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Post by Phoebe on May 24, 2016 21:17:26 GMT 11
There may be more of them on that link but the photos here have more meaning because they come with explanation, so we know what we are looking at.
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 24, 2016 21:27:20 GMT 11
Tue 24. I was please to roll into Balladonia Roadhouse. I had just a few klms to spare. It was overcast, cold and windy all day. It was a 182km leg so I was prepared to run the generator after 100klms. I found a nice rest area, set up and promptly drifted off to sleep. I had left at 5.30am (WA time). To extend my range to use the genny as little as possible, I sat on 40kph. The LEAF did ok but only got 130k (100 + 20GOM) due to a light but persistent headwind, lots of gentle (20m) hills up and down and a gradual overall climb of 35m. I started the genny knowing that there was only a few litres in the tank. I had 10l in a small gerry can (plastic). When the genny coughed to a halt, I checked the GOM and LEAF Spy and figured I might just be able to do the 72klms into Balladonia. And it was drizzling, the wind had come up and it was cold (11dgeC). 30klms out it was obvious that the stronger headwind and yet another 40m rise meant that I wouldn't get there so I pulled into a rest stop with a table under shelter (it was still raining). I set up the genny under the cover, put a couple of liters in and set it running. I am definitely getting more relaxed relying on this fragile piece of machinery. In fact, tomorrow's leg to Norseman is 200klms and I had emailed ahead to Fraser Range Station roadside stop (I had heard it is very nice) about halfway along. I told them what a nice guy I was, that I was doing something interesting, that I only needed a day charge and offered $10 ($1 per kWh) to them for the power or for their favourite charity. I got a very polite email back offering a powered site at their standard $30 overnight fee. I nicely declined (outside my budget) and I will run the genny one more time. However, as backup (still don't trust it 100%), I will stop short of Fraser Range and if I cannot complete a 7 hour charge I can drive in with my tail between my legs and accept their offer. After tomorrow, I don't "need" the genny again, but I am thinking I will use it for my day charge where I can find a good spot. I have been paying $20 for a caravan park charge at least half the time. If the genny does fail after tomorrow, I will feel comfortable sending it the the 'faithful friend' depository in the sky. Oh, and Balladonia is ok. The offerings in the service station/shop/restaurant are clean, not too expensive and the staff are friendly. But the menu is limited. The clocks tell it all. From left to right: Perth, Balladonia, WA/SA border, Adelaide and Melbourne. And a damn sight more confusing in summer.
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 24, 2016 21:38:24 GMT 11
There may be more of them on that link but the photos here have more meaning because they come with explanation, so we know what we are looking at. Ok Phoebe, I get that. If you do see any photos and want to know the circumstance, just ask away. I have driven across the Nullarbor many (a dozen) times in the past so I am not into the touristy thing this trip. I see lots off kangaroos (mostly roadkill), one dingo and a few wedge tail eagles. The eagles are magnificent. Cocklebiddy had two in a large, fairly well set up, aviary. I hope they were rescued birds from traffic injuries!
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Post by Phoebe on May 24, 2016 23:17:59 GMT 11
The clocks tell it all. From left to right: Perth, Balladonia, WA/SA border, Adelaide and Melbourne. And a damn sight more confusing in summer. Love the clocks!
