Otis24's Otisbound Outdoors Bodonkadonk Supercharged Twin Locked Micro Camper Build (OOBSTLMC)

The issue with my dcdc / solar controller was resolved this week.

The CTEK failed again. The fuse I installed didn't blow again but I could not get the controller to work.
After going back and forth with CTEK for several days via email trying to narrow down what's wrong they finally threw in the towel and say they don't know what it could be. I won't go into details about the process that led to them saying that but I can say I spent a solid 10 hours of effort on the thing.

This is the board. You can see the 30amp fuses in the upper right and lower left corners. They're soldered into the board.



This is the blown fuse.
It is not easily replaceable.



This is my inline fuse I soldered it to the board. I tried buring out the holes where the fuse blades went but I was afraid I would cause more damage.


After they said they have no clue what it could be they offered to send me a refurbished unit as long as I agreed to pay for return shipping.
I said sure. It was waiting for me when I got back from Kentucky so I installed it.
It worked fine...all weekend.

So, Monday morning I packed it up in the box it came it. They asked me to send my broken one so they could see where it failed. So, I sent that one back in the same box.

I wonder what they'll say about my inline fuse I soldered in there to replace the one that comes with it that's soldered directly to the board.



Shortly before I shipped my charge controller back I installed this:

It's pretty nice.

Edit:
I do have to say CTEK's customer service was solid. The guy I was emailing to was fantastic.
The issue is the product. It failed after two and a half years. For the cost it should last longer.
And the Redarc has a three year warranty.

From the sound of their other products like chargers are excellent. It's their dcdc/solar controllers could be better.

 

I have been looking at the Redarc and the Renogy, still trying to narrow it down.

 

I just went straight to redarc based on the brainwashing I’ve been exposed to from watching Australian off roading and camping YouTube channels like Ronny Dahl, 4X Overland and 4WD Action.

 

I've drank a little Aussie kool-aid myself

 

IMG_6667 by Cory Bechtold, on Flickr

 

That was super fun! Thanks for the invite!

 

Thank you for the company! Definitely a fun trip!

 

Last trip from a few weeks ago-

https://www.instagram.com/p/CS8JOS4nO_d/

 

Upgraded the fuses on the batteries.

Starter
I forgot to take pics of the camper battery set up.

 

I really should do this for my system. Thank you for the insight.

 

I took the motorcycle camping this weekend. I rode about 575 miles on super fun twisty mountain roads. The best part was the bike got 55 mpg so I spent about $45 for the trip on gas. If I’d taken my truck it would have been more like $200.

 

Sizzle

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUbEv3urqrU/

 

Camping last weekend

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CW18YE4F1VS/

 

Oh upgraded my sewing machine. My other smaller machine won’t sew through super thick material. This one should have no issues. It has a dial on top to control speed. You can see here it running on low. You can get it to run crazy slow with very little effort.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9nERypMDw/

 

Set up a nice work space for sewing on a table tennis table. It’s pretty big but a little flimsy. It should work for sewing.
This room has no lights, heat or AC. I’m going to get some lights I can hang from the ceiling.

 

I really like this Bedourie spun steel dutch oven from Australia. I’ve had the 12 inch on the left for a while. It’s too big so I got the 10 inch as well.

 

Did some sewing and glueing

 

Oh man! I’d so love to have this on my truck!
https://youtu.be/DAGTagzq3zA

 

I made my own spare tire trash bag.

 

Very nice