Monday, December 10, 2012

Dec 10, 2012

Wow been so busy in the last week.
First off both Thom and I were in "A Christmas Carol" so we had rehersals and performances to do ... did them all well and finally we are done with this show!! We had are cast party last night and watched a taping of the show. Great job to those that were in the show and all the ones behind the scenes.

We started Saturday off going to install the new Xanbus System Control Panel were the old one was but realized that the new one is about 1/4 inch longer. Would not matter much but the space the old one was in was tight to start with so out comes the dremel to cut the whole panel to separate it slightly in order to fit the new control panel in. We did make sure where we cut that it would not be cutting anything but the panel holding all the buttons and stuff. The whole thing took us about 5 hrs to finagle and figure it out and to do just that part.
We then had the last performance to do for the show Saturday night.
Then on Sunday we got up had 1/2 cup of coffee and started in with putting together the smoker so that we could smoke the ham to take to the cast party at 5pm. After that we started right in on shutting down all electric in the RV so that we could take out the old 1500 watt inv/char and put the new 3000 watt inv/char in. Running the line for the battery temp sensor took a little longer than what we first thought it would take. I think it was at least 6 or 7 hrs to do the switch over. We got it done enough so that we could hook back into and use the heater and what not for the night. We still have to reattach the starter battery to the inv/char and bolt the inv/char down but since we are not driving anywhere for the next few days it will be fine for a few days. If the pass thrus for the new wires were not so tight it would not have taken us so long to do the switch over :)
I will add - If you are not electricaly and mechanicaly inclined then have a professional do the installs!!!! I can not stress enough that this is very involved and even thou we did shut all the electric down and unplug from the shore pedistal that there is still voltage running around in the wires and you could still hit some so be sure you know what you are doing or spend the money and have a professional that you trust do it for you!!
Then just a quick wash and off to the party which we got there about 5:30 pm or so. The ham did not last everyone LOVED it. It's so simple to smoke it the way we do. You put 1/2 spiced rum and 1/2 water in the drip pan then add cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks (break them into a couple of pieces) into the water. Score (lightly cut) the ham and put some cloves and brown sugar. Then just put it in the smoker and keep it at about 250 degrees or so for at least 4 hrs, we did it at 6 hrs thou. Keep an eye on the drip pan and refill with the half rum and half water mixture if it goes empty. We usually use Oak and Apple wood to smoke with but CA has a ban on using Oak so we just used charcoal and Apple wood chips, we added the wood several times while it was smoking.
Last note for today
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!!
Our oldest son turned 28 yrs old today. He took the day off of work and is spending it playing games and some of the day with his wife and when Lisa gets out of school with her too. Games, movies, resturants and family - what more could you ask for for a great birthday?

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Things for today

So some cool and not so cool things have happened so far this week.

So we are performing in a play here in Acton, CA, "A Christmas Carol", we had 3 paid performances Fri, Sat and a mantinee on Sunday. At least a 1/3 of the people in the show have never been on stage so there have been lots of nerves but now with some under their belt they are doing ok now when going out on stage. Both Fri and Sat thier only about 75 or so people there but on Sunday there was almost a full house of maybe 150 or so!! For a town as little Acton is that is a great turnout. We have 2 more shows coming up Dec 7th and 8th and those will be last until the next show. Thom plays 3 parts and I play 2 for it.

While getting ready to go to the theater for a show thou this past week our neighbor Neil came over and asked if we were having a problem with our electric ..... long story short his cord attaching to the pedistal starting smoking and sparking. We unplugged as fast as possible and the next day the park fixed the plug on their end and Neil stopped to get a new cord for his end. It seems that something like a spider/bug had gotten right in the wrong spot inbetween the plugs that caused the short and almost fire. Things are back to working for him and nothing else got damaged!!

We are getting a new inverter/charger for the MH/RV this week. It seems that the old 1500 watt inv/char does not have enough "juice" to run the microwave/convection oven at 1.62khw (which is 1600 watts). The new one will be 3000 watts and pure sine so that should be able to run and keep things going much better.
My advice to those looking at a new or used MH/RV/TT/5th wheel is to make sure the inv/char (if it has one) actually is able to handle all the electronics that are in it!! The one we are getting will allow us to add solar and be able to handle the electric stuff coming and going out. The one we are getting the normal price for everything for it would normally be at least $2k to $2.5k but once it's gotten its got and we won't have to worry anymore about for at least a few years. I say all the parts cause you also need a system control panel that goes with it and that can run you $200 to $300 depending on where you get it. You also may need a new cable to hook it up to the batteries, also a temp sensor for the batteries, they need more or less to charge them depending on the temp outside. As you can see there are lots to learn and research with these things.

About a month ago looking at the cold weather coming we started thinking about heating for us. We ended up getting an electric fireplace - http://www.lowes.com/pd_348139-47166-73092_4294765308_4294937087_?productId=3455832&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating%7C1&facetInfo= - it actually has been working fairly well in here keeping it warm. We don't even put on the electric heating pad most nights it seems to work that well. The cat even will lay in front of it like a dog would, lol. We did make sure that which ever heating we got that the current inv/char would be able to run it effciently. This one is only 1350 watts. I do turn it off if I want to put the microwave on. As it is I don't run the micro as much I would like until we get the new inv/char. I like to bake so until that happens I can't :( .

As for the new LED lights we still have some to do and Thom will be starting again from scratch and we will tape them to put here and on youtube if anyone would like to do what we have done. But those will be probably after the new year.

We may be going to Vegas again for New Years eve but we will not know until it happens as alot of times we make a spur of the moment decision on things like that, lol.