RV Solar Part III – The Installation

Marvelous Marvin

So, we come at last to the final installment of our story, and appropriately so on the last day of the year. It’s the last hurrah, the chocolate treat, the final ray of sunshine on the panels…you get the drift. Having decided on our equipment and specs we needed to make the very critical choice of whether to do it ourselves or get help. We’re relatively handy, but not exactly overly-confident and the idea of drilling a hole in our RV roof was enough to send me into a mild panic. So, for our personal sanity we decided help was needed and as it so happens AM Solar knew a good installer (himself a full-timer) who was travelling through Florida while we were here.

And that’s how we met Marvin.

Now, I’m not one to beat about the bush so I’ll just come right out and say it -> Marvin was marvelous. Not only is he a very nice and down-to-earth guy, but he knows solar and the final workmanship was beautiful. So, I’m very happy he came along and am equally happy to recommend him to others (his website and blog is here: http://precisionrvmobile.com/ and he’s travelling West from FL through TX and onto Yuma, where he’ll land sometime in March 2011).

Marvin spent around a day and a half doing the installation itself and a few extra hours chatting and going over questions with us.  Since we didn’t do the install ourselves, I won’t go into all the nitty gritty, but I’ll point out some key points that made the installation work:

• Careful Placement of the Panels:
  

  Marvin and Paul placing the solar panels on the roof

  The panels were placed on the roof so as to ensure there were *no* shadows from any of the existing structures up there (e.g. aircon, antennas). Also, they were placed so that they can be tilted with *no* shadows. Both these things are critical to make sure you get all the power you can out of those babies. Remember even a teeny amount of shadow can kill your power by huge amounts.

• Short, Efficient Wiring: 
  

  General Overview of our Installation. We were able to get nicely short wire runs.

  Marvin did a lovely job of running lines from panels to the combiner box at the back of our roof. From that point it was a direct shot through the roof, down along our our back closet and into the floor to our back left storage bin where he installed the solar controller. The short & direct wiring job was the very reason we were able to stay within our voltage drop goals. Remember that the longer the wire, the more your loss and minimizing loss is what it’s all about

• Controller Located Close to the Batteries:
  

  Marvin installs the solar controller in the bin right next to our battery bank.

  Our solar controller is in the bin directly adjacent to our batteries which is as close as you can get without being in the same room. This very close placement was what allowed us to meet less than 1% voltage drop between the charger and the batteries….another critical loss point. Marvin routed all the wires through the bin wall and sealed the hole to make sure the battery compartment was kept isolated.  

• Attention to Details: Marvin did a very nice job of routing wires carefully, sheathing everything, sealing holes, tying up loose ends and so forth. The final job was very clean and workmanship nicely done.

The final panel placement. The slight shadow on the left is mine and the ones in the back from the trees.

To finish off our install project, the day after Marvin was gone and for a few days after we diligently measured voltage loss across the system. So far, so good. Everything indicates that we’re meeting our goals of 2% voltage drop from our panels to our controller and 1% drop from controller to batteries. 

Did we do everything perfectly? Probably not. Does our system rock? We certainly think so! We’ve been in partially shaded sites (for part of the day) so we haven’t pushed the system to it’s max yet or run the full amperage through the wires so there’s always room for more measurement and improvements. That’ll be a project for 2011 and we’ll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime I wish everyone a Happy New Year and a fulfilling and joyfull start to 2011. See ya’ all next year!

RV Solar Part II – The Equipment

So, following on from my gripping introduction to solar yesterday it’s time, with fanfare and fireworks (it IS almost New Year’s Eve after all), to reveal our choice of equipment. Every RV is different, so what we chose may not be right for your rig or your needs. Always, always take the time to figure out what’s right for you (true in life, love and general happiness, is it not?). So,  feel free to take our example as input, but definitely not as gospel

Going With 24V Panels

Our 100 Watt 24V Panels

I should start by saying that we decided to go with higher-voltage panels up-front and this, in turn, affected all our other equipment choices. The benefits of 24V panels are less loss through the system (using the water-hose analogy it’s like starting with a higher-pressure hose up-front) plus we liked the easier wiring and the current boosting capabilities it gave us (see below). It’s a slightly unusual choice and it is more costly. Most RVers choose 12V panels which require thicker wiring, but also give more open choice in controllers and panels. It’s a cost-benefit analysis and I would say you can get a solid solar system either way. In our case we’re geeks, and hubby had a decent year in the market so 24V was the way we decided to go…

