This video absolutely slaps. I’d love to see the normal videos on Sundays and every once in a while see you just one take nerd out on a topic. Keep it up Nate!!!
I love it when Nate starts nerding out over gear and tools 😂. Made me get off my butt and start my own projects in the garage. Thanks for the motivation!!!
Of the dozens of youtube channels I follow and watch every single video. Your channel is my favorite. Huge part due to these type of videos. Your ability to explain so much detail is amazing. Even wheeling videos. You do a ton of detailed explanations which is awesome. Keep it up.
Dont think you have to worry about putting in too much wattage for the controller. It will just clip the rest when it gets to its max. Just have to make sure you don't go above the max open circuit voltage (OCV) for the controller.
Dude great minds! I also installed 400W rigid panel on my FJ last September and just made a video this month. Similar use case and concept but way less hardcore than you. So I easy out with an all in one power station. Love your projects Nate! Look forward to more!
One thing to consider for getting more wattage production from your panels is have them at a 90 degree angle to the sun. Yours are flat but if you set up your tent they will be at more of angle. If the angle matches your latitude then they will be at 90 degrees. So when parked make sure your tent is set up and this will also increase your production without any additional infrastructure. Great video as usual thanks for sharing.
I love love love these type of videos. Solving unique problems with creative solutions. These videos inspire so many other ideas also! Good stuff man! Enjoying all the hardcore wheeling videos too,
Hey Nate, as somebody who lives entirely off grid. And daily drives a Land Rover. I truly enjoy your channel.. As far as quick learning about solar, and extremely good reviews on batteries. Will Prowse (sp) here on RUclips is “the guy”! Good luck and keep up on the amazing work you’re doing!
I’m a huge fan of solar panels and have had one on my minivan for years. I recently swapped the minivan for a Jeep and am planning to add some solar as I rig up for overland camping. Ideally, I’ll get a roof top tent with a flat hard top for my Gladiator where I can mount solar panels on top. Lots of good info and ideas in this video.
Amazing and inspiring. I need to rethink... I was thinking all electric except for heat and hot water. A small diesel heater takes care of heat cheaply and easily, but hot water is more challenging.
Always love your videos. We have access to slimline lithium batterys which only take up less then 100mm or 4inch in thickness. That's what fitted in our discovery behind the seat. It was worth it. You won't look back when you try them. 👍🏻
The wheeling videos are great but I like these types of videos more. Really helped me decide on an AGM or lithium for an external battery set up on my FJ80.
Thank you! I just plugged my 200w panel into my ecoflow delta and was surprised that it didn't charge at all at 1pm under a cloudy eastern Washington sky. I have almost taken the panel with me on two recent trips. Thanks for pushing me to actually check at home before lugging a large hard panel 400 miles down the road.
Don't worry about putting too much solar into your regulator, an MPPT will only take when it can and leave the rest (in simple terms). Don't bother shading panels just to lower the wattage. Voltage however, you need to make sure you get that right.
Nate, I’ve been watching content from the boys down under for a good while. Redarc seems to have all the questions answered. With your “expert” input and testing I’ve concluded this has to been the most efficient sustainable power for a light mobile app. Thank you, sir for all the sharing. I will start adding soldering terminals to my future elec work. Regards from Sedro-Woolley.
Not only that, but I work in the business of battery management and recycling. Lithium batteries are extremely flammable and if not managed appropriately light up easily. They’re also extremely hard to put out. So.. on a rig.. kind of hazardous to run if it’s externally fitted.
I didn't bring this up because the comment section would be a disaster. The Volatility of lithium when it fails is why Mrs. dirtlifestyle doesn't want a EV (yet). We have seen one on fire on the side of the hwy and looked up some info on the situation. We found countless articles interviewing fire fighters stating there is no fire extinguisher to put out lithium fires. On top of that, they burn faster and hotter than traditional electrical fires. When your entire floor is the battery this is kind of an intimidating problem... But I still believe in the technology for the right applications! The pros are amazing, they just need iron out some of the cons. With battery chemistry changes they will likely solve alot of these problems.
