Starting Van Life On A Budget OFF-GRID POWER "REALITY CHECK"
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Talking about PORTABLE batteries and living the van life. READ THE DESCRIPTION: Below is a list of items and the POWER NEEDS THEY HAVE......Click SHOW MORE
OK we are going to compare a few electronic items against the Jackery Explorer 1000 (1002 watt hour battery) Maximum 1000 watt output BUT has a 2000 watt peak. Meant for products 1000 watts or less. And show you the how long they will last before before the battery will need to be recharged....
6000btu Air Conditioner (500Watts) RUNTIME: 2 HOURS
Hair Dryer (1000Watts) RUNTIME: 1 HOUR
Curling Iron (30Watts) RUNTIME: 33 HOURS
Induction Cooktops (2000-4000 watts) RUNTIME: 0
Ceramic Space Heater (1500Watts) RUNTIME: 0
Vitamix Blender (1300Watts) RUNTIME: 0
(some appliances above need a higher inverter to power them 2000 to 3000 Watts)
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Just type in how many batteries for inverter found a web page and found To size a battery bank we take the hours needed continuously x watts = total watts/DC volts=amps needed.
Example: 3 hours of run time needed * 1500 watts = 4500 watts total / 12 volts DC = 375 amps. You will need a total of 375 amps of stored power in the batteries. We don’t recommend fully depleting your batteries so keep this in mind when you are calculating the number of batteries needed.
Here is another example: Let’s say you purchase a 2000 watt inverter 12 Volt. If you max out the inverter at 2000 watts, you are pulling 2000 watts /12 volts = 166.6 DC amps per hour. If you use a 200 amp 12 volt battery you would divide 200 amp battery / 166.6 amps = 1.2 hours of run time. This is if you plan on fully depleting the battery, which we DON’T recommend. We recommend 50% depth of discharge. Since we recommend 50% depth of discharge, you would divide 1.2 hours /50% = .60 hours. If you use 30% depth of discharge you divide 1.2 hours/30%=.36 hours.
From the inverter store
I live on a sailboat......it’s amazing how much life is simple and happy without all those ‘high power’ things.
Well said. I have an end goal for my van, but for now, I'm enjoying the process. I'm proud of my build. My heart and sweat equity went into it. It's just fine for me. Other builds give me inspiration, but this is my journey. I'm embracing every part of it.♥️🌞😎
have any vids on it?
Excellent Video. People need to realize the idea is *not* to drain your batteries to zero everyday. There's a reason most vanlifers use gas (propane or butane) for heat & cooking. Saves on electricity. Electricity is a limited resource in vanlife.
I "bake" in my dutch oven - pizza, cake, cookies, pie - over a camp fire. It's fun to challenge yourself and find a way of doing things.
l love using my dutch oven they are great for all kinds of cooking, for those who dont know look up cooking with one on utube loads of recipes
I make the best pineapple upside cake in my Dutch oven using charcoal briquettes
Why don't you make some videos, it would be very helpful to beginners.
We are using our Dutch oven a lot more as well. We take a small bag of briquettes and a chimney starter. Lots of fun and flavour.
Google the item you want and add 12 volt to the title , you may be surprised , like I found out Makita makes a battery powered coffee maker.
Great video! I have to have another mindset while traveling in my van. Propane, butane, solar or Jackery 500 powered is something I have to think about before putting something in my van. What you describe is like having a $1000 budget and using it up in one day. Budget, budget, budget the POWER.
It’s about getting back to basics, cook with gas, heat with propane, Jackery is a luxury. Learn how aclámate to Van life before you empty your pockets on this much power. I still have battery powered lights and I’m on year three out here. I love my 160 W Jackery just right for my needs. Thanks for the video it’s a much needed reality check
Chrome, I just wanted to tell you that I watch you every day! I love what you do. And not just WHAT you do, but the way you do it. When people are passionate about what they're doing, they have the ability to do it well, and you do! I appreciate all of your content, and while some of it may not be applicable to me, I enjoy watching because of what you bring to everything you present. So, kudos bro! And keep on! Teaching, learning, exploring, and experiencing life!
I'm not a very smart man but I know that even 1000w hour jackery will not run most of the things people want to run specialty air conditioner Maybe a half hour out of it. smarten up people
Great video!!! And great normalizing all van life. People come from all walks of life. You Rock my friend! Well...you feel like a friend 🤪
A much needed video. I could read the confusion in the comments from yesterday. Well done.
@@NO-WAR-WINGS I started carlife (now minivanlife) forced into it. You still have to be realistic about what you can no longer afford. Small gas stove not electric. Gas heater not electric heater from your house. They just require too much power. Survivors re-educate themselves based on budget.