Once we decided on 24V that immediately narrowed down our choice of vendors since not too many people offer a 24V panel that’ll fit comfortably on an RV roof. After much research we ended up going with a set of products from AM Solar, with an upgrade on wire-size and batteries. These guys only do RV solar (nothing else), have a good reputation, are all RVers themselves, are nice folks and above all were able to answer all our nit-picky questions. The final installation met our loss goals so we’re happy with the results. Here’s the full list:

1. 600Watts of 24Volt Solar Panels - We decided we wanted a pretty liberal power supply with 600 Watts of 24V panels, which led us in turn to 6 of the AM Solar RV100 series panels. We like the specs, warranty and format.
(Nov 2011 Update -> AM Solar has updated their line-up and now offer a 100W panel which is slightly shorter than the old RV100, plus some newer/niftier larger sizes. Check out their website for more info)

The Tristar Controller

2. Tristar MPPT 45 Controller (TS-MPPT-45) - Given our up-front choice for higher voltage panels, we needed a good controller that could handle the higher voltage input. MPPT controllers fit the bill and the Tristar 45 has good specs. It has all the charging profiles, including a custom setting, does temperature control and will actually sense and charge to the right voltage at the battery terminals using an external voltage sensor. This last feature is rather nifty since it makes sure you really get the right voltage exactly where you need it (= at the batteries) -> good stuff. Another nice feature of this controller is that if you generate more voltage than you need, it’ll convert that extra power into additional current going into your batteries (= a little boost for faster charging). Since we’re using higher voltage panels we should (hopefully) be able to take advantage of the boosting feature on a fairly regular basis.

3. AM Solar Tilt Mounts – We went ahead and chose the tilt mounts from AM Solar. We like the fact that they provide space under the panels and allow us to tilt when we need to.

4. Combiner Box – We decided to use a combiner box on the roof. So, each panel is wired individually on the roof, then they’re combined together in the box and a bigger wire goes from there to the controller. The bonus of this set-up is that you can use smaller wires on the roof, the wiring is easier/cleaner, plus you can easily add another panel down the line (if you ever need it).

Marine-grade wiring for the roof

4. Wire Upgrade - The standard system from AM Solar for the 24V panels use #10 marine-grade 90˚C wiring on the roof  and #8 wiring internally. Now, that may seem waaay too thin given what I wrote yesterday, but remember that 24V can run twice as long as 12V on the same wire for the same loss, plus we’re using a combiner box. We wanted to target ~2% voltage drop from panels to controller and ~1% drop from controller to batteries. So, we crunched the numbers using the wire tables I gave you yesterday and decided #10 was OK on the roof, but we needed to upgrade to the #6 wiring internally. That combo ended up working for the amount of wire we used in our install. For a home needing more wire you might need #8 externally and #4 internally and for a 12V system wired in series you might decide to use #4 everywhere -> it all depends on voltage, current and how far you’re running the wire. If I were doing this over for someone else I’d crunch the numbers specifically for their home.
(Nov 2011 Update -> AM Solar now offers #6,#4 and even #2 wiring for their systems. Bottom line is you can never go wrong w/ thicker wiring)

5. Lifeline AGM Batteries - We decided to upgrade our batteries to a bank of 4 Lifeline AGM 6V 220AH batteries (GPL-4CT). The AGMs will charge faster, and since they’re sealed there’s the bonus of no more maintenance. Lastly, since AGMs have really low internal resistance you can pile a lot more current into them -> that meshes nicely with the current boosting feature of our controller.

Xantrex battery monitor

6. Xantrex LinkLIKTE Battery Monitor - This monitor hooks onto the batteries and tells you exactly how much power is either going either in or out of your battery bank. It’s definitely a geek-device and allows us to monitor exact usage from the batteries, something none of the other monitors we already have will do. If you’re just starting out on your solar quest and are looking for a device to tell you how much you’re using out in the boonies, this is the device that will do it for you.