@@DirtLifestyleonce they go up🔥👈good luck, the only thing the fire department can do is keep contain from spreading, we had lots of training what to do when something go wrong with them. They said to push it outside or watch your shop 🔥down.
This was a great video. If you get time it would be great to see a detailed concept to finish walkthrough so we can nerd out on the process, figuring out needs, all the electrical math etc.
Love geeking out on the solar side of things. Never question if that type of content would garner enough interest to be worth your time. It most certainly will. Love the quick explanation on battery chemistry choice. As you were saying 6v AGM I was thinking to myself I'd like to know why. Great vid.
I just put the entire red arc setup in my jeep and you are spot on with it. I need to add the solar part and this was very helpful. I did add the rogue to it so I can do all of my switching/fusing.
Great video Nate. Your crushing it man. Finding your channel has my wheels turning on my build I’m definitely going the rock lander route on my build which will set my rig up for a multitude of adventures I plan on doing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and ideas with us. This channel was huge on inspiring me to get back into wheeling I’ve been out of it for some time channels like this are helpful and inspiring thanks again for putting all you put into this community.
Dude your a life saver!!!! I've been fighting with my battery moniter and I never thought to see if I had the shunt connections flip floped. It was showing how long ut would take until the batters charged and not how long until its drained. I looked up the scmatics and that was the exact problem now it's show how long till it's drained. You helped me a ton without doing much!!! Thanks again for all the videos and the indepth explanations of what your doing. Keep doing you. Love all the videos. Hope you do something with Max again soon, haven't seen him on your channel in a while
As long as you’re not over the rated mppt voltage there’s no worries about over paneling, moreover it’s a common practice to overpanel the charge controller. The charge controller will just clip the extra incoming wattage during peak sun hours. Victron Phoenix is an awesome inverter for a build of this size primarily because the standby is ridiculous at something like 7 watts, moreover it’s a low frequency unit so it has substantial surge capacity. Can’t wait to do a similar build on my xj with lfp cells.
Wow this is awesome to see some Aussie made 4x4 parts being used in American youtube vids 🤙 Loving the content for years now, learning heaps from everything you all the way down under 🤙🤙
Nate! Dude you are killing it with you skills and R&D! Love your approach to well most everything! Thanks for all the extra work it takes to bring us all along!
This is great, thanks Nate! I appreciate all the detail of the setup, and even more, hearing your reasoning for each step. I am on my way to eliminating propane on my overlander and very excited. I’d love to see more about how you use your power out on the trail: what gear and processes you find work well.
Yes! A new Discovery video! I've been really looking forward to more upgrades to mine, but at the moment I'm pulling my hair out over a crank but no start issue. It's really got me bummed, but I still love my Disco.
I'm sorry to hear you got rid of the Lexus / Toyota, but I'm very happy you are falling in love with the Land Rover again. As always good video, good real world testing.
Where your house batteries are concerned you want to have your cake and abuse it too... I've been doing this for a while now and I want to say you are absolutely right in your choice in batteries for where you've installed them.. If you can afford the space inside your living space or install an insulated box with a heat source. Lithium is the way to go... You get so much more power or amp hours per pound of battery weight. FYI... Don't jump start your vehicle from your house batteries without first disconnecting the alternator input from your charge controller. You could fry your charge controller if you don't.... I built a circuit that does just that with the flip of a switch.
thanks Nate, this was awesome to see and gave me ideas for my solar setup on my truck camper I want to build. Also, I can't wait to see the drivetrain swap on the Disco, that's going to be AWESOME!!! 😍🤟
I picked up a smart lithium battery with display built on top showing charge capability, temperatures. Has built in BMS with low temperature warm up, to prevent the battery from changing at low temperature. Bluetooth as well, but haven't got that working yet. Got it on Amazon, not a bad price.
going to save this for my pop up a frame trailer that I am rewiring the batteries on soon as they used like 16 maybe 12GA wire when the manufacturer recommends 8GA minimum. Eventually I will be doing an DC-DC inverter and a solar controller with solar panels on some of the roof surfaces.
