This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2022/08/21 20:10] frater_secessus [Mismatched panels] |
opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes [2024/06/05 18:40] (current) frater_secessus [thrashing] word choice |
||
---|---|---|---|
Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
* Have good DIY skills and fix-it/ | * Have good DIY skills and fix-it/ | ||
* Know basic cooking and are okay with simpler foods | * Know basic cooking and are okay with simpler foods | ||
+ | * Are the " | ||
* Are instinctive " | * Are instinctive " | ||
* Are very organized and good at planning | * Are very organized and good at planning | ||
Line 24: | Line 25: | ||
People who are less likely to adapt to the life: | People who are less likely to adapt to the life: | ||
- | * the "high maintenance" | + | * The "high maintenance" |
- | * social | + | * People who cannot tolerate being physically uncomfortable for extended periods of time. |
+ | * chronic worriers | ||
+ | * Social | ||
* Those who don't like having to understand how things work | * Those who don't like having to understand how things work | ||
- | * stoners, daydreamers, | + | * Stoners, daydreamers, |
- | * those that need internet access 24/7 | + | * Those that need internet access 24/7 |
- | * the easily bored | + | * The easily bored |
- | * people | + | * People |
- | * picky eaters | + | * Picky eaters |
Further reading: | Further reading: | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Red Flags ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Worships Christopher McCandless and 'Into The Wild' | ||
+ | * Wants to run away | ||
+ | * Thinks that Vanlife will be " | ||
===== Planning ===== | ===== Planning ===== | ||
Line 60: | Line 69: | ||
//fit for your purpose// and // | //fit for your purpose// and // | ||
- | * the first van you see | + | * The first van you see |
- | * what is depicted on social media | + | * A " |
- | * what others tell you to buy | + | * What is depicted on social media |
- | * the cheapest van you can find | + | * What others tell you to buy |
+ | * The cheapest van you can find | ||
* etc | * etc | ||
The seller must have a title in hand, and it must be in their name. The van must receive a pre-sale inspection from an independent mechanic. | The seller must have a title in hand, and it must be in their name. The van must receive a pre-sale inspection from an independent mechanic. | ||
- | It is //highly advisable// to **not** buy a fixer-upper or "Needs a little TLC" van as your first van, unless you have extensive mechanical abilities/ | + | **DO NOT** buy a fixer-upper or "Needs a little TLC" van as your first van, unless you have extensive mechanical abilities/ |
==== Failure to find vans ==== | ==== Failure to find vans ==== | ||
Line 104: | Line 114: | ||
==== Failure to inspect the van ==== | ==== Failure to inspect the van ==== | ||
- | The answer to the "what do I look for with a used van?" FAQ is "a mechanic" | + | The short answer to the "[[rv: |
The mechanic knows what to look for. Finding things that need repair is not necessarily a deal-breaker; | The mechanic knows what to look for. Finding things that need repair is not necessarily a deal-breaker; | ||
Line 174: | Line 184: | ||
==== Failure to consider all loads ==== | ==== Failure to consider all loads ==== | ||
- | Posts that include "my needs are simple, all I need are lights and a fan" develop, after questioning, | + | Posts that include "my needs are simple, all I need are lights and a fan" |
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Actual examples: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * "All I need is something to charge my phone, laptop, run my light and two small fans" (and an electric kettle) | ||
+ | * "I don't use any of my appliances for long" (except "my small hot plate for about 2-3 hours" | ||
+ | * "What are the **most basic features** that are required to travel/live in a van in the US? I'm thinking something like a bed, **an airfryer**, and some food/ gear storage." | ||
[[rv: | [[rv: | ||
Line 184: | Line 201: | ||
There are dreams and fantasies, then there is **what will actually work on the road**. | There are dreams and fantasies, then there is **what will actually work on the road**. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== failure to think realistically about charging ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | //Using// power is the fun/easy part; //making// power is the grind that will determine how often and how long you get to do the fun part, and how often and long you will sit in the dark with dead batteries. Think of how easy it is to spend money vs earn money. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Choosing [[electrical: | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Underbuilding the power system ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Most people will lowball how [[electrical: | ||
