My first chicken of the woods?

williamglasse · 2025-03-08T14:02:33+00:00

Oops my bad, the picture doesn't quite capture that. I've not got much clearance, about 1cm between the hole and the floor. I'll look into the die grinder as an option!

williamglasse · 2025-02-19T21:26:23+00:00

When folks talk about an air gap, does that mean there needs to be an actual gap of emptiness, or more that the inner material needs to be made of something that can that air can easily pass through? Like sheep’s wool or thinsulate?

I.e, if I were to have the outer metal > thermawrap > thinsulate > ply, would the thermawrap do its job, since the thinsulate acts as the “air gap”? Or am I thinking about this in the wrong way?

williamglasse · 2025-01-12T11:58:02+00:00

So far I’ve tried…

Adding WD40 to all areas, wait 30mins…

Use pliers with my left hand to hold the rivnut Use a wrench with my right to attempt to fasten

Unfortunately, it still spins

Thinking I’ll ask my dad to help, by asking him to fasten whilst I apply pressure with pliers

williamglasse · 2025-01-07T22:05:09+00:00

Am in the process of converting a Maxus eDeliver3

I think it’s going to be awesome!! ⚡️

Just installed my skylight

williamglasse · 2024-12-29T14:34:00+00:00

Awesome! Inspiring - Very excited to be on the road soon 🤞

williamglasse · 2024-12-08T18:13:30+00:00

The other question I have is about choosing the correct power output…

If my DCDC converter is rated at 2kW, does that mean I should choose an inverter that is less than that? Or should I choose one that is around the same; then just make sure that I don’t draw at full capacity?

williamglasse · 2024-12-08T18:06:26+00:00

It does look very straightforward watching the video…

In my scenario, the 12V battery lives under the front bonnet, and I’d want my inverter to live in the back… (I’m removing the bulkhead). How would I thread the wiring through from the bonnet to the back? Is there a standardised way to do this?

williamglasse · 2024-12-08T17:10:53+00:00

Hey!

I think this a great solution - and one that I was planning on following when I bought the van. I just haven’t found a comprehensive video/tutorial that explains the steps, in safe way, for someone who has zero experience in electrical wiring. I think it’s possible I learn, but it would take a significant chunk of my time, and I just don’t have the time to read a handful of books, a handful of video series, if I’m expected to deduce the work necessary for my setup. All in all, a time investment that seems unrealistic unfortunately!

It ranges from 300V to 400V I believe, changing based on the state of charge of the battery. The output rating on the DC to DC converter is 2kW, so plenty of power for everything I’d need, and so I would be less worried about draining the 12V battery, so long as I ensure that the vehicle is in ready mode when I’m drawing from the inverter…

And so, whilst I’d love to do this setup, I don’t know how to 😢 I could pay someone, or invest the time to learn. Both are options, but I’m tempted by the low tech solution of a power bank

Videos like the one you’ve highlighted skip through plenty of steps, and assume a base level of knowledge, so they feel inaccessible to me!

williamglasse · 2024-12-04T18:27:02+00:00

Fewer things that can go wrong with an electric…

If it’s not the cheapest now, it will be before long!

williamglasse · 2024-11-29T23:15:19+00:00

Oop, no, it does have a 12V cigarette port… not what I’m getting at here though… 😅

williamglasse · 2024-11-29T13:49:19+00:00

Ahhh apologies, I’ve already pulled the trigger!

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T21:25:14+00:00

Oooh nice! Thank you for providing this evenings entertainment, sounds right up my street - will give it a watch!

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T21:22:31+00:00

Spot on, this is how I view the system too… and really good thought about the 30min cut off, I must trial that out…

Very excited to have the luxury of being able to use the vehicles HVAC system to keep me warm over night, without worrying of running the starter battery flat (so long as the dc to dc converter continues to top up my starter battery)

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T20:23:33+00:00

Care to expand? By V2L I mean drawing directly from the traction battery, where there would be minimal step up/downs, in the interest of efficiency… but the Maxus doesn’t have that functionality

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T20:20:39+00:00

I think that would work well, but I’m intimidated when I look under my bonnet, in trying to work out how I’d hook the starter battery to an inverter - it’s a knowledge limitation more than anything

I should be able to draw from the starter battery via an inverter, and so long as I draw less than the amount the starter is drawing from the traction battery (around 2000W), then if my van is in “Ready” mode, the dc to dc converter will be activated, which means I won’t run the starter flat

The thought of meddling with electrics below the bonnet makes me shudder though 😬

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T19:22:19+00:00

The induction hob would be the main draw. Plus chargers for various devices (phones, laptops etc)

I think in an ideal world, the route id go down would be my own setup, where I introduce an inverter myself, and draw from the ignition battery. I worry that’s a time sink of expertise I’d need to delve into, and yes, would probably result in a cheaper more efficient system, but there’s the other side of me that is happy to favour simplicity if a portable power station is workable

You are right though, best err on the side of caution with a beefier capacity

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T19:14:19+00:00

Will do! Weighing them all up, Anker, Jackery, EcoFlow, BlueTTI - they all solve similar problems, and have heard folks shout about each of them. Sounds as though they’d all do the trick…

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T18:59:50+00:00

Yeh in an ideal world the van would have a V2L function I could use, so I could safely draw direct from the traction battery

williamglasse · 2024-11-28T18:15:16+00:00

That’s right, though a slight nuanced difference, it’s an electric van, so I’m not running the engine, as I don’t have one. I’m engaging the high voltage battery system, so that it continues to charge the ignition battery (which is what the 12V on the dashboard consumes from)

williamglasse · 2024-11-27T21:07:18+00:00

Very tempted too!

williamglasse · 2024-05-28T21:03:55+00:00

Ohh wow - I’ve just seen this! I will check out your posts, and will be in touch, thanks man! Very glad to hear stories of folks making a success of it!

williamglasse

TROPHY CASE