Love this. I found with winter camping bifacial panels made a HUGE difference, crazy how much energy bounces back off the snow. I don't have a heater in my setup, I use a 12v electric blanket to keep me toasty. Found a super nice little electric kettle that's been PERFECT for warm drinks, soups, etc. Lot of great little electric devices out there to make overlanding for extended periods pretty easy. I personally went with a Delta 2 + portable panels, because I tend to park in covered areas and wanted it the solar setup to be a bit more flexible. Definitely curious to see how your solar blanket works out, I think that was a smart addition. I have used the Delta to charge a NOCO battery jumper to just ensure I don't blow the expensive battery, lol.
I made the same move in building my overland JT - but went with lithium so can use all the available battery power. My whole camp site is electric powered
Good video. I'm an Electrical Engineer and I salute your choices. My only worry is no skidplate on the batteries. Yeah, I know it isn't a rock crawler but you put rock sliders on it for some reason....
Thanks man! The battery mounts basically are skid plates. We made them out of 3/8 thick steel so they won't distort from a big hit or even dent if they took a hit. They are super beefy 💪
That solar blanket will work great to lay out in the sun while set up in partially shaded areas here in the PNW. We chase sun spots in the timber with our solar panels often.
As far as being able to jump start the rig with the, basically, second set of batteries. How would connecting a battery selection switch work out? Boats, larger boats anyway, have been doing it for decades. I have seen them with either the as a 1-2-off or 1-both-2-off setup. In you case i think a 1-2-off style would work. Also, as a retired EMT, every ambulance I have ever worked on has a power switch to turn the batteries on. If it is not on, the truck/van operates as it would from the manufacturer. (Ford, GM, Dodge, MB.....) Once the batteries are turned on, it is now an ambulance. And all the fun switches come alive. Just a thought, but i think it may at least give you a direction to follow. As always, love the stuff you do.
If you do any amount of snow / rain camping, or you spend 6 hrs a day driving, really consider upgrading your alternator. Not every solution is right for everyone, but alternator tech has gotten really good in the last 10 years.
Not a solar/battery/electric subject matter expert. Simply 3+ years experience of 800ah lithium (inside 4Runner), solar 200w on the roof, and 600w portable managed by RedArc Redvision BMS using 3k watt inverter. All electric 120v appliances--Induction stove (1800w), Air fryer/oven (1800w), air heater (1800w), AC (1800w) and 12v water heater (300w). During Spring - Fall 2023, I lived in 4Runner while working 3 nights/week just outside Phoenix, AZ (plenty of sunlight and plenty of hot). During the day, with outside temp 110-119F, slept comfortably in a 4Runner with AC ~74F. Three days were near the max for sitting in place with all-day clear skies to charge the battery bank. The max harvest solar charge while I slept was ~2200w. By the 3rd day, the battery bank was 13.0-12.9-8v, and not sure it would last another day of using AC even with ~2200w solar charge, as the alternator was not charging due to sitting. Sleeping at night time it's worse primarily because the bulk of the energy usage is between dinner, sleeping (heater or AC use), and breakfast the next day without any charging due to lack of solar. Keep in mind, I can discharge lithium to 10% (and accidentally have 2-3x). AMG cannot be discharged >50%, even 6v (experienced using 6v AMG in RV x6 years as well). The point, in theory yes, you are correct. However, usage is a significantly different outcome. Not to mention the plethora of variables outside our control. Yet, despite the all-electric system limitations, hands down electric is a better choice for me. Hope that helps.
Nate, there is a cool solar system that I have seen where there is a sticky solar panel that goes on the hood. It’s made by a company called Cascadia 4x4. I’m looking at doing one for my 6.0 excursion. Might be worth taking a look at it
Hey!! Nice setup! My experience with 400w panel on a tent just like yours is in the cold the cylinders will barely hold the roof up!! Bring yourself something to secure it up!! Other than that your setup is very nice and I’m a bit jealous haha!! Your rigs are sick!
i have the Redarc red vision, manager 30 and the 2000W inverter. it’s a pricy set up BUT it’s about the best system anyone can have!!! i have a 100Ah lithium and only 100W of solar on my Alu-Cab.. definitely need more battery and more solar. lithium is great but the cold weather, where i live, in northern British Columbia makes charging tough. Great video Nate.
