“This is Nomad Brad coming to you from my ONION truck!” 😂 Mini splits are a great way to go. I installed a DIY version in my daughter’s mobile home and she loves it. Very energy efficient and quiet
That pot roast really looked good. I've been eating pressure-cooked meals since the early 60's. 2 suggestions to try. First, give that roast a quick sear on all sides for some great flavor. Second, buy a big onion. Cut it into thick slices and lay them right on top of the roast. Pressure-cooked onions are so sweet. Bonus suggestion: add some potatoes cut up into large pieces along with some sliced carrots. When it's all done, use some of the juice to make some gravy. Now I have to run to the grocery store.
Fellow fat kid here. Can confirm suggestions are legit. Also if you have the spare space in your freezer, save all the trimmings from your vegetables so that you can make a broth in your instapot from scratch. Pretty much once a gallon bag is full from vegetable ends, you're good to go. Probably just a couple hours in the insta pot should do it. Then you can freeze the broth in yogurt containers or ice trays and add them to your recipes. Salt after.
Don't forget the carrots ... and for a stew I've chopped up kale which I normally hate, but when cooked really well it liquifies into like a stew broth, and it is great for you.
Yes! this will work great for you in florida. the humidity is probably similar to texas, you will be comfortable. BTW thanks for becoming a member, I appreciate that
I was born and raised in the southeast and have lived in a few places. The only real thing I miss about "out west" was the low humidity. There I was riding around in 90+F temps with the windows down feeling comfortable while my California born and raised friend was complaining it was too hot. Out east it may be greener and the thermometer may not look so bad, but that humidity will get you.
Pro Tip: Wait until after the auto parts stores close (closed 9 PM until 7 AM) and stealth camp until they open at a parking space close to the street away from the building, If there are any questions, sorry, the check engine light keeps turning on and off while passing through town, waiting for the store to open to get a computer scan.
@@nomadbrad503 Most large auto part stores Advance, O'Reilly, etc... will scan a vehicle computer for error codes for free so it's a legit stealth location, Stay as far away from the building as possible and close to the street while in the same private property parking space and don't leave the vehicle. There are 44,000 auto parts stores in the US.
@@nomadbrad503 I use the slow cooker function on mine pretty regularly, usually to make broth. We're getting ready to build a box truck, and starting to use a Kill-A-Watt to measure our power consumption on various appliances and gadgets. I'm interested to hook up the Instant Pot and test its various functions. Thank you for our videos, they're quite helpful and inspiring to those of us who want to do what you're doing!
I love watching the ingenuity. I know it's fun to use solar because I also run AC's off of my RV solar. I also installed Mini split air conditioner in my RV but it is a house window mini split made by Midea, 500W and I also installed Frigidaire 450W AC in the bedroom cabinet, installed both on drawer slide platforms and also installed outside compartment doors to slide AC's halfway in and out. I threw the power hungry Dometic roof top AC's over board and into the trash literally. I run both AC's off of my RV roof top solar, currently only 4 panels and 600 watts actual output and 4 LifePo batteries. Every RV owner needs to ban standard roof top AC's simply because the technology exists for these corporations to use low power economical Air Conditioners but they refuse to change their ways because it's not as profitable. A standard RV roof top AC requires the use of a Soft Start device to jump start the AC when using solar and that is $300.00 or more for the Soft Start. I paid about that price for each of my AC units. I could not be happier.
When you showed 192 watts that was a positive number, which means your solar charger kicked on and after the A/C load it was adding 192 watts to the battery. The (negative) -807 watts was how much it was using before the solar charger started charging. So your A/C was still using 800 watts, and your solar was probably creating 1000, which gives you the 192. Your A/C was not using 192, it was leaving 192 left on the table for battery charging.
@15:12 This is one of the reasons I chose an ambulance. I have 1560 watts of solar on my roof, but I went with a 48v system and an 8000 btu window unit.
Great video Brad. Solar and electrical work even with research just feels so daunting. I am sure that after rolling up my sleeves I will get it, but man mistakes are costly in this area of building out your rig.
Nice production value.. the background music was spot on..enjoyed it. Your Power explanation was very well done.. Hi quality UA-cam video explaining The mini split.. I see a nice niche for someone to become a mini split installation specialist..thank you for taking the time ..I hope you get millions of views.. #NomadBrad
Mounted window ac in my van only draws 535 watts Sir. Split ac was out of my range and my van especially ceiling is very well insulated for a van. Good job on your setup. The install is very clean looking,
Yum! FYI - Cracker Barrel allows for overnight parking & there's one just on the other side of 16th. There's also a planet fitness behind the Palms mall. Both less than a mile from HD.
TimeUSB batteries are great. Glad to see others utilizing them. Fair price, and they're right on spec (or better) for every one that I've purchased. Only brand I'll buy.
Buy a dehumidifier with a drain hose. Run the water hose into a small hole in the floor and drain it outside, it's just water from the air so it's ok like any other air conditioner. Humid air makes a room seem way hotter so get rid of the humidity.
