Who is going to the Ohio Valley show and sale?

[lakeportfarms]

There is no way I could bring any Dexters this year with so much going on... it would just be a day trip for us, but I'm thinking about showing up for the show (or sale).  Who is going and what days will any of you be there?

[Deleted]

I will be coming in Late Thursday night and leaving early Sunday morning. Driving strait through.

[lakeportfarms]

Great Mike, we're thinking of coming on Saturday morning, leaving early. It's probably a 5-6 hour drive for us. It's possible I might come on Friday without Sheril. I have a trip to make to Columbus OH and might be able to pick up some materials I'm having finished by a vendor of ours in Columbus. Probably not though, too many variables in that situation.

[wvdexters]

We won't know if Jeff can get the trade at work until right before. I'm really hoping.

[Blessings Farms]

Guess I and Bea have to . Bea will help out with anything needed and I will
be helping sort and leading people and thier animals into the show ring .
The word is the show is larger than last year so be prpared for a long
day . If memory is correct last year the number of animals almost matched
the AGM number . Come on Gene and Shaun you guys can make the drive too .

Shaun Caral and I khow you distance your only 3 1/2 hrs and it would be
great to visit with you and talk to your husband about woodworking .
Please tell him that I am starting a grist mill waterwheel for southern
Indiana State park at the new job . Has he finished the screen door ?

Gene you would get to see Adam one again too and us if we count .

Dont forget Vicki is bringing and demonstrating her draft Kerries .

[genebo]

I'm working on my bride to let me go to the OVDBA gathering. I really want to be there and see it all.

[Blessings Farms]

Gene all I can say is you are a true southern gentleman .

[Deleted]

Busy weekend here making preparations for the show. Health checks done. Worked on getting the trailer ready checking breaks and packing wheel bearings. Had several things that needed to be done to the truck to before the trip. Now I have to find a new emergency break battery for the trailer it is dead and crossing many states to much chance of getting pulled over by the dot for a check. My trailer registration actually says small semi so I suspect that will put me under higher scrutiny. 

 

[genebo]

Mike, I use my trailer so seldom that the brake battery is almost always dead when I want it. I spend too much money buying new batteries.

I feel like I have to, though. The State Police have pulled safety checks to make sure your trailer hitch is locked securely. My latch pin had fallen out when I was stopped, so the trooper gave me a lecture and a new latch pin.

[Deleted]

Gene, is your battery setup to charge going down the road? Mine was not and I would suspect over the life of the trailer no one ever bothered to charge it. I also got an inline charge controller which is suppose to prevent overcharging of the battery and prolong the life.
After trying to figure out why I did not have any power on the factory 7 way on my truck. I found that even though it had a factory tow package in it. They come from the factory with out relays installed for the power and backup lights.

[genebo]

Mike, when I got the trailer, the battery charged all the time the trailer was hooked up. The truck battery ran down once because it sat for days without being used. Then I changed it to only charge when the brakes were applied. Apparently that is not enough charging time, because the brake battery always seems to be dead.

[Deleted]

it should be wired so that it charges any time the truck is turned on. how did you wire it to the break lights? Did you use a diode to prevent the battery from powering the brake lights when you were not depressing the break? if not you would be running the battery down more than charging it.

[genebo]

I used an electronic ic controller that switched on 12 vdc to the trailer battery whenever it sensed brake light current. The trailer brakes and brake lights are separate circuits. I was simply timing the charging with the brake light circuit. The trailer battery is isolated from the brakes until the pin in the disconnect switch is pulled and is never connected to the trailer lights.

This obviously wasn't enough to keep the battery charged.

I wonder how the trailer manufacturers do it?

I don't have a regulator on the trailer to control the charging rate for one of those gel batteries, and if I let it charge too much it could cause a problem. Maybe even a fire.

That's why I disconnected and removed all my wiring to charge the battery and now depend upon charging the battery the night before a trip. If I don't forget and if the battery will take a charge.

I really want to put a wet cell battery on the trailer and use a solar float charger to keep it hot.

[Deleted]

this is what you want. for $7 if it prolongs the life of your battery even a little it is worth it.

www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Hopkins/20011.html?feed=npn&gclid=CKWSnrr8rswCFZSEaQodWMkHgg

[chautauqua]

Sorry Dave, calving starts May 1 st. with often two to four calves a day arriving. My sole responsibility so limits where I can go or what I can do until July when calving slows down. Have to attend a family graduation in Manhattan in mid May and already stressing on who to leave in charge for three days. The screen door is almost finished, more beautiful the closer to completion. Michael has to carve the Herons feathering and that's it.........four years in the making........watch, someone will kick it open while carrying food out to the cabin porch. I'll tell Michael about your new project........his kind of job.

[Blessings Farms]

Shaun I understand you do have alot to do there . If you spring has started yet I would have
a seat at the back of the upper barn to just watch the view develop . Tell Michael to sharpen
the carving chisels and get done . I want a picture before I pass or maybe visit again in person .
Tell him the grist wheel is about done and have started on a modification of a early 1900s dance
floor ticket booth for a senior citizens hall . The job is ok most is with cnc equipment but one
area focouses on totally human built wich is my heart .

[Deleted]

genebo Are you going to be able to make it?

[genebo]

The final decision was made today, that I can't go. I'm disappointed, because I don't know when the next time may come to see you all.

Oh, and to see the Dexters, too.