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I’ve found that the pressure cooking mode on the Instant Pot uses way less energy than a slow cooker for similar results. I end up using it almost every day whether we are plugged into shore power or running off our batteries (4 GC batteries, 2k watt inverter). The other item that gets regular use during hot weather is the induction cooktop. It’s more controllable than the propane stove and doesn’t heat up the rig.
We will be heading south from AK to the PNW then down the coast, over to Yosemite and then to the CA desert and AZ. We parked the fifth wheel in OR back at the end of June and drove back to AK for the summer. Now that things are starting to cool off here in the interior, it’s time to head south, pick up the RV and head to warmer temps. This will be trip #31 on the Alaska Hwy. Every road trip is an adventure.
I installed a Xantrex PROwatt 2000 true sine wave inverter. Rated at 1800 watts continuous. I had it running almost continuously for about three months last summer and one month this summer. It draws about 600 ma at idle. We ran a lot of stuff off of it with no issues at all. In fact, almost all cooking was done with an induction cooktop instead of the propane stove as it didn’t heat up the rig as much. I also liked the remote on/off capability. I also installed their automatic transfer switch and a small subpanel moving two of the circuits from the main fuse box. Basically, the outlets on both sides of the trailer. This does include the refrigerator so I need to remember to manually switch to propane. Otherwise, the refrigerator burns through the batteries pretty fast. If I were to do it again, I’d look into the hybrid inverters…
[quote quote=51616]Well we left Miami in Jan. And are now in Dawson Creek, B.C. enroute to Soldotna, Ak.
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Cool! Are you planning on staying in/around Alaska for the summer? I’m in Fairbanks…
I have the 6qt model and it is very versatile but isn’t perfect (as are most multitaskers). The pressure cooker is the most useful mode, especially when running off of battery power as the results are similar to a slow cooker but the cooking time is dramatically less. Yes, more power to run it but for maybe 5% to 10% of the time. It is okay as a rice cooker but the unitasker does a better job. I make yogurt all the time but it needs to be running in a very low power mode for 10 hours. I didn’t have it on our last extended RV trip but it is definitely going on the next trip. To answer an earlier question, yes you can pressure can but it’ll only hold 4 pints. I use canning jars for making yogurt. And would recommend this item to anyone, I have one because we purchased it as a wedding gift but the couple already had one. Instead of returning it, I opted to keep it.
We use one a lot as well. In hot weather, it doesn’t heat up the rig as much as the propane cooktop. During our 3 month road trip, we used the propane stove maybe 10 times and that was only because we were already in the Yukon and Alaska. The additional warmth was welcome. We also ran it off of our batteries through the inverter most of the time. I would consider getting rid of the stove but, like most other things, it’s nice to have a backup.
I also installed 4×100 watt panels and estimated the run to be about 15′. I found 15′ of 4awg arc welding cable on Amazon to be cheaper ($34 for a pair) than 2 runs of 6awg. I wanted to plan for up to 4 additional panels in the future and sized everything appropriately. And like JJ mentioned, don’t skimp just to save a few bucks. You may not be satisfied with the results. And it is worth spending the time and effort to find the shortest path from the roof. I made my combiner box on the roof from a box store waterproof junction box.
Good luck with your project.
There is a little damage to the sheet metal right behind the tire and some of the wheel well trim broke off in the same area. I believe that the TPMS warning before it blew allowing me to get to the shoulder before it popped saved the day. There was maybe 10 to 12 seconds between the alarm and the “pop”.
Measured on CAT scale with full fresh water 9220 on the two trailer axles. The rating for the tires were 3520 per tire at 80 psi. I was running them at 75 psi as I was not even close to the max rating for the tires. The GVWR for the trailer is 11,789 lbs.
The new tires have metal valve stems. Originally, they were rubber. The old tires did not have a speed rating marked on the tires. The new ones are rated for 75 mph so says the dealer. I haven’t looked for a marking on the tire. The EEZTire RV also shows temperature but since it is measuring it at the end of the stem, the temperature is usually quite aa bit lower. Even after the tire blew, the indicated temperature was the same as all of the other trailer tires. BTW, here is a picture of the blown tire.
Here is the rig as we are waiting for a tow truck. I think the hydraulic clutch failed. So we are sitting in Redlands waiting for Memorial Day weekend to end…
Good information in the video. And thank you, Eddie. for the great information on the YouTube videos both your videos and Rays. I had some of the information needed to get my solar setup started. Right now it’s just set up in my garage here in Fairbanks on a board that’ll get installed in the front storage bay of the fifth wheel. The actual panels (4×100 watt Renogy) are in OR and the trailer is in WA so I won’t get any of this installed until this May when I drive down. Only half of the compartment is available as there is a metal divider with the propane tanks on the other side. I’ll have a week to get the rig ready to go before my wife flies down.
I’ve been testing the setup with a borrowed Kyocera 130 watt 12 volt panel. And seeing what type of things I can run off of the battery bank and for how long. And working on a Raspberry Pi to log data from the Tristar. I don’t think I would’ve even known where to start without your knowledge sharing. Thank you!
I was just wondering what a “maintainer” was and thought that maybe it was the converter that was being left on. I was also going to suggest installing a Trimetric monitor as knowing quantitatively how much current is going in/out of your batteries seems to be a great first step. Then you’ll know how much you really need and also find out if the supplied converter is doing what it’s supposed to be doing.
Family in Fairbanks. How long have they’ve been here? I came as a grad student and ended up retiring from the university. Sounds like I’ve been here too long…
[quote quote=44660]Never heard of it?
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Neither had I. That’s why I asked. The original post had the term and I was wondering if he was referring to the converter. If so, that would be the problem…
