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  1. somewhereinusa

    Helicoils in Cell Terminals

    You can modify your tap to allow make the threads deeper without the taper by cutting off a bit of the bottom of the tap. If you are using something like a drillpress to start the tap straight you can cut off quite a bit. If hand tapping you may need to buy a second tap, using the tapered one to...
  2. somewhereinusa

    JB Weld versus Loctite for grubscrews

    I use JB weld for a lot of things I don't think it would be particularly good for your purpose. While you can thread it it isn't all that strong as a thread and it doesn't conduct electricity. I suggest that you repair the threads with something like a heli-coil and if necessary use loctite on...
  3. somewhereinusa

    LiFePO4 heating pad for cold temperatures

    Got side tracked. That project is on a back burner for now.
  4. somewhereinusa

    So..., fridge with square wave inverter?

    While is isn't recommended, I did it for years in my semi. I didn't notice any difference although, it probably was down a bit on power. I also ran a microwave. It was definitely down a bit on power and the clock was wrong.
  5. somewhereinusa

    Has something changed?

    For the first seventy years or so of my life. An inverter changed DC to AC and and a converter changed AC to DC. Has this changed? I see a lot of posts with people talking about a converter when obviously they are talking about DC to AC. I just saw an ad with a picture of an inverter that said...
  6. somewhereinusa

    Victron Smartsolar Charger Remote On/Off

    I can't speak spifically about your model. I have a 150\85. I don't remember how it's marked, it comes from the factory with a jumper between two of the terminals, if yours has that remove the jumper and install a switch between them.
  7. somewhereinusa

    How hot is normal for my wires?

    I would replace the wire or crimp new lugs on the one getting hot. I've seen wires that looked fine have bad crimps.
  8. somewhereinusa

    Idea for a homeless shelter

    I slept in a refrigerator box in the back yard when I was about 10.
  9. somewhereinusa

    Problems with Valence software scanning battery

    Change it to look something like this.
  10. somewhereinusa

    Victron Smartsolar Charger Remote On/Off

    You're making it harder than it actually is. The remote is hardware not software. On the bottom right is a small connection with a jumper between the two. This is from the manual The simplest way is "a". Just remove the jumper and connect wires to the two terminals from your relay. You don't...
  11. somewhereinusa

    Solar, LiFePo4,Air conditioning in RV

    I'm pretty excited. I got everything wired and working yesterday. About noon I turned on the AC in the bedroom. At about 6PM the panels were still producing more than the AC was using. (Northern Indiana, slightly cloudy, some overcast). I left the AC on all night set on 75°. This is what the...
  12. somewhereinusa

    BMS Bluetooth range extender

    I would venture to say there may be something wrong with either your transmitter or receiver. I have three different BT devices in my bus, one is a Victron the other two are BT transmitters that control Arduino boards. I get reception anywhere in the bus and for some distance, roughly 100 ft, on...
  13. somewhereinusa

    Safety cutoffs for Valence

    I hesitate to post this, last time I posted something I was told I didn't know what I was talking about. This is all done and installed for testing except for actually hooking up the main relay. It uses external sensing, not internal Valance. Until I can get more data I'll hook up the laptop...
  14. somewhereinusa

    190ah Lifepo4 $590

    No it was from this company GARD Specialists Company. Looked good in their demos, a bit pricy but, if I still had my shop I'd go for them. Self tapping no tools needed. Back then I had a lot invested in Heli'coil tools
  15. somewhereinusa

    LiFePo4 In Semi

    Not sure what kind of paper work you are referring to. In 20 years cross country, US and Canada, not once did anyone ask for any paperwork on anything that was part of the truck. I did get inspected often, not once did they question the extra batteries or .generator. They are looking for safety...
  16. somewhereinusa

    Something wrong here?

    Well, had to do something, a penny won't work anymore.
  17. somewhereinusa

    Valence XP Super Thread

    I had some conversations with that guy, kinda, he always replies in French. His website has changed a lot since I last visited. Google will translate the written part but much of his explanations are captions on a photo.
  18. somewhereinusa

    Valence XP Super Thread

    Would it be enough for balancing to simply supply 5v from a voltage reducer to the canbus for cell balancing?
  19. somewhereinusa

    190ah Lifepo4 $590

    I saw this style, can't remember brand name, at a truck show and thought they looked like a good product. Better than Heli-coil. Even then in an expensive battery I think I would use a real tap to cut the threads. Thread insert
  20. somewhereinusa

    190ah Lifepo4 $590

    You should be able to very carefully tap the hole for a larger bolt. Since the hole is so shallow you will need to use a bottoming tap which, you may have to make. If you don't know what it is do a search for it. Use lots of forward/reverse of the tap. Don't try to cut the threads all at once...
  21. somewhereinusa

    loc Tight on Battery Screws

    Valence batteries have loctite or something similar on their battery bolts. In an RV you should make it a regular habit to check all electrical connections. Vibration as well as expanding/contracting make them tend to come loose. I try to check mine about once a month.
  22. somewhereinusa

    Testing my Valence U27-12XP

    That one is only really rated for 80A continuous. Note from the linked page. A lot of those that say they are rated for 300A continuous aren't really. I have these, TYCO ev2000aaana rated for 500A. They are the ones used in the trucks that the Valence batteries come out of. Here's some on...
  23. somewhereinusa

    Testing my Valence U27-12XP

    Are those listed for continuous duty?
  24. somewhereinusa

    Valence not supported by Victron

    I have both, just set your parameters in software.
  25. somewhereinusa

    Smoke

    Does Lucas make inverters? Maybe would go nicely with those panels that are supposed to work in the dark. :cool:
  26. somewhereinusa

    Smoke

    I have noticed a few threads lately about letting the smoke out of various things. I'm not sure if it's still available but many years ago when I specialized in working on British cars I had good luck with Lucas smoke. I have heard mixed results about it working on other than British cars. This...
  27. somewhereinusa

    Valence U27-12XP 12 volt 138Ah

    I have been getting mine from people in Milwaukee, there are different ones but I think source is the same. They have been buying trucks all over the country though. Last two I bought I took laptop and they let me plug in to look at bms info.
  28. somewhereinusa

    Valence U27-12XP 12 volt 138Ah

    I have 6, purchased two different times, all came from Staples trucks. None of them have cycled more than 200 times. The last two less than 50
  29. somewhereinusa

    After upgrading my RV house batteries to LiFePo4 I am wondering what others are doing to maintain the Chassis Batteries

    I used to use a battery tender for chassis batteries. I have a Victron multiplus now, it has a separate low amp circuit for maintaining chassis batteries.
  30. somewhereinusa

    Alexandria’s New Electric School Buses Will Help Feed Power Grid

    Where does the electricity come from? Unless they are solar doesn't it come from the grid? You get power from the grid, use some, then plug back into the grid. You then need to again, TAKE power from the grid for the next trip. What is the scenario that would put power into the grid?
  31. somewhereinusa

    Problems with Valence software scanning battery

    Instructions and software here. Dick's Bluebird Bus
  32. somewhereinusa

    Relays

    Actually I read it two or three times, it didn't compute in my head the same way you said it.:(
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