I’m back with an update on our boat’s off-grid solar charging setup for 2026. It’s always evolving, and this year I’m running two MPPT controllers: a 50-amp SRNE DC-DC Charger with MPPT that I’m using purely as a solar charger, and a BougeRV 60-amp solar controller. A pair of 195-watt Shadow Flux panels on the flybridge rails are … Read more
Over the years, I’ve had requests to do a video series showing the installation of a typical boondocking system from start to finish. Something a little more basic than the complex systems I usually show. In this first video of a multi-part series, I begin a fresh installation of a Renogy-based off-grid power system for … Read more
We enjoy summers exploring the gorgeous BC coast aboard our 34′ CHB trawler-style liveaboard boat, often in remote areas without many services. To stay out for weeks, I rely on my boat’s 1200W solar power array, 940 amp-hour battery capacity, and the boat’s ample food storage. But water management is key. The trawler has two … Read more
I’m back with another product review—this time, it’s a fan from Titan, a company out of Taiwan. I’ve been using their fans to keep my RV fridge running efficiently by cooling the outside enclosure, and they’ve worked great. Last winter, I installed one of their rack-mount cross-flow blower fans, which did the job despite a … Read more
When we bought our CHB trawler “Vestri” in June 2023, its off-grid power system was relatively limited. It consisted of two 100W solar panels, a 15 amp solar charger, and 4 Trojan 6V batteries. Good enough for some boaters, but we are heavy power users, having been spoiled by our extensive off-grid system in our … Read more
Updates on our 2023 February snowbird trip journeys and camping locations. We finished our 14-day camping limit on BLM land near Ajo, Arizona, then moved back west to camp across the street from the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. After about ten days, we headed to Death Valley National Park with stopovers at the Salton Sea … Read more
In this video, an update from our Snowbird trip this January. For those who missed my previous updates, I’ll link them at the end of this post. The video includes photos and video footage, including the BLM campsite, the drive-through Organ Pipe, and much more. I hope you enjoy the pictures and the trip update. … Read more
This video looks at a new battery charging product offering from SRNE model MD1250N05. It’s a two-in-one DC-DC Charger plus MPPT solar controller putting out 50 amps of battery charge power. This enables you to charge the RV house battery bank via solar panels or the vehicle’s alternator using just one device. I first review … Read more
One of the most common questions I get online is “How do you find those gorgeous southwest desert boondocking locations you visit?” I wish there were a simple answer, but the fact of the matter is it takes a fair bit of research. There isn’t one all-encompassing site or database to send folks to. Since … Read more
Video showing where we camped in December 2022 with information about each place. Our travels continue deeper into the southwest desert, from the Dove Springs OHV area to Mojave, the Salton Sea State Park, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Saddle Mountain BLM, then down to the Ajo region of southern Arizona. For more information on each … Read more
The SimPure Y7P is a countertop water filter purifying system utilizing reverse-osmosis and UV to make good-tasting safe water for drinking and cooking. In this video, I go over the specs and features, demo it in action and open the covers to have a look at the inner workings. Overall the build quality looks good, … Read more
In this video, I review an Ampere Time 200Ah 12V lithium battery with self-heating capability. Low temperature charging down to -4F/-18C. I also test out one of their 20-amp lithium battery chargers. Overall I found the battery to be pretty well built and performed well, given the comparatively low cost. See my Pros & Cons … Read more
I needed a high-wattage inverter to help with my lithium battery reviews, but I didn’t want to spend too much money. The Motomaster Eliminator 3000W looked to fill the bill. I bought it at Canadian Tire during a summer sale for $511 (The regular price is $639). Specs were decent enough and came with a … Read more
As I was heading back north this spring, I stopped off for a visit to the Lion Energy headquarters in American Fork Utah to meet the team and check out their operation. While I was there they were in the process of expanding the warehouse. Their business appears to be growing by leaps and bounds! … Read more
Last spring, I reviewed a couple of items from an online seller called BougeRV. I had a look at their 170W solar panels and AC/DC portable fridge freezer. Though both are not the best quality out there, they weren’t too bad considering the price. Since then, the company has been asking me to review something … Read more