Excellent video! Never really thought about the power draw and financial cost of electric appliances. Thanks for explaining everything 👍
Chrome that’s awesome and I agree a lot of people don’t understand that I think one thingPeople don’t understand is how happy they will be without all those big electronics buzzing around their head When you disconnect from the grid is when you find your happiness
"Let it go..." I love that advice Chrome. I'm into vanlife because I wanted something different. I want simplicity; it makes me feel alive. Thanks for the video.
Some people were just getting crazy on all the things they were talking about.... common sense people.... Stay Weird Chrome and Cruz.....
James Sherman absolutely agree. When I do this, and I will, it’s all about off grid and cutting back. Not living beyond my means like a lot of these people are thinking.
Great information chrome. Most people don’t realize how much power some things take.
Will Prowse is "The Man" when it comes to solar. That isn't what Vancity Vanlife is about. Now, back to Cruz!
Excellent video just common sense information
Oh yeah, vanlife will definitley make you realize how much electricity you use. How much water you use. How much fun you'll have. How much your life was taken up by the same old routine day after day. How much every day is a new exciting adventure. How sometimes it's boring because mabe its raining outside. Its a crap shoot and it is adventurous both exciting and sometimes scarey as hell!
Live it!
Stay weird!
Peace out!
😎
What amazes me is the time and effort the masses invest in STUFF, minimalism has freed me to the point where I only need 4 products, a van, acoustic guitar, metal detector, and a bicycle. Live long and prosper.
You can bake a cake on a camp fire in a Dutch oven. I watched my dad make coffee in a paper bag over a camp fire. You dont NEED a coffee pot or an electric oven they just make easier. Lol
It might be worth it to go through the process of calculating the actual amp hours consumed by devices. Most devices will have either the input amps or input wattage required. A 1000 watt hour battery is 83 amp hours and that just isn’t that much. Still the most successful van is going to be primarily 12-Volt DC with LED lights. The goal should be to be able to safely run a 12-volt compression fridge, not an AC. In the van DC wins hands down.
It's amazing how spoiled we all get. I spent my childhood with out electricity. I'm in the planning Fase of my van with limited funds. But really really want my microwave . I have the jackery 500. No microwave for me😔
Microwave is radiation heat anyway. Who wants the eat radiation?
You can buy a dutch oven, if you really need an oven. they work great as a microwave substitute!
What I have done...because I accepted that reality is buy and install six 155 Amp AGM Hour batteries a 4000 to 8000 volt inverter and a I have 1600 watts of Solar with a 200 watt additional I can hookup on a portable set of panels... I want to run an 5000 BTU AC during the summer and at that I haven't got a lot to spare. It wasn't cheap and it has evolved. And even at that I am not going to run a microwave, or induction cooktop though I probably could on occasion.
I've been living in my bus for a year now. Electric Rice cooker is great during the day when you have solar. Propane cooktop otherwise.
Then you can store some rice in the fridge for the next day. By the way, what is the cheapest way to keep food cold? I am wannabe soon-to-be start to convert.
@@jasperjasper813 I recommend getting a 12 volt chest cooler. The type with a thermostat. They are a bit expensive.
I just bought a van a Ford e350 van I'm in Erie Pennsylvania right now I'm so excited!!!!
Kevin Krentkowski congrats, I’m on the hunt now.
I just need my coffee maker and I’m a happy VANNER!!!!!
I want to do van life but i have to have competent ac. Thats it. I am using shore power now in summer. Big buddy keeps me going in winter.
I put this on my nomad list on my channel.
I really do not need this information but I think it is vital for others.
Always keepin it real! Great job Chrome
If you have high powered items, just get a Predator generator from HF. It’s way cheaper than a $10k solar system.
Thanks for answering question! It was just out of curiosity! I'm building a 4x8 camp trailer and wondering if it could work cuz it gets 110 here in new mexico was going to put 400watt solar onto it! With 2 12vlt batteries and also for 110 hook up thanks again
All.im using is 200 watt inverter right now
Here here! All I had was a 150w inverter run off my 12v cigarette lighter spot for a whole year plus. Now I have a 300w inverter running on my small solar system. Small steps teach you what you can easily live without.
Great Video as always chrome. The plans continue for my van, codename wet dream on wheels.
I use 12v rice cooker and oven. And when I drive I use slow cooker with a 300w inverter.its perfect I make even bread . For heating webasto. And I am very happy
Best video ever ever
Hello chrome love your video's thank you for keeping it real!!! Can you link the jakory together? And do have to youse there solar panels of ca can you youse another brand of panel
I am hoping to be able to get into van life within the next year or so. Hopefully sooner than later but I have to wait to get a van and when I do I will be doing short weekend trips to get used to the van life and then go do longer trips. It's been a long time since I have wanted to be able to do this but I'm determined to do it.
