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Archive for June, 2009

Get Choice RV Generators for Sale

June 30th, 2009

If you are in the market to purchase an RV generator so that your RV becomes self-contained, and gives you instant electricity, you should be aware that there are three types of generators: a gas generator,a diesel generator, and an Lp or propane generator.

In a lot of instances with a gas generator you might run into problems rather quickly if you don’t run it often. It is a good idea to fire up your gas powered generator quite frequently in order to keep the intake and carburetor from gumming up.

When you are looking at buying any generator for your RV is a good idea to make sure that they run on compatible fuels. When the fuel tank is low, the generator will shut down automatically so the fuel does not get used up.

Since like all engines that run off of gas or diesel, your generator is going to give off carbon monoxide so you’re going to want to check the exhaust system on a regular basis. When using a portable generator, the exhaust should be tested before being used and it should be directed away from the camping or RV area.

Your generator can be used while you are traveling and in fact it is even more economical to run your air conditioning off of the generator rather than the air conditioning from the motor of the RV.

Do not run a generator in a sleep area or during the night due to the noise and the possible danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you take care of your RV generator, then chances are it will outlast your RV itself, you just need to make sure that you maintain it regularly and run it frequently. If your generator sits for a while, it will run into surging problems and will eventually break down.

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Build RV Solar Panels

June 30th, 2009

Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are designed to give you the freedom of the open road.  In theory you can drive anywhere you want, but often you are restricted to official camp sites because you need somewhere to plug in and recharge your batteries.  Even if you use your batteries to power on-board appliances they will need recharging from time to time – usually more often than you had planned! And beware, regularly flattening a battery will shorten its life dramatically. But there is an alternative that will give you true flexibility to go where you want, and you can make it yourself easily and cheaply.

Most RVs have on-board generators, but these tend to be noisy, smelly and gas-guzzlers.  These days solar panels are often fitted to provide all or most of your electrical requirements without damaging your battery, and literally anybody can put these together in their backyard.  Your generator, if you have one, can then become a backup – much less wearing on the ears and pocket. Keep it for powering the lights at your next outdoor party!

Solar panels for RVs can be made foldable for easy storage, and they are usually quite light and easy to move. One 4ft x 2 ft solar panel will generate about 75 to 100 watts, which is about the same as a pair of golf cart batteries.  A typical 24 ft RV would probably manage on this but it would depend, of course, on your own electrical needs. Most RVs use less than 400 watts.  The best advice is to start with one or two solar panels, and fit some more as needed. You can get more information about this here.

There are some additional things you will need if you will be driving regularly in hot climates.  You should instal a solar-powered battery charger with battery temperature compensation to prevent overcharging of, and damage to, your batteries.  Also, solar panels on the roof of an RV can get very hot, which can affect their efficiency and can lead to a drop in voltage. Ensure that your solar panels have a rating of at least 17 volts to ofset this loss.  Just keep these thoughts in mind when planning your RV’s solar panel system.

There are many solar panel kits on the market for RVs, but they can be quite expensive.  We thoroughly recommend the make-it-yourself route. You will find it very easy, a lot of fun, and literally anybody can do it.  And much cheaper than buying a kit.  It is very sensible, however, to get professional advice and guidance as you plan and build your solar panel, otherwise you could end up with a system that does not work properly or even at all.  Don’t worry, professional advice and step-by-step instructions are readily available if you know the right source, and only cost a few bucks.  We believe this is a good investment.

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Safety vest are required to use when working on hazardous jobs or riding motorcycles.