I know you are not getting a ton of views, subs but i want to say that i really enjoy your content and like sharing it with others as i think you have a more unique and original take on nomad life! I am also learning a lot which is what i really enjoy most about your channel! I am looking forward to your winter build coming up soon. I would attend it i could but i am stuck here grindind.
Great video. You are clearly very talented and smart enough to turn your talent towards creating a business. Your home is beautiful and spacious! The only thing I do not get about some nomads are their indifference to having a bathroom. A small shower and one of those new toilets that separate and bag the waste would be a must. I have a weak stomach just thinking about how disgusting handling my waste all the time would be but I get even sicker imagining having to use some of the facilities I’ve seen in public.
thank you for the compliments 😊 been living in a van for 6 years now without a proper bathroom. most my nomad friends are the same. I know it's hard to comprehend. it's just one of those things you cant understand until you try it.. Vanlife isnt for everyone
Your system was "charging" at 192W (@ 4:35). That didn't show AC "load." Your panels were covering whatever the AC load was and dumping another 192W into your battery bank.
The variable speed compressor is new tech that is awesome. They have them for your house too (Bosch) but super pricey. I have a similar variable speed on my pool pump. So, if the RMS drop 50%, the power use drops 75%. Amazing to run your A//C all day super low and ... the temperature doesn't cycle low and high to kick the compressor on and off. It's always on super low . I had no idea they made these for vans! Doesn't matter the price, it's worth it because there's almost no other acceptable alternative that can be run on such low power (after initial cooling). Thanks Brad!
The trick, here, it would seem, is that in addition! to the neat Klimatic/Klimaire/Kwhatever it is ductless mini split and it's microprocessor-controlled operation (isn't everything? these days, though?) is that device (resembling an inverter in operation) you have intercepting the PV current before it gets to any battery bank solar charger... regardless of the details, that one can run air conditioning from 1200 watts solar and 400Ah battery is impressive. Carry on! Brad. Thanks for your vid!
Thanks for sharing your experience with a mini-split in the truck. I have a similar setup but with a Midea U mini-split type window AC. I am also in Alabama. One big difference between Arizona vs Alabama is Humidity. Humidity and heat will make that AC work a lot harder and for much longer. I found out last year when we had the hottest summer in a long time that the Solar panels (4x315W) couldn't maintain battery at full and also run the AC at the same time. IN fact over night I would see those batteries going down to ZERO (same capacity as your setup). The plan is to get 4x500W solar panels up there and probably get a mini-split with a higher efficiency than the current Midea U at 16 SEER.
yes I was in texas last summer in high humidity, the difference is that the mini split has a much larger outdoor coil which makes it more effecient at removing heat from the living space.
Why not a powerful generator to run a Split AC, top off batteries during the day, run off batteries at night and stick it all in a box on a trailer hitch rack?
@@lvpuppets loud and consumes gas. That said I carry a small generator that could do both in emergency situations. I would much rather just rely on solar as much as possible. Not noise or mess.
@@lvpuppets why pay for gas to run a generator when the sun provides free energy…also generators are very loud and often you can feel the vibration inside your van. I know because I tried one on my last box truck
Looks like your van build is really efficient just on it's own....99 deg outside and 84 inside before AC turned on. The insta pot looks great. That's how I love to cook, do a heap at once and enjoy over several meals......makes it cheaper per meal and also way easier per meal :)
@@nomadbrad503 Love your build! Super smart in terms of how you did the electrical (I happen to work for a wireless power company on the tech side for customers). I also love how much space you have to cook. That's better than my 1930's house!
You have a great interior in your truck Amazing, great job. All that, mini-split, batteries, solar-panels, etc, is very cash intensive, so you are lucky to be able to afford all that stuff. 4 x 320 watt solar panels are like $1000. More for the mini-split.
@@HTOP1982 Yes, I agree. I would not even try to do this without a/c - especially in the desert! And the minisplit covers heating to if I am not mistaken, right? I think you nailed it.
@@justgivemethetruth I'm recommissioning a motorhome, and going to spend in total about 1200 GBP to move to 280Ah lifepo4, and 780watts of solar so that I can run my old 220volt AC unit. Some costs are also shared, my change to lifepo4 will allow me to run all sorts of cheap and powerful household items. All in all a medium upfront expenditure for a lot of cost savings and added confort
@@justgivemethetruth the mini split will still need all of this stuff due to the Amp draw. I already own the roof mounted 220v Aircon, it draws around 300 watts with peaks of 600. Even with a .85 converted efficiency it's still cheaper to use the air con I have and even add an extra 280Ah battery if I end up needing and in the future I can look into a split system. GBP currency of the UK
You could put the Instant Pot outside the vehicle to exploit the high outside temperature, cutting its power consumption in half, while saving a lot of power of the AC unit. Also, it sounds like you could double your batteries, have no worries.
