RV Product Clarification
The price of the Grab-It Universal Mount, featured on page 38 of the November 2014 “RV Products” column, is $10 plus $6.99 shipping and handling. At press time, a second Grab-It, plus a portable electronic-device charger, could be purchased for an additional $6.99. For more information: (800) 996-0142; www.mygrabit.com.
FMCA Members, “FMCAssist” Bring Care During Crisis
Dear Editor:
On October 5, 2014, we had just completed a very successful South Central Area “Six-State” Rally in Shreveport, Louisiana, and FMCA members who attended were packing up and departing the state fairgrounds there. Clarence and Mary Lacy, F411384, had just started to drive out of the fairgrounds when Clarence felt some pain and pulled the coach to the side of the parking lot. He asked Mary for some indigestion meds, and upon returning with them, Mary saw he was unconscious.
In the next few moments, fellow FMCA members converged at the motorhome to offer help. An ambulance arrived very quickly. Many FMCA families began assisting and taking care of every detail. Among them were Jim McCabe, national vice president, South Central Area, and Six-State Rally master Rod Sartwell. As one of FMCA’s chaplains, and chaplain of the South Central Area, I was there as well. We followed Mary to the hospital. Other rally-goers made sure the Lacys’ motorhome was safely parked, and the towed car was disconnected and driven by a police officer to the hospital.
The next hour was very tense in the hospital waiting room. When the doctor came in and shared the tragic news that Clarence had not survived, we were there to represent every member of FMCA and assure Mary of our love, support, and prayers. We told her that she did not have to worry about the car, motorhome, etc., because her FMCA family would assist in every way possible.
While in the waiting room, the police sergeant with us said that in all her years of service, she had not witnessed such strong support during such a tragic event as she had seen from our FMCA family.
We helped Mary notify family members and others she felt needed to know of Clarence’s death. Mary expressed appreciation for the depth of support that she experienced. We told her about services available from FMCA’s recently reinstated FMCAssist program, which provided help in transporting her husband home to Texas and in getting the motorhome back home, as well as other details.
Linda Sell, president of the Pelican Travelers chapter in Shreveport, soon arrived at the hospital and invited Mary to come to her home while she waited for her son’s arrival, and also assisted with other details.
Our sympathy goes out to Mary Lacy and all of Clarence’s family and friends. We also want to thank FMCA for providing FMCAssist for just such a time as this. All FMCA families should become familiar with this valuable benefit and keep the FMCAssist card or phone number handy in case it is needed.
George F. Archer, F288074
Livingston, Texas
Magazine Joy
Dear Editor:
I just got the November 2014 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine. It was very informative, with great content. I even found an idea for my wife’s Christmas gift.
I enjoy the repair and maintenance articles, and we both enjoy coverage of places of interest, especially those in the western United States. Both of us are transplanted Easterners now living in the Southwest, so we are just getting out to see the expansive beauty of the West.
Keep up the great work.
Larry E. Hassard, F427988
Oro Valley, Arizona
Availability Of 240 Volts
Dear Editor:
In the November 2014 issue of FMC, Bill Hendrix writes in the “Power In A Pinch” article (page 48) that it’s possible to “back feed” 240-volt electricity from the RV onboard generator to a home in order to power well pumps or other equipment that requires 240-volt electricity. I believe this information is incorrect; only 110-volt power can be supplied.
In the past 25 years, we have built two homes designed to run certain circuits with the RV generator, using Onan 4-kilowatt (gas) and 7.5-kilowatt (diesel) generators during power outages. (Onan, of course, provides most RV generators.)
Both local Onan-certified mechanics and the Onan customer service department have agreed that since the early 1990s, Onan generator redesign has made it unreasonable to provide both 110-volt and 240-volt power, since the generators develop low voltage and then step it up to 110 volts. To provide 240 volts, the generator would need to be reconfigured, and then it would no longer provide 110 volts.
If we’ve been advised incorrectly, a link to the correct information would be appreciated.
Steve Zakaluk, F319973
Peyton, Colorado
Bill Hendrix responds: Any generator that can provide two legs of 120 volts in opposite phase can pair the two legs to provide 240 volts. If the generator has only one leg of 120 volts, as is the case with smaller generators, it cannot provide 240 volts. As suggested in the article, readers who have a situation that requires 240 volts should contact an electrician.
A Mouse Story
Dear Editor:
I found the article about keeping mice at bay and out of the motorhome very interesting (“Winning The Mouse War,” November 2014, page 78). However, with all the precautions regarding mice entering the coach and eating one’s food, the article also needed a warning regarding exterior bays.
Last year we were traveling to Yellowstone National Park, and on the way we planned a stop at Mount Rushmore. Our overnight stay was at a very nice RV park in Mitchell, South Dakota, and just a short drive to our next stop. The morning we were leaving, I started the generator so that I could have the air conditioner running while we were on the way. Each time I turned on the generator, it cut out. I know no reason for this, because we had been using it steadily since we left Florida a month before.
Unfortunately, the closest Cummins repair location was back in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We called and were lucky to get an appointment, so back we went, 70 miles. As soon as the mechanic tried to start the generator, he thought that it sounded like a short in the wiring. Sure enough, when he took off the generator panel, all the harness insulation had been eaten away by mice. Evidently we picked up some field mice who feasted on our generator’s wiring. We needed a new harness, but since we would have to sit for more than a week until it arrived, the mechanic taped everything so the wires would not short out again. When we got back to Florida, we could then order a new harness.
The moral of this story is not to worry only about the interior of the coach, but check all wiring insulation in and around the coach. These little critters will make a meal out of anything available.
Jim Stoodley, F389890
Hollywood, Florida