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 7:40:51 GMT 11
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 26, 2016 16:55:23 GMT 11
Wed 25. Today was a bit of an anti-climax. It was the last leg of the Nullarbor crossing and for me, more or less, a repeat of the last several days. I headed of very early (5:15) and completed the planned 100+kms at 55k/h pretty well the whole way. I sailed past Fraser Range Homestead and stopped at the next rest area. It was very nice and, incidentally, called Fraser Range Rest area:-). I set up the genny, had a good walk around for exercise and then lit a small "comfort" fire using wet (drizzle all night) bark and small twigs. Lots of smoke, a bit of heat and something to do:-). The run into Norseman was straight forward and I headed for the BP for a feed. I am accustomed to eating when it is convenient and had not consumed anything but water for 36 hours (mainly by choice). The BP, as I remembered from years ago, was the most expensive eating house in Australia. Dearer even than more remote locations across the Nullarbor. But it was very well set up, a large selection of food and touristy things and staff everywhere. You pay for what you get:-). Plugshare told me that Matt (Tesla) had been here in Norseman and organised access to power at the council oval. I found the council phone number and called. Margaret would meet me in half an hour and unlock the power box. I found the oval, found the power box (Matt's photo on Plugshare), tested it and found it alive. I was plugged in and drinking the amps when Margaret drove up to tell me the power was on:-). By midnight the LEAF would take no more so I headed off, rather than sleep there. Thur 26. I only lasted for 80kms before I pulled in for a further few hours shuteye. At 6am I drove on till I arrived in Salmon Gums 1/2 an hour later, my scheduled daytime charging stop. The town was very quiet, so I drove on for a while to a roadside stop and set up the generator. The LEAF is now nearly full so I will drive on and bypass Esperance (coz I can) and shave off 50klms. By using the generator again I will get to Munglinup tonight where I will stay at the caravan park for a good cleanup.
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Post by Phoebe on May 26, 2016 18:40:40 GMT 11
Very smokey fire
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Post by rusdy on May 27, 2016 11:32:59 GMT 11
...By using the generator again... Hi Jeff, how many litres of petrol you've used so far for your trip? Did you keep the generator run time? Me curious here.
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 28, 2016 12:23:01 GMT 11
...By using the generator again... Hi Jeff, how many litres of petrol you've used so far for your trip? Did you keep the generator run time? Me curious here. I am not keeping track of petrol or hours consumed. I probably should. I was going to fit an hour meter before I left but laziness beat me to it. I will do an oil change when I settle in for a month at Collie. I am considering it uses 1 litre per hour. Tank holds 9 litres, say 10. Close enough to make the maths easy:-). Actually, a tank full runs for about 7 hours so those rounded numbers are quite a bit out. I reckon I have run 3 tankfuls of necessity. That is, no place to charge since the last charge. I could even have gone into Yalata community (they had closed down the roadhouse earlier this year) but it was a fair way off the bitumen and I had the genny. Another 5 or 6 times I have chosen to run the genny to avoid caravan park charges or to allow me to drive at unusual hours. Like setting off at 7pm and stopping for a genny charge from 9pm to dawn while I slept. From my pre-trip research, I will not "need" the gennny all the way back to Sydney "over the top", but I find it is easier (and it appeals to my "bushy" nature) to stop in a parking bay or otherwise off the road in the middle of nowhere and enjoy the countryside. Talking about my bushy nature, I have made a PDF copy of the book about my first walk across Australia available for download on my web site (no longer kept up to date).
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 28, 2016 13:10:07 GMT 11
Radio interview tonight around 8pm with Carter Edwards on 2SM Supernetwork. Carter gave me good coverage on my walks including a studio interview after the second walk.
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Post by jeffthewalker on May 28, 2016 14:08:01 GMT 11
Thur 26. I stopped at Gibson Soak where there was a petrol bowser and some junk food. I decided not to go to Esperance but to take a short cut here to head for Munglinup. But.., I missed the turnoff (could have been a gravel road) but found Shark Lake Road much later, but still 12km short of Esperance. When the GOM said I have 20km to go I pulled into a roadside parking bay, set up the genny and dozed off. Fri 27. I rolled into Munglinup near 8am and refilled the genny and the gerry can, grabbed a coffee and pushed on out of town. Another genny stop and I made it to Ravensthorpe Caravan Park just before noon. The sign on the door said the office was open from 2pm to 7pm so I selected a powered site near the ablution block, plugged in and had a much enjoyed shower. After a long walk around town, a reasonably healthy lunch and a few phone calls, I was back at the caravan park and looking after a load of washing. I intended to drive off around 7pm for an overnight genny stop but tied up with some grey nomads and enjoyed their company around a roaring fire and watched the Broncos - Tigers rugby league game on TV in the well equipped camp kitchen. I did get away about 9.30 pm and stopped for a genny just short of Jerramungup where I slept till the genny ran out. I topped it up with a few litres I had in the gerry can and went back to sleep. Now in Ongerup since 9am, I have found a public power point so I am sitting on here till for a few more hours, then a run to Broomehill which will be another genny charge half way.