When you are ready to deep dive into lithium and electrical systems, let me know. I play with that stuff for fun. I’m in Moses Lake if you need someone hands on to double check stuff or to bounce ideas off of.
The Manager Alpha can actually charge-back the start battery, just switch on chargeback icon in the redvision app or screen. No need for jumper cables!
I'm running a 170ah lithium battery with a redarc 40amp bcdc and a 300amp alternator with 2/0 wiring between everything. My fridge will last for more days than I am usually away from the rig. I haven't installed the solar stuff yet because I don't typically need as much power and with 40amps of charge it charges up in very little time. I'm out in California and am usually doing some offroading when camping or driving between lakes so I haven't needed the solar yet but once I start looking at hooking up a portable air conditioning/ heater I'll definitely go a similar route. So far between having a nice rated sleeping bag and a usb battery bank powered blanket that usually covers most of the heating needs out here.
Something to think about for those of you that off road to a destination and then park the vehicle to camp out of while you fish, hunt, explore, hike, etc. If you have solar panels on the roof, that means you have to park the vehicle in the sun....essentially all day. In hot climates that sucks compared to parking in the shade of large trees. What I've found that works great for those that are stationary for days at a time is using a very small inverter generator (1000-1400 watts) to charge the batteries when you're away from the truck doing other stuff. You can get units for under $500.00 brand new...cheaper than three quality solar panels and controllers and the generator weighs less. A couple of hours of generator run time trumps the solar panel output which is only great during bright sun and in the middle of the day. It is very easy to chain and lock the generator to the truck to avoid theft while its running and you're away from camp. When you return to camp you have a full battery bank for silent power all night long.
I had a ctek system on my truck when I lost my alternator in remote central Nevada. I planned to head towards pahrump until the batteries died and then call for a tow. Instead, the controller sensed a draw and started charging my starter battery from the solar panels. Not only did I drive all the way to Vegas, but I kept going to Laughlin, spent a couple days there and then drove to SoCal on power from my panels. It's great, just don't try it at night!
This is great man, I'm digging the setup. My only gripe is that there are no "service" loops at your points of ingress for the wiring into the cab. A little half loop would give the water something to run down and fall off instead of running into the connection.
Before setting up a lithium-based rig, I've seen emerging tech videos on sodium ion batteries. Several companies are in the r&d phases, and a lot of what's coming out is that the by-weight electrical storage is a primary hold-up. Last I saw, the sodium was about 85-90% storage of the lithium, but the gap is closing. Look for some comparison videos on both the cost and the safety sides, as lithiums have known, potentially catastrophic, failure incidents. Great video on your set-up, and keep up the fun. 🙂
This video absolutely slaps. I’d love to see the normal videos on Sundays and every once in a while see you just one take nerd out on a topic. Keep it up Nate!!!
Ball slappin' good video.
It's so fetch.
This vid’s bussin bussin
I love it when Nate starts nerding out over gear and tools 😂. Made me get off my butt and start my own projects in the garage. Thanks for the motivation!!!
Dudes got me out here learning to Weld my own shit fabbed up a cross member and did some motor mounts hopefully they don't fall out the truck lol
Of the dozens of youtube channels I follow and watch every single video. Your channel is my favorite. Huge part due to these type of videos. Your ability to explain so much detail is amazing. Even wheeling videos. You do a ton of detailed explanations which is awesome. Keep it up.
A plumber that actually understands electricity. The end is near my friends
Welcome to the redarc family mate such an amazing company built on reputation and research
Bring the harbor freight trailer back i loved that series it got me going in moding my popup camper
Dont think you have to worry about putting in too much wattage for the controller. It will just clip the rest when it gets to its max. Just have to make sure you don't go above the max open circuit voltage (OCV) for the controller.
