I’m about to install three more solar panels on roof of my motorhome. There are three existing solar panels on the roof, and they are wired in parallel. I thought that I would wire the new three panels in series. The wire from the existing three panels to the charge controller is 10 gauge. Will this handle the power required of three more panels? I have a Victron 100/50 charge controller and three 100-amp hour Battle Born lithium batteries and I would like to get your advice whether I should wire the new panels in series or parallel.
—John Augusta

There are a couple of problems that I can think of right off the top of my head. You did not give me the wattage ratings of the solar panels, which could make quite a bit of difference; the bigger the panel, the more amperage that would be supplied to the charge controller running through the 10-gauge wire. If all six panels are run in parallel, the 10-gauge wire would absolutely not be big enough. If this is the case, it will take a 6-gauge wire, minimum, that is routed to the charge controller, assuming that the panels are rated at 100 watts or larger.

If two panels are wired in series, giving you 24 volts DC, and the three pairs then wired in parallel to the charge controller, the 10-gauge wire should be able to handle all of the panels. The real problem may be the charge controller not being large enough to handle the amperage output of your panels. That, of course is dependent on the output of all six panels.

But in an era where most of us carry more computing power in our shirt pocket than NASA relied on to put a man on the moon, something’s still been missing. While the past few years have witnessed an array of websites and apps designed to help plan trips or find campsites, they still require a lot of manual input. While they can and do comb through impressive amounts of data, they are still doing what you tell them to do. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, imagine if the site actually began “thinking” for you, using artificial intelligence (AI) to recommend routes and places and waypoints based not only on your profile but also by learning about travel history as you continue to use the system.

Regular air-conditioner maintenance will keep the air flowing and cool. Failure to take the time to assure proper function will lead to poor efficiency and reduced cooling.

By Bill Gehr Photos by the author

ummer heat drives most of us inside our RVs where, fortunately, the air-conditioner(s) purrs away, dropping the temperature to comfortable levels. It would be nice if all we ever had to do was turn it on and set the thermostat, but that’s not reality. Neglecting air-conditioner maintenance can lead to poor performance or even total failure — and if Murphy has anything to do with it, failure only happens when the temperatures are extreme and the interior feels like an inferno.

Fortunately, the maintenance checklist is not that long and many do-it-yourselfers can do the work themselves, unless they are not comfortable on the roof of an RV. Keep the A/C clean and you can realize big hikes in performance.

In its simplest form, cleaning the return air filter(s) reaps big rewards, unless there is a component failure. Typically, all you need is a little soap and water to clean the filters. These filters are attached to the air-distribution box (ADB) and are easy to remove for washing.

The latest crop of RV air-conditions no longer belongs to your parents’ generation. Advances in power efficiency — to include easier starting — combined with noise mitigation allow RVers to take hot summer days and nights in stride.

By Bob Livingston

ummer is a wonderful time of the year. The days are longer, there’s plenty of pool and lake time, and your agenda can be packed with outdoor activities that are not only fun but can keep you fit. As romantic as that seems, though, the dog days of summer will usually have you running indoors to beat the heat — and keeping RVs cool is no exception.

Transforming the RV interior from an inferno to a cool environment is relegated to roof air-conditioning in the majority of RVs combing the highways. A few manufacturers worked with basement A/C units, but that has given way to the venerable rooftop units years ago. Today, the plethora of air-conditioners found on RV rooftops are more efficient than ever, with innovations from companies like Truma (truma.net) leading the charge. And technology has advanced the abilities to run smaller RV air-conditioning units (usually in Class B and smaller trailers) powered by sophisticated 12-volt DC systems. Add in improvements in rooftop-mounted and free-standing evaporative coolers and there’s no reason to sweat it out inside an RV any longer.

Take some advice from a confirmed packrat who is also addicted to tools: Get some hooks to hang frequently used items on the storage compartment rafters.

By Bill Gehr / Photos by author

ne of the things I enjoy about buying a new RV is the customization of storage areas in the galley, pantry, closets and — maybe most importantly — the outside storage bay. You know the scenario: You “just have to have” tools and stuff that might come in handy someday, even if space is limited. I’m guilty as charged. But while I try to go through all the stored items and remove anything that hasn’t been used for a year or so, the process almost always gets undermined by second thoughts and “what if’s.”

