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- May 1, 2008
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A beautiful sunny day here in Central Portugal.
I am a little bit excited as I am off down to the Algarve for the weekend.
In between visiting friends (who mostly seem to be Bar/Restaurant owners) I hope to check out the "off site" camping situation... The rumours have been flying thick and fast that "it is all finished" for wilding there...
This week I have learned the following things about life in and around my 1987 Hymer 660S.
The two leisure batteries really do need replacing. Despite two solar panels they can't even cope with hard Chat activity on the Vaio without going flat.
The Truma water heater will kick in AND ignite (I can hear it do so) but will not run when the voltage in those batteries drops too low. I thought it would only need the voltage to open the gas valve, light the burner and warm the thermocouple. Now have to wait for sunlight for hot water until new batteries are fitted or I am plugged in at the Studio!
When the waste tank tap is left open and the kitchen sink stops draining, it is not a blockage of "stuff," it is an air/water lock... a gentle blow down the plug hole with a short tube and the water drains out like a whirlpool.
The (12volt) TravelCool air "conditioner" is superb but uses a lot of water (as well as leccy.)
The 3 way fridge seems to work slighty, but only slightly, better on gas than on mains hook-up. Dougcumiskey kindly gave me the tip of hanging a damp cloth (and keeping it damp) over the inlet fridge vent to help the cooling process... it works...
Getting cool in the van is harder than getting warm... After ten years of wintering in Portugal this is the first time I have "motorhomed" here in the heat of the summer. It is a different ball game. A "water gathering system for use by the fire brigade in case of fire" (a swimming pool) is a must for Quinta Majay... a project to this effect is underway.
Of to do some washing now and then I hit the road south... YIPPEEE :thumb: :thumb:
JJ :Cool:
I am a little bit excited as I am off down to the Algarve for the weekend.
In between visiting friends (who mostly seem to be Bar/Restaurant owners) I hope to check out the "off site" camping situation... The rumours have been flying thick and fast that "it is all finished" for wilding there...
This week I have learned the following things about life in and around my 1987 Hymer 660S.
The two leisure batteries really do need replacing. Despite two solar panels they can't even cope with hard Chat activity on the Vaio without going flat.
The Truma water heater will kick in AND ignite (I can hear it do so) but will not run when the voltage in those batteries drops too low. I thought it would only need the voltage to open the gas valve, light the burner and warm the thermocouple. Now have to wait for sunlight for hot water until new batteries are fitted or I am plugged in at the Studio!
When the waste tank tap is left open and the kitchen sink stops draining, it is not a blockage of "stuff," it is an air/water lock... a gentle blow down the plug hole with a short tube and the water drains out like a whirlpool.
The (12volt) TravelCool air "conditioner" is superb but uses a lot of water (as well as leccy.)
The 3 way fridge seems to work slighty, but only slightly, better on gas than on mains hook-up. Dougcumiskey kindly gave me the tip of hanging a damp cloth (and keeping it damp) over the inlet fridge vent to help the cooling process... it works...
Getting cool in the van is harder than getting warm... After ten years of wintering in Portugal this is the first time I have "motorhomed" here in the heat of the summer. It is a different ball game. A "water gathering system for use by the fire brigade in case of fire" (a swimming pool) is a must for Quinta Majay... a project to this effect is underway.
Of to do some washing now and then I hit the road south... YIPPEEE :thumb: :thumb:
JJ :Cool: