Point Five Ambo Build

[patoz]

Alex,

By wiring the two 6 volt batteries in series I'm creating one larger battery, and not changing the system voltage as it will still be 12 volts. I'm just increasing the reserve storage capacity and using batteries that are much heavier duty (physically), with a life expectancy of 6 - 10 years as compared to 3 - 4 years for the 12 volt 'deep cycle/hybrid'.

When you wire batteries in series - the voltage doubles and the amperage stays the same.
When you wire batteries in parallel - the voltage stays the same and the amperage doubles.

Capacity Amp-Hours (AH) is defined as:

. The amount of amp-hours (AH) a battery can deliver when discharged at a constant rate at 80°F (27°C) for the 20-Hour and 100-Hour rates and 86°F (30°C) for the 5-Hour rate and maintain a voltage above 1.75 V/cell. Capacities are based on peak performance.

The Trojan T-105 (6V) has a rating of 225 AH, whereas their SCS150 Deep-Cycle Flooded (12V) Marine & RV battery only has a rating of 100 AH, which is typical. So, one 6 volt battery has more reserve capacity than two 12 volt batteries combined in parallel.


This guy explains it pretty well...



These two batteries will cost me $300.00 up front (with two trade in core batteries), but I shouldn't have to replace them for a very long time.

 

[rlrenz]

Using a pair of 6-volt golf cart batteries makes a lot of sense, and you were dead-on when you mentioned the pricing versus 12 volt. A 12 volt deep cycle battery is often used in a marine/boat application, and just take a look at West Marine's prices for 12 volt deep cycles if you want to see what retail pricing can look like. There are many, many golf carts out there, and as long as the battery isn't tagged "MARINE", the price should be more believable.

The power jacks are very nice - but at $3000, they should be downright beautiful. The choice is yours, but how much time do you want to spend lying in the mud before leveling "Just isn't fun anymore...?"

 

[flightcancled]

Ok you just really threw me off when you said 6v. I totally get that by running them in series they go to 12v, it just sounded or some reason like you were choosing to run them in parallel.


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[patoz]

The power jacks are very nice - but at $3000, they should be downright beautiful. The choice is yours, but how much time do you want to spend lying in the mud before leveling "Just isn't fun anymore...?"

My thoughts exactly, and not only for campground leveling but for trying to change a tire on the side of the road also. My hand gets a little closer to the credit card every time I think about it.



Java, I'm studying those links you posted also.

 

[patoz]

Ok you just really threw me off when you said 6v. I totally get that by running them in series they go to 12v, it just sounded or some reason like you were choosing to run them in parallel.


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I knew you would figure it out, but since I'm posting I figured I would put it all out there for anyone else who may be looking for info, like I was when I joined this forum.

BTW, do you have internet service at your new place, or are you still depending on your phone?

 

[flightcancled]

Honesty I've been too focused on work and my build to do things like finish setting up my apartment. I can always surf for something at work.

Priorities are important...


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[patoz]

Honesty I've been too focused on work and my build to do things like finish setting up my apartment. I can always surf for something at work.

Priorities are important...


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I know, I'm retired but I'm so behind on house projects and repairs, cleaning, yard work and everything else because I'm concentrating on my build also. I'm trying to get all of the heavy manual labor stuff on the outside done before it get's hot here again. Spring only last about a month and then blistering heat. I have so many boxes and parts sitting around my living and dining room, it looks more like a workshop than a living space.

 

[rlrenz]

You just said the magic words--"Blistering Heat". About 40 years ago, a very good friend of mine decided to mow the lawn, despite the fact that the temp and the humidity were both trying for 90+. He used a walk-behind mower for the exercise. He had a heart attack and died.

At that point, I decided to buy a riding mower - and I've used riders ever since. Lets face it --- heat+humidity+old age (more than 30...) can equal dead. Florida is not known for humane summers unless you're an iguana.

What will cause you more pain and suffering than lying under your ambulance and fighting with a jack, lumber, wedges, shovels, and whatever else you can find? Murphy's law has it that the only available parking spot will be impossible to level without as much fiddling around as jacking a house off the foundation.

We ain't getting younger, and I KNOW I can't fold up like I used to. Live a little!!