==== Overbuilding the power system ==== | ==== Overbuilding the power system ==== | ||
Line 196: | Line 224: | ||
* [[http:// | * [[http:// | ||
- | ---- | + | ==== Wanting to charging from EV charging stations ==== |
+ | |||
+ | While most things are technically // | ||
+ | |||
+ | Further reading: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
===== Solar ===== | ===== Solar ===== | ||
Line 217: | Line 252: | ||
^ Time ^ Watts ^ | ^ Time ^ Watts ^ | ||
|6:02a |0w| | |6:02a |0w| | ||
- | |7:02a |15.9w| | + | |7:02a |0w((panel voltage too low))| |
|8:02A |32.8w| | |8:02A |32.8w| | ||
|9:02A |48.7w| | |9:02A |48.7w| | ||
Line 229: | Line 264: | ||
|5:02p |48.9w| | |5:02p |48.9w| | ||
|6:02p |33.1w| | |6:02p |33.1w| | ||
- | |7:02p |16.2w| | + | |7:02p |0w((panel voltage too low))| |
|8:02p |0w| | |8:02p |0w| | ||
+ | See the //not enough panel// section below. | ||
+ | ==== believing 100w of panel will make 100w all year ==== | ||
+ | Solar harvest is greatly affected by the position of the sun in the sky (see above) and how many hours of that sun are available. | ||
+ | ==== believing 100w of panel will make 100w in all conditions ==== | ||
+ | 100w of panel makes 100w under lab (ie, perfect) conditions. | ||
+ | ==== believing solar makes zero watts in rain, overcast, etc ==== | ||
+ | Solar rarely makes //zero// watts. I find that at local solar noon at lower latitudes my flat-mounted panels make: | ||
+ | * 5%-10% of rated power in **thunderstorms and dark overcast** | ||
+ | * 20%-30% of rated power in **normal full overcast** | ||
+ | * 33%-50% of rated power in **bright overcast** | ||
+ | * 70%-90% of rated power under **full sun** | ||
+ | ==== believing they will set out portable panels ==== | ||
+ | Mounted panels make power whenever sunlight is available. | ||
+ | Be realistic: | ||
- | See the //not enough panel// section below. | ||
==== shade ==== | ==== shade ==== | ||
- | [[electrical: | + | [[electrical: |
- | ==== Worrying | + | |
+ | Unforced errors include mounting the panels | ||
+ | |||
+ | * on a rack that has ladder retention uprights | ||
+ | * on a rack that has raised sides | ||
+ | * on the bottom of a roof basket | ||
+ | * below a roof basket (!!!) | ||
+ | * near taller objects like vent hoods, antennas, cargo boxes, awning mounts, etc | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== worrying about solar ==== | ||
Yes, [[electrical: | Yes, [[electrical: | ||
Line 262: | Line 320: | ||
=== Panels that won't fit === | === Panels that won't fit === | ||
- | Beginners sometimes buy panels before measuring the available roofspace. | + | Beginners sometimes buy [[electrical: |
=== Toy panels === | === Toy panels === | ||
Line 270: | Line 328: | ||
On the other end of the extreme, larger(200w+), | On the other end of the extreme, larger(200w+), | ||
- | === Flex panels | + | === panel type === |
- | After size, the most common mistakes are in **choosing the wrong panel type**. | + | After size, the most common mistakes are in **choosing the wrong [[electrical: |
+ | |||
+ | First things first: | ||
Line 284: | Line 344: | ||
Don't get me started on people **flat-mounting poly/mono flex panels to the roof of their van**. | Don't get me started on people **flat-mounting poly/mono flex panels to the roof of their van**. | ||
- | === mixing different panels === | ||
- | |||
- | Mixing differently-rated panels will always be sub-optimal. | ||
=== Panel types and controllers === | === Panel types and controllers === | ||
- | It's also possible to combine the **wrong panel type for the controller**. | + | It's also possible to combine the **wrong panel type for the [[electrical: |
**Poly pairs well with [[electrical: | **Poly pairs well with [[electrical: | ||
Line 312: | Line 369: | ||
==== Mismatched panels ==== | ==== Mismatched panels ==== | ||
- | Mismatched panels (different voltage or current [[electrical: | + | Mismatched panels (different voltage or current [[electrical: |
* running // | * running // | ||
Line 370: | Line 427: | ||
Buying "more panel than you need" usually costs extra money directly (panel cost * quantity) and indirectly (may need a bigger controller). | Buying "more panel than you need" usually costs extra money directly (panel cost * quantity) and indirectly (may need a bigger controller). | ||
- | Having said all that, you can have too much [[electrical: | + | Having said all that, you can have too much [[electrical: |
==== Relying on tilt ==== | ==== Relying on tilt ==== | ||
Line 395: | Line 452: | ||
===== Batteries ===== | ===== Batteries ===== | ||
- | Dear lord, those poor batteries. New folks [[electrical: | + | Dear lord, those poor batteries. New folks [[electrical: |