Fantastic video from someone with only 22k subs. Most channels that know how to keep a video moving and on point have crossed the 100k mark. This is the one time I was wrong about the sub count.
quick tip! if you wanna lessen the onion eye burn, you can cut the end of the onion off and leave them in water for a few minutes; the active chemical burning your eyes clings to water, so if your eyes are watering then id say wipe your eyes thoroughly and the burn goes away
You'll have a choice to make. Depending on the capacity & size of a rooftop mini-split system, you will have less space for solar panels. I don't think that will work out well with smaller vehicles.
Ductless systems are amazing! I highly recommend Mitsubishi or Daikin. Everything else is random chinese made equipment and it can be impossible to find parts for repairs.
You should get you something like a Laveo dry-flush for emergencies and night usage. We have one in our camper and yeah, its a little expensive, but it is really awesome and hold odors down very good!
Pretty cool with the mini split. I have thirty two kilowatt worth of solar at my place I installed. You'd better have a coat on in the summer time and shorts in the winter if you're in my place.😂
Great job with your setup 👍💪🌞💡⚡️ I seem to recall you had a good video on your whole setup. Did you do a video on cost breakdown? Similar on how you bought/ the great deal you got on your panelsm😊🧠💰🤔
Cool! Sweet rig! I wintered over in Yuma last year (by the Fortuna Foothills - you might want to check-out this area 32.6677, -114.3823) where I added an EG-4 28.5 SEER-2 12kbtu mini-split to my motorhome. I love it as it draws about 1/3rd the power of my 14.5k rooftop AC. I have a 5,000w Sungold Power all-in-one like you have to run everything in my MH. My 48v 16.3 kwh battery and 4,400 watts of Sungold power solar panels racked above my roof will run my mini split and my rooftop A/C as needed, 24/7. In fact, I can run them both while charging my battery bank during the day, even winter. Hope to see you down the road one day.
Looks like a very good AC unit. But let's be fair, 78 degrees isn't 'nice and cool'. 200 Watt for 24 hours is almost 5 kWh of energy. You need a perfect sunny day to harvest that from 1200 Watt solar panels. But I will say, this setup is probably the best I have seen so far.
lol I'm practically immune to onion fumes. One time long ago I worked in a kitchen and they needed a bag of onions cut up. Nobody wanted to do it due to the tears. I volunteered. Then proceeded to run the 20 or so pounds of onions through a deli slicer in a matter of minutes and ran everyone out of the kitchen. Ooops.
in this video i showed my power inverter/ solar charger, my battery bank, and I mentioned that I have 1200 watts of solar on the roof. What else would you like to know? what wold you want to see in another video that you did not see here? Genuinely curious
@@nomadbrad503 what model SunPower gold are you using? Did you wire the solar panels in series or parallel or series/parallel? Which panels did you go with? And of course how much did the whole solar setup cost?
Stealth parking that most people overlook is Amazon fulfillment warehouses. Employees come and go 24/7 so no one gives you a second look. I camped out for two years while working different shifts.
In the future season your meat then saute all the side or cut in four and saute all sides. Then pull out meat and add your aromatic veggies and small amount of oil. Wooden spoon scrap off the fond built up on bottom of pan. Once veggies soft add little water and store till nothing stuck to bottom of pan. Then add remaining ingredients for 1 hour on high pressure.
It's all about usable roof space versus overall box size plus the shapes and sizes of todays panels.. If you have a larger truck then yes you can get more solar on top but then you need more battery and a bigger a/c unit to cool the larger space. This is almost the sweet spot. The only other vehicle that falls within range is a 10ft baby box. With a 78 or 79 inch roof width,you can put 3 full size 450w panels with about 6 inch overhang at the rear which is no big deal since the bumpers hang out a foot. With 60 sqr ft and 7000 btu ac yur looking at 74 degree 24/7 using the same battery to 75% or a smaller battery to 35-40%
Buy a cover for the outdoor unit and cover it whenever you’re not running it or travelling. Dust in the outdoor condenser coils drastically shortens their life and efficiency.
If you have the roof space have you ever considered adding a wind generator of sorts for days where solar is not 100% available... I know there several different types of generators. but just a thought
Imagine how much more battery backup you'd have if you had a 208/230v system with a transformer that converts 115v to 230v, you'd run a fraction of the amps you currently run. Great system though, we have tested the amp draw of both, in race car trailers at the track.
6:30 AM, got up early. LOL! I wish I could sleep in that late. 4:00 AM every day wake up. Showered and leaving for work by 4:15-4:30 AM. 12 hour work days.
I like the comments about how 78 degrees is set too hot, but you say it feels colder. Probably because You are living in a refrigerated reefer now lol, the supply air is so close to you. Highly insulated, white panels, and no direct sunlight. In a house you are trying to cool the carpet, all the fabric furniture, curtains and drywall. No insulation between rooms so heat is trapped in walls. So heat is always radiating towards you from everywhere.
You're absolutely correct and said it perfectly. so many people are complaining about that and i havent been able to effectively communicate the situation. thank you🙏🏻
split unit is nice in that it is quiet but I found that 5000btu window unit with 12.1seer does 450watt so it's possible to further reduce wattage on power consumption.
