Make This Mistake and Van Life Will Suck
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- The repair trilogy continues and I take a deep dive into my friend's van setup - DO NOT DO WHAT SHE DID, ignoring this and making this mistake will cause your vanlife to suck! Plus, can anyone help with the issue at the end? Very puzzling.
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Matthew Allen
Unit # 112
440, 10816 Macleod Trail S.E.
Calgary, AB Canada
T2J 5N8
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My name is Matthew and I live in a van. I lost my job due to "cut backs" from the pandemic of 2020 and decided to seriously restructure my life. I am also a single dad who needed to find a solution that would allow me to remain in my daughter's life and plan for her future. After tons of research into #vanlife, I knew it was for me.
From March 2021 until October 2021 I spent my days building out my Chevrolet Express 2500, which came to be known as "Lucky" and as of October 18, 2021 I have been living in Lucky full time.
The build was done with almost no experience on my end and I used the one incredible tool I had at my disposal - the internet - to learn what I needed to build Lucky into a very comfortable tiny home.
I have always had a bit of a passion for being in front of the camera and really enjoy capturing the world around us. This really played into how I was feeling after almost a year of working from home when I "commuted" from the bedroom to the couch. I was starting to feel extremely unhealthy, unmotivated and despondent. I HATED that, and that's not a word I like to throw around. This new lifestyle gives me opportunities I just didn't have before and I am so excited to be able to share it all with you.
I truly believe we all have the capabilities to turn our lives around, should we choose to do so - and if I can inspire you to shoot for something better then I have done a decent job and that will keep me going.
There is more to life than the consume, consume, spend, spend lifestyle I feel we have all been conditioned to follow and I just want to do the best I can for myself first and foremost. Our time is limited and I do not want to waste another second on a lifestyle that doesn't bring me joy!
Be Happy, Be Creative, Be Yourself and BE POSITIVE!
For all the team cat subs ❤ And Matthew, Penny, Stella and Brooklyn..
A poem from the Cats...
"We thank you for the food you bring,
and for our little squeaky thing
We thank you for your friendly talks and when you change our litter box.
We thank you for the naps we share and putting up with all our hair.
We thank you for these things you do...
ENJOY this Mouse we caught for you!"
I've been given a mouse by one on my cats. I woke up and it was on the pillow next to me. I don't think that I have ever gotten out of bed so fast.
@@cat3crazy LOL, happened once to me years ago, now ours are too fat and lazy , spoiled rotten bags of fur... ( although I can't say that when my wife is in the room) 😁😁😁
Hey LJA! Thank you for the shout out today!!
@@louellentrevino All true, every word..❤❤❤❤
@@lja6420 Stinky AF ! I'd have to be hospitalized if I stepped in that van !
Between Amber, Matt, and Chrome working on the ambo, I now know what a doghouse is.
you're a good man Matthew, Amber is blessed to have you in her life
Never expected this reaction from team cat to my little poem post..... Thanks for the joy everybody!!
Ugh, I can't count how many times my fiance and I have froze our butts working on vehicles outside in our Canadian winters, we're a special breed, Canadians 🤣❄️🇨🇦
Stella got that look like 'close the door! You getting the cold in!'.... 😂
If it's solid wire it might have broken. If it's stranded I have no idea.
In fairness to Amber, a previously owned van is like a previously occupied apartment: move the stove and you will find a lot of yuck!
I'm sure Amber appreciates all your efforts...what a great friend :)
One woman said the $2K solar setup she bought was unreliable bc of the lack of sun. She wished she went w a reliable generator that cost a bit more.
Thanks for assisting Amber and teaching us, too. Would be great if someone rented heated garages to do this type of work in fridged winters.
Years ago there was a place. 2 blocks behind Cdn tire on 32 street n.e. but like everything its probably gone now.
