Lighted inspection mirrior is a handy RV tool

Do you remember the spy tubes that allowed you to look around corners? I loved these gadgets when I was a kid. If I remember correctly, I saved tops off of cerial boxes to get one. Spy tubes had two mirrors aligned at right angles allowing you "peek" around corners.

Until now, I've borrowed Mrs. Professor's hand held beauty mirror if I needed to inspect something mechanical. I was always careful to wipe the grease off before returning it to woman land.

I don't have to borrow her mirror anymore since my good friends at Coil n' Wrap hooked me up with this solar powered inspection mirror with LED light.When it came in the mail, I couldn't resist using it like my old spy tube. Since it's on a flexible shaft you can twist or contort it to any position.It excels at inspecting tight places under the hood.
My absolute favorite use is for checking fluid levels in my RV batteries. The LED light is perfect for this job!The unit is solar powered and doesn't require batteries. It will charge itself using sunlight or indoor lighting. When you store it in a dark place (like your toolbox) it only looses 2% power per month, so even after being stowed away for a year it will perform flawlessly when you need it.

There are numerous uses around the house and RV for this inspection light. You will find more information and other bright ideas by visiting Coil n' Wrap. Jim Twamley - Professor of RVing

How gross is your RV fresh water tank?

RV fresh water tanks can be bacteria heaven. If you leave water in your tank for several months without cleaning it out, you may be conducting an aquaculture experiment. Green yucky stuff can overtake your on-board water system, clogging your pump and exposing you and your family to sickness. Here is an example of a contaminated water pump diaphragm. Another problem is the quality of water you put into your tank. We travel all over the country and see a wide variety of water quality at different RV parks. I usually run the water and look at it before I hook it up to the RV. I've actually seen rust, pebbles and all sorts of debris come out of standard RV park faucets. It usually clears after a minute of running, but it sure makes you wonder!

So how will you know if the water in your tank is contaminated? You need a WaterCheck Test Kit sold by Coil n' Wrap. This screening tool will detect the presence of E.coli and is easy to use.

The kit is a divided bag containing the testing agent in the bottom compartment.Turn off the shore water and flip on the switch to the water pump. I used the outside shower, letting it run for a while ensuring all the shore water washed through the system.
Fill the bag to the level indicated by a dotted line.
Remove the dividing clip after the proper amount of water is in the bag.
Mix the contents into the bag and let it stand at room temperature for two days. The principle at work is the ability of coliform bacteria to utilize specialized nutrients and reagents to form a distinctive blue-green color.
After the allotted time and with much anticipation, I checked it.The yellow color indicates no coliform bacteria detected. Had it turned blue-green I would know I had a problem.

So how should you go about cleaning your RV's fresh water tank?

In the archives is an article I wrote called, "Sanitize your RV fresh water tank before it's too late" which outlines the procedure.
Remember, you can purchase WaterCheck Test Kits from the good folks at Coil n' Wrap.

Bacteria are not the only cause for concern when it comes to water. You also need a test for detecting the presence of harmful stuff like asbestos, lead, mercury, arsenic and cyanide. For this you will need the "Digital Water Purity Tester" available at WalMart in the RV section for under $12.00.
This small digital instrument is reusable and works in hot or cold water. Carry it with you anywhere and check your water as often as you like. It runs on two watch batteries and comes with an extra set.

You simply turn it on and submerge it into a container of water for a few seconds and then push the "read" button. The digital readout is back lit and easy to see. The lower the number the better the water. The tester has a scale on the back to assist you in gauging the quality of the water sample. It turns out the sample I tested from my RV faucet was in an acceptable range. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Installing power visors

Last winter I visited the "Arizona Marketplace" in Yuma. It's a good size swap meet/flea market and a favorite snowbird hangout, as there are many vendors specializing in RV-related items.

While I was ambling down the aisles of tables festooned with tools, tube socks and Tupperware, I happened upon a vendor who specialized in RV awnings. They were having a sale on motorized visors/shades manufactured by Carefree of Colorado.

I'd been wanting to get some of these as I was frustrated with the lousy visors that came with my motorhome. We're not usually traveling when the sun is in our eyes, but sometimes it happens and when it does, a nice set of visors comes in handy.The motorized visors are easy to install and I purchased the remote control so I could mount the switch wherever I wanted. I placed it on the steering wheel for ease of use. The remote is radio frequency controlled so it can be installed behind a cabinet. I put the control module behind the television cabinet. The control module is the small black box with wires coming out of it in the center of the photo below.The visors will fully extend from overhead to the dash. This feature comes in handy when you are parked facing the sun, like at a rest stop. I installed two visors, end to end, to allow for full coverage of my windshield and one remote operates each side independently.I removed the TV for access to the overhead cabinetry. I drilled a hole, allowing the wire from the shade/visor to be routed to an existing 12 volt power source.I needed to relocate the dash fans, so I moved them back about three inches. Some RVers like to mount these visors/shades with an overlap, giving them more complete shade and privacy. If you choose this mounting configuration make sure you have enough room on the overhead. You can find this product online at the Carefree of Colorado website. Jim Twamley - Professor of RVing