A 5,000 btu window unit may work for a small van but not my rig. I have a 12,000 btu model and need every bit of that capacity when I’m In 100+ degree weather.
“This is Nomad Brad coming to you from my ONION truck!” 😂
Mini splits are a great way to go. I installed a DIY version in my daughter’s mobile home and she loves it. Very energy efficient and quiet
lol the onions were so bad jay!! im happy to hear that you installed a good one for your daughter 😎
That pot roast really looked good. I've been eating pressure-cooked meals since the early 60's. 2 suggestions to try. First, give that roast a quick sear on all sides for some great flavor. Second, buy a big onion. Cut it into thick slices and lay them right on top of the roast. Pressure-cooked onions are so sweet. Bonus suggestion: add some potatoes cut up into large pieces along with some sliced carrots. When it's all done, use some of the juice to make some gravy. Now I have to run to the grocery store.
I appreciate that tip!
Got me hungry as well lol
Fellow fat kid here. Can confirm suggestions are legit. Also if you have the spare space in your freezer, save all the trimmings from your vegetables so that you can make a broth in your instapot from scratch. Pretty much once a gallon bag is full from vegetable ends, you're good to go. Probably just a couple hours in the insta pot should do it. Then you can freeze the broth in yogurt containers or ice trays and add them to your recipes. Salt after.
Don't forget the carrots ... and for a stew I've chopped up kale which I normally hate, but when cooked really well it liquifies into like a stew broth, and it is great for you.
What temp?
Thats the setup i will need so i can run ac all day. Especially here in florida. Nice system.
Yes! this will work great for you in florida. the humidity is probably similar to texas, you will be comfortable. BTW thanks for becoming a member, I appreciate that
I was born and raised in the southeast and have lived in a few places. The only real thing I miss about "out west" was the low humidity. There I was riding around in 90+F temps with the windows down feeling comfortable while my California born and raised friend was complaining it was too hot. Out east it may be greener and the thermometer may not look so bad, but that humidity will get you.
Wait! A cooking channel too! Bro! Parked in Home Depot with an RV that looks like a utility vehicle that says "Solar Service": Invisible.
invisible was my goal 😎
Pro Tip: Wait until after the auto parts stores close (closed 9 PM until 7 AM) and stealth camp until they open at a parking space close to the street away from the building, If there are any questions, sorry, the check engine light keeps turning on and off while passing through town, waiting for the store to open to get a computer scan.
Great advice!
@@nomadbrad503 Most large auto part stores Advance, O'Reilly, etc... will scan a vehicle computer for error codes for free so it's a legit stealth location, Stay as far away from the building as possible and close to the street while in the same private property parking space and don't leave the vehicle. There are 44,000 auto parts stores in the US.
I love the look of this van. It looks so well made and solid. Plus 4 the AC. Perfect house on wheels. Self sustainable. Perfect.
thank you so much! I love living here
slow cookers and air fryers are some of the best things invented
I agree with you!
Funny the notion of slow cookers when his says Instant Pot. I'm thinking that's a pressure cooker.
@@DiscoFang it’s not a slow cooker. It’s a fast cooker that uses pressure. Thats why they call it instant pot
@@nomadbrad503 I use the slow cooker function on mine pretty regularly, usually to make broth. We're getting ready to build a box truck, and starting to use a Kill-A-Watt to measure our power consumption on various appliances and gadgets. I'm interested to hook up the Instant Pot and test its various functions.
Thank you for our videos, they're quite helpful and inspiring to those of us who want to do what you're doing!
I love watching the ingenuity. I know it's fun to use solar because I also run AC's off of my RV solar. I also installed Mini split air conditioner in my RV but it is a house window mini split made by Midea, 500W and I also installed Frigidaire 450W AC in the bedroom cabinet, installed both on drawer slide platforms and also installed outside compartment doors to slide AC's halfway in and out. I threw the power hungry Dometic roof top AC's over board and into the trash literally. I run both AC's off of my RV roof top solar, currently only 4 panels and 600 watts actual output and 4 LifePo batteries. Every RV owner needs to ban standard roof top AC's simply because the technology exists for these corporations to use low power economical Air Conditioners but they refuse to change their ways because it's not as profitable. A standard RV roof top AC requires the use of a Soft Start device to jump start the AC when using solar and that is $300.00 or more for the Soft Start. I paid about that price for each of my AC units. I could not be happier.
sounds like you have a wonderful setup 😎
1:54 you described a remarkable tool. An air conditioner that runs on the sun is incredible for me to be a dream come true
It’s the best!
When you showed 192 watts that was a positive number, which means your solar charger kicked on and after the A/C load it was adding 192 watts to the battery. The (negative) -807 watts was how much it was using before the solar charger started charging. So your A/C was still using 800 watts, and your solar was probably creating 1000, which gives you the 192. Your A/C was not using 192, it was leaving 192 left on the table for battery charging.
good catch!
So it’s constantly running at a higher wattage and does not go down to that 192 while in use?
@15:12 This is one of the reasons I chose an ambulance. I have 1560 watts of solar on my roof, but I went with a 48v system and an 8000 btu window unit.
right on, thats a robust electrical system!