Dude great minds! I also installed 400W rigid panel on my FJ last September and just made a video this month. Similar use case and concept but way less hardcore than you. So I easy out with an all in one power station. Love your projects Nate! Look forward to more!
Love the nerd out vids! Wish I could get my 2003 D2 back running, got some major engine issues on cyl 1. Such a cool and underrated platform
I love mine! It's a Land rover so it always needs something 😁 but it's an amazing rig
@@DirtLifestyle ain’t that the truth lol.
I also have an ‘03! It’s the o2 sensor gremlins that plague me, but I just hit 190k miles and it still feels strong!
One thing to consider for getting more wattage production from your panels is have them at a 90 degree angle to the sun. Yours are flat but if you set up your tent they will be at more of angle. If the angle matches your latitude then they will be at 90 degrees. So when parked make sure your tent is set up and this will also increase your production without any additional infrastructure. Great video as usual thanks for sharing.
I love love love these type of videos. Solving unique problems with creative solutions. These videos inspire so many other ideas also! Good stuff man! Enjoying all the hardcore wheeling videos too,
Hey Nate, as somebody who lives entirely off grid. And daily drives a Land Rover. I truly enjoy your channel..
As far as quick learning about solar, and extremely good reviews on batteries. Will Prowse (sp) here on RUclips is “the guy”!
Good luck and keep up on the amazing work you’re doing!
BONUS EPISODE. BONUS EPISODE. BONUS EPISODE.
I'mma hafta watch this a few times. You're giving a lot of useful real world usage info that I don't get from most other content creators. Kudos.
I’m a huge fan of solar panels and have had one on my minivan for years. I recently swapped the minivan for a Jeep and am planning to add some solar as I rig up for overland camping. Ideally, I’ll get a roof top tent with a flat hard top for my Gladiator where I can mount solar panels on top. Lots of good info and ideas in this video.
I would love to do this in my JK. Then set one up on my camping Trailer that I’m in process of building. Great video.
Amazing and inspiring. I need to rethink... I was thinking all electric except for heat and hot water. A small diesel heater takes care of heat cheaply and easily, but hot water is more challenging.
Such a good topic to talk about…. You are the man to do this.
This same info can apply to anyone who wants or needs power for any reason. Good stuff, thank you!
Always love your videos. We have access to slimline lithium batterys which only take up less then 100mm or 4inch in thickness. That's what fitted in our discovery behind the seat. It was worth it. You won't look back when you try them. 👍🏻
The wheeling videos are great but I like these types of videos more. Really helped me decide on an AGM or lithium for an external battery set up on my FJ80.
This is why I've been watching your videos forever. Awesome job man. And shoutout PBD Podcast. Keep it all up brother.
I love these kinds of videos from you. It’s what originally got me subscribed so I enjoy seeing a couple of these tossed in from time to time
Thanks for the insight on Lithium vs AGM, im happy that I bought Optima Bluetops instead of Lithium in my Boat.
Thank you! I just plugged my 200w panel into my ecoflow delta and was surprised that it didn't charge at all at 1pm under a cloudy eastern Washington sky. I have almost taken the panel with me on two recent trips. Thanks for pushing me to actually check at home before lugging a large hard panel 400 miles down the road.
Awesome and outstanding as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Yesss, we appreciate more Discovery vids.
Don't worry about putting too much solar into your regulator, an MPPT will only take when it can and leave the rest (in simple terms). Don't bother shading panels just to lower the wattage.
Voltage however, you need to make sure you get that right.
This.
spot on with good accurate information once again Nate you got that right about agms and 6 volt batteries almost indestructible
So cool, I love it! If I had the health and some cash I would love to do something like this! Very cool, Nate. :)
Nate, I’ve been watching content from the boys down under for a good while. Redarc seems to have all the questions answered.
With your “expert” input and testing I’ve concluded this has to been the most efficient sustainable power for a light mobile app.
Thank you, sir for all the sharing.
I will start adding soldering terminals to my future elec work.
Regards from Sedro-Woolley.