If you want to maintain some semblance of order, you just have to be smarter than the stuff. It should be easy, right? Famous last words.

Since my new fifth wheel has less space in the main storage compartment than the old one, though, the challenge was on. Fortunately, you can get just about anything you want on Amazon, so with a little research — to discover new ideas on how to store frequently-used items like tools — I found some fantastic hooks that could be easily mounted in several locations and adapted to hold cordless tools while clearing out the clutter on the floor of the compartment.

Pure water is no longer guaranteed, especially when visiting unfamiliar places. Proper filtration and purification systems designed for RVs will keep you safe while controlling noxious odors and taste.

By Bill Gehr and Bob Livingston / Photos by Bill Gehr and Bob Livingston

ithout a water system, an RV cannot be self-contained. Water is needed for bathing, cleaning, cooking and, of course, drinking. Many of us don’t drink enough on a daily basis; throw in terribly bad tasting and smelling water and staying hydrated without using a clothespin on your nose can be difficult. No wonder the bottled water industry is so gigantic.

Unfortunately, beyond taste, water contaminated with bacteria, viruses and cysts, to name a few, can lead to medical problems — and such problems can crop up more frequently as RVers embrace boondocking and set up camp well away from campgrounds often fed by city water systems. Fortunately, water purification and filtration systems for RVs have reached new levels in sophistication and conditioning — to the point that even manufacturers are now including effective equipment as standard equipment on some models.

Extending the life of your kitchen equipment isn’t difficult — so long as it’s done on a regular basis

By Chris Dougherty

ne big reason for the recent boost in popularity of RVing is the ability to camp with all the basics. Granted, there will always be a segment that truly appreciates “roughing it” with a tent and campfire for cooking, but having the ability to grab a cold drink from a refrigerator, make a hot meal in an oven or on a cooktop, retreat from noonday sun into air-conditioned comfort or, conversely, turn on a furnace on chilly mornings makes the outdoors a lot more livable for many of us.

Galley equipment is especially important. Manufacturers do their part by equipping contemporary RVs with the same sort of appliances that are critical to meal prep in a traditional brick-and-mortar home — though they are a bit different. And, all things considered, they are amazingly resilient. However, time does take its toll, especially on equipment subjected to constant pounding during travel, and RV appliances do require more upkeep. Properly maintained, though, they should continue cooking up memories for years.

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The Bighorn National Forest is beautiful, but being nearly 10,000 feet above sea level isn’t the time you want the air brakes on your Class A diesel pusher to start hiccupping.

Life is different in a small town. Even for travelers just passing through.

By Scott Lengel

Editor’s note: AS RV travelers know, the best stories of life on the road don’t have anything to do with amazing destinations — they’re about all the wild things that sometimes happen on the way. John and Lisa Lengel (and Chloe, their Shih Poo — an offspring of a Shih Tzu and Toy Poodle) are veteran RVers. In fact, Scott developed the AdventureGenie RV trip planner out of frustration from not being able to create an itinerary without making dozens of calls and hours spent scanning maps. They spend much of their summers on the road in their Newmar Ventana motorhome, and Scott blogs about their journeys at lengelsontheroad.com. As this account (part of their 2022 travels) underscores, however, not every trip turns out as planned — and that’s when real memories happen.

inding out that you have an issue with your air brakes on a 7% grade at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet is not something that I’d recommend that you put on your bucket list.

Our stay in Buffalo, Wyoming, had been quite pleasant. A sleepy little town of 4,600, it sits about halfway between Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. After a quick stop in Deadwood, South Dakota, we felt that a couple of nights in Buffalo, Wyoming, would be a perfect spot to rest and explore.

Once in Buffalo, we decided to do a little exploring. After a day in the Jeep and on foot, we settled on a nice dinner at The Virginian restaurant in the Occidental Hotel. After 140 years of providing western hospitality, we think they’ve got it nailed. Try the bison.