I really do wish I went that route to start to be honest lol by my little promaster will do
"Normad Brad like to be comfortable"---had me cracking up. Good work, brother.
haha its the truth 😂
Awesome, did same, I have 1700w solar and 38kwh battery for south Florida, using ambulance as RV
nice! sounds like a perfect setup for florida
How much did your setup cost?
You’re amazing! Such beautiful work! High quality across the board!!
Hey Nichole! thanks for bringing the positivity, I appreciate you 😊
Great video Brad. Solar and electrical work even with research just feels so daunting. I am sure that after rolling up my sleeves I will get it, but man mistakes are costly in this area of building out your rig.
Yeah, it took me a while to understand it all. The work itself is simple but learning it is challenging
Nice production value.. the background music was spot on..enjoyed it. Your Power explanation was very well done.. Hi quality UA-cam video explaining The mini split.. I see a nice niche for someone to become a mini split installation specialist..thank you for taking the time ..I hope you get millions of views.. #NomadBrad
Thank you so much for the kind words 🙂
This is great. Your truck looks really well insulated
What a great way to live your life. Not the same cookie cutter version of robot worker. Good job
I agree! Thank you so much!
that's game changer, i can;t imagine myself living in a van without constant AC cuz in my country there is no cold weather or winter it's constant hot
Yes! The ac is a must for a lot of folks. It’s so comfortable inside 😎
Awesome video! This is the way to go Brad! Van Life ... a lifestyle to save Mother Earth 👍
You got that right!
awesome setup the solar to run the a/c is fantastic
It really is!
Mounted window ac in my van only draws 535 watts Sir. Split ac was out of my range and my van especially ceiling is very well insulated for a van. Good job on your setup. The install is very clean looking,
im glad that window unit is working for you!
How much Ah do you have? I have 200 and I struggle to keep full battery with no AC🤦🏻♂️
760aH 600w solar
Good job my man, you deffently answered some questions I've been having before I take off in a truck camper this coming spring.
Yum!
FYI - Cracker Barrel allows for overnight parking & there's one just on the other side of 16th. There's also a planet fitness behind the Palms mall. Both less than a mile from HD.
Thanks for the tip!
*F Planet Fitness !*
*FJB !*
@@Snailmailtrucker Indeed!
TimeUSB batteries are great. Glad to see others utilizing them. Fair price, and they're right on spec (or better) for every one that I've purchased. Only brand I'll buy.
I agree!
Buy a dehumidifier with a drain hose. Run the water hose into a small hole in the floor and drain it outside, it's just water from the air so it's ok like any other air conditioner. Humid air makes a room seem way hotter so get rid of the humidity.
Great tip!
@@nomadbrad503 Get a digital timer for a lamp/wall outlet and you can run the dehumidifier every other hour so it's not running all year.
I know you are not getting a ton of views, subs but i want to say that i really enjoy your content and like sharing it with others as i think you have a more unique and original take on nomad life!
I am also learning a lot which is what i really enjoy most about your channel! I am looking forward to your winter build coming up soon. I would attend it i could but i am stuck here grindind.
Wow, your van interior is very simple and clean looking, I like it.
thank you!
Blessings always in all you do
I appreciate you
Great video. You are clearly very talented and smart enough to turn your talent towards creating a business. Your home is beautiful and spacious! The only thing I do not get about some nomads are their indifference to having a bathroom. A small shower and one of those new toilets that separate and bag the waste would be a must. I have a weak stomach just thinking about how disgusting handling my waste all the time would be but I get even sicker imagining having to use some of the facilities I’ve seen in public.
thank you for the compliments 😊 been living in a van for 6 years now without a proper bathroom. most my nomad friends are the same. I know it's hard to comprehend. it's just one of those things you cant understand until you try it.. Vanlife isnt for everyone
That's some fine equipment you've got.
I agree!
Your system was "charging" at 192W (@ 4:35). That didn't show AC "load." Your panels were covering whatever the AC load was and dumping another 192W into your battery bank.
good catch!
Nomad Brad made me hungry. That looked tasty! Enjoyed watching. Thanks for posting!
✌🏻👍🏻✌🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
realy love your content mr Brad
Thank You! I appreciate that 😊
You have it dialed in! Just awesome!
thank you 😎
The variable speed compressor is new tech that is awesome. They have them for your house too (Bosch) but super pricey. I have a similar variable speed on my pool pump. So, if the RMS drop 50%, the power use drops 75%. Amazing to run your A//C all day super low and ... the temperature doesn't cycle low and high to kick the compressor on and off. It's always on super low . I had no idea they made these for vans! Doesn't matter the price, it's worth it because there's almost no other acceptable alternative that can be run on such low power (after initial cooling). Thanks Brad!
I agree with you
The trick, here, it would seem, is that in addition! to the neat Klimatic/Klimaire/Kwhatever it is ductless mini split and it's microprocessor-controlled operation (isn't everything? these days, though?) is that device (resembling an inverter in operation) you have intercepting the PV current before it gets to any battery bank solar charger... regardless of the details, that one can run air conditioning from 1200 watts solar and 400Ah battery is impressive. Carry on! Brad. Thanks for your vid!
