Category Archives: Pippi Peterson

Mark Snyder: Lithium Battery Safety & What Kills Inverters and Batteries

SHORT BIO:
Mark Snyder, owner of Mark Snyder Electric is an independent solar and off grid system designer and installer. He’s consulted with DreamWorks, the International Space Station, NASA, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory amongst others. In 1998 he was selected by the Clinton Administration to serve on a White House Council to address the Y2K conversion.

Mark is committed to the creation of a sustainable future and has been recognized worldwide as an expert on evolving alternative energy technologies and applications. He’s a Master Electrician, Forensic Electrical Specialist, Inventor, and Officer in a publicly listed Energy company. Mark Snyder has been working in sustainable construction and green energy development for 44 years and living off grid for close to three decades.

FULL BIO: Link to Mark’s full biography and background.

Mark Snyder has written a white paper entitled What Kills Inverters and Batteries in Mobile and Off Grid Applications. It can be read and downloaded here. This depth and understanding of renewable energy storage and solar set ups is rare to find. I highly recommend this paper and reading material.

DIY RV Space Saving Cubby

If you’ve spent any time living or travelling in an RV or tiny home you know how important it is to save space and keep organization tidy. Follow the steps in the video below to craft your own custom DIY RV space saving cubby. You can use the stencil I’ve created and used for my project by downloading the pattern here.

Here are a few more related links that may be useful:

How to Install Grommets
Order Your Grommet Kit
How I Organized My Fifth Wheel Bay

How to Hitch a Fifth Wheel

When I got my fifth wheel it was daunting to hitch up my fifth wheel. Connecting a fifth wheel seemed more ominous and dangerous than just hooking up a travel trailer, horse trailer or even less, my old vehicle dolly to my previous class A RV. It was rightly so to feel that way as there are more serious errors and potential damages if done carelessly.

The previous owners of my fifth wheel gave me a list to keep in mind and I expanded on it. Things to do and think about before leaving and arriving.

Here is the list that you can hopefully use for your pre-travel and arrival checklist with your fifth wheel.

My fifth wheel hitching list

Also, watch this video for a better understanding of how to hitch your fifth wheel:

Indian Yellow Potatoes Inspired by the Bengali dish, Aloo Posto

Potatoes are one of my favorite foods because of its diverse possibilities. They can be fried, mashed, boiled, grilled, made into pancakes and so on; not to mention the variety of types of potatoes available. Trying potato recipes from other cultures is also a fun and delicious way to experience this root vegetable. Continue reading Indian Yellow Potatoes Inspired by the Bengali dish, Aloo Posto

RV Safe, Potent, Ride-or-Die Materials for Cleaning Tanks, Clogged Drains and More

Living in an RV or any small home, any sort of chemical vapors linger around and it’s hard to get away from. So being someone who lives in my RV full time, I’m really keen on using safe chemicals and minerals while reducing not only cost Continue reading RV Safe, Potent, Ride-or-Die Materials for Cleaning Tanks, Clogged Drains and More

RV Solar Basics 3/4: Batteries and Lithium-Ion vs Lead Acid

RV Solar Batteries:

Batteries are kind of like the heart and soul of your solar or renewable energy set up. If you’ve got solar panels, you’re not running off solar power, you’re running off the energy stored in your batteries and your panels just recharge those batteries.

Continue reading RV Solar Basics 3/4: Batteries and Lithium-Ion vs Lead Acid

RV Solar Basics 2/4: Inverters vs Converters and AC/DC Power

RV Basic Electrical Systems

When I first got my RV I was so in the dark about RV electrical systems, converters vs inverters, DC vs AC but after so much DIY work and research it makes a lot more sense. I want to help you understand what the heck all these things are and how they all go together differently and the purposes for each. Be sure to learn more about the basics of RV solar regarding panels and charge controllers in this affiliated post, part 1 of 4. Continue reading RV Solar Basics 2/4: Inverters vs Converters and AC/DC Power