leaning towards going low-tech and putting the wires together the way I would put any other wire together. After having assembled and disassembled several MC4 connectors I don't see how their connections are any better than a butt splice or a regular twist on wire connector. Especially since there under little or no stress and the most Amps any wire would have to carry is 20.

I guess I would call today a day of relaxation and contemplation. When my truck is around I usually have a desire to go do something, but without it I had an excuse to sit around and relax, as if I actually need one.

theboondork

Red flowers

2 Comments

Barney Ward link

7/24/2019 07:06:14 pm

After many years of saltwater boats as experience, I went with butt connectors with shrink wrap over the connector on the roof. Inside where it stays dry I did not use the shrink wrap around the butt connector. 12 years of no trouble. I would not use twist connectors on the roof since I feel they are inferior to handle the wind buffeting or limb impacts. So there is another worthless comment for your file of worthless comments.

Tom

7/24/2019 08:40:20 pm

Back in the day when I was dealing with saltwater boats in South Florida, keeping my boat afloat usually took what little money I had left over at the end of the month so I was too poor to afford expensive ostentatious gadgets like butt connectors, so I had to use whatever I had laying around which was usually regular twist on wire connectors that I used in the house.

I spent enough time on Biscayne Bay or down off Key Largo, when I probably should have been at work, to know that saltwater was a very harsh environment and that twist on wire connectors especially used ones that I had weren't ideal but they were free. So what I did was twist the connectors on tight and then fill them up with silicone caulking, which I always had laying around because it's South Florida and you have to caulk everything, this kept out the salt water, and prevented them from coming off. Never had one fail.

I probably won't use that method on the little Bronco because there are better automotive connectors than that now days and if I skip a meal every now and then I can afford to buy them.

I have a special file I put your comments in, a very very special file.

Tom

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