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Post by Phoebe on May 29, 2016 15:28:00 GMT 11
There's been some earth quakes over there, somewhere. Did you feel anything?
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Post by jake on May 30, 2016 12:21:24 GMT 11
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 1, 2016 10:00:11 GMT 11
There's a thing for all LEAF owners. Talk to your kids' school admin (headmaster) about a show and tell. I have another one lined up for me in Perth already.
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 1, 2016 11:25:33 GMT 11
It is only a few days since my last entry and again I am struggling to get the chronology right. Each day blends into the next (and I can also play the old age card:-). But a lesson for all (including me): at least make hand notes along the way, each night as a minimum. Photos help as they remind you of the situation and, with a phone camera, it is very convenient and you get a time and date stamp. But only if you take the picture (sometimes I don't). Sat 28: Ongerup was good. I stayed most of the day having a good walk and look around. I drove on intending to get to Broomehill where I would get some petrol for the generator and head out of town for a night charge and a sleep. But, you make your plans and then real life comes along. Broomehill is actual correctly known as Broomehill Village. There is no petrol station there (any more). I sought out the caravan park. It is a council operated park. No regular attendant, please phone this number. I only needed a few hours charge to get me to Kojonup so I phoned ahead to find out that the petrol was available till 9pm. I phoned the caretaker for Broomehill, got hooked up (complimentary) and settled in for a few hours. Now as I had time to think, I had two choices. I could charge for a few hours and get to Kojonup and pick up the fuel then drive on and genny charge for the night. Alternatively I could stay in Broomehill for the night charge and drive to Bridgetown with the full charge and get petrol there for the last day charge. I eventually went for option two and arrived in Bridgetown at 8am for breaky and fuel. Sun29: I drove on with not quite enough range to get to Nannup which was only a further 60km on. But I found a "short cut" and sat on 40k/h and nursed the LEAF along going into and out of negative GOM minus DTG. With 10km to go I was still 8km negative when the elevation change was distinctly in my favour. I slowly clawed back some range and arrived at my friend Chris's place with 4km or so (guess only as the GOM goes to flashing dashes at 8km). The BP is at Bridgetown. The Carwings report shows me ranking at 37 for energy economy which is the best I have achieved this trip.
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Post by Phoebe on Jun 1, 2016 11:39:05 GMT 11
Almost back to civilisation
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LE(Oz)AF
Jun 2, 2016 8:39:00 GMT 11
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 8:39:00 GMT 11
Did you charge at the BP? Can't wait for BP to get on board with charging.
Do you have a chargestar card?
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 2, 2016 11:25:02 GMT 11
Did you charge at the BP? Can't wait for BP to get on board with charging. Do you have a chargestar card? I stopped at the BP to pick up 10l of petrol for the generator. And, while I was there:-), a bacon and egg toastie and a large coffee. Yes, I got a Chargestar card. I ordered it while I was part way across the Nullarbor (Matt, Tesla told me about the need for it). I had it delivered to my friend Danny in Perth. He met me at the fast charger in Bunbury where I used it for the first time. That was Tuesday (31/5) and I am yet to catch up on my LE(OZ)AF post for that day. Interesting!
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 2, 2016 11:26:53 GMT 11
Almost back to civilisation :) Yup. I'll be heading into Perth tomorrow (Friday) and staying for a few days. I will be free to do 'stuff' until Monday evening, then back to Collie for a month or so with weekends off.
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 2, 2016 11:33:37 GMT 11
Did you charge at the BP? Can't wait for BP to get on board with charging. Do you have a chargestar card? How do I catch up with other LEAF owners in WA? I will be finding the AEVA meeting and will be there this month.
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ant
EV Enthusiast
2012 Leaf, EV enthusiast, AEVA WA Secretary
Posts: 43
LEAF OWNER?: Yes
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Post by ant on Jun 2, 2016 12:33:25 GMT 11
Did you charge at the BP? Can't wait for BP to get on board with charging. Do you have a chargestar card? How do I catch up with other LEAF owners in WA? I will be finding the AEVA meeting and will be there this month. We'll be happy to see you - on the 14th at UWA! I'm sure everyone will want to hear about your journey and Matt will be there too. Details here ( you already probably found them, being an intrepid traveller ) aeva.asn.au/content/western-australian-aeva-branch-meeting
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 2, 2016 13:53:38 GMT 11
Thanks ant. I had the meeting address but now I know the map details. I have lived very close by there for a short while and been to the Uni quite a few times so I should have no problems finding the meeting (or parking). And it'll be good to catch up with Matt again.
