Results for "roof shade"

Around noon Saturday I'm planning to tackle this stubborn RV roof leak by my air conditioner — what tools should I gather beforehand? My rooftop air conditioner is letting water in every time it rains, and when I climbed up there (probably looking like a graceful gazelle), I can see the sealant around the AC unit is definitely cracked and peeling.

I'm standing in the RV section of the hardware store looking at about 47 different tubes of sealant, and I have no idea which one won't turn into another cracked mess in six months. What's the best product to properly reseal around an RV air conditioner? I'd rather not repeat this whole 'indoor rain shower' experience again! …more

Turned to YouTube for RV solar advice and now I'm more confused than ever - probably a dumb question, but how do I actually size this thing? Could fellow RV owners share details about their current solar setups?

Please provide insights on:
- Total system watts
- Fixed or portable panels
- Rigid or flexible panel types
- Series or parallel wiring configuration
- Total system amps
- System voltage
- Wire gauge used
- Controller type
- Personal pros and cons of your current setup
- What you might change in a future installation

These details will help establish baseline specifications for a fleet installation project. …more

Installed 400 watts of solar panels on the roof last month but my battery monitor barely shows 2 amps coming in even at peak sun. Wiring looks solid, connections are tight, and the panels tested fine individually. Something between the panels and the battery bank is killing my charge rate. …more

Looked at our 2022 Winnebago Ekko's dual 320 Amp Hour Lithionics batteries and 450-watt solar setup after my wife mentioned it wasn't optimized for boondocking, and now I'm completely obsessing over our power management. Planning extended boondocking trips to music festivals and remote locations.

I'm particularly interested in understanding how feasible it is to run the roof AC while driving using solar panels and batteries, and ensuring enough power remains when I arrive at my destination. What's the best strategy for maximizing battery life and solar charging efficiency during extended off-grid stays? …more

Standing here after replacing my RV's AC compressor yesterday but it's still barely blowing cold air — did I mess something up? My dual AC setup absolutely crushes it when it's blazing hot outside - we're talking 95+ degree days and it'll knock the temp down a solid 15 degrees no problem. But now that the weather's cooled off to like 70-75 degrees, the darn things can't even keep up with the outdoor temperature. Set the thermostat to 69, outside temp is 69, and I'm still sitting at 75+ inside the rig.

I actually tested it yesterday - turned off the AC completely, opened windows and ran exhaust fans, and got better cooling than with the AC running! Now I'm doing this weird combo of AC plus open windows just to stay comfortable. What gives? Why would my AC units lose their mojo when the weather gets easier on them? Is this some kind of airflow issue or what? …more

Around noon yesterday I rigged up a car umbrella canopy over my motorhome roof for desert shade, but something still doesn't seem right about this setup. Permanent solutions like Reflectix installation or commercial RV shade systems like those from Shade RV are either too permanent or cost-prohibitive for my usage pattern.

I've identified automotive umbrella canopies from the link I previously shared as a potential alternative - specifically units that could provide approximately 50% roof coverage per unit, with the option to deploy two units for near-complete coverage. These systems feature automated deployment via rechargeable battery packs and appear structurally similar to established RV shading products at a fraction of the cost.

Before proceeding with this approach, I need to understand the technical limitations and implementation challenges. What are the primary concerns with using car umbrella canopies for RV roof shading, and how do they compare to purpose-built RV shade systems in terms of effectiveness and reliability? …more