However we have to admit that people like me who are now getting into van life a solar bank is a ready solution they can understand faster without having to get all the knowledge and experience e needed for the conventional system. In any case if anything breaks in a conventional system I wd not know how to fix it either and actually I may fo a mistake and burn it myself. On the other hand solar bank is a lot more straight forward and you can always have a smaller solar bank (10 to 15kg about 600 to 1800watts) as a spear or to move outside and the main one(30kg for 2500w) always in the van with the same charging. Methods as any conventional system (alternator as well). Total cost of all these from Bluetti for example with a 200w portable solar panel wd be 2500€. It's maybe a lot more expensive but also a lot less headach for those who can afgord it and have little knowledge for electrics.
Of course it’s always going to be time versus money. For us, we’ve never had the money so we had to learnt to do everything ourselves. If you did fit your own system, then naturally by then you’d understand it and if not, you could always take it to someone else. If you’re power bank breaks you’re just kind of done. I of course don’t advocate that you do it without proper research as there is a danger there. I would still argue that while it’s definitely an easier route, it’s still not the best idea for full time living. If you have the money, someone qualified could be paid to install a conventional system instead. Personally I dislike the rigidity of power banks, we constantly are tweaking our system as we go. That being said, I’d have one on board as a back up still.
We are lucky enough to have both. As we Inherited an EcoFlow power bank and portable solar panel. Which we use as a back up to our more traditionally installed lithium/charger/solar system. So far it seems to work well 🤞
When we reviewed the Allpowers solar powerbank, we commented that they would be a great option to extend a system. We so see many people online looking to get into Van life and they are often asking if they can run there while system off of one and I don't think they appreciate the power consumption and recharge time they would need for that to be possible.
This is the difference between people going out for a few days and living the life. I was a 'van dweller' for about 8 years and it's nothing like being a 'van lifer'. You aren't playing at it. You are living it. Same as the term 'overlanding'. It seems to have been stolen by the yanks to mean going out camping or off roading for a week or even a weekend. That's camping. Living on the road for multiple months and dealing with issues that arise on the road with no real base to run back to for safety is what overlanding rely is. Multi culture, multi regime and alternative ways of living is what overlanding is really about. Immersing yourself in alternative cultures to understand the world better and thus ourselves. And part of the success of any trip is flexability. And part of that flexibility is knowing how your transport works and how to fix it. A solar Generator (which is neither solar or a generator. It's a sealed battery bank with inverter) isn't flexible at all. I follow your chanel because you guys are doing it for real in a world full of people playing at it. I salute you.
@@MartinHolmshaw-ky1su I couldn't agree more. I do find the term 'solar generator' quite inaccurate and annoying! There is definitely a difference between full-time and part-time and I do think people people don't appreciate that sometimes. Do it in another country too, it's another level!
Absolutely 👍
However we have to admit that people like me who are now getting into van life a solar bank is a ready solution they can understand faster without having to get all the knowledge and experience e needed for the conventional system. In any case if anything breaks in a conventional system I wd not know how to fix it either and actually I may fo a mistake and burn it myself. On the other hand solar bank is a lot more straight forward and you can always have a smaller solar bank (10 to 15kg about 600 to 1800watts) as a spear or to move outside and the main one(30kg for 2500w) always in the van with the same charging. Methods as any conventional system (alternator as well). Total cost of all these from Bluetti for example with a 200w portable solar panel wd be 2500€. It's maybe a lot more expensive but also a lot less headach for those who can afgord it and have little knowledge for electrics.
Of course it’s always going to be time versus money. For us, we’ve never had the money so we had to learnt to do everything ourselves. If you did fit your own system, then naturally by then you’d understand it and if not, you could always take it to someone else. If you’re power bank breaks you’re just kind of done. I of course don’t advocate that you do it without proper research as there is a danger there.
I would still argue that while it’s definitely an easier route, it’s still not the best idea for full time living. If you have the money, someone qualified could be paid to install a conventional system instead.
Personally I dislike the rigidity of power banks, we constantly are tweaking our system as we go. That being said, I’d have one on board as a back up still.
We are lucky enough to have both. As we Inherited an EcoFlow power bank and portable solar panel. Which we use as a back up to our more traditionally installed lithium/charger/solar system. So far it seems to work well 🤞
When we reviewed the Allpowers solar powerbank, we commented that they would be a great option to extend a system. We so see many people online looking to get into Van life and they are often asking if they can run there while system off of one and I don't think they appreciate the power consumption and recharge time they would need for that to be possible.
This is the difference between people going out for a few days and living the life. I was a 'van dweller' for about 8 years and it's nothing like being a 'van lifer'.
You aren't playing at it. You are living it. Same as the term 'overlanding'. It seems to have been stolen by the yanks to mean going out camping or off roading for a week or even a weekend. That's camping. Living on the road for multiple months and dealing with issues that arise on the road with no real base to run back to for safety is what overlanding rely is. Multi culture, multi regime and alternative ways of living is what overlanding is really about. Immersing yourself in alternative cultures to understand the world better and thus ourselves. And part of the success of any trip is flexability. And part of that flexibility is knowing how your transport works and how to fix it. A solar Generator (which is neither solar or a generator. It's a sealed battery bank with inverter) isn't flexible at all. I follow your chanel because you guys are doing it for real in a world full of people playing at it. I salute you.
@@MartinHolmshaw-ky1su I couldn't agree more. I do find the term 'solar generator' quite inaccurate and annoying!
There is definitely a difference between full-time and part-time and I do think people people don't appreciate that sometimes. Do it in another country too, it's another level!
I bought a Bluetti, burst into flames after 4 days
Really? That.. is very bad... I hope nothing else got burnt ?!