EG4 sells a minisplit that can be ran directly off DC solar
I would exstend my rear umper out past the a/c and run a guard up in front of it. Better safe than sorry. Love your channel.
that could be done!
Thanks for sharing your experience with a mini-split in the truck. I have a similar setup but with a Midea U mini-split type window AC. I am also in Alabama. One big difference between Arizona vs Alabama is Humidity. Humidity and heat will make that AC work a lot harder and for much longer. I found out last year when we had the hottest summer in a long time that the Solar panels (4x315W) couldn't maintain battery at full and also run the AC at the same time. IN fact over night I would see those batteries going down to ZERO (same capacity as your setup). The plan is to get 4x500W solar panels up there and probably get a mini-split with a higher efficiency than the current Midea U at 16 SEER.
In regards to the cooking, next time try bone broth instead of water and also add some mushrooms. Good stuff!
yes I was in texas last summer in high humidity, the difference is that the mini split has a much larger outdoor coil which makes it more effecient at removing heat from the living space.
Why not a powerful generator to run a Split AC, top off batteries during the day, run off batteries at night and stick it all in a box on a trailer hitch rack?
@@lvpuppets loud and consumes gas. That said I carry a small generator that could do both in emergency situations. I would much rather just rely on solar as much as possible. Not noise or mess.
@@lvpuppets why pay for gas to run a generator when the sun provides free energy…also generators are very loud and often you can feel the vibration inside your van. I know because I tried one on my last box truck
You have me really debating on purchasing a van and making serious changes in my life. You seem so Free from stress. These bills are out of control.
I’m telling you man, with prices where they are, there’s no reason to throw away $2,000+ per month on an apartment that’s barely larger than a van.
@@nomadbrad503 you got that Right. Thanks to your videos, I think I'm going to make some serious changes. I'm worn out.
@@theomartin7339 Test living in only in your car for a month. That way you have a real idea about it.
Looks like your van build is really efficient just on it's own....99 deg outside and 84 inside before AC turned on.
The insta pot looks great. That's how I love to cook, do a heap at once and enjoy over several meals......makes it cheaper per meal and also way easier per meal :)
thank you! the insulation does a pretty good job. I love making large meals all at once
You should sear the roast first and use beef broth. Add a bay leaf as well
You're right about that.
Hey Tony, You sound like a professional chef.
@@lawrencedavidson6195 I was for a few years.
@@nomadbrad503 Love your build! Super smart in terms of how you did the electrical (I happen to work for a wireless power company on the tech side for customers). I also love how much space you have to cook. That's better than my 1930's house!
I thought the same thing when I saw it.
You have a great interior in your truck Amazing, great job.
All that, mini-split, batteries, solar-panels, etc, is very cash intensive, so you are lucky to be able to afford all that stuff.
4 x 320 watt solar panels are like $1000.
More for the mini-split.
Well, it costs money, but consider the alternative...
@@HTOP1982
Yes, I agree. I would not even try to do this without a/c - especially in the desert! And the minisplit covers heating to if I am not mistaken, right? I think you nailed it.
@@justgivemethetruth I'm recommissioning a motorhome, and going to spend in total about 1200 GBP to move to 280Ah lifepo4, and 780watts of solar so that I can run my old 220volt AC unit.
Some costs are also shared, my change to lifepo4 will allow me to run all sorts of cheap and powerful household items.
All in all a medium upfront expenditure for a lot of cost savings and added confort
@@HTOP1982
From my readings I think you should look into a mini-split system. Running a 220 V A/C is really ineffecient.
What is a GBP?
@@justgivemethetruth the mini split will still need all of this stuff due to the Amp draw.
I already own the roof mounted 220v Aircon, it draws around 300 watts with peaks of 600.
Even with a .85 converted efficiency it's still cheaper to use the air con I have and even add an extra 280Ah battery if I end up needing and in the future I can look into a split system.
GBP currency of the UK
You could put the Instant Pot outside the vehicle to exploit the high outside temperature, cutting its power consumption in half, while saving a lot of power of the AC unit. Also, it sounds like you could double your batteries, have no worries.
Yes, I plan to double the battery bank
Fantastic video from someone with only 22k subs. Most channels that know how to keep a video moving and on point have crossed the 100k mark. This is the one time I was wrong about the sub count.
Much appreciated!
quick tip! if you wanna lessen the onion eye burn, you can cut the end of the onion off and leave them in water for a few minutes; the active chemical burning your eyes clings to water, so if your eyes are watering then id say wipe your eyes thoroughly and the burn goes away
Good tip!
Great tip! Thanks
Sweet set-up. Big plus is knowing the know-hows!
thank you! I agree, knowledge helps make this lifestyle more enjoyable
Man, 6 amps running AC on low and all his lights on. Legend. I'm an easy 15 to 19 amps with my van 48 volt DC AC on, fridge and some ligjts.
yeah, at 6 amps the compressor might have been off.
