More Reader Responses to Quality Issues....

Hello Readers…..

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to relate their experiences regarding Quality in their RV. I sincerely appreciate hearing from each and everyone.

Every major industry relies on a cast of trained folks to perform the many tasks that are required to produce a product. The RV Industry is no different in this respect. Just a few minutes spent in a modern RV will quickly disclose the vast number of parts and pieces that go into building of the RV. Getting all of the parts and pieces put into their proper places, attached properly, and operating correctly is not an easy task. Yet, thanks to the training and talents of the small army of RV workers, this task does get completed in a way that allows an appealing product to be sold to the Customer.

But, sometimes there is a problem. Read on….

Sam and wife Nancy have three young children and fit into the “30 something” bracket. They recently purchased a new 28-foot Travel Trailer. Sam writes “Nan and I wanted a way to spend quality time with our kids as in their growing years. We had both grown up with camping and the outdoors in our blood, and after thinking about the several ways to do this; we decided that owning an RV was a good way to go. We found the RV that fit our lifestyle, complete with bunk beds for the kids, and space for Nan and I. We had a good experience with our Dealer and are very happy with our new RV.”

Sam continues. “During one of our weekend trips into the hill country, our youngest came running into our bedroom and woke us up. He told us that there was water on the floor. Not knowing what to expect, I pulled on my pants and made my way to the Bathroom. Yep, there was water all over the floor and it appeared to be coming from the toilet.”

“It took me less than a minute to go outside and turn off the water” he writes. By this time, Nan and the kids were all out of bed and wanted their breakfast. Fixing breakfast for three growing kids, especially when you do not have water, is a task. But thanks to Peanut Butter and Jelly, the kids were quickly satisfied, out the door, and on their way to the playground.”

“It took a good hour before we had all of the water mopped up,” Sam writes. “With the bathroom floor sufficiently dry, I was finally able to look for the leak. Nan agreed to control the water faucet while I looked for the leak.”

“It took several minutes for the first water to start to cover the floor,” Sam writes. “The water was coming out from under a wall in the bathroom.”

Sam tells me that he was able to remove the wall panel that covered the water pipe to the toilet. “The inside space was very wet” adds Sam.

Sam found that the problem was a small split in the plastic water line. “It looked to me as if someone had forced the plastic pipe onto a connector in a manner that caused the plastic pipe to split.”

“I cut off the split end, rearranged the pipe, and re-connected the pipe to the connector. Nan turned on the water and there was no leak.”

“I called the Dealer after we arrived back home” Sam writes. “The Dealer told me to bring RV into the shop and they would check it over.” They ended up pulling out the wall panels in the bathroom, and made sure that all of the areas were completely dry. I was very pleased with their attention to detail and the way they handled the problem.”

In retrospect, what should have been a routine water pipe connection during the RV’s build up turned out to be a costly Warranty repair by the Dealer. Hopefully, the person who made the faulty water pipe connection will not soon make a similar mistake.

Respectfully,

Tech Support

Readers Respond to Quality Discussion.......

Hello Readers…..

One of the many joys that a writer receives is to read the responses of the readers. To everyone who reads these articles, a Big Thanks…..

In the past week, two readers responded to the discussions on Quality with almost opposite stories. Here is a brief summary of the response from each reader.

Reader One writes “With over 30 years of professional experience in the Quality Assurance business, I would like to offer my expertise to any RV Manufacturer that is serious about improving the quality of their products. We recently purchased as new up-scale 5th Wheel (it is our third one, by the way) fully intending to take it South for the Winter season. We did a “walk around” inspection at delivery and were completely satisfied with the way the Dealership handled the final inspection and sale.”

Reader One continues. “On our first night out, my wife mentioned that the Ice Cream was soft and the Freezer was not cold enough.”

“This immediately caused some concern,” he writes. “Next day we found an RV Dealership and asked if they would try to find the problem with the Freezer.”

Reader One wraps up his note. “It took the RV Technician less than 10 minutes to find the problem. What he found was a 3” thick piece of insulation was laying under the exhaust vent cap. He pulled the vent cap, removed the piece of insulation, replaced the cap, and soon we were on our way.”

“Now that is what I call plain Negligence” Reader One writes. “In my business, that would have been found at Final Inspection, or before.”

Before drawing any conclusions, here is Reader Two’s news.

“My wife and I are about 10 years from retirement. After spending many years camping with our three children (all are now out of the nest), we decided to invest in our dream, a new Motorhome.”

Reader Two continues. “After several visits to our local RV Dealerships, we made the decision on what we wanted. The deal was completed to our satisfaction and three days later, the Dealership advised that our new Motorhome was ready for inspection and delivery.”

“Our experience with the inspection and delivery was great,” he writes. “I had prepared a list of items I wanted checked and the Dealership did a wonderful job with the Inspection and delivery process. We drove out of the Dealership’s lot completely satisfied. We have since taken several trips for family visits and everything works great.”

While the problems that Reader One experienced with his new 5th Wheel RV did not result in an expensive repair job, never the less, it did cause the new owner to not be fully satisfied with his purchase. As Reader One continued to relate “there was no indication at all that the Refrigerator was having a problem cooling the Freezer. The Dealership had checked it and recorded the temperatures. Everything looked to be on good order.”

In both cases, the buyers were completely satisfied with the way the Dealership had done their job in getting the new 5th Wheel and Motorhome ready for delivery. Both Reader One and Reader Two made this point.

Thus, what else?

Could it be that an up-scale 5th Wheel RV does not receive the same level of Quality Inspection and attention to detail, as does a more expensive Motorhome?

One can only guess at the answer to this question.

However, when a Customer lays out cold, hard cash for a new RV product, it seems reasonable that whatever product the Customer chooses, they have a right to expect that the product is built, inspected, and tested to the highest standards in the industry.

Now that is not too much to ask, is it?

Respectfully,

Tech Support

Who is Responsible? Quality Starts Here!.....

Greetings,

The weather is cool and crisp and thus it is a perfect time to discuss a Hot topic. Now, it may take a few additional articles to really express this topic fully, there is no time like the present to get started. So, what is the topic?

Today’s topic is “Where Does Quality Begin?” Over 40 years of experience in all facets of high technology industry has counseled me on this topic. While my views may not track the classic version of Quality Control, the views probably do not diverge to far from the more accepted views. Let’s see where this leads.

Historically, Quality Control began in the 1920s based on the work of Walter Shewhart, an employee of Bell Telephone Laboratories. Shewhart’s work began to find favor with Industry of that time, and thus in 1931, he published his now famous book titled "Economic Control of Quality of Manufactured Product".

Although Shewhart’s book rapidly gained a following in Industry, it was not until the early 1940s that Quality Control really came to mean something to Industry, and by 1960 and following, Quality Control (i.e – QC) became a member of the Industry Organization Chart.

“So where is QC today” you ask?

Recall from previous articles that Quality Control has three Tiers. The Tiers include Manufacturing Organizations, Dealerships, and the ultimate Customer. Each of these Tiers has a specific responsibility for exercising the Quality Control function. The previous articles have discussed the role of the Customer and the Dealership in the QC process. Today we move to the role of the Manufacturing Organization and its responsibility.

Most classical definitions of the QC role would place a high percentage (90 percent or better) of the responsibility for the Quality Control process on the Manufacturing Organization. However, in this day and age, that may not be fully true. While Manufacturing Organizations must shoulder a portion of the responsibility for QC, QC really starts at a level earlier than Manufacturing. That level is at the Concept and Engineering functions.

