Spring Branch TX - 2018

We finally made it to Spring Branch Texas!  We can now get our Solar panels and stuff installed.  We are staying at the Spring Branch RV Park for 7 days (4 - 11 Nov) which is located right next to a busy highway...of course.  Other than the road noise, this isn't a bad little park.  the spots are a little close together but we have seen worse.  It has a great dog park.  Scout just loved running everywhere inside the dog park.  But that isn't why were are here.  We want solar and we want it now!!!!   Or within a week I guess.  While we are here, we are going to get our fridge fixed so it will run on electric again.



When Greg (RV Solar Solutions) showed up, I told him about our little mishap and also that I have to keep recycling the power to the battery tender to keep the battery charged.  So he brought over a battery charger that would also provide a constant 13.3 Volts of power to the battery to keep it good until replaced.  It took him about 5 days to get it all installed and working.  I asked him to keep the edges of the RV free so I could get to and clean the top of the slides as needed.  That is why when you look at the pictures, some are towards the middle of the RV and not along the edge.  The system wasn't cheap, but it works really well and no, we don't have the air conditioning hooked into the inverter.  In case you didn't know, the inverter takes 12 volt battery power and turns it into 120 Volt power.  I have the inverter powering the microwave, and all the power outlets.  It can also power the refrigerator too, but he said the RV fridge is a power hog on 120 volts and we should probably just run that on propane when not plugged into shore power.

So basically, we have the following:
         Six 180 watt solar panels
         One 2800 watt inverter/converter
         One solar controller that can push up to 85 amps of power to the battery (best conditions)
         Two 300 Amp hour Lithium Batteries
         One battery Monitor system
         and a bunch of cables and fuses/breakers tying everything together.

It's been working great for us and you will find out on our travels.  Here are the pics for the solar.

While he was installing the solar, the repair guy came by to look at the fridge.  Come to find out a fuse inside the fridge area was blown.  While he was in there, he saw one of 2 of the heating elements of the fridge was also fried.  He came back the next day with the parts and got the fridge up and running again.  While he was there, I had noticed a leak in the drain of the shower.  So I asked if he could help to fix that issue too.  We pulled the drain out and resealled it.  It doesn't leak anymore.  I sent that bill to Grand Design too for reimbursement.  Did I tell you Grand Design looks out for their customers.  They are great.

Terry wanted to check out some waterfalls that was down the road a little ways and what did we find?  That's right, Zebras!  and we were nowhere near a zoo.  After our little safari, we found the waterfalls (only one of three that we were looking for).  Here are those pics. After that we stopped in Fredericksburg for lunch and sip of wine...ok Terry had the wine, I watched.  I guess that is wine country.  I finding out that everywhere we go seems to be wine country.  Maybe that is why Terry is always happy.

Since we were close to the Alamo (in San Antonio), we decided to go check it out (after the solar install was completed of course).   While we were there we took a tour of the place.  It wasn't what I was expecting, but I didn't know what to expect anyway, so it's all good.  We also went down to the Riverwalk going through town.  It's a lot smaller than I expected.  A lot smaller.   Anyway, here are the pics for the Alamo and Riverwalk in San Antonio Texas.

Well that's it for the place.  We are off back to Bandera for a few days and then to New Mexico.