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 2, 2016 15:21:07 GMT 11
Mon 30th: In Nannup all day and got to show off the LEAF to a couple of Chris's friends. All suitably impressed. Tue 31st: I set off for Collie very early (5:30am) to allow a small genny charge if needed for the 110km trip. But, in spite of blow by blow mud map from my Nannup friend and the visual and aural aid of the navigator, I missed the turn to Kirup off the Cundinup Sth road. It was cold, foggy and the windscreen constantly needed clearing on the inside. I did see the (rather insignificant) sign pointing to a turnoff on the right that said Kirup but it was far the lesser road compared to the white lines encouraging me to go ahead. The lovely lady in the navigator started to berate me for ignoring her. I have been led astray by this lady (and others:-) in the past, so I persisted with my straight ahead plan for 10 minutes or so. I stopped to get a confirmation from Google but found that I was out of range. I was obviously heading to somewhere substantial so I figured that if I was wrong, it was just a minor "time problem". But, in this case, that also means a range problem. I stopped again 10 minutes further along and used the navigator to determine that I was only a kilometer or so from a major road. It was the Vasse Highway. I had come around in a large loop to the West and was now heading into Busselton. Damn. I reset the navigator to Bunbury and re-planned to stop in Bunbury, use the fast charger and then an easy drive to Collie. But, I didn't have my ChargeStar card to use the fast chargers on the lovely WA Electric Highway. Well, not with me. I had applied for it some weeks ago with delivery to Daniel's place in Perth as I was on the Nullarbor at the time. But (this time a good 'but'), I was on my way to Collie to join a meeting with Daniel and others, so I phoned Daniel and agreed to meet at the Bunbury fast charger. But (a bad one), when I joined the Bussell Highway it was teaming with peak hour traffic and I had to up my speed to cause minimum disruption to the flow. This reduced my range to the point that I was unsure of reaching Bunbury, so I pulled over a few klms shy of Capel and got out the genny. No problem, I was over an hour early for the meet up in Bunbury and I had 10l of fuel. But (a really bad one), the genny was a bit reluctant to start (it took 5 pulls) and once it was going it would not idle as expected and was a bit rough. I plugged in the EVSE to use the green LED to check if I had power and to my horror, no green LED (or red). Then a faint waft of smoke and a quick smell told me it was electrical. Off with the genny and out with the planning side of the brain. There was enough GOM to easily get to Capel, so off I went and stopped at the first site open which had a single bowser out the front, some food inside and a hardware store next door. I asked for the location of a caravan park and while the attendant was considering this request I said I was just after a power point for an hour or two. "No problems, we'll sort that out for you." So round the back, extension lead into the hardware store, bacon and egg sandwich and hot coffee. Then phone call to Danny, timing still not too bad, and settle in watching the GOM grow and calculating the point to stop the charge and drive to Bunbury. I needn't have worried so much as it was a dual divided road (I was able to travel slowly) for the 30km to Bunbury and I ended up with spare klms when I arrived there just a few minutes before Danny. Much oohing and aahing over the LEAF while it was charging, then a coffee/meeting and off to Collie. I will stay in Collie till Friday then head up to Perth for a few days. I have found an authorised service agent for the Aldi Workzone generator in Perth where I will try for some warranty satisfaction on Friday afternoon. I say try, as I don't have the receipt but I do have a bank statement showing the transaction. The generator was always a "weak link" in my plans, but it got me across the Nullarbor so I consider it has paid its way ($399).
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Post by markrmarkr on Jun 2, 2016 21:15:50 GMT 11
do you know if the generator will give you 3.3KW (15Amp). You'd need a 15amp EVSE to test it.
