When I’m on the road for months at a time, I often wonder about my house and how it’s faring. Years ago, I reviewed a Wi-Fi temperature monitoring system, but sadly, it’s no longer available. Recently, I began looking for a replacement and started playing with Wi-Fi smart switches and...
Battery Monitor In the May/June 2022 issue of Escapees magazine, I reviewed an inexpensive battery state-of-charge (SoC) meter, the HENGSHAN AiLi Battery Monitor. It has proven to be amazingly dependable and accurate. Available online for under $80, I think it’s the best value out there, and mine has survived in...
Here’s a great way to light your campsite when you’re out in the boonies. There are a number of manufacturers making solar driveway and boat dock lights. They are all similar in design and are used to light paths and walkways. They recharge each day from available sunlight and automatically...
Here is a great little gadget for you motorhome owners: It’s called the Trik-L-Start. Simply put, it maintains your engine starting battery by borrowing power from your RV house battery bank. Many motorhome owners assume that their battery charging system also maintains their engine (or chassis) battery or batteries. In...
This gadget is a do-it-yourself solution to keep the rain off your portable generator. A portable generator is a great option for RVers, as it lets you produce your own electricity at a reasonable cost. It’s great for trailers, as it doesn’t require expensive generator prep or the addition of...
I’ve always wanted to be able to monitor my RV’s house batteries and know their state of charge (SoC). While you can estimate SoC by reading the battery voltage, it’s not accurate. There have been battery monitoring devices available for years, but the high cost, usually several hundred dollars, has...
Wilson Electronics recently launched a new cell booster system designed for RVers who sit tight for long periods of time. Called the “weBoost Destination RV,” the system combines the mobility of an RV cell signal booster kit with the power of a residential cell signal booster. Utilizing the weBoost Home...
I spend approximately half the year in my RV, and half at my home base in Livingston, Texas. I have marginal cell service at home, and often camp in fringe areas when RVing, so I began to look at cell boosters early last year. I wanted something I could use...
As we add more electronic goodies to our RVs, the need for surge protection grows. And it’s not just electrical surges. More power-hungry RVs increasingly challenge the RV park electrical environment, and low park voltage can harm appliances in your RV. Hughes Autoformers recently released the Power Watchdog, a new...
Are you tired of those cell phone and tablet chargers taking up all the electrical outlets in your RV? Check out one of the many new USB chargers that are designed for the auto and boat world. These charge ports are small, easy to install and some even come with...