Looking for another panel supplier? Here are some good, additional links on panel costs and suppliers around the US:

• Solar Panel Comparison Shopping – http://www.solardesigntool.com/compare-solar-panels-modules.html
• Solar Panel Prices – http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm

The final installation and measurement info comes next…..don’t go away…

RV Solar Part I – The Discovery Process

Harnessing the sun is a beautiful thing

It’s a cold winter day here in S.FL we’re generating power from the sun. As a self-confessed geek I find this outstandingly cool and for the past 5 days we’ve been glued like little kids in front of the solar charger display, oohing and aahing over the power coming in. We’re now ready to hit the road and live “off the grid” in the best of ways, but it took us a fair few months to get to this point. So, these next few days I’m going to take you aspiring solar RVers on our journey so that you too may one day enjoy the fruits of the sun. We’ll start with the discovery process, then the equipment and end in grand style with the installation. So, here we go…..

Why Go Solar?
First things first, solar (for most people) is not exactly a cost-saver. Everyone likes to think it is, but given the price tag (anywhere from $1500 to $6000, depending on number of panels, equipment and installation) the return can take a good few years to make sense financially. If you use mainly private campgrounds or just do the rare day of dry-camping, the good ‘ol generator will do just fine. If, however, you like to go “off the beaten track” on a regular basis solar can be a definite bonus. We like a lot of spots that don’t offer electricity, and we love the idea of being self-sufficient and not having to run the generator. And, of course…it’s just so very cool….

How Many Panels Do I Need?
The first question most people start with, is how many panels do I need? Panels are expensive and you can’t expect to generate enough solar power cover everything (e.g. aircon’s are too big a power draw for regular solar use). The easiest way to estimate how many to get is to calculate your average usage (in amp hours) versus the average power you can expect to get from your panels (in amp hours). Most RVers want to be able to use their computers, lights, appliances and maybe TV/satellite, but individual needs vary (by alot). Also, panels are usually rated for sun hitting directly on the panel at 25˚C, so actual power output will almost always be lower than their “optimum” rating. I won’t go through the individual calculations, but I’ll let you know (later) what we decided to do and I can direct you to Jack Mayer’s page for examples on how to calculate your own needs.

The Basics of Solar = Minimizing Loss
Solar is basically about trying to convert sun power into real power. All this sounds good and dandy, but very basic problem with this whole idea is that it’s an inefficient process….in fact a really inefficient process….and everything you do along the way (adding wires, routing through machines etc.) causes you to lose some of the original power you generated. Just to give you an example, solar panels themselves are only about 15% efficient (so, of the power coming in from the sun, only ~15% gets converted, even less if the sun isn’t directly on the panels or it gets too hot or bits of shade are present etc. etc.). Then you add a wire onto that panel and you lose a bit more (wires have resistance and the longer and thinner the wire the more resistance it has == more power loss). Then you put that wire into a charger (== more loss) , then more wires, then finally into your battery. So, every step of the way you’re losing power, kind of like trying to put water through a hose with a bunch of holes in it. It’s a fact of life with solar so in order to do it right you’ve got to do everything you can to **minimize** loss. If you start off by understanding that basic concept you’ll save yourself a lot of tears and head-banging later on.

So, How Do I Minimize Loss?
Once you start reading up about solar you’ll find a lot of info (much of it conflicting) on how to do it. I’m not going to go through all the details, but what I am going to do is give you a few key basics and route you to a couple of sites that will teach you the rest. Here’s the top tips we gleamed from all our research:

