Blue View – Adding a Battery Under the Front Passenger Seat

/
Blue View – Adding a Battery Under the Front Passenger Seat

I had read on more than one forum that it might be possible to install one or two batteries under the front passenger seat. I couldn't find any threads indicating that anyone had actually done it, nor did I find any information suggesting that it couldn't, or shouldn't be done. So I removed the front passenger seat and took some measurements.

Sure enough, it looked like there was adequate room and I decided to give it a try. While there were a few complications and glitches, the end result isn't bad.

Read More

Blue View – Blue's Electrical System Installation

/
Blue View – Blue's Electrical System Installation

All those years aboard Nine of Cups has taught me a number of lessons about electrical systems and electronics, and how difficult it is to ensure that not only are the gear and wiring installed safely and reliably, but remain that way. Much of what applies to boat electrics also applies to van electrics. In this week’s blog, I’ll talk about how and where I installed all that gear .

Read More

Blue View – Blue's Electrical System, Part 3

/
Blue View – Blue's Electrical System, Part 3

This week's blog covers how we keep the house batteries charged. The primary means of charging the 315 ah of batteries is the solar panels mounted on Blue's roof. Here in the southwest where solar energy is plentiful, we've had no trouble keeping ahead of the refrigerator, computers, phone and other electronic gizmos that now seem necessary. While the solar power provided by our solar panels is more than we need right now, the same may not be true once we're in the Pacific northwest, so we've invested in a couple of other methods for keeping the batteries charged...

Read More