RV Air Conditioners and Power when it's HOT!

Last year when it got warm we posted this information about your air conditioner and proper operation. Well, it is getting hot out there in Vegas and we better do it again. We have received several phone calls about what this post addresses. So here it is again!

More and more people are living in vehicles designed for recreational use. This can be a challenge. We hope to help you on your journey.


The points discussed below are important and can mean the difference between comfortable living or damage that could cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Here in Las Vegas, on the first hot day of every year we get roughly 15-20 calls about RV air conditioners not working properly. Sometimes it is the air conditioner, but mostly is a lack of proper voltage and/or amperage getting to the unit.

NEVER operate your RV air conditioner when your RV is plugged into a standard 15 amp house-type receptacle. Each air conditioner needs a full 20 amp service so you need to plug your 30 amp plug into a full 30 amp service for one air conditioner or your 50 amp plug into a full 50 amp service to operate two AC’s.

If you need to run your RV AC’s at home then you will need to get a qualified, licensed electrician to install a full 30 or 50 amp RV service pedestal or weatherproof receptacle near your intended RV parking space. This is important because every installation has technical questions (like voltage loss, conduit requirements, heat build-up, long wire runs, proper wire type and size, etc) that can only be addressed by qualified electricians.

Plugging your RV into a 15 amp household receptacle with a “temporary” adapter is for temporary use to run low wattage appliances, a couple of lights or to get your absorption refrigerator cold. Actually there are times that even this can be dangerous; If your batteries are low and your converter wants to charge them up fast when you plug in, then you could be in a situation where too much amperage is trying to go through the adapter. There may be other situations where adapters can be dangerous.

DO NOT make the mistake of plugging into a dryer or welder receptacle. Most 30-60 amp receptacles at home are wired with two legs of 110 VAC which, if connected, would destroy most electrical appliances on your RV. The RV 30 amp receptacle has one hot (110v), one neutral and one ground.

Do Not use extension cords of any kind on your RV when operating your air conditioner. Any extension cord will lower the voltage getting to your RV. Lower voltage means higher amperage (not cool). This rule also includes 30 or 50 amp extension cords. Ideally RV power supply cords should not be longer than 21 feet but almost all of them are 25 feet from the RV factory. If you can do it, you may want to shorten your supply cord for optimum operation of your RV.

Make sure the male plug and female receptacle of your RV service pedestal are clean. Carbon build-up will limit the amperage and/or voltage getting to your RV. You may have to replace the male plug if it has carbon build-up.

Keep your power supply cord (shore line) out of the sun and preferably not coiled up. Both of these conditions produce heat and heat limits voltage, which increases current (amperage), creating more heat… admit it, you can’t win!

Make sure your generator is operating correctly and make sure it is powerful enough to power your RV. Suggested wattage for one AC is 4000+ watts and 2 AC’s should have a minimum of a 5000 watt generator.

Often park voltage can be low on hot high demand days. Check voltage at the park pedestal.

On hot days when it is 130 degrees inside your coach it is suggested that you ventilate as much hot air as you can before turning on the air conditioner. Each pass of air through the AC coils only lowers the temperature about 20 degrees, so 130 in is 110 out. We get calls saying that the air coming out of the cool side of the vent is too hot, but it could be a normal condition.

Condenser coils on the roof should be cleaned periodically to eliminate build-up of sand, dirt and leaves. Make sure the fins are not bent which restricts cooling air flow. See your owner’s manual for details. If your air conditioner still does not operate properly you may want to bring your RV in to our service department for a check out.

Happy RV’ing, 
Vegas Trailer Supply

PS I use words like “qualified” and “licensed” because over the years I have seen work by those who call themselves “electricians” and in at least two cases their work could have caused death.

Closeout stuff on Craig's List

Rich is putting everything imaginable on Craig's List. He's going through the dark canyons of Vegas Trailer Supply and blowing out a whole bunch of stuff. I think he is updating 15 or 20 postings every day.

For Example: All of our high quality EAZ_LIFT Receiver Hitches are blowing out of the store for $75 each! Some of these sold for $230 each back in the day.

Check out the Las Vegas Craig's List for the latest and greatest in our Deals!

MobileRVing MOBILE APP Released for RVs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 28, 2012

'MobileRVing' MOBILE APP POWERED BY SOUTHEAST PUBLICATIONS
LAUNCHES FOR IPHONE AND IPAD

Traveling across the United States and Canada just got a whole lot easier for Apple IPhone and IPad Users

TAMARAC, FL. - Southeast Publications, the leader in guest guide production for RV Resorts, Campgrounds, Marinas and other Recreational facilities has now launched their very own Mobile App to assist RV'ers traveling across the US and Canada to locate nearby campsites. Last month, Southeast Publications successfully launched the MobileRVing Mobile App to the Android Market and received great reviews.

"Southeast Publications has always been among the leaders in new technology and marketing concepts for various types of travel and hospitality establishments including RV Parks and Campgrounds throughout the US and Canada," says Wally Warrick, President of Southeast Publications. "Our current search engine site, MobileRVing.com has been helping RV'ers for years find the right place to stay and things to do in the area."

