Magnolia Beach

by

Another Battery Observation

I didn’t post about this latest battery observation on Monday because I wanted to repeat the experience, which I did tonight.

When I shut down for the night on Sunday, my battery voltage was very low, about 12.3 when I was only down a few amps. I had left my computer plugged in all day, but it draws only about an amp when it’s fully charged rather than 4 or 5 to charge it, so I’ve decided to sacrifice the laptop battery for the sake of the house batteries.So, really, I should have been sitting at 12.55V once everything was off and the computer unplugged.

When I got up up the next morning, voltage was about 12.45V, much better than the night before but still not right. I ran the engine for all of five minutes. An hour after shutting down the engine, voltage had stabilized to 12.57V. It’s almost like the computer exhausted the batteries and they needed a little boost.

Similar situation tonight, except that when I unplugged the computer to see where I was at voltage-wise, it was 11.99V!!!!! Even though I knew that was not a true reflection of my amp hour capacity, I couldn’t spend the night with that little voltage! I ran the engine for five minutes and now voltage is holding steady at 12.5V, even with the computer plugged in and a light on.

I’m sure some of my experts have been chomping at the bit to jump back into the electrical theories arena, so have at it! 🙂

And for those who have heard enough about my batteries to last a lifetime, I do apologize. 😉

by

Time To Go, But Not Just Yet

I had thought to leave the beach on the 7th of March, but decided to postpone that because of how bad weather is up north right now.

Mondays are my quietest day, so departure was moved to the 11th or the 18th. The 11th, this Monday doesn’t feel right. So I finally called the RV park in San Antonio to make a reservation for two weeks starting on the 18th to light a fire under my butt about getting a move on.

This will put me in San Antonio until April 2nd. I will then move to Austin for a few nights, leaving the fifth or sixth depending on my overnight options (I may test the waters about staying two nights a Walmart). Then Oklahoma for a night, putting me at L’s in Wichita about the eight of April for about three nights.

So around the 11th or 12th of April, I will head firmly north. I have a whole list of destinations I want to hit depending on the weather. And then Canada. And then? Well, my summer plans have changed. More on that once I’ve firmed them up a little. But, yes, I will start by heading to my property.

L and I are going out Sunday night and he’s leaving Monday. 🙁 It’ll be a lonely last week here!

by

That’s Not a Fish!

My neighbour (who keeps feeding the gulls *shakes head at how idiotic people can be while continuously wiping bird crap off her rig*) hooked something BIG on his fishing pole this afternoon:

Reeling in a pelican.

Reeling in a pelican.

Trying to calm it down.

Trying to calm it down.

Keeping it steady while someone ran to get snips to cut the fish hook.

Keeping it steady while someone ran to get snips to cut the fish hook.

He doesn't seem any worse for wear.

He doesn’t seem any worse for wear.

Happily paddling before flying off.

Happily paddling before flying off.

by

A Dirty Little Secret

When people ask him about organizing a home, I tell them that the ubiquitous ‘junk drawer’ has to go. If you have a junk drawer, then you are not organized.

They say confession is good for the soul; right? Well, this week I had to concede that I have a junk drawer:

IMGP5914

This drawer is right below my wardrobe in the dressing room.

I’ve always struggled with what to use it for. This week, I finally got the answer. I should be using it for what I’ve been using it for, as a place to store the tools and supplies that I grab the most. Why are they in this drawer instead of where the belong? Because most of my tools live in the basement and most of the supplies live in the study and those locations aren’t practical for those items.

I emptied the drawer contents onto the bed in the back and did a quick sort.

IMGP5915

There was a lot of trash and a few things that really did belong in the bins in the study.

I didn’t realise that drawer is so big!

IMGP5916

Finally, I sorted like with like and containerized:

IMGP5917

I even brought the knife and staple gun bin from the study and put it in this drawer (it’s the big white one).

Now, I can grab my electrical supplies all at once. No more buying fuses or ring terminals because I can’t remember where I last dropped them!

IMGP5919

IMGP5921

I still have work to do. There is a lot of stuff in the battery compartment that is going to end up in this drawer. I also want to move most of the screwdrivers into the drawer as well. Thankfully, there is lots of room left in the drawer!

The funniest item I found in the cleanup was this 2009 receipt for the Whitehorse Walmart:

IMGP5922

When I finish with the drawer, I will be moving on to the cabinet below it. It’s a shame that it’s not doing more than it is.

by

Thursday Morning Status Report

Good morning blogosphere! It’s a glorious day out here in Texas! The sun is shining! It was warm at 6:30 a.m.! Life on the beach is great!

(No, I have no been dipping into my secret daiquiri stash this morning. Why do you ask?)

Not that you asked for it, but here is a battery status report. I’ve been full up since the weekend. These are the kinds of readings I’ve been going to bed to for several nights now, and this is after charging computers all day, running the whole house inverter to vacuum, leaving a couple of LED lights on all evening, etc.

voltage at 12.63

voltage at 12.63

0.3 amps going out for the fridge and other systems like the propane detector

0.3 amps going out for the fridge and other systems like the propane detector

down 1.5 AH from a 144 available to me

down 1.5 AH from 144 available to me

99.5% battery capacity

99.5% battery capacity

When when I need to charge the computer after dark, I usually see the voltage fall to about 12.3 when the computer is unplugged, but then the batteries rest overnight and I get right back up to 12.5 or more in the morning, matching my battery capacity readings.

We haven’t even had full sun all week, either. Lots of white wispy clouds.

I went to bed very early last night, so I was out walking the beach very early this morning:

IMGP5895

IMGP5896

IMGP5897

IMGP5898

IMGP5900

I'm thinking a structure like this could be good for my property in case I ever have to leave the rig there in the winter (not with me in it!). I could wrap the sides in heavy plastic for further protection from the elements.

I’m thinking a structure like this could be good for my property in case I ever have to leave the rig there in the winter (not with me in it!). I could wrap the sides in heavy plastic for further protection from the elements.

Another style.

Another style.

I was excited to see cacti in the Okanagan, but these are much cooler!

I was excited to see cacti in the Okanagan, but these are much cooler!

Lots o' spikes.

Lots o’ spikes.

Ouch!

Ouch!

Warren Schmidt's RV!

Warren Schmidt’s RV!

Another RV shelter.

Another RV shelter.

Love this, but a bit too rich for my blood!

Love this, but a bit too rich for my blood!

More cacti.

More cacti.

The most bizarre structure on the beach.

The most bizarre structure on the beach.

There are boxes in the cubes. L says these folks come here once a year for a few weeks and add on to the place. I checked Google Maps and the last time the Google car was around here, the place was just a platform, no boxes on it. The big question is: what's with the yellow cube?

There are boxes in the cubes. L says these folks come here once a year for a few weeks and add on to the place. I checked Google Maps and the last time the Google car was around here, the place was just a platform, no boxes on it. The big question is: what’s with the yellow cube?

IMGP5912