PICTURES!!! Of my battery compartment and water tanks.

[Chaz]

p.s. By the way, this is a before shot:

That was the tank that was in it when I got the bus. I took everything out of that bay. That is where the new tanks are. I'm planning on using that bay for, um, other liquids.    I had the local propane co. transfer the propane from that tank into my fork lift tanks. I just gave them the tank for doing that. They liked that!!!!!!

  Chaz

[wvanative]

Chaz, I never got to thank you for the tour of your bus, you have a beautiful old girl there, and it was a treat for my son Ryan, and I to get to see her. It was also nice to meet you at Metalmeet in Oblong, IL. We both plan on being there all week next year. It's good to see you getting more things done on the old girl. Ryan just loves the old buses, he said he wants to get and old buffalo when he gets his own bus. Thanks for the pictures, nice work.

Dean
WVaNative 

[Chaz]

You're most welcome Dean.

   Chaz

[Hi yo silver]

Chaz,
Teaching 8th graders!??  No wonder you're stressed!! (Now, where is that dang lightning symbol on this keyboard...?)
Dennis

[Green-Hornet]

Nice bus-porn Chaz! It satisfied my fetish! Luv da pics!
Always nice to actually see how someone else puts something together. Lots of good ideas.

[JohnEd]

Guys,

This use of dielectric/silicone grease was "cutting" edge info back in the early 80's when I ran into it at South West Reasearch Institute.  I haven't ever seen any other mention of that application in 20 years.  Well, I have lead a sheltered life.  I mentioned this stuff to a friend that runs a Metal Fab and Trailer Hitch business here in Eugene.  He smiled and flipped me a tube of stuff called "Dielectric Grease for trailer light fittings".  Well, gollllll lee.  He said the stuff has been around for ten years at least so I guess industry was quick on the uptake.  Those fittings are outside and carode up pretty fast, depending.

The first use I saw was in tronics and i measured the improvement with a Fluke Micro ohm meter.  Inside it has a very good improvement that you probably won't see initially.  I have replaced two ford connectors that "melted at the connector contact" and I am certain thatthis grease would have prevented this failure otr at least increased the service life of the parts.

Visited a friend that runs a alt and starter rebuilding shop.  Talked about "that grease" with him.  He pulled out a Delco catalog and in it was a part number for "Dielectric grease" that the discription said improved the connection by lowering resistance and also prevented corrosion of the terminals.  Was it only me that missed this stuff becomming common?  Enuf guys challanged it that it must have been news to some.  My 93 Lexus has a thicker version squirted into all the exterior light sockets I learned recently.  Stock, now.  And those connectors all have an "O" ring seal.

Any low voltage circuit that carries a lot of current will generate a lot of heat from only a small resistance.  There aren't a lot of circuits in a bus that carry 200 amps but your charging and battery circuit are one.  1 ohm at 24 volts carrying 200 amps is ??.   That is a lot of heat for a little terminal to disapate.

All done!

John