Author: Bob

  • Using Node-Red to control our MaxxAir Fan and Houghton A/C

    This article describes how I used an IR Blaster with Node-Red to add control of our Houghton A/C and MaxxAir fan to our MyErvin automation system.   Both items use an Infrared (IR) remote so I decided to use that interface to take control. A few years ago I had dabbled with using Tasmota devices…

  • Our New Oven with an Air Fryer

    One of our favorite appliances at home is a small air fryer.  For some time we’ve been looking for a small model to take on the road with us.   Each unit was a little too large for us to dedicate the storage space for it. This past December I came across something that I…

  • Improving Our 48V System

    I installed our 48V system in 2019.  It has worked reliably and has allowed us to silently camp in comfort in a variety of different settings.  In the years following the installation some nice integration was developed between Victron, Wakespeed and the REC BMS.  This past December I modified our system to benefit from that…

  • Roof and Awning Mount Repair

    I recently noticed a small amount of water inside the overhead cabinet next to our sliding door. The source of the leak was not easy to find.  The cabinets hid the area from view on the interior and one of the mounts for the Carefree awning was covering it on the exterior. I decided to…

  • Our Sofa Bed Drive Shield

    The power sofa bed on our 2017 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS was designed with  an exposed drive mechanism.  On a few occasions we had items get caught in the screw as the sofa was being extended or retracted.   We were lucky enough to avoid any significant damage but it seemed like it was just a…

  • Our Class B Waste Tote Storage Tray

    We really enjoy attending multiple day music festivals in our Class B.   The festivals usually last 5 to 7 days. Having our own shower and bathroom is a terrific benefit. Refilling the water tank is usually an easy task with a dolly and a water can but the waste tanks are a different story.…

  • Our Multipurpose Lagun Folding Tabletop

    A few years ago I replaced the original pedestal mount table in our 2017 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS with a Lagun mount and a top that was made by hinging the original bed boards together.  The table was an improvement and worked well but it had a few issues.   The design used two heavy panels…

  • The Perfect Door Mat

    During a recent trip down the coast from Virginia Beach, VA  to St. Augustine, FL most of the spots we stayed in were close to the beach and had a lot of sand that was hard to keep off our shoes and out of the van.  We already owned a great 6 x 9 camping…

  • RAM Promaster High Idle Kit

    Our coach is built on a 2016 RAM Promaster 3500 with a Pentastar 3.6L V6.   The default idle speed is about 900RPM.  This kit allows you to adjust the idle speed to as high as 2000 RPM.  I ended up selecting an idle speed of 1600 RPM after monitoring the alternator, water and oil…

  • Maintaining the Chassis Battery

    My chassis battery was an outlier and a problem waiting to happen. I had no way to monitor it’s health, set a charging profile or charge it without the engine running. There had to be an efficient way to tie it in to the house system so that it could simply benefit from the power…