Not only that, but I work in the business of battery management and recycling. Lithium batteries are extremely flammable and if not managed appropriately light up easily. They’re also extremely hard to put out. So.. on a rig.. kind of hazardous to run if it’s externally fitted.
I didn't bring this up because the comment section would be a disaster. The Volatility of lithium when it fails is why Mrs. dirtlifestyle doesn't want a EV (yet). We have seen one on fire on the side of the hwy and looked up some info on the situation. We found countless articles interviewing fire fighters stating there is no fire extinguisher to put out lithium fires. On top of that, they burn faster and hotter than traditional electrical fires. When your entire floor is the battery this is kind of an intimidating problem...
But I still believe in the technology for the right applications! The pros are amazing, they just need iron out some of the cons. With battery chemistry changes they will likely solve alot of these problems.
Lifepo4 don't have the same volatility/safety issues as Lithium Ion.
@@DirtLifestyle😂😂😂👍l work on them all day at work, lithium are good, but they can go bad very quickly.
@@DirtLifestyleonce they go up🔥👈good luck, the only thing the fire department can do is keep contain from spreading, we had lots of training what to do when something go wrong with them. They said to push it outside or watch your shop 🔥down.
When I first started watching Nate he was all about rock crawling! Now he does rocklanding routes and overlanding! WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD!!
😂😂
This was a great video. If you get time it would be great to see a detailed concept to finish walkthrough so we can nerd out on the process, figuring out needs, all the electrical math etc.
Love geeking out on the solar side of things. Never question if that type of content would garner enough interest to be worth your time. It most certainly will. Love the quick explanation on battery chemistry choice. As you were saying 6v AGM I was thinking to myself I'd like to know why. Great vid.
I really like the window design
I just put the entire red arc setup in my jeep and you are spot on with it. I need to add the solar part and this was very helpful. I did add the rogue to it so I can do all of my switching/fusing.
Great video Nate. Your crushing it man. Finding your channel has my wheels turning on my build I’m definitely going the rock lander route on my build which will set my rig up for a multitude of adventures I plan on doing. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and ideas with us. This channel was huge on inspiring me to get back into wheeling I’ve been out of it for some time channels like this are helpful and inspiring thanks again for putting all you put into this community.
Dude your a life saver!!!! I've been fighting with my battery moniter and I never thought to see if I had the shunt connections flip floped. It was showing how long ut would take until the batters charged and not how long until its drained. I looked up the scmatics and that was the exact problem now it's show how long till it's drained. You helped me a ton without doing much!!! Thanks again for all the videos and the indepth explanations of what your doing. Keep doing you. Love all the videos. Hope you do something with Max again soon, haven't seen him on your channel in a while
As long as you’re not over the rated mppt voltage there’s no worries about over paneling, moreover it’s a common practice to overpanel the charge controller. The charge controller will just clip the extra incoming wattage during peak sun hours. Victron Phoenix is an awesome inverter for a build of this size primarily because the standby is ridiculous at something like 7 watts, moreover it’s a low frequency unit so it has substantial surge capacity. Can’t wait to do a similar build on my xj with lfp cells.
Great video on getting your solar system started. I look forward to an update on the system down the road... no pun intended
Wow this is awesome to see some Aussie made 4x4 parts being used in American youtube vids 🤙
Loving the content for years now, learning heaps from everything you all the way down under 🤙🤙
They have lifepo4 batteries with built in heaters. Other than freezing temps they operate pretty much the same as agm
Nate! Dude you are killing it with you skills and R&D! Love your approach to well most everything! Thanks for all the extra work it takes to bring us all along!
Looking better and better! Very clean build.
This is great, thanks Nate! I appreciate all the detail of the setup, and even more, hearing your reasoning for each step. I am on my way to eliminating propane on my overlander and very excited. I’d love to see more about how you use your power out on the trail: what gear and processes you find work well.
What dobyou have on your D2 for stopping power
These are axles from a 2004 f350, so this has 1 TON ford brakes. Stops great 😁.
Awesome content as usual, also PBD streaming on the road.... I don't listen to any radio anymore. He's one of my go to podcasts.
