8-8-08 Friday (It was the night the lights went out in...)

Damn I love Google. The problem with the hot water heater has been resolved. Someones blog had a story of the same problem and the solution was easy. It was a thermal cutoff. This little plastic coated wire is designed to melt into place if the water heater overheats or had a problem like a clogged flue. Apparently it's a common enough problem that the replacement part is sold in a 2-pack for $20.00. What does that tell you? We didn't get to install it yet, but was able to bypass it in the meantime.

Yeah, we didn't get to install the new thermal cutoff because the shoreline power breaker at the campsite pedestal (as it's called) kept tripping. Finally, late at night at the last and final time it tripped, Jim found that our plug melted. Now I must tell you that the campground hookup looks like a hazard. The 30amp/50amp covers are falling off and you can also see the wiring guts behind the receptacles. Jim was hearing some sizzling noises too. So here it is at about 11pm and we had to use the generator. Most parks have a "quiet time" at 10pm when generators need to be off. Luckily we have no neighbors, just empty mobile homes and empty lots. Jim set out to 2 different Wal-Marts looking for a new plug in their RV section. None was to be found so he had to rewire a 50amp plug for the weekend. We'll have to get this resolved on Monday when the office is open.

Over the past few weeks we've found that the 30amp service the RV requires really isn't enough to power both a/c units, refrigerator and other small appliances. We can switch the fridge to propane at the flip of a switch, but I can only do laundry late in the evening when the a/c doesn't have to work so hard. I've looked into converting the coach from 30amp to 50amp and it will probably be about $500.00. Geez, what's another $500 at this point? We'll have to think about it.

Jim installed specially designed PVC pipes onto the rear RV bumper. Pictured under the bicycle. These pipes will hold the sewer hoses. Where did we buy these nifty tubes? Why, Camping World but of course. We picked them up while we were there getting out now-towable Cherokee. The towing package is the tow bar on the coach and on the Cherokee. Also we place an "Even Brake" on the Cherokee floor board which communicates with the coach. This device presses the Cherokee brake when we depress the coach brake. Picture included.(Remember computer novices, click on the pictures to see a larger version, OR use a magnifying glass. Right-click to open in a new window or new tab so that you still have the main blog open.)

While I was taking a picture of the breaker box (Campsite pedestal), I snapped one of the general hookup. The phone hookup and other hookups are dilapidated too.

Oh, someone mentioned they had trouble leaving comments to the blog. At the bottom of each entry, it will say the number of comments. Click on this and you can then type in your comments. If you have a Google account you can log in, or your can choose "name/url" and then type in your name, then click SUBMIT. It's easy. I won't be replying back to comments as I think questions are best left for email.