1. Buy Good Quality Panels & Go Higher Voltage if You Can - You want quality panels that have a long-term warranty, and if you can go with a higher voltage. The reason is to minimize loss. You can run 24V two times longer than 12V on the same wire for the same loss. It’s the very reason industrial power-lines run at such high voltages (often 110kV or above) = higher voltage means less loss over distance.
2. Beware of Shade - You might not think you need to worry about a little bit of shade on your panels. After all, the rest of it is getting sun, right? As it turns out even a teeny bit of shade can cut power output by huge amounts, and putting one square of your panel in shade can sometimes lock out power altogether. So, beware of any shade from roof elements (aircon, antennas etc.) when you install.
3. Use Thick Wires - One of the most important decisions you can make in your solar installation is using the right size wires. Wires are the pipes that route whatever power you get from your panels to your batteries. They’re often the single biggest loss point in any solar system and they’re often the single biggest mistake people make. Thicker wires will carry more power for longer distance with less loss, while thin wires can cause you to lose so much voltage that your batteries never get fully charged. The “standard” size wire (usually #10) that you get with a 12V solar system will typically be too small. You want to minimize loss to 2% or ideally 1% which means thicker wires (e.g. #6 or #4), especially for the parts of your system carrying the largest current. Higher voltage panels give you extra leeway, but you still need to think about proper size. Use tables or calculators or graphs to help calculate what size wire you need.
4. Get a Good Controller - The controller’s job is to convert whatever power you’re getting from your panels to usable power for your batteries. Typical deep-cycle RV batteries have 3-stage charging profiles, and they are sensitive to temperature. So, you want a controller that allows adjustable multi-stage, temperature-controlled charging. If you’re using higher-voltage panels you will also need a controller that can handle the higher incoming voltage.
5. Locate the Controller Close to the Batteries - The further your charger is away from your batteries, the more voltage you loose. You want it as close as possible (but not in the same bin) as your batteries.
6. Use the Right Charging Profile for your Batteries - When setting your controller, look at the battery manufacturer’s specs to determine the right charging profile for your batteries. Many flooded cell batteries require a higher charging voltage (typically 14.8V) than what the controller manufacturer recommends (often 14.4V). Go with the battery specs.
7. Consider AGM Batteries - If you can afford the switch AGM batteries have a much lower internal resistence than flooded cell batteries which means less loss getting power into the cells and a much faster charge time.

Those are the big basics. There is a lot more, as well as details pertaining to mounts, wire connections and such, but for those I’ll direct you to the experts:

• Jack Mayers Site – Lots of good, detailed info here on Solar including using higher-voltage panels.
• Handybob’s Site - He’s very opinionated (no doubt), but there’s lots of good info hiding here. Take time to look through the text and pictures.
• AltE Site - This is a commercial site, but they have plenty of detailed articles written in plain English explaining how solar power works.
• AM Solar – Another commercial site with some easy education articles.

Next, we’ll reveal our choice in equipment….stay tuned….

Merry Christmas!!

Just a few words today…Merry Christmas! Hope this finds you well fed, well loved and in the Christmas spirit

Nisser, Rice Pudding and the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

One of our many RV kravelnisser making mischief as they do...

The Night Before Christmas is a wonderful poem, but Clement Clarke Moore clearly wasn’t visiting a Dane. You see in Danish Christmas we have nisser everywhere and these little guys like to make mischief, especially tonight. Our RV may be parked in Florida, but I’ve still got a well-founded respect for these little guys so we’ve been diligently working to get things ready for tonight.

Nisser are a type of mythical troll or elf traditionally part of Scandinavian rural folklore. They bring good luck but are also whimsical and extremely mischievous, unless that is you keep them happy. Traditional rice pudding is the magical elixir so there’s many a Dane that will make up a good portion the day before Christmas Eve and leave a bit out to keep the little guys happy. Then, on 24th we’ll make a desert (ris-a-l’amande) with the leftovers.

Making rice pudding

We’ve got the rice pudding done and hope nisserne will be good to us tonight. 

If you didn’t get the chance to make your own here’s the original recipe from 1955′s edition of Lærebog I Huslig Økonomi. This will make enough for 4 people or 2 people and a houseful of nisser.

Ingredients:

• 250g round/pudding rice (grødris eller runde ris).  Sushi or arborio rice can be substituted
• 2 liters full-fat milk (sødmælk)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preparation (~1 hour):

1. Rinse the rice: Rinse the rice and allow to dry on a sieve.
2. Boil the milk: Bring the 2 liters of milk to a rolling boil under med-high heat. Stir the milk during this process to keep it from burning, and keep a close eye to prevent the milk bubbling up over the edge of the pot.
3. Add the rice: Add rice and keep stirring until the milk is boiling again. Continue stirring for an extra 5 mins once boiling.


A happy nisse is a good nisse

4. Boil the rice: Reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to bubble slowly for ~1 hour. Check the pudding and stir periodically to make sure it’s not going too fast, or getting burnt. At the very end of cooking add the salt. The final result will be a thick, rich pudding ready to eat hot off the stove!

With a bit of luck nisserne will enjoy the treat and be back next year to visit too.

Eat well and sleep tight, my little friends…

RV Christmas Wishlist III – Last, Last Minute Gifts

Twas a few days before Christmas and all the shopping was done…..or was it?

Home-made truffles anyone?

Last-minute Christmas shopping is a daunting prospect and can drive many a sane person into a blubbering mess. So, for the sake of Christmas harmony and general world peace I decided to finish off my RV Christmas Wishlist series with some last-minute and relaxing gift ideas. All of these babies can be done from the comfort of your home with Christmas music, Santa hat and eggnog in hand:

1/ E-Books for the RVer: Electronic books are perfect gift ideas and even more perfect for RVers. They’re full portable, can be re-used and all you need is a reader. For those without a Kindle or Nook, you can download free readers onto your PC or smartphone and off you go. Here’s a couple of interesting picks for the any existing or aspiring RVer:

• Answers to the Common Excuses - Worried about how to start the full-time lifestyle? From technomadia this book answers all the excuses and how to overcome them. If you’re looking to get on the road or are already on the road and want to expand your horizons this little book can help get you there.
• RV Packing Tips, Easy Living and Life Lessons - by Peggi McDonald A very cool book that goes through all the ins and outs of RV living in a practical way.
• The Original Checklist for RVers - For the RVer who loves to check, Mark Polk has written this and many other useful e-books.

2/ Software: Another gift from the comfort of home. Here’s a couple of festive and cool software ideas for the RVer:

Microsoft Streets & Trips

• Microsoft Street & Trips - For the man…or woman…that loves to plan. This is really one of the nicest (in my opinion) trip planning softwares. Keep tips on where others have told you to go, download Walmart and camping locations and so much more. Get the whole thing online.
• iPhone or Smartphone Apps – If you’re the techno type you can go crazy and download all 10 best RVing Apps for your honey for Christmas (the list specifies iPhone, but you can find many of these on a smartphone too).

3/ Home-Made Treats - They say any man can be won over by a good plate of chocolate chip cookies, and in return any woman can be wooed with chocolate. The latter is certainly true for me, and several years ago my I learned to make home-made chocolate truffles. These things are actually really easy to make and are a great last-minute gift item for loved ones with a food penchant. All you need is chocolate and cream. I’m a fan of the cooking for engineers recipe with an added tablespoon of brandy for the festive spirit.

4/ Amazon Gift Card - Ahhh…the joy of gift cards. So simple and so gratifying, especially when you can buy them from home. I love these things and most people love receiving them too. My top pick is Amazon  simply because you can get just about anything there and it’s wonderfully easy to buy a gift-card online. Print it out and deliver by hand or just send via e-mail to the lucky receiver.

5/ Magazine/Club Subscriptions – Who doesn’t love to get the latest news and tips? Or discounts on camping? These are our favorite picks:

Family Motor Coaching Magazine

• Family Motor Coaching - Probably my absolute favourite of all the RV magazines. The maintenance and upgrade tips are always detailed and interesting.
• Escapees - We really like this club as well as it’s magazine. Nice group of folks and a cool way to introduce newbies to RVing. They have “birds of a feather” groups that cover almost every interest you could think of. As a member you can also get their ”Days End” directory of free/low-cost campgrounds.
• Good Sam RV Club – Good Sam’s is a discount camping club which also carries a nice magazine (Highways). Their online forums are very active as well.

That’s it folks. I’ll be doing small jaunts of limited blogging over the next few days as we get through Christmas, but fear not….as Arnold so eloquently put it I will be back, and my Solar RV series (which is sure to inspire, enthrall and electrify) is in the plans for right after the holidays.

A Moody Day and Harnessing the Sun

A late afternoon glow reflects in the lake at Markham

Well, it was another of those moody weather days yesterday and for those of you that read my recent post on the subject, you’ll know that meant I was out prowling the scene for a good shot. A late afternoon walk by the lake here at Markham gave me exactly that, and thanks to my little point-and-shoot I managed to capture the moment while Polly patiently waited for me to finish (the dog is used to my photographic ADHD lapses by now).