Let’s see how this fits together.

Let’s start with the premise that Quality in a Product cannot be built into the Product. Now you may disagree with that statement, but so be it. The basic quality in a Product begins with a vision of what the Product will consist of when it is completely assembled. If you find this statement hard to swallow, just think back for a moment and reflect on how the Automobile Industry has been transformed. As one of the leading Auto Industry giants states “Quality is Job #1”.

The RV Industry, while embracing some of the characteristics of the Automobile Industry, is also very different. Yes, it proliferates new models on a regular basis and relies on extensive Dealership organizations to display and sell the Product to Consumers, but the RV Industry has been very slow to embrace a formal program of Quality Assurance.

Now the role and value of a formal Quality Assurance program that is based on the ISO Standards ISO 9000, 9001, and 9002 (in their latest versions) can be debated as to their effectiveness. But, in the end, some form of these programs will be required if the RV Industry is to fully embrace Quality Control.

More on this topic will be in a later issue. If you wish to express your views on this subject (or any other for that matter), please send them to me.

Respectfully,

Tech Support

Be Advised! Abnormal Voltage can cause Damage.

Greetings,

The Utility Power Grid in the United States is, without question, the best in the World. We depend on it to reliably furnish the electrical energy that we use every day. In fact, most folks never give a second thought to what might happen to the countless appliances that are sprinkled through the average home until that power becomes abnormal.

During the previous week, two readers have sent in questions regarding their experience with Abnormal Power. “OK” you say, “so what is Abnormal Power and what causes it?”

The Utility Power Grid in the United States is highly regulated. Although some slight variances are permitted, generally the AC voltage distributed to homes will fall within the range of 115 to 120 volts. Over the course of many years, this voltage range has become the “norm” for Utility Power Distribution Systems. Of course there are times when this voltage will be slightly higher or lower depending on the environmental conditions existing at the time. This is very true when the weather turns hot and the demand for power for Air Conditioning increases. During this time, the Utility increases the line voltage to meet the increase in power demand.

Abnormal Power occurs when the Utility voltage moves outside of the “normal” range. Many areas of the US have lower than normal Line voltage, a condition that can cause problems for RVs.

“So why are RVs more susceptible to damage than my home” you ask?

The difference is found in how the AC power is connected to the RV and a house. Houses have large wires that connect to the Utility power, usually from a distribution transformer, to the home’s distribution box. This arrangement provides a very low resistance path of the electric power to reach the home’s appliances. Of equal importance is the fact that the distribution system for a house is extremely well grounded.

RVs on the other hand, rely on a length of cable to carry the electric power from a Power Post to the RV. Also, the RV’s Power Cable also provides the “grounding” of the RV’s electrical system to the Utility ground.

The result of all of this cable is an increase in the resistance between the Utility Power and the RV’s distribution systems.

Now there is one very well known fact for all electric power distribution systems. That fact states that “the lower the resistance, the better the System.”

Virtually all RVs suffer from some power problem, a fact that is mostly not recognized by the RV Owner. With the tremendous increase in the number of expensive appliances that are becoming a part of every RVer’s daily life, the time is right for the RV Owner to be considerate of the potential for extensive damage to their RV.

Here are some ways to mitigate the potential for RV appliance damage.

• When hooking up the RV to a Park Power Post, be sure to check the voltage. Use a good quality Digital Voltmeter and verify that the voltage is between 116 and 120 volts. If you do not have a good Digital Voltmeter, check out the Digital Voltmeter at www.dynamorv.com.
• Look over the connection box on the Park Power Post. Is it in good condition? Is the electrical power socket clean and in good condition? These are important criteria for a quality power connection.
• Purchase a high quality Automatic Power Regulator/Booster. These devices will maintain the voltage at the RV within the approved limits set for the RV. Automatic Power Regulator/Boosters are not expensive and provide a high degree of protection for the RV in “Brown-Out” prone areas. They also provide a degree of protection from Power Line voltage surges. Check out the Dynamo product at www.dynamorv.com for the latest in RV Voltage Regulator/Boosters.

The many high technology appliances in RVs rely on first class electric power if they are to perform as desired. Thanks for reading.

Respectfully,
Tech Support

QUALITY! An RV Dealership Demonstrates.....

Good Morning,

Caring about others is not an easy subject to discuss. Yet, for organizations involved in selling a product to the consuming public, it is a vital concern. In fact, it is one of the keystones on which all successful Dealerships are built. Never is this concern more true than in a successful RV Dealership. Making sure that the folks who staff a successful RV Dealership possess a sincere feeling of caring for and about the Prospective Customer, must be one of the primary concerns for the Dealership’s Management. Seldom has the feeling of Caring been so vividly expressed as what actually happened at one of Florida’s outstanding RV Dealerships. Here is the story.

To set the record straight, the Prospective Customer had very little knowledge of this particular RV Dealership except that the Dealership carried the brand of RV that the Customer had in mind to purchase. So the Customer drives on to the Dealership’s parking lot only to be met by a nicely dressed young man on a Golf Cart. He greeted the Customer and offered a ride to the Showroom. Once in the Showroom, the feeling of Caring was everywhere. The staff was neatly dressed; no one was setting around drinking coffee and discussing the last evening’s ballgame. In other words, although there was a feeling of warmth and friendliness, it was all business. One could easily see why this Dealership is so successful. The Showroom was spotless. The Parts and Service store was neat, well organized, and the shelves were all stocked. It was “Picture Perfect”.

The Customer departed the Dealership a few hours later with less money in the Checkbook and a fresh Bill of Sale.

Ten days later, the Customer was back at the Dealership to pick up the new RV. Again the pleasant young man met the Customer and offered the Golf Cart ride to the Showroom. Introductions were exchanged with the Technician who would be responsible for the “Walk Around” of the new RV.

Three hours later, the Quality Control Technician had completed the most in-depth “Walk Around” that could be done. The five pages on his clipboard were all checked off. Every operating system within the RV had been checked and double-checked. From the TV Antenna to the Tires and from the Hitch to the Tail Lights, the QC Tech talked about and demonstrated how everything worked. In the end, nothing was left to chance. The RV was as nearly perfect as it could be.

There is only one way to describe this RV Dealership. It was SUPER. From the top Management to the QC Tech, there was an expression of professionalism and an honest feeling of Caring for the Customer. It is no wonder that this RV Dealership is one of the most successful.

In retrospect, it is quite obvious that this RV Dealership knew what the Customer was seeking and how to provide the result. It is also quite obvious that the RV Dealership knew the value of ensuring the Quality of their Products. As the General Manager expressed “If there is a problem with this RV, we have not done our job.” How true!

Thanks for reading.

Tech Support

“RV Battery Characteristics Revealed…..”

Greetings,

The Battery System is one of the most important sub-systems in your RV. Virtually every device in the RV uses the Battery System for its power. Yet, most RVers have little or no knowledge of how the Battery does it job in the RV.

Recently, a reader sent this interesting Email.

“I have a situation that is going on in my RV that I need expert assistance with. I have noticed over that past several months that the lights in camper will periodically go dim and then bright again. It doesn't do this all the time but more than not. Also, since the weather has turned cold I have begun to use my central heat. I noticed the other day that the fan motor would sound like it was losing power but then it would speed up after a few seconds. This would go on 2 or 3 times during the cycle the furnace is on. I installed a new battery about 3 weeks ago thinking that this would solve the dimming lights but that wasn't the case. Now the furnace blower issue has come up over the past 2 weeks.”