Too funny. Keep a watch out for Part 3
Hmmmmmm 🤔 is it? 😉
my favourite channel. Why? You show up who you are and you let us see the real you in the frustrations, ups and downs. You are living life and you really look like you enjoy it even through the van problems and day to day challenges.
Thanks for being authentic
Sheila
That was super nice of you to fix Amber's issues with her house electricity. 👍👍
Another funny video. Well done for helping Amber👏🏼👏🏼🔧. Is she going to thank you by making you a “home cooked” meal?🍳🍲🍨
always surround ur self with positive people...thanks for sharing...make ur day great !!
It would be awesome to see you and Amber do a sweet conversion to her van.😁🙃
Maybe one day!
So sweet of you to help your friend out. I hope she bought you dinner. 💙
You guys have the nicest friendship. You're lucky to have each other for laughs, companionship and support. Also I don't know why but I find it hilarious when Amber cusses. Thanks for helping her AND for teaching me stuff about 'lectricity!
Amber should of been filming so she could make a video for her channel. "#Vanlife+ friendship=power" hint hint we are still waiting on your next video Amber.
As always you are amazing Matt. Just breath I'm sure you'll figure it out. Darn Ford's 😄
Much love 🤗🤗
Curious to see what the deal is with the wire that only wants to be powered indoors.
Funny you chose an Amber switch - I saw a sign on a bridge at the weekend that reminded me of her. It said “Stop when Amber is flashing” Well, it would be rude not to…. 😂
Hello Matt. I do remember when you put in your shore power the 1st time AND when you replaced it. Funny thing is - I put mine in like 24 hours before the 1st vlog come out (of course after scouring to see if you had installed one and maybe I just missed it 🤦♀). I don't think you realize how many times I've compared my build to yours, especially when trying to troubleshoot issues. I love how your videos are not too technical but still jovial and emphasize it is all just a learning experience.
Now hopefully the rest of the month and the months to come you can enjoy a lot more free time and spend time in the bush...maybe even go pitch a hot tent in the woods and take it out of the can.
Ahhh - truck stops with showers in Canada - excellent. But did I see 13$??? Is there not a Canada wide gym like in the states with monthly/yearly subscriptions to work out in then take a shower? Matthew, Amber is very lucky to have you there for her van problems. The positive aspect, you are gaining more knowledge, you're happy about it, and creatively showing us your work. Have a great day! 🙂
Enjoyed this Mathew☘️😎
Nice of you for trying to help Amber. Good luck
Yeah, had what I thought was a dead battery in my truck camper. Turns out the battery cables needed replacing. Battery is fine and practically brand new. She goes in for a tune-up and oil change Thursday. Hope that keeps my old dragon happy for awhile.
Oh, gosh, thank you for explaining the battery thing about when they are connected, the worse older one brings down the newer one. I just replaced the engine battery on the Odyssey I bought from Mark, but not the house battery. They are wired together, and the solar panels are covered in snow.... Lol...
Dang this time zone thing is messing with me I wanted to see the premier 🤬
Awww, that was lovely! I think I've missed a couple of ...episodes... Does Amber have an Amazon wish list? Cos if she did I'm sure many of her and your subscribers would be delighted to help with stuff. Like an extension cord for her shore power. You are a great friend Matthew. And Amber is a great sport "let's blow a hole in Regina". YIKES!
Matt, Amber, here is a shout out to you both:
It would be soooo cooool for Amber (with advice from you, perhaps) to finalize a re-boot of her van and for you to teach/help her do the re-boot! Planning could be done over the winter and you could work on it over the warmer months as doing that kind of work in the winter would be too hard.
Today was so cool. I watched your own van build but I was too much of a newbie to understand anything. I’m still a newbie but I’m getting the vocab down a bit more. And to be REAL, Amber dear, you need an upgrade! You deserve it. I get the feeling you are just “making do”, but you don’t need to just make do. You deserve the best that can be had! Get in there and clean that place up and make it worth your while! You deserve to be warm and safe!
