I built an off-grid 4X4 van

[kiwigtx]

thanks guys....... yeah, damn near went broke with all the labor hours; but it was a cool change from the usual rust repair/paint stuff..... I'd put in a week here and a week there

he lives upstate ny, and took it home for a shakedown/test and to get it out of my hair for a bit....... it will be back for a few finishing touches....... the only rattle/squeak I had to deal with was the rear doors needed to shut tighter

here's the water tank, I didn't want it to slosh around so I made it out of three 8 inch pvc tubes....... it fills/drains through a hose bib on the bumper and is vented

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and nothing says mobile meth lab like a dryer vent hanging out the side

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Breaking Bad springs to mind......

 

[eldubb440]

Breaking Bad springs to mind......

gotta draw inspiration from somewhere

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

My old motocross bus we filled 8” pvc pipe with air pressure to inflate tires and to pressurize the 3 8” pvc water tanks on the roof. They were painted black to use sun to heat the water.

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

DAMN GOOD JOB!!! Too much thought & engineering into THAT to be even considered as "PINEY ENGINEERED"!! Great utilization of space!!

 

[Timmayy]

WOW! incredible work.

 

[Budnicks]

pretty damn cool bug-out van/rig

 

[rumblefish360]

That looked like it was fun to do!

 

[eldubb440]

the van is back for some finishing touches. one thing is I want to be able to plug in to an external AC power supply such as at a campground. I really only need 1 circuit (for the air conditioner), but 2 circuits wouldn't hurt. Maybe a mini breaker box if such a thing exists? I realize I have to keep any "extension cord" short and heavy gauge. I have zero knowledge of how motor homes and campers connect to an outside source; so I look to my FBBO brothers for some ideas and input. I would also like to plug the generator into the same "inlet" when needed. I know @kiwigtx is an electrician, I'm sure there are others. Thanks guys

 

[kiwigtx]

the van is back for some finishing touches. one thing is I want to be able to plug in to an external AC power supply such as at a campground. I really only need 1 circuit (for the air conditioner), but 2 circuits wouldn't hurt. Maybe a mini breaker box if such a thing exists? I realize I have to keep any "extension cord" short and heavy gauge. I have zero knowledge of how motor homes and campers connect to an outside source; so I look to my FBBO brothers for some ideas and input. I would also like to plug the generator into the same "inlet" when needed. I know @kiwigtx is an electrician, I'm sure there are others. Thanks guys

Being unfamiliar with the local parts and regulations as such....I'm sure there is a circuit breaker/RCCB device that s suitable for your A/C if that is the only thing you need to power up.

An inbuilt surface outlet/inlet on the Motorhome bodywork would be useful .....making sure to get the genders correct - Male socket on the exterior of the vehicle, so that the Female end of an extension cord can plug in, and be safe of course.

I would just make sure that you have the wiring (cable) suitably rated and protected from mechanical damage, and that you do get it checked by someone who is qualified and experienced. Nothing worse than being electrocuted in your own home/motorhome, especially after you did the work yourself.

If it was here, I would have a small distribution board with an RCCB (Residual current circuit breaker), which would help protect 'life & property' from vagrant and wandering 'juice' leaking from any part of the circuit. Generator would be isolated from the remaining part of the vehicle if it is supplying mains voltage....except (and this may vary in your area) a bonding ground wire to connect any potential leakage away from harms way.

Believe it or not, a grounding cable (or earthing cable) can be more dangerous than any live conductor. The reason I say that is that most people take it for granted that the ground wire does nothing, and looks harmless enough....until they get in between it, and any current flowing through it - thus making themselves part of a live circuit.

It happens.....people have been killed by ground cables.

I hope that helps somewhat.

 

[Road Rat]

A lot of inverters have auto switching from battery to shore power, you might look into that. They work well, most won’t have any interruption of power.

 

[eldubb440]

making sure to get the genders correct - Male socket on the exterior of the vehicle, so that the Female end of an extension cord can plug in, and be safe of course.

thanks kiwi. valuable info..... I know enough to be dangerous....... the male socket thingy is something I was wondering about

I want to have 2 circuits.... one dedicated for the AC, plus another.....I suppose I will search for a mini breaker box of some sort

 

[eldubb440]

A lot of inverters have auto switching from battery to shore power, you might look into that. They work well, most won’t have any interruption of power.

I have an inverter that works nicely.......I just don't think my setup will run the AC very for very long...... this van will have some limitations, and that is probably one of them

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

Most OLDER campgrounds have 30 amp service & "RESORTS"/ newer/bigger campgrounds have been going to 50amp services: go 30 amp plug and have 30 to 50 amp converter cord to give them options.

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

@eldubb440 : sent you text with link earlier

 

[eldubb440]

@eldubb440 : sent you text with link earlier

phone been dead since wednesday lol..... I hate that thing

I have to turn it on later tonight and see what I been missing......hair on my neck is standing up

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

Bud (Rebel) use it as a chew toy?

 

[eldubb440]

Bud (Rebel) use it as a chew toy?

Rebel has never misbehaved of destroyed anything of value........ but my Rottie, the late great Princess Von Raven, was quite the handful

 

[Hey-O]

Same setup on a big boat, shore power on a boat would be cheaper to use, I would think. I had 20 amps at my dock and it powered a cigarette boat. Fewer circuits and I would think less power needed, just what you need.

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

LMAO. Rebel prefers shredding sticks, THAT better then house.
A/C size and full load amps will make determination of elec size. RV van doesn't need a 10500 or 13500 ac unit, it would short cycle, NOT GOOD. Upgraded dad's 32ft rv to a 13500 years ago, no change needed electric.

 

[kiwigtx]

thanks kiwi. valuable info..... I know enough to be dangerous....... the male socket thingy is something I was wondering about

I want to have 2 circuits.... one dedicated for the AC, plus another.....I suppose I will search for a mini breaker box of some sort

The American caravan/trailer I worked on a few years ago needed a complete rewire - the USA cable is not legal here, and I had to re-work the mains/12-24VDC system to separate them out a bit better.

I changed the dangling lead to a fixed socket for the mains in also...

White doors conceal the mains side of the power - circuit breakers etc - kept the 12 volts DC for the lighting....and the side-shift that opens the dining area up.