Now I am sure that all RVers, at some time or other, have experienced this problem. It usually becomes more prominent in the Fall and Winter months when we have less daylight and begin to rely on the RV’s lighting system. Also, as the reader noticed, when the weather cools we come to rely on the RV’s furnace and it’s circulating blower for warmth. Before moving on, we must realize that the lighting and furnace blower are two significant users of Battery power.

First, the variations in lighting intensity and blower sound that the reader observed does not indicate a serious problem. The change in light output and the change in sound of the blower are the result of a change in battery voltage. The light output increases and the blower fan speeds up at the point when the Power Converter begins the battery charging process. This difference will be explained. So read on….

Let’s look at some of the causes and possible solutions of the Reader’s problems.

• Battery Voltage is strongly influenced by temperature changes. In other words, hot batteries have lower voltages than do cold batteries. This change, which can be in the range of 1.0 volt, is due to the basic chemistry of the battery and has nothing to do with the RV.
• The RV’s Power Converter charges the battery when the RV is connected to the Campground Power Post. Generally, the Power Converter’s output voltage is set at a specific level that will allow the Battery to charge while simultaneously providing power for the RV’s lighting and furnace blower.
• There is a narrow range of voltage at which the battery can be safely applied. Typically, this voltage is between the highest and the lowest expected operating temperature. Typically, this voltage is between 13.5 to 13.8 volts, but in very cold conditions, the battery voltage may be as high as 14.0 to 14.2 volts.
• Power Converters are set to allow recharge of the RV battery until the battery’s voltage reaches 14.35- 14.4 volts. This voltage is near the voltage at which the efficiency of the battery charging process becomes critical and begins to decrease quite rapidly. If the voltage is set at a level higher than 14.4 volts, the battery will begin to “boil off” water from the battery cells. Continuing this process for long periods will harm the battery.
• When the battery is cold (i.e – less than 40 degrees F), its terminal voltage will be greater than the desired 13.5 to 13.8 volts. Thus, when the lights are turned ON in the RV, the lights will slowly drain off the battery voltage (i.e – the battery is being discharged) until the voltage decreases to the 13.2 to 13.5 volt level. At this point, the Power Converter will kick in and begin to recharge the battery. When this happens, the lights will regain their brightness and the furnace blower will regain its operating speed. This process repeats as long as the battery is being used.
• This process is similar for a hot battery except that the battery voltage is typically closer to the 13.2 to 13.5 volt range. Thus, when the lights are turned on, the Power Converter does not have to wait as long before it starts to recharge the battery. That is why there is no noticeable change in the brightness of the lights.

While the chemistry of batteries usable in RVs has not seriously changed for many years, the same does not hold true for RV Power Converters. The Power Converters used in late model RVs generally have excellent regulation characteristics while the Power Converters in older model RVs do not have the same regulation. The degree of regulation is a key feature of modern Power Converters. More information on Power Converters can be found at www.progressivedyn.com.

A final word regarding battery performance and selection.

• Battery performance depends upon the size/rating, age, temperature, and battery construction. Always select a deep cycle battery when replacing the battery in your RV. Deep-cycle batteries usually are more expensive than automotive types, but are well worth the additional cost.
• Never use a battery rated for automotive use for your RV as they will soon fail.
• At least once a year, and more frequently if you have your RV connected to a Park Power Post continually, shut off the power to the battery and remove it from its location on the RV. Make sure that it is clean (use a mild soap and water solution) and check the liquid level in each of the cells. If you have problems performing these tasks, take the battery to a competent automotive service station.

If you are experiencing an electrical problem with your RV, please send me a message. I’ll get back to you with an answer. For more information on low voltage problems, click on www.dynamorv.com or send an Email to info@dynamorv.com.

Respectfully,

Tech Support

Who is Responsible? The Question Continues....

Greetings,

Responsibility is not easy for some folks to accept. Yet, it is vitally important that we accept some responsibility if for nothing less than taking good care of our bodies. Science has proven that if we neglect to care for our bodies, our bodies will soon neglect us. Now no one wants that to happen.

So it is with our RVs. If we neglect to care for the RV, we soon find that the RV’s many components and sub-systems that we depend on become prone to failure.

Recall that the previous article discussed the flow of RVs from the Manufacturer to a Dealership and on to the ultimate Consumer. This flow of product is not unique to the RV Industry as virtually every major Manufacturer follows a similar trail to get products to the purchasing public.

Today’s article continues that previous discussion on the subject of “Who is Responsible for Quality? Now many RVers would probably say that the Manufacturer should be totally responsible for the Quality of their RV. They have a good point. Certainly there is a definite line of responsibility within the Manufacturer’s organization for the implementation of Quality. But, the major question is how well is that responsibility enforced?

Likewise, the second level in the product tier, the RV Dealership, also shares a level of responsibility to provide the prospective RV Owner with a high quality product. On this point I can speak from experience. I believe that the majority of RV Dealerships try very hard to provide the prospective RV Owner with a high quality product. When this statement is not true, that RV Dealership will soon fade out of existence.

At the third level is the RV Owner. When the RV Owner accepts a new RV from a Dealership, they also accept a level of responsibility to keep the quality of their vehicle up to the level that it was when it left the Dealership.

“Is that possible” you ask? I suggest that the answer is “Yes”. For the RV Owner, maintaining the quality of their RV is found under the title of “Preventative Maintenance” as opposed to the Manufacturer who builds-in quality and the Dealership who ensures the quality.

Now the subject of “Preventative Maintenance” is not new to RVers. Let’s look at some of the objectives that the RV Owner should consider when practicing “Preventative Maintenance”.

Here are some thoughts for consideration.

• Keep the RV clean and free of road salt, dirt, and road grime. The old saying the “Cleanliness Counts” could never be as true as when expressed on your RV. Keeping the RV clean will counter the effects of weather deterioration that can harm an RV in a short time. This is especially true with the parts you normally do not see such as the underneath running gear, tires, and frame. Get a good power washer and spray down all of these parts several times each year. It will pay off.
• Examine all of the cabinetry in the RV for loose screws, knobs, etc. Nothing can ruin a trip faster than having a kitchen cabinet come tumbling down.
• Examine all of the RV’s subsystems (i.e. – Water Heater, Refrigerator, Furnace, etc.) for excess dirt that has accumulated.
• If your RV has a Generator, follow the instructions carefully to keep the Gen set operating at peak capacity. Chance and/or replace the various filters, spark plugs, oil, etc. as recommended by the Manufacturer. Performing these maintenance items will ensure that the warranty on the Gen Set will be valid.

There are many items that the RV Owner must accept as their responsibility when it comes to caring for their RV. Any time spent in practicing “Preventative Maintenance” is never lost.

We will examine the responsibilities of the Dealership in a later issue.

Thanks for reading.

Respectfully,

Tech Support

“Who Is Responsible? Now that is the Question…”

Greetings,

Isn’t the Internet wonderful? The Internet, and its social companion Email, has literally transformed the way folks gather information and also communicate with others. What is equally amazing is the speed at which messages travel around the globe and yet, among all of the folks who have an Email account, it manages to find the person to whom the Email was sent. Now that is almost mind-boggling.

Such was the news I found as I opened up my office this morning. Here, on my laptop’s screen, I found six, yes six responses to the article I wrote that addressed the plumbing problem that happened to a newly purchased 5th Wheel RV. (If you missed that article, you can read it under “Fix What is Wrong” in The DYNAMO News.