And, Amber, why don’t you use your refrigerator?? That would be a good vlog video…
The refrigerator probably draws just
a bit too much ( over the limit )
power than her single battery could
provide ( due to her Latitude ) , esp.
in the Canadian Winter. I'm really
surprised that _none_ of the 8+
vloggers I sub to have _TILTABLE_
panels.
The 2nd batt. should hopefully allow
the frig to be a Daily Usage feature
again.
💛🍀 Good Luck , AMBER 🍀💛
👩💻 🐕
@@rythemzlatin Many van lifers go for the Lagun table mount system as it can fold away and not be a bother if installed in the right place.
You need to ground the house batteries to the frame of the van then all will be good.
So nice you are helping Amber.
In regards to the wire from the switch to the isolator. Couple items to remember is using ohms to check the continuity of the wire. Secondly if you can believe it some times the wire can be broken inside the insulation. And bending it can cause you to get continuity or not depending position. Another item to remember is issues with the crimp connection that you have added. Mistakes, accidents happen and people have crimped a bit of the wire insulation in the crimp. Best of luck
Good one. Amber’s a champ to put up with your nonsense!!
Ha, oh ya right 🙄 😂
My gut instinct on the wire outside versus inside? It's a cracked wire. When you bring it in, it coils and retouches end to end, when stretched out more straight, it separates. Just a guess...
Sooo entertaining y'all....omg as i watch in 1.5 speed i am howelllling!! MISS Amber is too funny. What a JOB you worked on....sooo skilled dude. Give the sweetie girls a squish hug from moi please... tx for getting the shots in all the videos....ya know for us stalkers of kittehs. Was thinking you two should have walkie talkie thingies.
Charging from your battery, solar, shore power, and a '1000w+ extra battery' like an ecoflow, etc.!
BTW if you and Amber were a couple, you could use the same shower and save money !😉
I still have not done Solar. All Vehicle alternator (W/battery isolator) and shore power on the weekends. Not convinced solar will be useful.
Praying that it works out for her.
100% build videos, your personality lol Man U make me laugh. Home improvement??? Van improvement!!!;p awesome video!
Do a continuity check on each conductor... like put meter on ohms... looks like wire broken inside insulation
That was a long dayyyy!!! Great vid Matt👍
Lol 1 of 2 my friend, 1 of 2
I didn’t see fuses in your circuit. It can be usefull, she is too cute to be turned into a fire ball.
Cheers.
Thank you for showing how you fix things in the van. I am not knowledgeable in mechanics and electricity. It helps a lot to see how you do things.
P.S. The break pieces won't be arriving at the same time. My bad. I thought I had ordered the two pieces at the same time.
Its Always a good idea to put a fuse as close to the power source as possible. when connecting batteries like this I fuse both ends. In regards to your wire not working check to make sure you didn't accidentally crimp the connector onto the insulated portion of the wire. I've done that before and you can end up with an intermittent connection. The idea behind connecting the isolator to a 12 volt ignition source is so that you don't accidentally leave your batteries connected when the vehicle is not running. And I'm not trying to be a know at all but one last thing LOL usually Vehicles will have some rubber grommets in the firewall where Factory harnesses will go through. many times I will take a razor blade and cut a small slit in that grommet push the wire through and then seal it was silicone that way you don't have to drill any holes. Thanks for the video always enjoy your content and tell Amber to start making some more videos LOL
If the house batteries neg is not grounded to the frame you won't have a complete circuit and that is why it doesn't work and the start battery does..... knowing these videos are delayed, you've probably already figured this out. Happy to see you helping Amber......
Haven’t solved this problem yet but that’s not it, because the wire has bolts in one space but not another. Literally just where the wire is in physical space 🤷🏻♂️
@@VanlifePLUS outside you put your neg on your meter to the start battery, no power, inside you put your meter to the neg on the house battery and power.....if you go outside and put the neg of your meter on the house battery you will still have power. If you take the wire going to ground off the isolator switch and connect it to the house battery it will work. Or, take your positive from the start battery instead of the house battery and it will work....