Yes! A new Discovery video! I've been really looking forward to more upgrades to mine, but at the moment I'm pulling my hair out over a crank but no start issue. It's really got me bummed, but I still love my Disco.
This is one of my favorite videos of all time & something I plan to do to my rig! 🎉
I'm sorry to hear you got rid of the Lexus / Toyota, but I'm very happy you are falling in love with the Land Rover again. As always good video, good real world testing.
This was a great info episode. Great content, way to nerd out on it Nate, was always curious, this truly helps figuring out the set up.
Man nobody explains the technical stuff for dummies like me like you do. Great info!
Great video! Nice breakdown of how everything works together.
Nate, Great episode as is all your content!
From someone who has a really good 100w solar panel, this system is pulling a TON power for those conditions. Impressive.
Where your house batteries are concerned you want to have your cake and abuse it too...
I've been doing this for a while now and I want to say you are absolutely right in your choice in batteries for where you've installed them..
If you can afford the space inside your living space or install an insulated box with a heat source. Lithium is the way to go...
You get so much more power or amp hours per pound of battery weight.
FYI...
Don't jump start your vehicle from your house batteries without first disconnecting the alternator input from your charge controller. You could fry your charge controller if you don't....
I built a circuit that does just that with the flip of a switch.
The wheels off the land cruiser look awesome on the disco.
thanks Nate, this was awesome to see and gave me ideas for my solar setup on my truck camper I want to build.
Also, I can't wait to see the drivetrain swap on the Disco, that's going to be AWESOME!!! 😍🤟
Missed videos like these!!! Keep killing it!
Cool set up. It's nothing I need, but still interesting to learn about and see.
I picked up a smart lithium battery with display built on top showing charge capability, temperatures. Has built in BMS with low temperature warm up, to prevent the battery from changing at low temperature. Bluetooth as well, but haven't got that working yet. Got it on Amazon, not a bad price.
Looks like a great setup.. thanks for the video
I like the element of safety you get with solar always power.
going to save this for my pop up a frame trailer that I am rewiring the batteries on soon as they used like 16 maybe 12GA wire when the manufacturer recommends 8GA minimum. Eventually I will be doing an DC-DC inverter and a solar controller with solar panels on some of the roof surfaces.
Love this. I found with winter camping bifacial panels made a HUGE difference, crazy how much energy bounces back off the snow.
I don't have a heater in my setup, I use a 12v electric blanket to keep me toasty. Found a super nice little electric kettle that's been PERFECT for warm drinks, soups, etc. Lot of great little electric devices out there to make overlanding for extended periods pretty easy.
I personally went with a Delta 2 + portable panels, because I tend to park in covered areas and wanted it the solar setup to be a bit more flexible. Definitely curious to see how your solar blanket works out, I think that was a smart addition.
I have used the Delta to charge a NOCO battery jumper to just ensure I don't blow the expensive battery, lol.
I made the same move in building my overland JT - but went with lithium so can use all the available battery power. My whole camp site is electric powered
Good video. I'm an Electrical Engineer and I salute your choices. My only worry is no skidplate on the batteries. Yeah, I know it isn't a rock crawler but you put rock sliders on it for some reason....
Thanks man! The battery mounts basically are skid plates. We made them out of 3/8 thick steel so they won't distort from a big hit or even dent if they took a hit. They are super beefy 💪
That solar blanket will work great to lay out in the sun while set up in partially shaded areas here in the PNW. We chase sun spots in the timber with our solar panels often.
Awesome work your one talented individual 👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you 🙌
Black rtv on the outside. Clear silicon breaks down over time in UV sunlight. Super important.
This is marketed as exterior silicone. It says window and siding 🤷
Might be some other clear sealant you have seen fail. Clear silicone is used for roof plumbing here in Australia. Lasts forever in the sun.
Bloody love that Disco build.
As far as being able to jump start the rig with the, basically, second set of batteries. How would connecting a battery selection switch work out? Boats, larger boats anyway, have been doing it for decades. I have seen them with either the as a 1-2-off or 1-both-2-off setup. In you case i think a 1-2-off style would work. Also, as a retired EMT, every ambulance I have ever worked on has a power switch to turn the batteries on. If it is not on, the truck/van operates as it would from the manufacturer. (Ford, GM, Dodge, MB.....) Once the batteries are turned on, it is now an ambulance. And all the fun switches come alive.