While space is not available to relate the individual happenings, the substance of each happening is sufficient to raise the question that is the title of this article.

Yes, Who is Responsible? Now I am not a person who seeks to point fingers at a particular individual or company. When the truth is known, I am sure that there is enough fault to pass around to all involved. Of course, the facts in any past happenings can always be viewed from the perspective of 20-20 hindsight. However, taking this view seldom, if ever, pays off.

The Classical role of Quality Control (QC) would place the responsibility for, and implementation of QC, at the Manufacturing level. Every modern industry has found this to be true and the RV Industry fully supports this implementation of the QC role. But just because QC is put in place, does it fulfill its role sufficiently to screen out the faults and problems at the end of the Manufacturing line? We would certainly hope so.

Let’s look a little deeper. The RV Industry is not at all unique in its tiered structure of Manufacturer, Dealer, and Consumer. Many industries operate with this structure and do it very successfully. The RV Industry fits very well into this mix.

However, let me suggest that within this tiered structure also dwells a deeper responsibility for the RV Industry. In a few words, the RV Industry must provide a product that folks can live in for a period of time ranging from a few days of mini-vacation time to several months spent traveling around the country. Those RVers who embrace the “Full-Time” way of life end up spending years in their RV.

This brings me to the point of this article. Reading over the happenings as related by the Email writers suggests that each level in the RV Industry tier can share a portion of the blame for the problems that were experienced.

“Ouch” you say. “You are telling me that I (the Owner) are part of the problem?”

Absolutely. Let’s go back and look again at the RV Industry tier structure. What are the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Tier and how are they implemented?

Here are some thoughts for consideration.

• The Manufacturer has the overall responsibility for providing a product that meets the Owner’s expectations. If that were not true, there would not be one RV sold anywhere.
• The Dealership has the responsibility for providing an environment that brings together the Manufacturer’s product and the prospective Purchaser.
• Upon purchasing a new RV, the Owner has the responsibility to keep that unit in good repair and fully functional. If the Owner is unwilling to shoulder this responsibility, the RV will soon fail to meet the needs of the Owner.
  
  We will examine the responsibilities of each Tier member in a later issue.
  
  Thanks for reading. If you have had or know of similar incidents regarding RVs, please drop me a line relating the story.
  
  Respectfully,
  
  Tech Support

"If It Isn't Broke, Don't Fix It........."

Greetings,

What ever the measures of success might be, one would find that the RV Industry has been, and continues to be, highly successful. Due to many dedicated folks, modern Manufacturing floors, and up-to-date design and production techniques, the RV Industry continues to pile up an outstanding record of Sales growth.

But this enviable record of growth can beg the question – “What is the sustaining factor in this growth?”

The answer to this question could be answered in several different ways. But at this point, let me suggest that one answer might be the foresight and determination of the individuals who were the cornerstone founders of the RV Industry. They truly possessed a vision for success.

While few could argue with this success, it is also possible that this success could place the RV Industry on the downward-trending road that is now being taken by the Automobile Industry.

Take a walk around a large RV Dealership’s Sales area and you cannot avoid the fact that regardless of who manufactured the RV, they all share similar external features. My Detroit-based Industrial Designer friend likes to refer to this similarity as “Cookie-Cutter” designs. One point that he is quick to make is that “Cookie-Cutter” designs tend to build BRAND loyalty. If you don’t believe that statement, just look at the longevity of Airstream’s design. Many companies would gladly trade 50 percent of their bottom line for a similar Brand loyalty.

But, I ask again, is this design similarity good for the RV Industry?

The title of this article “If it isn’t Broke, Don’t Fix It” could provide the answer to this question. We could almost say that this is the motto of the RV Industry.

At this point, my Industrial Designer friend would be quick to make the point that changing a design takes significant capital investment of money, people, and time. On this point I agree, but a quick look at the Sales volume and production throughput would indicate that this investment is feasible.

I suggest that it is time for a few of the Next Generation of Visionaries to step forward, pick up their crystal balls, and look into what the New Generation of RVs should look like.

They would quickly find that they are not alone in peering into their Crystal Balls. Many of the high technology companies would be more than willing to stand side to side with them in bringing about a New, fresh look.

What might be the rewards of such an endeavor? Here are a few…

• A fresh look to a highly successful Industry
• Significant reduction in manufacturing costs….
• Improved resistance to environmental degradation
• Increased appeal to the “Baby Boomer” generation.

I am sure that there are many more and they remain to be proven. But the facts are that the highly successful RV Industry could discover a significant design challenge in the future. Being prepared now seems to be only good sense.

If we agree with Dr. Richard Curtin’s conclusion that “RV shipments will rise 3.5% in 2008, resuming the RV industry’s growth trend since 2001. The leading edge of the baby boom generation has just entered their prime retirement ages, and the number that retires will accelerate over the next decade. Moreover, the RV industry has been successful in attracting younger buyers”, then we would have to realize that the time is right for a step ahead.

Step forward, Visionaries!

Respectfully,

Tech Support

"Fix What is Wrong......"

Greetings,

Is it time for the RV Industry to take a short breather and “Fix What is Wrong” before charging ahead with another banner year of outstanding Sales? The simple answer is YES. If you are having trouble making up your mind regarding this question, then I invite you to read on.

I have a great respect for the RV Industry. It has allowed a vast population of folks to enjoy traveling this Nation at a reasonable expense. It has made a few individuals very wealthy. It has also provided countless jobs for many folks. Yes, in many ways, the RV Industry demands a great deal of respect for what it has accomplished.

Yet, like all industries, the RV Industry has also gained a few “Black Eyes” over it’s existence. One such “Black Eye” story follows.

Recently a Detroit area based Industrial Designer friend of mine told me of the experience that his brother-in-law had with his new RV. His version of the story reads lke a sorry tale of woe. “My brother-in-law and his family are seasoned campers and RVers of many years. They know all about tent camping, pop-up trailers, and Travel Trailers and have enjoyed many years of travel in these units” he relates.

“But now they had the bug to replace their 7 year old RV” he writes, “and thus armed with his check book, my brother-in-law set out to shop.” He continues “it was not long before we saw him pulling a new, very long, 5th Wheel unit.”

“Now my brother-in-law and his significant companion have talked about becoming “Full Timers” and thus, with their new 5th Wheel loaded and hooked up to his F-350, they set off for a 6 month swing toward the West Coast of Canada.”

The story continues. “They made it as far as Winnipeg before things started to happen” he related. “We had made it around the top of Lake Superior and every thing was going well. The new RV was great, that is, until we pulled into service station in Winnipeg for fuel.”

“I was doing my normal “walk-around” as we got ready to leave and noticed a large water puddle on the service station ramp. The puddle was still forming, so I looked under the RV and found the source. One of the joints from the Gray water tank was leaking.”

“The Service Station attendant helped my brother-in-law locate an RV Dealer who agreed to make the repair to the pipe joint” he writes, “but the Dealer could not make the repair until the next day.”

To make a long story short, the RV Dealer quickly discovered that when his Technician began to make the drainpipe repair, he found that all of the joints in the drain piping were not adequately sealed.

My friend continues his story. “With the Tech hard at work with the drainpipe repair, my brother-in-law began to wonder how many other areas could present a problem?”
As I learned from my Designer friend, the Tech ended up re-installing the Gray and Black waste tanks and re-installing all of the plumbing for these tanks. He also found and repaired some water leaks at the Hot Water heater.