The MobileRVing Mobile App provides users with the ability to search nearby RV Resorts and Campgrounds by Name, State or Zip Code radius or simply locate the nearest park. Travelers can utilize the MobileRVing Mobile App to view detailed park information and amenities, view the parks guest guide to help pick out your spot, view the mobile guide to view and locate nearby participating businesses such and local restaurants and attractions, bookmark your favorite campsites, and access "direct connect" contact information to make your reservation by contacting the park at the touch of a button. The MobileRVing Mobile App also features GPS Navigation/Mapping to guide you directly to your destination.

MobileRVing Mobile App is free and available for download on the App Store for IPhone & IPad and Google Play for Andriod users.

Android Download Location:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phonegap.mobilerving&hl=en

Apple Download Locations:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/mobile-rving/id511687015?mt=8

Have Fun!

Part-Time RV Parts Sales & Service Technician

We have immediate openings for Part-time RV Parts Sales Associate and a Part-time Service Technician. Both Positions can work into a full-time position within 4 to 6 weeks for the right person.

Your Employment Application is your Resume. Please drop off (or send) your Resume to Vegas Trailer Supply, 3076 E Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89104.

To be accepted you must have experience. Pay is based on your experience. Great opportunity for the right person.

Have a great day!

Free Shipping on Low Voltage LED Light Bulbs

RVingEssentials.com has temporarily initiated Free shipping and no handling charge on their popular low voltage LED Light Bulb replacements. These things are moving like hot cakes at a JCC July 4th Breakfast.

You can find these 12 VDC LED bulbs at RVingEssentials.com. They say that there will be many more bulbs online in the future so check back in a week or two.

The online store is great for our out of town friends, but all of these bulbs and more can be found at Vegas Trailer Supply on Fremont Street.

These are great for RV's, Travel Trailers, Homes off the grid using 12 volts, back yard systems and emergency preparedness systems.

Speaking of small emergency solar systems...we are working on a limited supply of home-made systems at a very low cost. As soon as we get the products I will publish it on this blog.

Have a great day!

Visit Solar For Emergencies

Quite often I post a comment on Solar for Emergencies and do not think to put the note here. There has been a lot of talk about the new low voltage LED technology lately and if you are trying to save your battery power you will want to try them out. We have a new display at the rear of our store that you will want to see.

In the mean-time, check out Solar for Emergencies blog for some related posts.

Happy RVing!

PS A new RV parts website seems promising: RVing Essentials.

New LED Low Voltage Light Bulbs

Over the last decade LED light bulbs have had much to be desired when it comes to quality of light. Until recently the nice warm white color of an incandescent bulb for general lighting has not been technically possible. We’ve all seen the blue/purple tint of so-called white bulbs over the years. Until recently, LED bulbs have been perfect for low energy use stop lights and signal lights but they have not been good for general lighting in a house, cabin or RV.

This should be front page news!
That day of bad LED lighting is gone. The new generation of “wafer technology” produces a very pleasant “incandescent like” warm white light drawing about 1/7th the power. This should be front page news but soon everyone will catch on.

The other problem has been cost. A few years ago a low voltage light bulb that produced an eerie bluish-purple light could cost anywhere between $40 to $120 dollars each. Now the cost for a great low voltage bulb runs about $10 to $20 each. Of course, as their popularity grows and they become more common place, the prices will get much lower. Because of the cost many of our customers who rely on battery power when using a recreational vehicle (motor home or travel trailer) are replacing their most used incandescent light bulbs with the new LED bulbs. To save money they plan on replacing their less frequently used incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs as the price drops. Lighting uses a lot of battery power and the “writing on the wall” tells us that LED bulbs will be the standard in the future, both for 120 VAC at home and low voltage bulbs using battery power.


Vegas Trailer Supply carries a wide selection of Low Voltage/Low Wattage bulbs in three distinct white colors – Cool White, Natural White and Warm White. Most are for 12 VDC use but we are told that the 8-30 volt bulbs can be put on a dimmer.

Cool White: This bulb is a bright white bulb with a slight bluish tint to it. Its “color temperature” range is between 6000 - 6500K (K = Kelvin). It has a little more blue color than a cool white (CW) fluorescent tube.

Natural White: This is almost the same color temperature as a cool white fluorescent bulb (4100K) with a rating of 4000 to 4500K. It is a pleasant white that will do for almost any general lighting needs. One brand of LED light bulbs call this color Cool White but the part number has “NW” in it signifying Natural White.

Warm White: This is the color of typical 12 volt DC incandescent bulbs. It gives out a warm white light with a hint of yellow or light tan color. Its temperature range is 3000 to 3500K. This will be the most popular color sold because this is the color most of us are used to.


