ANOTHER BOONDOCKING EXPERIMENT

WITH THE COMING OF SPRING THE SUN HAS BECOME STRONGER AND IT RECHARGES MY WALMART CAR BATTERIES MUCH MORE QUICKLY. I ONLY HAVE ONE VERY SMALL PANEL, AND NO CONTROLLER SO I HAVE TO TEST THE BATTERY OFTEN TO SEE WHEN IT'S FULLY CHARGED. IF THE PANEL IS ON TOO MANY EXTRA DAYS IT WILL BASICALLY COOK THE BATTERY AND RUIN IT.

I HAD A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY AND DECIDED TO TRY A NEW BOONDOCKING EXPERIMENT. MARY WAS OUTSIDE LAYING IN THE ARIZONA SUN SO I HAD THE REQUIRED ADULT SUPERVISION TO RUN MY EXPERIMENT.

I DECIDED TO HOOK UP OUR INDUCTION HOTPLATE TO THE INVERTER AND COOK MY BREAKFAST OF BACON AND EGGS OUTSIDE. I WAS CURIOUS TO SEE HOW MANY WATTS OF POWER THE HOTPLATE WOULD DRAW. WHEN I FIRST TURNED ON THE HOTPLATE IT STARTED TO BEEP AND I KNEW THE HIGH TECH HOTPLATE WASN'T HAPPY, BUT I DECIDED TO FIRST CHECK THE INVERTER TO SEE HOW MUCH POWER I WAS DRAWING OFF THE BATTERY.




WOW !!! I WAS ONLY DRAWING 40 WATTS. THIS IS TOO COOL, I'M GOING TO FRY BREAKFAST USING VERY LITTLE OF THE SOLAR POWER I HAVE STORED UP IN THE BATTERY. I'M BRAGGING TO MARY HOW WELL THE EXPERIMENT IS GOING.

MARY'S BEEN THROUGH THESE BOONDOCKING EXPERIMENTS ALL WINTER, AND HER REPLY WAS, "WHAT IS THAT BEEPING SOUND?" OH THAT'S THE INDUCTION HOTPLATE, IT'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING. "WELL DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD TURN IT OFF AND FIND OUT WHAT IT'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT? BESIDES THAT BEEPING IS DRIVING ME CRAZY."

BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OVER TO MY FRYING BACON THE HOT PLATE HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF. SHIT, THE EXPERIMENT FAILED!! SO PLUGGED THE HOT PLATE INTO THE OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL SOCKET WE ALWAYS USE WHEN COOKING OUTSIDE AND WENT IN TO GET MY EGGS AND STUFF OUT OF THE FRIDGE.

WHEN I CAME BACK OUT, MARY ASKS WHAT IS THAT SMELL? SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING! I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INDUCTION HOTPLATE AND THE SMELL AND SMOKE ARE JUST ROLLING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM.....................

GOD DAMN IT !!! I BURNED UP OUR VERY EXPENSIVE INDUCTION HOT PLATE!!!

WE USE THIS APPLIANCE REGULARLY WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT TO COOK OUTSIDE. THESE CAMPERS HEAT UP LIKE A TIN CAN IN THE SUN, AND COOKING INSIDE JUST ADDS TO THE PROBLEM. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, THE NEXT WEEK WE HAD A HOT SPELL, AND SO WE WERE FORCED TO REPLACE THE MAGNETIC INDUCTION COOKER.