“I was amazed that these kind of problems would happen on a new RV” the brother-in-law continued.

What really bothers me as I relate this story is that Bad News Travels Fast. Although I do not know for certain, I am sure that the brother-in-law has told his story to many of his friends. And, undoubtedly, the friends have told it to other friends as well.

Why be concerned?

Dr. Richard Curtin is the Director of Consumer Surveys at the University of Michigan. I was recently reading his latest publication on the future of the RV Industry, and with many thanks to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), I offer the following extract from Dr. Curtin’s latest forecast.

According to Dr. Curtin “RV shipments will rise 3.5% in 2008, resuming the RV industry’s growth trend since 2001. The leading edge of the baby boom generation has just entered their prime retirement ages, and the number that retires will accelerate over the next decade. Moreover, the RV industry has been successful in attracting younger buyers.”

We can only hope that the RV Industry can tighten up on Quality Control and Final Inspection Procedures. There is a lot of top notch competition in the RV Industry. This is not the time to have “Black Eye” experiences.

Hope your travels are uneventful. If not, tell me about them.

Tech Support

"Extending the Feeling of Safety........"

Hello Readers,

Two stories in the “The Dynamo News” described what happened when an unexpected lightning-induced power-line surge ended up at their RV’s power outlet. If you have every watched a raging thunderstorm that was filled with lightning strikes, you quickly gain a feeling that lightning can be dangerous. And there is one thing that virtually everyone knows and that is that lightning strikes when it is least expected.

Weather experts are quick to tell us that an automobile is one of the safest places to be during a lightning storm. While that statement may be true (and I am not going to say that it is not), the same may not be true for an RV that is hooked up to an RV Park Power Post. Why? The reason is that automobiles are not connected to the Earth as is an RV. RVs are connected to Earth through their Ground Wire (i.e – the Green wire in the RV’s Power Cable). It is this wire that the RV relies on to safely conduct the excess power line surge current produced when lightning strikes a nearby power line.

All wires have a fixed limitation on the amount of current that they can safely conduct. To help understand this limitation, consider the following. Weather scientists tell us that an average lightning strike may produce a current in excess of 40,000 amps. A quick calculation will reveal that this is more than 1000 time the rating of a 30 amp Power Cable. To expect that an RV Power Cable should be able to safely conduct one tenth of this current is way beyond a reasonable requirement.

But, applying some Engineering calculations will reveal that there are methods that can be employed to help the RV Power Cable survive a dramatic power surge on the AC power line.

Power surges typically are defined as an extremely short burst of electrical energy that appears on a power conductor. It is the steeply rising voltage and current in the power surge that results in breakdown of the Power Cable’s insulation, and when this happens, the Power Cable is destroyed.

One way to assist the Power Cable in surviving a dramatic power surge is to modify the shape of the rising voltage and current in the RV Power Cable. One way to do this is to add additional resistance to the Power Cable. However, this method is effectively de-grades the Power Cable.

A second method is to add additional “Reactance” to the RV’s power system. Reactance is a technical term for resistance that is only present in an Alternating Current power system. Now understand that all RVs operate on AC (Alternating Current) as their primary power system.

Since this is the case, we can now determine how to apply this “Reactance” to the RV’s Power System.

Let’s start with the basics. First, all transformers exhibit reactance to some degree. But, generally, the reactance minimized. Transformers similar to those used in standard RV Voltage Boosters have minimal reactance so that they operate efficiently. This fact does not allow standard Voltage Boosters to provide any significant limiting to surge voltage and current.

On the other hand, transformers CAN BE designed to include Reactance in their design. This type of transformer, know as a “Reactor”, can provide significant limiting to surge voltage and current. Although a “Reactor” type is not guaranteed to protect all power cables in all circumstances, it will go a long ways toward reducing the possibility of severe damage to the cable.

The DYNAMO Voltage Booster-Regulator is one of a few products to take advantage of this special transformer design. For additional information, contact DYNAMORV at info@dynamorv.com or click on the DYNAMO Web Site at www.dynamorv.com.

Stay safe,

Tech Support

"Safety on the Road......"

Hello Fellow RVers,

If you are a faithful reader of “The Dynamo News” and I sincerely hope that you one of many, the recent stories about Pete and Connie and Bob and Bernie and their lightning strike experiences are of interest. Their experiences should cause each of us to take another look at the safety aspects of our RVs.

Now this is a subject that not many folks want to be serious about, yet there are many safety features that are built into our RVs that we rely on every day to keep them safe.

So hang in there with me as I look into the subject of SAFETY and I promise to not bore you with endless facts.

First lets start with just a few facts.

• RVs are designed and built with safety in mind. All RV Manufacturers realize that that the folks who purchase an RV need to feel safe and secure and thus they put safety at the top of their list of requirements for their product.
• Safety Regulations are in place to provide guides for all RV Manufacturers in the design and fabrication of their product. The National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA), The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) have explicit requirements in place to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of the folks who love the RV life.
• More specifically, NFPA 1192 (Standard for Recreational Vehicles) and NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) have detailed requirements that deal with all of the sub-systems that RVers rely on every day. These requirements include the electrical system, propane system, the low-voltage (i.e – 12 volt) RV lighting system, heating system, etc. In other words, the in-place Standards to a pretty decent job of detailing the requirements personal safety in the RV.

However, the potential for damage to an RV is always likely when it encounters a lightning -induced surge on the Power Line.

So why are RVs more prevalent to damage than a house or other building? The answer is found in the difference of how they are Grounded.

Lets take a moment to consider the Grounding subject. You may recall that many years ago it was common to see lightning rods placed on the structures, especially on isolated buildings and farm houses. The purpose of these simple, yet ideal devices, was to allow a safe path for cloud formed electrical energy to find a low resistance path to the earth. In other words, if the building or structure (such as a tall tree) happened to be in the area where the clouds were highly charged, the lightning rod would allow the highly charged clouds to discharge and protect the area from a lightning strike.

Lightning rods are still in use today in many areas and are easy to see on the tops of the large electrical transmission lines that string for endless miles across our country.

So, with this piece of history in mind, why are RVs more prevalent to damage than a home or other building? As I mentioned, the reason is in difference in how the RV and the house are Grounded.

Houses and similar structures are required by the National Electrical Code to have a solid rod (usually copper) to be inserted into the earth within a defined number of feet from the electrical power entrance to the house or similar structure. Just walk around a house and look closely near the foundation. Chances are you will see the Grounding rod. It is this rod, just like the old lightning rod, that provides a low resistance path to the earth.

Such, however, is not the case with RVs. The RV relies on a Grounding wire (Green in color) to provide a Grounding path from the RV’s electrical system to the Earth Ground at the Power Post. Now, in almost all circumstances, the Grounding Path provided by the RV’s Power Cable is sufficient, that is, until it is significantly overloaded. It does meet all of the requirements of NFPA 1192 and NFPA 70, Parts 1 and 3-6 and more specifically, the Grounding requirements of Chapter 2. Yet, because of the length of the Grounding wire and the fact that it is connected to the Earth ground at the Power Post by a Plug, it is only capable of safely grounding the RV at the rated current (either 30 or 50 Amps) of the RV.

But is this sufficient? Well, maybe. In this case, RVers can be assured that the electrical system in their RV is designed to be safe.

That is, until lightning strikes in the vicinity of where your RV is parked. If this happens, we who own an RV can only hope that our RV is not damaged.

Respectfully,

Tech Support

"Motorhome Damage at Yellowstone Park....."