Line 582: | Line 639: | ||
**Onlookers: | **Onlookers: | ||
+ | Read and understand specs //before// buying stuff. | ||
+ | Actual examples: | ||
+ | >> I bought a Ecoflow Delta to... to fire up a Chinese diesel heater... However, the heater draws too much juice from the 12v car port to run. | ||
+ | . | ||
+ | >> I recently got a portable kettle that’s collapsable, | ||
+ | |||
+ | . | ||
+ | |||
+ | >> I have [a Renogy DCC50S with a 25v input limit], 6x 100w panels, currently wired as 3x 2 panel **series** in parallel, [and destroyed the controller]. | ||
===== Advice ===== | ===== Advice ===== | ||
Good advice can save time, money, and heartbreak. But getting good advice is not simple or even natural. We have to slow down and force ourselves to think about the issues, our questions, the existing body of knowledge, the answers we receive. | Good advice can save time, money, and heartbreak. But getting good advice is not simple or even natural. We have to slow down and force ourselves to think about the issues, our questions, the existing body of knowledge, the answers we receive. | ||
The most important thing is no matter what advice you get or take, **it's your life and you have final responsibility for it**. Your decisions are your own. Make them wisely. | The most important thing is no matter what advice you get or take, **it's your life and you have final responsibility for it**. Your decisions are your own. Make them wisely. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== making helpers guess ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are asking for help don't make the helpers guess what you are trying to accomplish, what gear you have, whether or not it has ever worked, etc. People across the internet cannot see what's in front of you -- all we have to go on is what you tell us. | ||
+ | |||
+ | You may want to start a text document that lists all the installed gear and significant settings so | ||
+ | |||
+ | - you have a clearer understanding; | ||
+ | - can paste it into a post when you need help | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== thrashing ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | // | ||
+ | |||
+ | Slow down. //Listen// to what people are telling you. Think about what you want to accomplish. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | >>The best thing is to slow down and actually understand what's going on, then decide where you eventually want to take the system and move deliberately in that direction. It's not a “one weird trick” situation – gertzerlla((The best thing is to slow down and actually understand what's going on, then decide where you eventually want to take the system and move deliberately in that direction. It's not a “one weird trick” situation – gertzerlla76))) | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
==== wanting personal attention from an internet-famous person ==== | ==== wanting personal attention from an internet-famous person ==== | ||
Line 611: | Line 698: | ||
Q. What is the best [fill in the blank? | Q. What is the best [fill in the blank? | ||
- | Q. How much battery/ | + | Q. How much battery/ |
Q. Is [fill in the blank] miles too many? \\ A. It depends. | Q. Is [fill in the blank] miles too many? \\ A. It depends. | ||
Line 618: | Line 705: | ||
==== Failure to ask good questions ==== | ==== Failure to ask good questions ==== | ||
- | The first step in getting good advice is to **ask good questions**. | + | The first step in getting good advice is to **ask good questions**. |
* get a handle on what it is you [[https:// | * get a handle on what it is you [[https:// | ||
* [[opinion: | * [[opinion: | ||
Line 653: | Line 740: | ||
None of these preclude the advice from being correct, but do take these factors into consideration. | None of these preclude the advice from being correct, but do take these factors into consideration. | ||
==== Failure to take good advice ==== | ==== Failure to take good advice ==== | ||
- | There are folks who come up with foolish ideas then want others to give them support and encouragement. | ||
- | | + | There are folks who come up with foolish ideas then want others to give them support and encouragement. |
+ | |||
+ | | ||
- experienced ' | - experienced ' | ||
- OP gets mad -- they' | - OP gets mad -- they' | ||
Line 661: | Line 749: | ||
- OP retreats back to his hazy dreamworld and is never heard from again | - OP retreats back to his hazy dreamworld and is never heard from again | ||
- | This behavior is expected from 7th grade boys who have fantasies of building the best, fastest, most epic fast/ | + | This behavior is expected from 7th grade boys who have fantasies of building the best, fastest, most epic fast/ |
If you want closure on the issue, [[https:// | If you want closure on the issue, [[https:// | ||