Raina Lagatt You don’t have to have a van to get used to van life - go camping in your car on the weekends. If you can do it in a car, you can do it in a van. It’s an eye opener.
Thank you for sharing this information. ❤️
Great video Chrome!!!
Hi Chrome. After 3 weeks of watching the last 2 years of your life whilst I work night shifts I've just subsided. Love the videos dude.. stay weird..
Van life = minimalism = pre modern living/ luxuries
Thanks for the how to’s for cooking in a pan. Please please gives us more. I’ll be living in a mini van and need ideas how to make the day to day work.
Dude, Chrome thanks bro. I've been so bummed out. Trying to find places to park
Cooking something you can use your induction cooktop
Great reality check.
12:10 Flip side to this is like saying people who live in mansions are living the fake house life lol :)
Thanks for for the info you share ! Big help !
Well said chrome. You always make things easy to understand. I remember when educating myself about batt/solar and realizing how much power some appliances use was just insane, was a huge shock....
I remember those days in your channel Chrome Bless you. Hi Cruz 🐾💞💞💞🐾🐾😘
hahahahhaha some people thinks its magic !!!!
Hello there Chrome and Cruz 👌🤘👏✌️
I absolutely agree. Less is more. I just finished my van build. I'm a 53 year old woman living in New Mexico. You dont have to give up who you are to live simply! Chrome, if you want, I can film my build!
Gretchen Lee so jealous! We’re the same age and I’m probably going to have to wait at least 2 more years to hit the road. In the meantime I’m practicing by tent camping more just to get it down to bare bones.
If you really need ac in a small space like a van, get creative with an old cooler, block of ice a 12v fan!
Loved the video. Friend thinks she can have all the luxuries from home and put in a rig to travel with me. Tried to explain the realities to her. This will help. Thank You Chrome!
Why is there no count on your thumbs up?
#WeirdosUnite #PowerYourLife 👍👊🍺💯
Thank you for this. I have a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Setting up my electrical properly is essential for me.
Many CPAPs have 12-volt cords you can order. We got one through CPAP.com for my hubby's machine. However, overnight the Jackery 500 goes from full to 23%. The humidifier part of the CPAP doubles the energy use of one without - hubby's has the humidifier.
@@misdesixtysix8255 using the 120 plug (that came with the CPAP originally) used all but 7% of the Jackery 500, so I was pleased with the 12-volt usage :) He can plug the Jackery in at work, but sadly the unit won't last an entire weekend. Your mileage may vary. We are considering either getting the 1000 or moving to a Titan, but those are spendy.
Chrome great video!!! Thank for the explanation 😊
(Watt hour of power source divided by 0.9) x wattage of device... that you want to run that'll tell you how long it'll run... roughly
hi chrome hope you are doing well..I can't wait to get a jackery
Great video, Great information. Somebody in there is snoring really loud.
They need a gas generator
I'm not even a van lifer but enjoy your channel so much. Really admire your real, fair and common sense approach.
Great info, as usual!
The new jackery is for things like charging a phone or laptop or camera batteries, and last a few days.
craigslist 3500watt generator(350 bucks),,, 2000 watt airconditioner(350bucks) ,,, toaster, microwave, toaster oven,, powered by
Do you have any easy to make recipes?
Thank you so much for this video. Is there any other alternatives for a mini Keurig? When I drove semi-truck I used a 1500w inverter and I had to run the tractor to make a cup of coffee but then drove all day. Ive been searching several places to find info on this because I have to have my coffee! Lol
Wendy Williams A Keurig is nothing more than an extra fancy way of heating water. Use a pocket rocket and a French press and you have great tasting coffee.
✌️❤️🐶... ty for sharing
To power a Low power Air Conditioner and not much else you're talking about a base unit of 600 amp hours in battery and 600 watts in solar and that may not be enough to go across cloudy days. And build above that for other things you want. I saw a setup Jim in Denver showed. He crunches numbers, but also goes but what they do in reality.
Hey chrome are you worried about the corona virus?
Super rad! Love the videos, keep up the hard work brother!! 🤘
Great n simple explanation 👍
It's not rocket science. The Jackery has a 1000 watt hour capacity (ok, 1002, but for easy math we will use 1000). About 90% of that will be usable with the depth of discharge limit of about 90%. Not using all of the power helps extend the life of the internal battery and is designed in. That lowers the usable power to 900 watt hours. Now include inverter losses (the inverter makes household power 110v or 120v from batteries - and there are natural heat and conversion losses), now you're at 85% left. So that makes 850 watt hours usable in reality. Now take your item you wan to run, say it's 100 watts. That means this --> 850 watt hours, divided by 100 watts = 8.5 hours. Another example. A 300 watt electric heater. 850 watt hours divided by 300 watts = 2.8 hours, or just under 3 hours. Simple simple. Math is your friend peeps.