@@planetmarrs5239 hmm interesting. Okay, well it sounds like a simple grounding issue - gonna have to ground the house batteries somehow. Nothing was easily accessible inside unfortunately so I’ll probably have to tear up some of her floor 😂
@@VanlifePLUS You could run a cable over to one of the bolts that holds her driver's seat to the frame as a ground.....
@@planetmarrs5239 true
Awesome video! I’m always learning from you Matt! I know zero about wiring(except for a lamp). Looking forward to the next installment. Hugs & love to you, Stella, & Penny ❤️❤️❤️
Matthew Hello! Always glad to be here... regardless of how it turns out. Better for you in Part 2, I pray. Be Safe, Be Healthy & Always find Joy in your day.
I'd suggest trying a different bit of wire for the isolator there. Reckon you've either got a bad wire or connector, and that would be easier to test before wondering if anything else isn't working.
Great video and very happy to see your subscribers grow. Now you aren’t this great kept secret 😜
Could it be the ground in the engine compartment that was attached to the van? That was a great video about friendship!
Good Luck Cat Man!😬❄️💜❄️
I did want to offer a suggestion that the fuse should be between the battery and isolator. Thats a scary wire to be live and unfused all that way to the batteries behind the seat. Which rolls into the zap straps and isolator, many zap straps are not related for cold temps and just break. And being mounted to a metal rad bracket the potential for the isolator terminals shorting out with zap strap failure.
I know you prolly sick of hearing this but you two look so cute together
Is nothing ever simple !! Agghhh ! Great video though.
Definitely alternator charging, extra marine battery (because they can drain completely and survive where others you can accidentally kill) a way to jump start from your extra house battery just in case, (saved our butts a dozen times) and a vacuum. 🤣 Life on the road is dirty. We've been using a "bullet" heater attachment thingies on a butane stove for years now. Still not dead, but the price of butane going up may kill us.
Hey man, I'm pretty new to your channel but just wanted to say how much I've been digging your videos. You have great stories, videos are engaging and generally you're just the whole vibe haha. Love to see your mechanical inclination used to help others. Thanks for doing you man, I'll for sure be watching!!!
I'm glad she has help! I bought my first car in 16 yrs .they sold me a car with so many problems.i was unaware of. It's a 2005 Toyota Prius .still have two yrs to pay on it and it's falling apart.i have 0 friends.im on my own .I worry everyday.so kudos to you for your help to her.i can't afford an apt.so most time I sleep in car.
Others explained your ground issues...
I'm wondering why you went through dog house and not up through floor behind drivers seat. Every time one has to work on engine that battery feed will add an extra step. Yes, I was a professional tech before I retired.😁. We don't appreciate extra work.
Anyways...I enjoy your channel!
It’s okay, she’ll never want to spend money on a professional tech anyway 😂 plus I didn’t feel like crawling around on the wet ground
I would love to cook you breakfast someday. If your ever in the states and you find yourself around the Iowa area, shoot me an email or something. Love your videos. Your van is my absolute goal overall when I start vanlife.
You are such a kind person to help out friends. I hope she buys you some beer? 🍺
Are the negatives on the house batteries chassis grounded? If not think of it this way, it's like placing the meter + on one battery and placing the meters negative on another van battery, do you think you would have 12volts? I do not like those "smart isolators" give me a 3-post isolator any day, simply cut the alternator wire, alternator side to middle post leftover wire goes to one side of the 3 posts and you run a wire to the house battery. You never have to worry about the house battery draining the chassis battery because a "smart isolation" got stuck in the on position.
sweet man ive been toying with this idea for a while now with my old aux battery that lived underneath the van...running the old cables thru the dog house and fastening it to the house battery inside
Love the videos. I've been scared to add a house battery and with being on a very tight budget this showed me I can do it and it's not nearly as scary as I thought. Thanks for creating such a great community.