 

[patoz]

We ain't getting younger, and I KNOW I can't fold up like I used to. Live a little!!

You got that right! I can spend one afternoon crawling around under that thing and it takes me three days to get over it.

After reading your thread and hearing some of your ideas about lifting and moving things in and out of the compartments, I've started thinking along those lines also. As a professional firefighter/EMT, I ruined my lower back so anything I can do to make thinks more comfortable and safer I'm going to try to do it.

 

[rlrenz]

Thank Heaven my son only lives about 10 miles away - he's real good about helping me when I need to do something that I just can't do anymore. I help him when he has to do something - not so much by doing, but by showing him how to do something---tile setting, finish carpentry, etc. I bought a hydraulic foot-operated die lifter a few years ago (26"x26" platform, 1000 Lb capacity, foot pedal pump, 60" lift) just to lift odds and ends, plus it makes a very nice welding bench. I used to have one with a battery pump, but the batteries were usually flat, while a foot pump will always work.

The old joke about us retired folks is that we get as much done all day as we used to do after dinner when we were working - and BOY, is that right! Thankfully, I have all day, so it all works out OK>

 

[patoz]

I didn't know what a die lift was, so I looked it up. I found a lot of variations, but something like this would work for me, since it has larger wheels and I don't have a concrete floor or driveway to work on.

 

[rlrenz]

Mine is a Big Joe. Naturally, it's old enough that there aren't photos on the 'net, but this is close:



Mine has a foot pedal instead of a battery. In addition to the forks, it has a slide-on platform that also makes a nice welding table.

 

[patoz]

That's not a lift, that's at freaking fork lift! :Wow1:


Well, my big accomplishment for today was drilling four holes, and one of them is off-center!

I spent all afternoon planning and laying out the stuff that's going on the tongue, such as the junction box for the 7-pin cable, breakaway switch, back-up battery, and all associated wiring. By the time I finally decided where to put everything so it doesn't interfere with other things I have planned, it was starting to get dark but I was determined to at least get the holes drilled. So between not being able to see and standing on my head, the bit traveled off center on one of the holes. Now, I have to try to re-drill the 1/4" hole which is in 5/16" angled steel, and is 1/8" off...almost impossible to do. If it wasn't so much trouble, I would weld up the hole, grind it back smooth, repaint it, and re-drill a new hole.

Getting dark at 4:30 pm sux, and I HATE getting off daylight saving time!! I wish we would get on it and stay there.

 

[rlrenz]

For a while, I was looking at propane-engine forklifts, with pneumatic tires, and about a 5000 Lb capacity. I was getting ready to drive off to look at some, when the ambulance bug bit me - HARD! And now I'm reaching to find room for the lift I have.

BTW - it cost me less than buying a 2x3' platform lift - there are many folks out there who can't seem to figure out how to make something used work for what they need - as a result, buying used got me an industrial lift, versus something from an on-line dealer that came from Hung-So-Low over there in China somewhere.

I hear you on holes - sometimes, things cooperate, and other times, Murphy is handling the layout. Some days, you wonder about using armor-piercing projectiles instead of drill bits (they tend to wander off from the center punch even more than a drill bit....).

Learn how to say NUTS!, walk indoors, grab something drinkable, and veg out. Some days, you get more done by doing nothing than you would have accomplished when everything you touch seems to come out upside down, backwards, or sideways -- and then tomorrow, you get to fix all the mistakes you made today.

 

[flightcancled]

Learn how to say NUTS!, walk indoors, grab something drinkable, and veg out. Some days, you get more done by doing nothing than you would have accomplished when everything you touch seems to come out upside down, backwards, or sideways -- and then tomorrow, you get to fix all the mistakes you made today.

Bingo. Also look at the Paul Jensen builds. No measuring, all "flow building" as I would call it. Flow in recreation is defined by the state of heightened awareness where challenge and skill meet perfectly.

In this case you'd see me do what I had to the to point of lesser resistance to make it work, and cover my boo-boo with some fat washers. Why do you think I made my big joint between the cab and the box finish materials with a healthy overlap of carpeting? Or remember that time I almost slide the rain gutter in half drilling my steps in?




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