Sent from my SM-T805Y using proboards
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 3, 2016 11:27:43 GMT 11
do you know if the generator will give you 3.3KW (15Amp). You'd need a 15amp EVSE to test it. Sent from my SM-T805Y using proboards This generator is (was) rated at 3.5kVA and I tested it with several 6 hour charges at home before deciding to rely on it for the Nullarbor crossing. The generator was only going to be used to provide 2.2kW (9.6A 240V) and I went with that over design to have a healthy margin of safety. And it worked perfectly until it didn't:-).
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Post by markrmarkr on Jun 3, 2016 15:17:39 GMT 11
do you know if the generator will give you 3.3KW (15Amp). You'd need a 15amp EVSE to test it. Sent from my SM-T805Y using proboards This generator is (was) rated at 3.5kVA and I tested it with several 6 hour charges at home before deciding to rely on it for the Nullarbor crossing. The generator was only going to be used to provide 2.2kW (9.6A 240V) and I went with that over design to have a healthy margin of safety. And it worked perfectly until it didn't:-). I have one which is rated to 5.5KW, yet it can't do 3.3KW, tested on my wall mouted EVSE. It does ok with the cars portable 2.2KW EVSE though. It's 90kg dry and I can bearely lift it in and out of the boot.
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 4, 2016 10:32:11 GMT 11
This generator is (was) rated at 3.5kVA and I tested it with several 6 hour charges at home before deciding to rely on it for the Nullarbor crossing. The generator was only going to be used to provide 2.2kW (9.6A 240V) and I went with that over design to have a healthy margin of safety. And it worked perfectly until it didn't:-). I have one which is rated to 5.5KW, yet it can't do 3.3KW, tested on my wall mouted EVSE. It does ok with the cars portable 2.2KW EVSE though. It's 90kg dry and I can bearely lift it in and out of the boot. Mine weighs 30kg and I can (relatively) easily get it into and out of the boot (I am a healthy 75yo). When I first considered a generator in the boot, I had in mind a platform within the boot to make it "slide-outable" and a table, on the ground behind, to slide it onto. However, lifting it only a short number of times, as required, far outweighed (pun intended) the hassle of constructing and "managing" the extras for the whole journey. Several times I have carried the genny 20 meters away to minimise the noise. Other times, the effort was not worth the intrusion of the otherwise peaceful countryside. My generator is of the new(ish) inverter type and has several good features over the older (non-inverter) types including managing loads better. The retailer (Aldi) has three authorised warranty service agents in Perth. I chose the closest one in Morley and dropped it off yesterday afternoon on my arrival. They happily took it on as a job and seemed happy to look after me.
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Post by hieronymous on Jun 4, 2016 12:38:04 GMT 11
I found a manual online for your generator, as I was interested to see what weight you were lifting in and out of the boot, but, given your plans, I was perturbed to then see the statement that daily use wasn't recommended. Given what has happened, might you consider trading on one a little more heavy-duty, albeit a bit heavier? All the best for your continuing journey!
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Post by jeffthewalker on Jun 4, 2016 19:48:43 GMT 11
I found a manual online for your generator, as I was interested to see what weight you were lifting in and out of the boot, but, given your plans, I was perturbed to then see the statement that daily use wasn't recommended. Given what has happened, might you consider trading on one a little more heavy-duty, albeit a bit heavier? All the best for your continuing journey! Hmm. I don't remember seeing that bit about continuous daily use. In any case I would have taken that to mean not to rely on it to provide daily power for a dwelling. My use was intended to be only several hours (2-5) at time and certainly not every day. I have almost decided not to take a generator from here on when I hit the road again on a month or so time. From preliminary surveys with maps and Google and Google Earth I can make it all the way round through Broome, Darwin, Brisbane and back to Sydney. The only reason I would consider taking a genny would be the convenience. However, I have considerable time before I leave to do some good phoning and emailing and in that way I can find friendly councils, clubs, or whatever, pioneer charging places along the way. Not that there will be very many following in my footsteps:-).
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Post by hieronymous on Jun 4, 2016 20:04:58 GMT 11
I got the impression the manual writers didn't go out of their way to highlight the statement - quite the reverse... As for your pioneering journey, it is a reinvention of the grey nomad tradition - in a few years with steadily improving ev range and charging opportunities, there will be followers!
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