I have a the black box style battery isolator, much easier install and it’s 140a. I think it was $20-30 CAD on Amazon! Might be ambers fix
I think the weird power readings are from testing off two different 12votl systems you where tapping the living batteries for 12 volt and the engine batteries ground is separate if you'd test with a test light ud have power there
Just calm down! Of course, it's ghosts!
you have floating ground,s your grounds are isolated and need to connected in order for you voltage reading to be correct. in other words the battery negatives will need to be connected together to have a common ground
19:05 one of the many reasons I love watching your vids 😂😂 so much fun personality!
I have a better explanation for your intermittent power indication on your multi-meter: blame the multi-meter. Sometimes the connectors where your test leads plug in get loose, and can cause intermittent problems. I've had a couple of them fail that way through the years.
Was not expecting to see those Forclaz gloves all the way in Canada.
They are great! I found them at a store called Decathalon - where do they come from originally?
@@VanlifePLUS Decathlon is a France company. They are very big in mainland Europe.
You should have said if I do fry myself, I love you and Amber will take care of you. 😂😂
Hi Matthew hope the New Year is starting great😊❤
Good informational video, thumbs up!.
Also hey, watched all the way through and rewatched the part where the (ghost) wire is getting volts inside the van. I think other people have said it in the comments but the house battery and starter battery must not have the same ground. When you measured the voltage outside you didn't have the black probe on the house battery negative, it was on the starter battery negative. Thats the only difference between the two tests so I think that means those grounds aren't the same.
I'm no expert at all please be careful. Why not just run the switch from the starter battery?
I think you’re right, it is the only thing that is consistent - or not consistent in this case. But I was running power from the starter battery I think. It was a cluster F of a weekend though so I’m gonna have to go at it with fresh eyes another time
Just a whole electrical system in a day nbd. I'm sure you'll sort it out.
I still just use a 400watt walmart car inverter tied into my starter battery to charge my little portable battery bank. Really ought to get a dc-dc charger.
Safe travels!
@@VanlifePLUS Matt, I'm wondering if the old orange & new green switches for Lucky are the same. It seems the old switch was a single pole, single throw with ground for it's lamp. If the new switch is single pole double throw, it will not light up (and could short 12v directly to ground when "off" depending on which terminal the 12 volt source is connected to). Also from the video it didn't look like Amber's house batteries negative terminals were connected to ground...hence when inside the Van your meter must connect to the starter battery negative terminal, not the house batteries. Your videos are awesome - great content + amazing editing!
bcuz you are going thru the Alternator which converts from AC Volts To DC that is why the voltage flips -lol
Ummm... just btw.. I know it's too late now.. but you can run a positive from battery over the wheel well down to under the plastic step on drivers or passenger side and no drilling anything.. but that's for a future video..lol.. oohh! Bad boy! Very bad! for soldering not crimping!
I'm early! Hi every one from cold Michigan.
Hi from balmy Hamilton Ontario 3 Celsius, err 38 your temp, in the middle of January!!! Nuts!!
What a great friend u are 🙂🙂
omg amber what a mess
Ground the house batteries to the chassis. Have to complete the circuit.
Repeat..main plus from engine battery to in on isolator.ground on isolator ground. Output of is through fuse to house battery. Ignition control goes to switched power so when van on isolator energized.switch allows selfish when van engine battery low. But switch links house to engine. Have fun!!! As always be aware of Amber alerts!!!!!!!!!!!
Got REAL van Life building on the road.
Huh?
Great content. Greetings from the UK! I got a Dixon shirt for Xmas after seeing yours on the channel 😂
i guess for the 0 V outside and 12 V inside is the ground reference is different i guess
Do the batteries need to be grounded to the chassis or back to the neg terminal on the battery for the isolator to work?