Hello Fellow RVers,

In the October 23 issue of “The Dynamo News” I related a story about Pete and Connie and what happened when lightning struck a power line that just happened to be providing power to their Motorhome. It was indeed, a scary experience and, according to Pete, one that they will not soon forget. “in all of our years camping, I never thought that lightning would ever find us” he added.

I would have certainly been quick to agree. And then a recent Email popped up on my laptop’s screen. Here is what I found.

Bob and Bernie are retired and make their home in eastern Washington State. Bob, a retired mechanical engineer and Bernie, a retired teacher, own a five year old 36 foot Diesel pusher. Both Bob and Bernie lived for many years in the suburbs of Portland, OR. where they practiced their trades. “We are now 50/50 full timers” writes Bob. “We love going to the Rallies and having time to be with our four kids and the many grandchildren.”

Bob told me that he had read the article about Pete and Connie and their lightning encounter and felt compelled to write about their experience with lightning. According to Bob, they had decided to travel with some friends on a long weekend trip to the Yellowstone National Park area. “All went well on the drive” says Bob. “We were on a site at a private campground by early afternoon and our plan was to take it easy after the days drive.”

“It was early evening by the time we all decided to head out to have our meal” writes Bob. “We had just given our orders to the hostess when we noticed that it was growing quite dark and starting to put down the rain” says Bob. He adds that since he and Bernie had grown up in the Portland area, they were familiar with dark clouds and plenty of rain. “It did not bother us to see it” he added.

Bob writes “Within a half hour, the rain had passed on and the stars showing up. “We finished our meal, walked around town a little, and then headed back to the Camp.

“What we saw when we arrived was beyond our belief” says Bob. “The large sign by the road was completely dark as was the campground.” He continues “We pulled up to our Motorhome and could not believe our eyes. The power boxes on the posts were all badly burned. Our RV power cable was charred and split in several places. The Motorhome was dark as were all of the other RVs in the Campground.”

Bob did find, as had Pete, a burned ring around the Motorhome’s power entry connector. “With everything dark and no park power, I wondered if the Gen set would work. I started it but could not bring it on line to power up the Motorhome” he adds.

He and Bernie agreed that there was nothing left to do but find a Motel for the night and check out the Motorhome in the morning.

Bob adds to his Email that he felt that the Motorhome was as safe as he could make it. He had installed a boost transformer (the dealer had told him that the boost transformer would protect his RV from power surges) and an expensive surge protector at the Motorhome’s power panel.

“However when we examined the power panel, we found that the whole area was black. The surge protector could not be found” he continued.

There traveling companions all had a similar experience.

“Fortunately we could start the Motorhome, and at this point, all we could do is drive back home.”

Lightning had again intervened in a well-planned trip and had damaged some nice rolling-stock. “You just never know when or where it will strike next” wrote Bob.

There is a lot of truth contained in Bob's statement. Lightning strikes are truly unpredictable. If you have ever had an encounter with Lightning, I would love to hear about it. Please send me a not relating the experience. If you send me a phone number, I'll call.

A simple suggestion is "Be Prepared".

Tech Support

"A Reader Responds............."

Good Morning RVers.....

According to our local Weather maven who enjoys the trust of most of the citizens of Rocket City, USA, today will be beautiful. Hope you all can enjoy the same.

One thing I really enjoy doing is describing a highly technical subject in a way that folks who may not understand the in's and out's of the technology can at least have a working knowledge of how it works. I have been involved in writing about technology for many years and have always found it to be rewarding. Such is the Email I received the other day.

If you are a daily reader, you may recall a series of articles that discussed the relationships of electric power. Remember the Electrical Team and its members Mr. Volt, Mr. Amp, and Mr. Watt.... And of course, who can forget the bad guy of the bunch, Mr. Resistance (commonly referred to as Mr. R).

Well, Jim and wife Barb both enjoy reading articles about RVs. Jim tells me that they are nearing the end of a 3500 mile trip among the Northeast states and Eastern Canada with their Ford F-350 and Montana 5th Wheel. Jim tells me that if you have not driven this area, you need to do so.

Jim told me that he and Barb have been following these articles and find them interesting and helpful. Jim, a retired Postal Person, told me that even after 20 years of RVing, he was still confused by the the electrical relationships of volts, amps, and watts.

But he tells me that now that he has read the articles, he is much better informed and confident when the subject of electrical power comes up in a conversation.

Thanks for the kind words, Jim and Barb. Hope all of your travels are happy ones.

If you have found these articles helpful or have a question or suggestion, feel free to drop me a line. Your Emails are always welcome and I promise an answer.

Staying Busy,

Tech Support

Your RV's Power Converter......

Good Morning RVers.....

It is another beautiful morning here in the Rocket City, USA. After enduring endless days of extremely warm weather, this morning brought a major change.... Yes, the temperature finally dropped to just under 40 degrees (F) just before sunrise. I love the freshness that accompanies temperatures in this range.

This morning (with your indulgence, that is) I will continue with the discussion that was introduced yesterday. Recall that we are talking about Power Converters and Power Inverters. Now, if you are feeling sharp this morning (or whenever) and that second cup of Joe is working on your mind, then you may figure out that there must be a relationship between these two devices. If you came up with that thought, more power to you (no pun intended). Just looking at their names would almost give you a clue.

A Power Converter is the device that converts the raw 120 volt AC voltage that comes from the Park Power Post to a highly refined 12 volt (nominal) DC voltage. It does this by a process called "rectification" and the refinement of the voltage is by a process called "regulation". It is this 12 volt DC voltage that is used to charge your RVs batteries and also provides power for the lighting system in your RV. In case you are interested, the 12 volt DC voltage may vary between 13.4 volts (high) and 11.6 on the low end. Now this amount of variance will cause a noticeable difference in the brightness of the RV's lighting system. While this voltage variance is acceptable, a really good Power Converter will hold the 12 volt DC voltage to a variance of less than 1.00 volts.

Generally, (and many thanks to the Computer industry) modern Power Converters are very reliable and seldom cause a problem in the RV.. The reason for this is that they use a similar technology as is used in Computer power supplies.

This is not always the case with the Power Converter's kissing cousin, the Power Inverter. Recall that the Power Converter's role is to change the raw AC voltage to a refined DC voltage. Well, the Power Inverter is the device that does just the opposite. Yep! By a process called "inversion", the Power Inverter accepts the refined 12 DC voltage that is carefully stored in the RV's Battery System and "inverts" it to produce an AC (i.e - alternating) voltage. Now if that is not a magic act, the I don't know much about magic.

Small Power Inverters, generally rated at a 100 watts or less, have been used by RVers for many years. However it is only in the past few years that Power Inverters have been introduced to the RV Marketplace with the capability of producing 1000 to 3000 watts. Now this is a real challenge and is the subject for the next issue of The DYNAMO News.

If you are experiencing problems with the electric power in your RV or have a question that deals with the electric system in your RV, call or drop an Email to info@dynamorv.com. We will be happy to help you.

Be safe...

Tech Support

"Power Converters and Power Inverters - Knowing the Difference...."

"Maintaining System Vitality ... ... ."

Good Morning RVers....

It is a beautiful day here in Rocket City, USA. The sky is a brilliant blue and there is a wonderful crispness that serves to remind us that the Winter season is approaching. That means a lot of traveling to visit family, etc. And if you will be taking your RV, now is the time to make sure that it is ready to go.