@nomadbrad503 ah right on coz it senses the internal temps after the initial cool down.
@@BWT599 yes. It keeps the indoor unit running to circulate air and the compressor cycles on and off at low speed to maintain temperature
I have a Mirage Magnum 12k BTU, and I can say that this technology is super efficient! ❄️ My A/C stays at a cool 200 watts.
Nice! You’re doing it right 💪🏻
Inverter type so smart, waiting for this in rooftop RV units
yes! they must be working on a rooftop version for RV's the existing RV AC technology is shameful at this point
You'll have a choice to make. Depending on the capacity & size of a rooftop mini-split system, you will have less space for solar panels. I don't think that will work out well with smaller vehicles.
I camped at that home depot in January and had a good experience.
They’re very friendly
Really cool. I would hire you to build out my whole van out
I get that a lot 😅
you can also park at the casinos, they're open 24/7...i find it hard to sleep at walmart parking lot...the foor traffic, the maintenance crew. etc.
Great advice!
A month of rent in many cities could buy a large portion of this setup
My point exactly!
chuck has the most flavour out of most if not all cuts , I used to be a butcher in Australia. ...... retired now
Thanks for the tip!
When you come back to Texas I will be knocking on your door for a bowl of that Roast. 😃 It looks so good.
im happy to share the roast 😎
Ductless systems are amazing! I highly recommend Mitsubishi or Daikin. Everything else is random chinese made equipment and it can be impossible to find parts for repairs.
I installed a lot of daikin as a tech
You should get you something like a Laveo dry-flush for emergencies and night usage. We have one in our camper and yeah, its a little expensive, but it is really awesome and hold odors down very good!
Thanks for the tip!
Good a/c and battery system. Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for watching!
Pretty cool with the mini split.
I have thirty two kilowatt worth of solar at my place I installed. You'd better have a coat on in the summer time and shorts in the winter if you're in my place.😂
haha im happy its keeping you cool
Great set up. Hope you get to a cooler place by mid June through September.
oh absolutely
@@nomadbrad503 northern AZ. Flagstaff. I wish I'd bought a cabin in Flag in 2009. I was looking at one for $46grand. Missed opportunity!!!!
Makes sense to use solar for A/C as usually the sun is usually shining the brightest when it's hot.
my thoughts exactly!
Great set-up mate 👍
thanks! i appreciate that
Nomad Brad Getten it done!!! Nice COOL Video!
thanks! I appreciate you
Great job with your setup 👍💪🌞💡⚡️
I seem to recall you had a good video on your whole setup. Did you do a video on cost breakdown? Similar on how you bought/ the great deal you got on your panelsm😊🧠💰🤔
unfortunately I did not keep good records of the build price. I was building in a rush and blowing money at home deopt like the world was ending 😂
Suggest you put paper strips on the blower part of aircon so your viewers clearly see the aircon is running 🥶
good advice!
Cool! Sweet rig! I wintered over in Yuma last year (by the Fortuna Foothills - you might want to check-out this area 32.6677, -114.3823) where I added an EG-4 28.5 SEER-2 12kbtu mini-split to my motorhome. I love it as it draws about 1/3rd the power of my 14.5k rooftop AC. I have a 5,000w Sungold Power all-in-one like you have to run everything in my MH. My 48v 16.3 kwh battery and 4,400 watts of Sungold power solar panels racked above my roof will run my mini split and my rooftop A/C as needed, 24/7. In fact, I can run them both while charging my battery bank during the day, even winter. Hope to see you down the road one day.
Wow, nice setup! I have heard good things about the eg4 split
Good video and information. You should add the make and model of your Kilmaire air conditioner in your video description.
there is a link is description to my amazon list, everything is there
@@nomadbrad503 Thanks! I only noticed two items, I didn't know I had to click on them to see all your items.
Very nice video. Greetings from Jamaica.
thank you! are folks living in vans in jamaica?
@@nomadbrad503 No, but i'm hoping to do a box truck conversion and start a trend here as a low income housing solution on the island.
@@lawrencedavidson6195 I would love to see that happen!
@@nomadbrad503 Thanks, videos like yours inspire and encourage me.
Great Video Nomad Brad. Very informative Content.
Thanks, I appreciate that
Have you ever done a video about the potential challenges of a box truck rig vs van/rv when it comes to registration, etc?
Oh... I want to know as well.💕
good question ill cover that in my next live on wednesday
Looks like a very good AC unit. But let's be fair, 78 degrees isn't 'nice and cool'. 200 Watt for 24 hours is almost 5 kWh of energy. You need a perfect sunny day to harvest that from 1200 Watt solar panels. But I will say, this setup is probably the best I have seen so far.
thanks for watching 😎
It’s cool if you’re in Arizona. Trust me..
Smart, good and useful video. Good job man 👍🏻.
Glad you enjoyed it!
lol I'm practically immune to onion fumes. One time long ago I worked in a kitchen and they needed a bag of onions cut up. Nobody wanted to do it due to the tears. I volunteered. Then proceeded to run the 20 or so pounds of onions through a deli slicer in a matter of minutes and ran everyone out of the kitchen. Ooops.
