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Yearly Archive April 2, 2017

fighting mold

5 WAYS to FIGHT Mold

5 Ways to Fight Mold on the road

1. Keeps the windows rolled up at night to keep moisture from entering the vehicle. This is if you are not in the vehicle. If you living in the vehicle then you will need a fan to circulate the air.

2. Allow the sun to shine in your vehicle. The sun will kill mold. It will also prevent it from spreading rapidly. However, it will not eliminate it completely.

3. Keep your vehicle clean. If you spill something, clean it vacuum and shampoo carpet. If you have a mattress flip it.

4. There is a product called Damprid that absorbs moisture in dark places. It is nontoxic. Always verify.

5. If you have a leak, fix it immediately. If you find mold, you need to air out your vehicle. Do not use your vehicle air-conditioner or heater to do this because it will allow spores to accumulate in your filter system.

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https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm

Vanlife - solar install

Preparing an alternate shelter

Preparing an alternate shelter in case of a natural disaster.

Remember the power outage in the state of Texas.  Many were taken by surprise.  No water, no power, which meant no heat.

Short List

You would do well to have 3 days of water and food.
blankets and a change of clothes.
flashlight and batteries.

This is the short list.

The long list takes more effort.

One thing to consider is wood.  I found a place that provides free wood.  This could heat a house with a fire place.  If not maybe a propane heater.  I remember people not being able to keep warm in the snow.  This website shows how to build your own solar generator which can provide power to run appliances.  These are ideas you can think about and implement.  

Even having a first aid kit with MRE’s is a way to prepare.

A serious prep would be a 2 week of food and water.  Flashlights and batteries.  A go bag with phone numbers and medicine and a few days clothes.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

below is a link to simple blankets and farther below are additional blankets for camping. 

https://amzn.to/2UThu4a
@vantasticodyssey.com

Solar Install on Honda Odyssey vantasticodyssey.com #solarinstall #solarpanel #vanlife #randomthings

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  • Hilipert KF94 Mask
    Hilipert KF94 Fish Type Face Mask Questions? Is your mask comfortable? Do you have an upgraded mask? Staying safe is an issue we all face. I came across this mask by accident. I didn’t even know its worth. I just knew, it was more comfortable than my former masks. It turns out the Hilipert KF94… Read more: Hilipert KF94 Mask
  • Lithium Battery price drop
    Lithium Battery price drop.  I have added another link for the next seller until this item is restocked, This seller is AMAZON’s choice with 5 year warranty. Link at bottom of page I keep seeing prices drop for lithium batteries. This is a new low price for a LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery at 100-amp hours with… Read more: Lithium Battery price drop
  • Portable Gas Generator BAN
    Portable Gas Generator Ban has passed in California. Will it be illegal to run your portable generator at a campsite? Will you be able to own a portable generator at your place of residence?  The California Air Resource Board (CARB) was considering a regulation to ban small off-road engines, which included portable gas generators used… Read more: Portable Gas Generator BAN
  • Harmony Borax Works
    The Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail is located in Death Valley.  At its full operation three tons of borax was produced per day.  The Harmony Borax works employed 40 men.  To transfer all this borax required a 20-mule team.  The operation became famous because of the large mule teams and double wagons.
  • Furnace Creek Visitor Center
    Furnace Creek Visitor Center features small museum and small bookstore.  You can speak to rangers, pay park fees, or buy a yearly national park pass.  Some exhibits include short films about Death Valley.  There is a large 3D display map showing where all the popular sites and attractions are located.  You can verify weather conditions… Read more: Furnace Creek Visitor Center
MT-5 Meter for Tracer

MT-5 meter, or new MT-50 meter

The MT-5 meter is a LCD used for the Tracer solar controller.  It helps to have one in order to adjust the settings.  You can adjust yours settings without it, however it is cumbersome.  The MT-5 or MT-50 lets you adjust AMP Hours (AH) for your batteries so you get the proper charge.  It displays the amount of volts and amps the solar panels are generating and the charge of the battery. It serves as a monitoring system read-out. Please watch this tutorial video below.

Key Features
 Large backlit LCD display
 Compatible with multiple Commander Series (20A/40A) and ViewStar Series
(10A/20A/30A) charge controllers
 Real-time monitoring and graphical display
 Customizable parameters for charge control and load control

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

https://www.vantasticodyssey.com/staging/3055/angels-landing-hike-in-zion-national-park/
Camping in Trona

Off-Grid Prepared

Are you off-grid prepared? Seriously, if a natural disaster occurred, do you have 3 days of food or are you ready to possibly live in your vehicle? This website is my project. Watch my mistakes or successes in building an off-grid vehicle.  My selection after my exhaustive search is a 2002 Honda Odyssey. Check out project steps for everything needed to install solar panels on an any vehicle. Solar panels charge the battery system, so I can run a refrigerator, lights, and charge any devices. I also use my van as a camper to test everything in a real life off-grid scenario. 

Even though you should have 3 days of food.  Really you should have 2-weeks of food and water.

Home » Archives for 2017 » Page 2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-the-grid

I refer to other sources that can help you plan for disaster recovery and off-grid preparedness Disaster Relief Best Practices (benevity.com)