Are you ready for a BIG question this morning? How many of you make time in your day to get some regular exercise? "Why" you ask? Well, our bodies are made up of a variety of subsystems that need to be at their prime if we want our bodies to perform at its best. When we fail at keeping our bodily subsystems (heart, lungs, muscles, etc) in good order, they soon cease to contribute that vitality that is so important to our well-being. Now no one wants that to happen. However, it will if we neglect to keep them in good working order.

So it is also with our RV's subsystems. In the next few editions of The Dynamo Times, we will examine two of the vital subsystems that often go un-noticed except when they don't perform as required. Today we will discuss the role of Power Converter. In the future, we will look at the Power Inverter and its role in our RV.

All RVers are familiar with the fact that their RV has two power systms. One is the familiar AC power system. This power system operates when the RV is connected to the Park Power Post. The second (or back-up) power system is the Battery Power System. It provides the 12 volts for lighting and other accessories in our RV.

It is at the Power Converter that both the raw AC from the Park Power Post and the DC power from the Battery System come together. For it is the Power Converter that changes the raw AC power to the highly conditioned, regulated DC power that is acceptable to the Battery System.

Power Converters are available in a variety of rating and capabilities. Generally speaking, they all provide acceptable power and conditioning that is acceptable to the Battery System. However, it is at this point that we need to practice some care.

Few RVers take time to investigate the interaction between their Power Converter and their Battery System. Here are some important aspects to consider:

• First and foremost, find out where the Power Converter is in your RV. Generally this is not to hard as almost all Power Converters have a small fan to provide cooling. Just listen for the sound of the fan. It will help you locate the Power Converter. (Note, you may have to remove a panel to find it. Don't worry, it is not Rocket science to do so.) Once you find it, make sure that the area is clean. Often the fan can gather dust and dirt and thus cause the Power Converter to overheat and fail prematurely. That is not good.
• Second, make sure that the Batteries are clean. While that may sound easy, it may be hard to do. But, keep at it. Clean batteries will last longer than dirty ones.
  Make sure that your Power Converter is capable of providing the power required for your RV. An easy way to determine this is to turn on several lights in your RV. Wait a few minutes until the Power Converter starts ujp and watch the lights. Do they brighten and dim? If so, you may need to have the Power Converter's regulation setting adjusted.
• Check the liquid level in the Battery System on a regular basis. If you use your RV frequently, (or you may be an "FT") you should check the liquid level at least every three months. If the liquid level is low, add a small amount of distilled water to bring the level up to the mark. Use extreme caution when doing this as the liquid in the battery is Sulfuric Acid.
• Take a couple of minutes to become familiar with the charging characteristics of the Power Converter. High quality Power Converters are disigned to fully charge the Battery System without excessive overcharging. This is vital to prolong the life of the batteries.

Power Converters have an important role in keeping our RVs in good working order. Take a few minutes to become acquainted with this vital device. You will be rewarded with an RV that stays on the road instead of in the shop.

Happy Traveling....
Tech Support

"Living Among Heros........."

Good Morning RVers.....

Well, what is on your agenda for the day? Since I am an RVer, I can make a valid guess. Now realize that there are three (3) things that RVers do very well. They are:

• Talk - RVers love to share their experiences.
• Eat - RVers love to cook and love to eat.
• Drive - RVers all share a common desire to take their Rig where few have gone before.....

Thus my guess is that a third of you are sharing some experience with some friends. Others are having a meal. Others are either on the road or preparing to get underway. What ever, have a great time at what you are doing.

One of my great heros was Dr. Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977). He was a man who possessed a great God-Given vison. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Von Braun one morning. A friend and I had stopped in at the Marshall Space Flight Center to check on some parts that had been delivered. We were in the midst of a discussion with one of the MSFC engineers over how to best make the part work in a particular application. After an hour of talk, our discussion was getting no where. Frustration was all over the place and I felt the time was right to re-group and take another look.

Then it happened... The door to the lab opened and in walked Dr. Von Braun. He was in a casual dress (he hated to "dress up" as he called it) and except for his imposing figure, he could have passed for one of the countless workers.

Now you have to realize that Dr. Von Braun possessed an unlimited desire to know something about everything. I recall that he walked over to the table where we had spread out some of the "guts" of the part we were working on. The resident engineer almost instantly stopped what he was saying and froze in his tracks. The reason, he was in the presence of "The Boss".
Dr. Von Braun glanced down at the many small parts that lay on the lab table. He gazed intently at each piece. Finally, he reached down, picked a small part, examined it, and gently placed it in its place on the table. Then, standing up straight (he had an imposing stature), he said "This is the key part. It may be small, but it is the most vital."

Having said those few words, he quietly walked away. He had made a "vital" contribution to our discussion which ended soon after his visit.

Everyone needs a Hero in his/her life. Sometimes it is a family member, sometimes an associate, and in other times, a greater-than-life figure such as Dr. Wernher Von Braun.

As my TV keeps me up to date on the happenings this day with the Space Shuttle now docked to the International Space Station, I am more aware than ever about the contribution of one man and his foresight and vision.

He was a man who lived at the proper time, could look into the future with his famous penetrating stare, and had the force to drive ahead without being concerned about the obstacles. He was a man who truly walks among the Stars.

Go Discovery!

Numerical Readouts vs: Red/Green LED Displays....

"Seeing is Believing, We Hope ... ... ... "

Good Morning RVers....

At some point in our lives, we will hear the old phrase "Seeing is Believing". OK, shake your head in the usual "Yes" manner and take time to reflect on when you last heard that phrase. OK, now it's self-examination time.... Take a few seconds out of your very busy day and ask yourself if it what the phrase says is really true?

Did you agree or disagree? Well, along with grabbing the coffee cup, read on.....

The folks who study learning methods are quick to tell us that we learn more from observing something than by any other method. Our so called "eye-gate" can absorb so much more information in a second or so than any other means that our bodies use to gather information about our surroundings.

"So, get to the point" I hear you telling me.... "OK, here goes...."

Do you wear a watch? Consumer studies tell us that over 55 percent of the World population wears a watch. So, does your watch have digital numbers or does it have hands to tell you the time?

It has been shown that folks who wear digital watches spend two to three times as long determining the time than do folks who wear a watch with hands.

"Why?" you ask....

Well, our eyes can instantly take a snap-shot of the position of the hands and send that image to our brain. Once there, the image is translated into relative time. All of this is accomplished in less than one (1) second. Looking at a Digital Watch is different. Our eyes must focus on the numerical readout and tell our brain what it sees. This process takes several seconds to process. Why? Well, the answer is that the digital readout is always changing (if you do not believe this, watch the seconds changing on a digital watch display).

This confuses our brain so that it questions what time it really is.

Now, if you are still with me (and I seriously hope so), what is the point?

When you get around to purchasing a Battery Monitoring System (and you need to do so), be careful not to be taken in by fancy systems that feature Digital readouts.... Now don't take me wrong on this statement. There is a place for every digital readout. However, for battery monitoring that is not the case. The chemistry in a battery changes so slowly that a simple red/green indicator is very sufficient. In fact, it is preferred since it takes less than one (1) second to tell us if the battery is in "Good" condition or needs some love and tender care.

More on this subject later....

Tech Support

Understanding Your RV Battery System.....

"Taking Charge ... ... ... ."

Good Morning RVers....

Being the inquisitive guy that I am, I am always wondering about something. It does not matter what it may be as I have very broad interests. I am certain that many of you also have similar thoughts. There is just to many things happening to let them pass by without showing the least bit of interest. Such is certainly not the case with RVers. They are interested in everything, with special interest and concerns about maintaining there RVs in top condition.