June 30th, 2009

A smart motorcyclist knows how important it is to have the right gear. Responsible riders have no problem investing in the best boots, helmets, jacket, gloves, and eye protection. These items can mean the difference between life and death in case of an accident. A safety vest is one piece of equipment that many bikers overlook. Safety vest requirements are changing due to the level of danger. The biggest danger most cyclists face is other drivers. A reflective vest will make you more visible to other drivers on the road. There are a few things you need to look at when purchasing a safety vest that will perform the best. The vest you select should fit your body well and be well made. The material used to make the vest should be very strong and easily cleaned. The reflective material on the safety vest should deflect light in every direction. All the fastening mechanisms should be heavy duty and operate easily with your gloves in place. The safety vest should be close fitting but not so tight that it restricts your movement. You can get the perfect fit if you buy a safety vest which features adjustable straps. Custom safety vest can be tailored to your specific need. Safety vests come in a variety of colors including white, red, yellow, orange, and pink. Your personal sense of style will play the main role in which color is right for you. Most other drivers on the road are used to seeing orange safety vests on traffic workers so it may attract their attention the best. Think about which colors will stand out best against the jacket that you typically wear when riding your motorcycle. Having a big contrast between the colors you are wearing will increase your visibility to other drivers. You can enhance your visibility even more by using brightly colored clothing under your safety vest. Many vests do not have reflective material around the arms to improve your visibility to those looking out from side streets. This can be fixed with the addition of a helmet halo or reflective armband.  Don’t forget to review tearaway safety vests for your safety requirements.

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Vehicles Will Talk to Each Other

June 30th, 2009

Cars are becoming much more cleverer then ever before. The difference between getting in a car in 1991 and then getting in new cars in 2009 is absolutely amazing. We now have so much technology inside of each and every car such as sat nav systems.

But cars are developing at enormous speeds and experts have predicted that within the next decade cars could actually drive themselves. Now you are probably thinking to yourself what a stupid statement to make we are so far away from that happening, but if you take the time to look at the technology behind it you will know that we are very close.

As mentioned above we already have satellite navigation systems which are able to locate precisley where you are and the speed that you are going at. With the growth of the internet also reaching unprecedented levels there is not long left until vehicles begin to actually communicate with each other online.

What I am really trying to state is that cars will use the sat nav system to check where you are on the road and the speed that you are travelling at, it will then transmit the information over the internet which will communicate with other vehicles around you. By knowing the speed you are driving at the cars themselves will be able to avoid collisions and they can take us to our destination without getting lost because they know exactly where they are going.

So for workers such as lorry and van drivers it could actually be a dream come true, as you could rest while the vehicle drives itself. In other ways it works a bit like an autopilot.

 

Do you want to Buy a new BMW or Buy a Renault

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How Stability Control Works On New Cars

June 29th, 2009

We have all seen the TV commercials where the family’s life was saved by automatic stability control. The story is usually set against the back drop of a wet stormy night when suddenly a boulder falls directly onto the road right in front of our hero. The TV ad shows the driver pulling on the wheel and safely avoiding an accident thanks to the stability control system.

Many people see these commercials and think that this is pretty interesting automotive technology. Some people may not know that this safety feature is operated by the ABS system. Although keep in mind when you are buying a new car that various types of stability control systems are found on today’s vehicles.

Just as on traction systems stability controls are based and linked to the ABS system and on some vehicles they are linked to both the brake and electronic suspension systems. Several upscale vehicles offer a switch that can disable the traction control seperate from the stability control system.

 

Automatic stability control operation

 

Again, the systems will differ between vehicle manufacturers, but most stability control systems will momentarily apply the disc brake pads at one wheel to correct a oversteer or an understeer condition. The control unit receives signals from the speed sensors plus some units will have a lateral acceleration or G-force sensor. The latest releases might be equipped with a steering angle sensor.

Understeer is best described as a condition where the automobile is slow to respond to driver steering input. A vehicle is in a oversteer condition when it is fishtailing or the rear end moves out of the center tracking position. When the system senses understeer or oversteer in a turn the brakes at the appropriate rear wheel is applied.

Relying on the input from the sensors and the computer programming the system calculates if the vehicle is going exactly in the direction in which it is being steered. If there is a difference between what the drivers asking for and what the vehicle is doing the system will ideally correct this situation by applying one of the brakes in the four corners.

 

Stability control advanced Systems

This advanced control system will use the steering angle to calculate the path the driver has selected. It will then monitor the lateral sensor and the G-forces on the vehicle to measure where the vehicle is actually going.

Stability control systems can help control the vehicle during acceleration, braking, and coasting. If emergency braking is applied and over steer or understeering is senced increased brake fluid pressure is sent to the caliper needed to maintain driver control.

It did take us some time as consumers to get use to ABS and traction control technologies. But they have been proven to provide a safer driving experience. These automatic stability control systems show the same promise to improve automobile safety. Over time as automotive diagnosis and technologies improve, we may even see them as government mandated standard safety equipment.

 

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