To replace a bulb, simply note the type of bulb or socket the bulb requires. The most common incandescent bulb is an 1141 bulb and we have several types of bulbs that will replace this single contact socket bulb. Other bulbs have two contact sockets, wedge base, festoon (glass fuse type) or two wire pins. One very popular bulb uses a socket connected to a wire so the flat panel bulb can lay directly on the plastic diffuser of a ceiling light. There is no heat with LED bulbs so this is a great lighting option. Others bulbs have a kit with multiple types of socket connections in the package.

We have a tester near the parts desk at Vegas Trailer Supply so you can see for yourself the color, brightness and amp draw of each type of bulb compared to an incandescent.

Happy illuminating!

LED Low Voltage Light Bulbs are Finally Warm White!

For nearly ten years I have been testing LED bulbs for low voltage systems as well as 120 VAC for household use. I have never been real happy with these bulbs for general lighting, until now!

A few weeks ago I took home a package of small 12 volt wedge bulbs. I have several LED bulbs in my outdoor pagoda that is hooked up to my small solar system. Wow, was I impressed! These bulbs were bright enough for general lighting and the color is warm like an incandescent bulb.

In the past the bulbs have always had a blue or light purple hue. You know what I mean. Even the recent bulbs I bought from Sam's Club for the house has a bright white light with a slight blue tint. It has been getting better as technology improves, but I have never been totally happy. Of course the cost has been coming down too, so we can all save more electricity as we gradually replace our energy guzzling incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs. If they last half as long as the manufacture claims then the higher cost will be worth it.

I was soo impressed that our store (Vegas Trailer Supply) is carrying a complete line of them. It looks like the retail cost will be about $10 - $20 bucks a bulb, but that is way lower than the $30 - $60 a few years ago. I expect them to go down in price as they become more popular.

The bulb I tested was the wedge base bulb called the T10 - Warm white - 12v - 1.2 watt - 100 lumens - Labeled "Green Long Life" made by Ming's Mark Inc. in China. There was no warning about touching the small yellow wafers on the bulb so I used a soft cloth when handling the bulb so no fingerprints (oil) got on the bulb surface. I figured that it wouldn't hurt to be safe.

I am going to recommend this line to all of my RV and Solar friends who want so save their battery power. We are also carrying another line called "Next Wave LED" and they test just as well. These bulbs draw 1/7th the electricity as a regular incandescent so they are perfect for the RV'r living off 12 VDC and those with solar power for their cabins or homes off the grid.

Finally, a low energy LED bulb that works for general lighting! I will publish more in the near future as these bulbs are fantastic. We are actually having trouble keeping some of them in stock as they are becoming very popular. Stop in to Vegas Trailer Supply and check out the working display to see the light output and color of these fantastic low voltage light bulbs.

It's a good day.

Part-time Position at RV Parts Store in Las Vegas

Vegas Trailer Supply has an immediate part-time opening for an experienced RV parts & accessories sales person. The applicant needs to have a minimum one year experience selling RV parts and accessories at an RV parts store or dealership. Those with low voltage electrical and RV plumbing experience who own or live in an RV (or travel trailer) will be considered.

Pay is based on experience. This part-time opportunity could work into a full-time position for the right person.

Benefits are available after 90 days of full-time work. They include ½ of employee’s health care premium (including eye glasses and dental), 4 - 6 hour sick days per year, one week (5 - 8 hour days) paid vacation after one year full-time employment, 6 paid holidays per year.

Your resume is your initial application. We will contact you for further interviews and applications as needed. Please do not send your resume if you do not have the minimum one year experience selling RV parts & accessories or the equivalent RV knowledge.

Please send resume to: Manager, Vegas Trailer Supply, 3076 E Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89104. You may also bring in your resume to our store on Boulder Highway or email it to: jobs@vegastrailer.com. Emails will not be answered unless we choose to set up an interview with you.

Part-time Ecommerce Web Assistant

A part-time job opportunity for a web development college student is available at Vegas Trailer Supply.

We are an RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parts and Accessories supply store. We have been in business since 1954 supplying Southern Nevada residents and visitors with parts and service for their motor-homes and travel trailers. We specialize in solar products for RV’s and cabins as well as things like Lodge cast-iron cookware, RV appliances and accessories, hardware, electrical and plumbing supplies.

We are creating an online store with a template package to start and anticipate moving to a more custom web site. Applicants should have a basic knowledge (or can learn fast) of online merchant clearing house set-up, shipping module set up, basic product data entry, domain hosting & transfer, then later we anticipate a need for basic HTML programming including CSS functions. Additional experience in paypal and ebay procedures a plus.

Our current web site is http://vegastrailer.com but the online store would be hosted on another domain. We will start the online store with the godaddy.com templates and import the data files to a more powerful e-commerce program at a later date. Much of the data will be available in an excel or comma-delimited file so the applicant can help with importing/exporting data or website design functions at their home location after setup is complete.

This job has extremely flexible hours with a minimum of 10 hours per week to start. We can work around your schedule. Hours can be lengthened or shortened according to your changing schedule.

A resume would help for your initial application.

Contact:

Michael Little, Store Manager

Vegas Trailer Supply
3076 E Fremont Street
Las Vegas, NV 89104

702 457-4265