Well said
If you want an Air conditioner thatbis efficient, look up Cruiseandcomfort.com
it is a 12v AC and only pulls 46amps. However, it will cost you 5 thousand and you need at least 2 to 300Ah to make sure you have enough headroom.
Chrome! My van build is coming along and Im loving it
👍👍keeping it real Chrome👍👍It is what it is...van life!
But I wanna cook hotdogs with my 240v welder ;)
Great video! Haven’t yet researched those luxuries, now I don’t want to. Glad you did this! I have a jackery 240; I can get 3.5 hrs with a 12v heating blanket. Then it’s 8-9 hrs to charge. Yes, that is expensive!! Induction is officially off my wishlist!!
I have seen videos of all electric builds. Cost is $12,000 and up, just for the electric system. It is all about budget and preference. Either way is okay as long as it is built right, with all the proper safety codes followed. Both are "VAN LIFE". As Douglas Harley says below, all van life has to be minimalist, given the limited size of the vehicle.
If only it would be that simple.power companys would be fighting it.
Thank you for saying that. I don't think some people are fully aware of how much their daily life will change when they choose van life. You don't NEED all those high powered devices. You don't NEED a home sized air condition system. You don't NEED a conduction cooktop. You don't NEED a ceramic heater. Your in a van not a home with 8 foot ceilings. Less space = Less power needs.
I am addicted to your videos my friend. You are so down to earth and real! I love the way you look at life, how you enjoy the simple things and take it all in! You def know how to stop and smell the roses. Stay weird Chrome, and give Cruz some love for me!
I appreciate this video. I am a new RVer, and I have a hard time reducing my stuff, including appliances. I don't have the same issues as van dwellers regarding power, but I know that I can't plug in whatever I want whenever I want. I wanna get to that place, of keeping only the bare essentials.
One time when I stayed a couple nights in a motel, I simply heated up cans of soup in my wok. I'm a long way from minimizing, but I need to. My RV was dragging bad.
FYI, someone saw my need, and gave me an RV. Wow. Honestly I would've purchased a box van if I had a choice, and I would've done a no build, build. Now I'm spoiled
I enjoy your videos! I don't have consistent Wi-Fi, so I'm behind keeping up with my regulars, but it gives me something to look forward to.😊
👍👍
Thanks Chrome! Great advice!!
I needed that reality check! Just starting out and I'm on a budget. Safe travels!👍😊
I've a YETI 400 and have tried to run a small magic bullet blender...didn't run but a AC! came up on my Yeti. Anyone else seen this? I just don't want to ruin anything.
Would like to know if it would run those 3.3 or 4.4 ct mini fridges similar to the ones sold in homedepot. They are least expensive and can hold plenty. Have one at home but will hopefully be using in van. That's the type of demonstration I'm sure most would like to see. I plan on having fridge, microwave but when needed and electric stove-top. Of course gonna need for charging/running laptop, tablet, cellphone, and probably an led tv. Not running all at same time either. lol. Thank you, keep the content coming. Van hard and safe.
Still enjoying your candid, honest information and sharing. Also appreciate your stand-up regard for the various ways people enter van-life. Thanks! Please keep doing what you do
Lol.
People have no idea what living efficiently and on budget is.
People don't know the difference between what is a need and what is a luxury.
Great video.
Love your channel and watch almost daily.
I live kind of a transient lifestyle in the Fraser Valley and want to some day meet you.
I think you 'get it'.
Simple life.
Love life.
Hello Chrome and thanks for this video...real talk. I wondered about the power needed to run my sewing machine. I will check the info you suggested.
Great reality talk! Love to hear that crunch when you bit into your garlic bread. Makes me want to make garlic bread too! :) Thank you for sharing.
when my son was little ( 2 1/2 and 4) l hitched hiked round europe, slept on beaches, Had a one burner camp stove and one pan. Would use salt water to cook eggs and potatoes lol Did it for 2 months while traveling in Greece and Italy. l could easily adapt to van life if l didnt have 7 great danes. Life is what you make it some things are just that things, the only thing l need to power is my sewing machine LOL
Bro I love this video. I get all kinds of silly questions from people. The big one is microwave. And I'm like for what. I cook what I eat at that time never have leftovers. And dont have a freezer anyways. Lol keep keeping it real homie.
Great video. Thanks for keeping it real!
Thank you! folks feel like if they get a battery/solar battery that it can run endlessly! You need multiple ways to power a system and/or a HUGE solar supply which will still need a back up. Even a hybrid car needs gas as a back up!!!
Great video...I am slowing my roll, taking my time,doing it right thanks to you...Thanks
Great stuff. Keep it simple everybody. Robyn, Australia