A bit like days of past these last glorious rays of the day seemed to portent for today, but in a very good way. You see we’re getting solar installed! So, as I watched the mighty sun fade away I dreamed of harnessing that power with the 600 Watts of panels that we’re getting on the roof today. I won’t spoil all the fun, but will just tease you a tad by revealing that I’ve got a few posts coming on the whole solar thing. As with all things, it was waaaay more complicated than we originally dreamed and yet surprisingly simple in the end, but then the path to off-the-gridhood is written by many trials and experiences. So….until then…enjoy the shot!

Travelling w/ The Weather -> The Flip Flop Barometer

Ahhhhh....flip flops

This time of year you can’t help but think about the weather. Seems all craziness is loose out there with massive cold-fronts and blizzards sweeping down on the North both here and in Europe. I write this, of course, from the sunny warmth of my RV sitting in my flip flops…and that got me thinking. One line of my convoluted brain went on a tangent of footwear ending up somewhere with ultra-plush-faux-fur-covered flip-flops (I would buy ‘em!) whilst the other more scientific penchant of my brain started analyzing the practical side of things. After all, one of the many beauties of RVing is that you can travel with the weather, and that means flip-flops all year around (with occasional sock-in-flops on chillier days -> it’s a fashion statement don’t you know). As the self-proclaimed original discoverer of this phenomenon I nick-named it the flip-flop barometer of RVing, and decided it was worth a post.

Scientifically speaking the ideal flip-flop weather is between 60 and 80 degrees fahrenheit (16-27 degrees centigrade) with a soothing breeze and complete lack of bugs. You should be able to sit comfortably, not bothered by excessive temperature or bugs sipping a drink (with mini-umbrella as occasion demands) in the sun. Got it?

Now, I really must admit I’m not the first person to think of this. Snowbirds are well-known for fleeing the North in the winter to go South for warmth. Although not so-named (as far as I know) summerbirds do the same in reverse running like mad chickens from the heat and bugs of the summer into the North for relative cool. 

Through our RVing we will attempt to perfect this travel with 365 days of perfect flip-flop accuracy. We failed this year, travelling South way too soon and thus spending way more time with bugs than we should have liked. Next year we will aim to do better and there’s a couple of spots that are helping us to plan the ultimate trip:

1/ US Weather Maps - The NCDC (National Climate Data Center) keeps a record of historical temperatures, visually mapped and color-coded as to whether they are above or below norm. It’s a very cool reference.

The NCDC Map for February 2010

2/ Local Data - Once you’ve got the big picture Weather Underground is a great resource for getting into details. For historical info, just plug in your city and date and the site will spit out details and maps of daily, weekly or monthly data on temperature, barometric pressure, precipitation and wind speed.

Weather Underground data for June 2010 in Denver, CO

3/ Bug Activity - There are limited resources for bug activity, but if you’re a natural-born-mosquito-magnet such as myself you’ll take anything you can get. Turns out the Weather Channel has a resource called the Mosquito Activity Forecast. Here you can get up-to-date info on how the little beasts are biting all around the US.

4/ Weather Alerts - Although these won’t affect your long-term planning, having access to severe weather alerts can definitely make a difference to your immediate safety. The NOAA issues the alerts and you can buy various weather radios to receive them as you travel cross-country. Certain media also offer cell-phone and e-mail alerts, but they’re usually limited to a given location.

Between these resources we’re going to re-try for the perfect flip-flop trip in 2011. Planning is in progress and will be revealed in due time. In the meantime here’s hoping your feet are free and footloose in the perfect flip-flop pose.

RV Christmas Wishlist II – 10 Stocking Stuffers for Under $20

The 24th is slowly creeping closer and I’m sure I’m not the only one that hasn’t finished all my Christmas shopping (yes, I know…woe to me!). So, while I was pondering the list I started thinking about bits and pieces that would work as cool stocking stuffers & last-minute gifts. To narrow things down a bit, I decided to focus on stuff costing less than $20. These little items of joy are perfect for RV friends and family who want something special as well as useful:

The useful little Water Thief

1/ Water Thief (~$4) – I did a review on this little baby a few months back and we still use her all the time. Great little gift for the RVer that likes to camp in “off-beat” locations.