2-part shower! TruckStopFansOnly!
Having not heard every little detail about how the house and the engine bay battery are connected (or not), It seems lile outside, you are measuring between positive on the house battery (middle wire in the switch) and negative on the engine bay battery.. are the negatives connected on the engine bay and the house battery? If not, then that's why you're not seeing voltage when measuring outside... but of course, an answer to your question will be way too late, as this video was probably shot a week ago and the problem has been solved long ago :D
I know I'm late to the party but better late than never, right?
As others have replied, you've created an independent circuit by not grounding the house batteries to the chassis, the alternator is grounded to the chassis, and your house batteries need to be included in the chassis circuit to charge from the alternator.
At least you've installed a fuse, one at each end would be better but one will work,
The reason you're multimeter didn't show voltage when you switched the system on is because now the voltage is going to the load and won't show on the meter, in other words when the switch is off the meter is the load, when the switch is on the load then goes to the batteries, and what you're now measuring is called voltage drop in a circuit and since your so close to the battery in your test there isn't a voltage drop, that's a good thing.
You'll discover that the voltage drops from the engine compartment battery to the house batteries, depending on the gauge and distance there is always a drop. this is normal.
As far as battery isolators go, the sednoid style that you've chosen is ok, just remember to have it switched off until the engine is running, other wise if the chassis battery is low it will draw amperage from the house batteries to assist in starting the engine and you don't want that to happen.
Now to the biggest problem/mistake, you have three separate ways to charge the house batteries, solar, shore and chassis.
All three must be compatible or components will fry/malfunction, all three must remain independent of each other and no two can charge at the same time.
Research the solar to see if it shuts off if there's another charging source, the little shore power charger may not be compatible with the solar charger and could damage it being in the same circuit as the alternator and same goes for the shore power charger and the chassis alternator, so the solution is to have a separate switch for each charging system, turn off the solar before starting and running of the engine or plugging into shore power, turn off the shore power charger before starting the engine or using solar, do you understand, only one charging system can be on at any given time.
now you can use the shore power charger to charge the chassis battery just by turning the solenoid isolator on but switch it off before starting the engine.
Electrical installations can become very complex by doing it incorrectly.
Good luck and good on you for helping Amber out, does she have a YT channel?
I need a fridge lol
I hate diagnostic advice on a FORD but if one must for Amber & for your hygiene here's my thoughts...BUY A charge controller before you blow up a battery or 2.
If you have voltage thru the engine bay but not from inside the truck loose means your soldering job wasn't hot enough or poor flux at cold temperatures failed the connection unless it's bent with stress at connector. Hint crimp it 1st in -15° .
Hi Mathew,
Just wondering if you ever seen Cat Lady Van on Yourube?
You guys are my favorite channels.
Hi Danielle! Yea, I am very familiar with Emi. Can’t say I watch her too much anymore but I do check in once in a while 😁
Does Amber's house batteries have a good ground location to the van's chassis. I had a similar issue when I installed my smart battery isolator. It ended up being a grounding issue. I changed the house battery chassis ground location, it resolved the issues.
Just found the channel. I'm getting a Vince Vaughn vibe.
Dang it missed it!!
I’m still a fairly new viewer. What do you do for work. Apologies in advance if it’s a personal question.
Hi Matthew and everyone. I'm late to the party.
Shower shoes-very important!
Hi.
I was watching this video again because I’m redoing my batteries and adding more solar panels. When you pull that wire in through the doghouse into the van and then it didn’t work outside in the engine bay, could it have been the magnetic field of the two batteries in the back versus the one in the front That runs the van.? I had a similar situation once in the water ran in between batteries? Or just one thing not have anything to do with the other it was just a thought because I was watching it this again.. oh and I wasn’t sure about that. Magnetic field residence? Just asking😂😘
ground the inside battery to the body
could be a bad ground that can make ghost in the wire.