Have you posted a video describing your whole solar setup? I'd like to see that .
in this video i showed my power inverter/ solar charger, my battery bank, and I mentioned that I have 1200 watts of solar on the roof. What else would you like to know? what wold you want to see in another video that you did not see here? Genuinely curious
@@nomadbrad503 what model SunPower gold are you using? Did you wire the solar panels in series or parallel or series/parallel? Which panels did you go with? And of course how much did the whole solar setup cost?
@@anthonyglaser929 ok, thanks for clarifying. I will make a follow up video with full details. Look for that next Sunday may 4th
Stealth parking that most people overlook is Amazon fulfillment warehouses. Employees come and go 24/7 so no one gives you a second look. I camped out for two years while working different shifts.
In the future season your meat then saute all the side or cut in four and saute all sides. Then pull out meat and add your aromatic veggies and small amount of oil. Wooden spoon scrap off the fond built up on bottom of pan. Once veggies soft add little water and store till nothing stuck to bottom of pan. Then add remaining ingredients for 1 hour on high pressure.
Great tips!
Well made video and very informative. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing! It was a great reference.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, solar real estate is why I want to use a box truck as a conversion so I can run a A/C on solar. Thanks
Absolutely! It’s the best platform for collecting solar
Great information about your off grid AC, but the roast stole the show
Thank you!
It's all about usable roof space versus overall box size plus the shapes and sizes of todays panels.. If you have a larger truck then yes you can get more solar on top but then you need more battery and a bigger a/c unit to cool the larger space. This is almost the sweet spot. The only other vehicle that falls within range is a 10ft baby box. With a 78 or 79 inch roof width,you can put 3 full size 450w panels with about 6 inch overhang at the rear which is no big deal since the bumpers hang out a foot. With 60 sqr ft and 7000 btu ac yur looking at 74 degree 24/7 using the same battery to 75% or a smaller battery to 35-40%
absolutely! usable space is key. thats why i prefer the flat rectangle roof of a box truck
That’s cool you can run it basically for free. It helps your in Arizona with lots of sun
Absolutely correct
Buy a cover for the outdoor unit and cover it whenever you’re not running it or travelling. Dust in the outdoor condenser coils drastically shortens their life and efficiency.
good idea
nice setup ill be getting it all done as soon as i can startup the box truck
Im happy to hear that dave!
You’re a legend! So helpful
Glad it helped!
In Yuma you can stay anywhere in the desert or the Quetzan Rez close to the canals
they even make ceiling mounted mini-splits now too.
they do but that limits you roof space for solar panels which is why i dont have a roof top unit
If you have the roof space have you ever considered adding a wind generator of sorts for days where solar is not 100% available...
I know there several different types of generators. but just a thought
5:35 Always been “Instant Pot” now. Many remember “Insta Pot” as well. Mandela Effect
lol the mandela effect strikes again
Imagine how much more battery backup you'd have if you had a 208/230v system with a transformer that converts 115v to 230v, you'd run a fraction of the amps you currently run. Great system though, we have tested the amp draw of both, in race car trailers at the track.
Interesting proposal. Thanks for the suggestion
Love it when people say stealth camping in a box truck,van,or truck with cap. It's pretty obvious 😂 I pretty much assume.
Not obvious when your box truck is wrapped to look like a solar company installation truck
Definitely would’ve seasoned and seared the roast first, but it still looks good👍
I agree
I like the setup of the van, I'd prefer to have a shower and a normal toilet though.
thanks! you can definitely put a bathroom in yours
6:30 AM, got up early. LOL! I wish I could sleep in that late. 4:00 AM every day wake up. Showered and leaving for work by 4:15-4:30 AM. 12 hour work days.
wow, you're up early. im just not cut out for that
That sucks
I like the comments about how 78 degrees is set too hot, but you say it feels colder. Probably because You are living in a refrigerated reefer now lol, the supply air is so close to you. Highly insulated, white panels, and no direct sunlight. In a house you are trying to cool the carpet, all the fabric furniture, curtains and drywall. No insulation between rooms so heat is trapped in walls. So heat is always radiating towards you from everywhere.
You're absolutely correct and said it perfectly. so many people are complaining about that and i havent been able to effectively communicate the situation. thank you🙏🏻
80 to 85 degrees is perfect for me. I want to set up a little cooler in my SUV
perfect, you should go for it
split unit is nice in that it is quiet but I found that 5000btu window unit with 12.1seer does 450watt so it's possible to further reduce wattage on power consumption.
A 5,000 btu window unit may work for a small van but not my rig. I have a 12,000 btu model and need every bit of that capacity when I’m In 100+ degree weather.
What’s crazy to me is I keep my house at 65f year round so 78f is still hot to me. Glad you can enjoy that.
Wow, very cold 🥶
It's a dry heat in AZ so it feels cooler.
@@wally1957 absolutely
Great setup very good content
Thanks, I appreciate you