In this edition of "The Dynamo News" we will focus on the second most important system found in the RV, the Battery Power System.

If you are a newcomer to the delightful world of RVing, (Welcome aboard!), you may not realize the importance of the Battery System in your RV. Thus, I will try to answer some of the fundamental questions about batteries and also address some of the issues that are vital to maintaining the health and safety of the Battery Power System in your RV.

First, let's set the record straight. There is a significant difference between Battery Power Systems installed in towable RVs (i.e tow behind, 5th Wheels, etc.) and those installed in Motorhomes.

"Why the difference?" you ask. Good question.... OK, hold on tightly.

Towable RVs have two (2) electrical systems. The primary system is the AC power system, similar to that found in a home. The RV obtains this power from the Camp Power Post. The backup system is a 12 Volt DC power system that obtains its power from the one or two lead-acid batteries installed in the RV's battery compartment. It is these batteries that allow the RV to operate when disconnected from the Camp Power Post. Over the next week or so you can learn more about these systems.

There is, however, one key issue that every Towable RV Owner must remember as it is absolutely vital to their safety and well-being. That issue has to do with the ability of the RV's Battery to furnish sufficient power (both Volts and Amps) to the RV's electric brake system. Virtually all Towable RVs rely on electrically powered brakes to safely assist the RV and its tow vehicle to stop. The electric brake system is activated be a Brake Controller installed in the towing vehicle. I will not go into the way these Brake Controllers work, but suffice to say, they do their job very well. For more info on Brake System operation, look up Hayes Brake Controllers on the Web.

Don't be caught with your RV battery in a condition where it is less than fully charged and properly connected to the RV. Make certain that the battery is healthy (if you have any doubts, have a professional check it and if necessary, replace it) before towing your RV any distance. Test the braking system of your RV frequently to insure that it is working properly.

A few test stops will tell you quickly if your Towable brake system is working properly.

Tech Support

Low AC Line Voltage at Campgrounds......

It's All About Infrastructure ... ... "

Greetings fellow RVers.....

Recent weeks have witnessed a bombardment of our senses with the word "Infrastructure". In the wake of the recent I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the resulting impact on our lives, the politicos are pushing the fact that the US infrastructure is in need of a major rework.

We can all gather and say a big "Amen" that we were not pushing a "Big Rig" over the I-35 bridge when it decided to take a swan dive into the Mississippi River. In a similar nature, the state of the Infrastructure in the many Campgrounds that dot the American landscape is also in sore need or repair or replacement. This is especially true with the majority of Campground electric distribution systems.

But, there may be hope on the horizon. Late in the afternoon I pulled my RV into a campground just off of the Minnesota portion of I-90. With the RV set up and dinner in preparation, the growl of machinery lured me into a walk around the campground. Not far away, a crew was busy with a trenching machine and a huge roll of heavy wire. They were indeed replacing the electric distribution network. I spoke with the MIC (i.e - man in charge) and he showed me the old wire that they had removed. I was shocked, although I probably should not have been so when I recall that the majority of campgrounds were built and wired when most RVers were pulling little "boxes on wheels" behind the family car.

The MIC told me that standard house wire was larger than that being removed from the Campground. The MIC asked where I had parked my RV. I pointed to where it was and he promptly told me that his crew had just rewired that portion of the CG the previous week. A few minute of checking told the tale. The line voltage to my RV was first class.

However, there was still work for the MIC and his crew to do. Not a hundred feet away sat a large RV with its two AC units churning endlessly. A few minutes of conversation with the Owner told me that he was hooked up to the non-rewired portion of the distribution system. His problem was solved with a few borrowed lengths of RV extension cables.

The sorry truth is that most existing CGs will not soon decide to spend the money to upgrade their electric distribution systems. Instead, the serious RVer will have to take it upon themselves to protect their RV investment with an active Electric Power Booster. A "Dynamo!" can quickly and efficiently solve the problem. Click on www.dynamorv.com to find the answer to low electric voltage problems.

Tech Support

Lightning Strike causes Severe Damage to Motorhome.....

Hello Fellow RVers....

The following article is of vital importance to every RVer. Please take note of Pete and Connie's experience and Be Prepared.

"Happenstance".... Definition: Something that happens when you least expect it.

Pete and Connie enjoy living on Puget Sound about 30 miles North of Seattle. They are both retired from the local Aircraft industry. Like many RVers, their three children are all out of the nest and on their own. Thus Pete and Connie are now free to make good use of their 10 year old Motorhome.

Pete recently emailed me about an almost tragic incident that happened to them on one of their recent trips. Pete writes that living in the NorthWest, they have plenty of rain storm experience under their belt. However, Pete adds that they generally do not experience severe lightning in these storms. Thus, he says that he was completely unfamiliar with the destruction that can occur to an RV due to a lightning-induced spike and power surge on the Campground's AC power line.

Pete continues.... "We had pulled our Motorhome into a small campground for an overnight not to many miles from Mesa Verde National Park. "The evening was clear and warm with a Southwest breeze" writes Pete. "We had put in a long day of driving and our Motorhome had ran great." "We were both tired, and after a small snack, we soon found our way to bed."

Now Pete's experience becomes interesting. He writes "About three AM, I woke up from the sound of rain on the roof. I made sure the windows were closed and then crawled back into bed. I had just fallen asleep again when a tremendous bang startled us. Only a few seconds elapsed before we were both out of bed."

Pete told me that he recalls that Connie asked him what had happened. Pete says that he was at a loss to explain the bang. Pete adds that it did not take them long to discover that the Motorhome had no power. Everything was black. Even the nightlights in the Campground were dark.

By this time, the rain had slacked off and thus Pete grabbed his flashlight and started out for a look-see. Pete tells me that what he found was a total surprise. He writes "Where the Power Entry Socket on the Motorhome had been, there was a large black ring surrounding a big hole where the power entry socket had been. The power cable was badly frayed at the RV plug end and the insulation on the power cable looked charred."

Pete continues "It was now about 3:30 in the morning and there was nothing I could do to fix the problem. So back to bed."

Pete told me that the damage to their Motorhome was beyond their imagination. The power converter was blown. The fridge did not work. The AC unit smelled. And on top of everything else, they had no hot water.

"It was a total disaster" he writes.

Pete and Connie found that they were not alone in the damage. Two other Motorhomes and two 5th Wheels that were parked nearby also suffered significant damage. It is very fortunate and a real tribute to the folks who designed the RVs that none of the folks in the RVs did not suffer personal injury.

Pete writes "There was nothing left for us to do but head back to the barn."

Pete reports that their Motorhome is now repaired and that they are back on the road. But as Pete reminded me, they are a lot wiser now than previously.

So what? Lightning strikes on power lines occur frequently during severe thunder storms. The result of these strikes is the potential for severe damage to RVs as witnessed by Pete and Connie's experience. While not all lightning strikes will induce damage to the same extent, some damage is frequently experienced by RVs. To limit the problems that may result from lightning strikes, an in-line surge protector may be a good investment. Some of the new Voltage Boost/Regulating units such as the DYNAMO! will also provide high level protection for the RV.

Pete told me that he and Connie now have an enhanced appreciation for the power in a lightning strike and the damage that a strike can bring. Pete also told me that his next stop will be to purchase a good surge protector.

Question: Is your RV protected against lightning strikes?

Tech Support

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