2/ Stick-On Levels ($3-6) – An alternative to the wine glass method of making sure the beast is level.

3/ Quake Hold/Museum Putty ($5) – This magical stuff will hold decorative items in place throughout your motorhome. We’ve used it in over a year of driving for pictures, candle-holders, soap dishes and more. It holds like a rock.

4/ LED Tap Lights (~$10) – We use these little lights in our closets and hard-to-see locations. They’re cheap, versatile and won’t drain the house batteries.

The very cool collapsible WonderVase

5/ Collapsible Flower Vase ($10) – Every now and then it’s nice to brighten up the RV with some flowers but travelling with a big glass vase can be a pain, especially when you don’t use it that often. These collapsible vases solve all those problems. They’re light, unbreakable, store flat and can be re-used. Such an ingenious little idea!

Useful and packable exercise bands

6/ Exercise Bands ($12) - For the RV fitness fanatic these portable exercise bands are a great little gift. They’re super-packable, durable and easy to use. We secure ours in our RV door and use them for all kinds of upper body exercises.

7/ Heavy-Duty Truck Tire Gauge (~$10-15) - Checking tire pressure is a key RV maintenance item. The “old-fashioned” truck tire gauge’s are cheap and functional. If you want to be more fancy you can get the type with digital displays, but that’ll add another $10-15 to the price.

8/ Screwdriver Bit Set ($11-30) – If you ever do any handiwork on your RV you’ll need all the different little screwdrivers out there, and the easiest thing is to have a set. Be sure to get one that includes the square (Robertson) tips -> they’re hiding all over your RV.

Pocket-size weather alert radio

9/ Weather Alert Radio ($20) - For the travelling RVer having a radio that links to National Weather Bureau alerts can be a huge safety bonus. Most of these are pretty pricey, but this the MIDLAND HH50 is pocket-size and wallet friendly too.

10/ Multimeter (~$20-30) – This is on the high-end of our wish list $$ limit, but is a great gift for any electrically-minded RVer. I like the ones that have auto-ranging as a feature.

Capturing the Perfect Shot -> Embrace the Mood

A moody day in WY gives a glorious sunset

So, it’s another chilly day here in FL. The big blast up North has brought a front down here which makes me dream of hot cocoa, big fuzzy socks and photography. You see it’s a bit dreary out there today and a lot people with a camera get totally bummed when the sunshine goes behind the clouds. I’m the exact opposite. I love the changing moods of the weather since each one gives me the unique opportunity to take a different kind of shot. If you embrace the weather, your photographic horizons can open up dramatically. Here’s a couple of examples of what to do on the darker days:

Wild country and wide skies, WY

4/ Look for rays of Light - When the sky is dark and ominous, sometimes you get a ray of light peeking through which illuminates your foreground. Some of the coolest contrast comes when the sky is dark and your front is bathed in light. It’s a photographers dream.

Magic moment of morning mist in Iowa. My exposure compensation was -0.7

2/ Go Misty - The early morning, when dew is recent and mist is coming off the ground is a perfect time to get that “moody” shot which won’t be as interesting later on. Mist tends to “white out” your automatic camera settings (i.e. picture looks way too white), which is a result of how your camera calculates exposure. so there’s something called “exposure compensation” (normally a +/- button on your camera) which can help to darken the shot and keep that moody feel. Set your exposure to -0.7 and see how the picture changes.

A misty day gives these mushrooms a cool glow

3/ Go Small - when the sun is diffuse it’s a great time to focus on the little stuff. Sometimes that eerie light can give a kind of “glow” to the things on the ground and a nice, soft light for flowers. So, when the sky turns grey, look below for your treasures.

4/ Take a Portrait – Believe it or not some of the best light for portraits is a soft, diffuse light. When I was doing professional photography I used to actively seek this light for my family photos. So, when the light is soft, zoom in and take those portraits.

Diffuse light was perfect for this shot

4/ Wait for sunset - A lot of times a “moody” day can give a really cool sunset. Lots of clouds can make for brilliant colors as the setting sun reflects against the cloud layer. If you have a “sunset” setting on the camera try it at this time. The “sunset” setting tends to darken and saturate the shot which really brings out those deep, gorgeous colors.