Just a thought, but i think it may at least give you a direction to follow.
As always, love the stuff you do.
Good info! I too am in the PNW (the "dry" side), perhaps our paths will cross one day.
If you do any amount of snow / rain camping, or you spend 6 hrs a day driving, really consider upgrading your alternator. Not every solution is right for everyone, but alternator tech has gotten really good in the last 10 years.
Not a solar/battery/electric subject matter expert. Simply 3+ years experience of 800ah lithium (inside 4Runner), solar 200w on the roof, and 600w portable managed by RedArc Redvision BMS using 3k watt inverter. All electric 120v appliances--Induction stove (1800w), Air fryer/oven (1800w), air heater (1800w), AC (1800w) and 12v water heater (300w). During Spring - Fall 2023, I lived in 4Runner while working 3 nights/week just outside Phoenix, AZ (plenty of sunlight and plenty of hot). During the day, with outside temp 110-119F, slept comfortably in a 4Runner with AC ~74F. Three days were near the max for sitting in place with all-day clear skies to charge the battery bank. The max harvest solar charge while I slept was ~2200w. By the 3rd day, the battery bank was 13.0-12.9-8v, and not sure it would last another day of using AC even with ~2200w solar charge, as the alternator was not charging due to sitting. Sleeping at night time it's worse primarily because the bulk of the energy usage is between dinner, sleeping (heater or AC use), and breakfast the next day without any charging due to lack of solar. Keep in mind, I can discharge lithium to 10% (and accidentally have 2-3x). AMG cannot be discharged >50%, even 6v (experienced using 6v AMG in RV x6 years as well). The point, in theory yes, you are correct. However, usage is a significantly different outcome. Not to mention the plethora of variables outside our control. Yet, despite the all-electric system limitations, hands down electric is a better choice for me. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the video, Nate. I've been thinking about going all electric/solar on my land cruiser.
Nate, there is a cool solar system that I have seen where there is a sticky solar panel that goes on the hood. It’s made by a company called Cascadia 4x4. I’m looking at doing one for my 6.0 excursion. Might be worth taking a look at it
Hey!! Nice setup! My experience with 400w panel on a tent just like yours is in the cold the cylinders will barely hold the roof up!! Bring yourself something to secure it up!! Other than that your setup is very nice and I’m a bit jealous haha!! Your rigs are sick!
Dude love this build so excited to see what comes next!
i have the Redarc red vision, manager 30 and the 2000W inverter. it’s a pricy set up BUT it’s about the best system anyone can have!!! i have a 100Ah lithium and only 100W of solar on my Alu-Cab.. definitely need more battery and more solar. lithium is great but the cold weather, where i live, in northern British Columbia makes charging tough. Great video Nate.
Love this type of video!
When you are ready to deep dive into lithium and electrical systems, let me know. I play with that stuff for fun. I’m in Moses Lake if you need someone hands on to double check stuff or to bounce ideas off of.
The Manager Alpha can actually charge-back the start battery, just switch on chargeback icon in the redvision app or screen. No need for jumper cables!
This was interesting, Thank you
I'm running a 170ah lithium battery with a redarc 40amp bcdc and a 300amp alternator with 2/0 wiring between everything. My fridge will last for more days than I am usually away from the rig. I haven't installed the solar stuff yet because I don't typically need as much power and with 40amps of charge it charges up in very little time. I'm out in California and am usually doing some offroading when camping or driving between lakes so I haven't needed the solar yet but once I start looking at hooking up a portable air conditioning/ heater I'll definitely go a similar route. So far between having a nice rated sleeping bag and a usb battery bank powered blanket that usually covers most of the heating needs out here.
You can use a Victron Battery saver to set a low voltage cutoff to save your batteries from over discharge
Awesome setup, definitely a video worth watching🤙
So stoked about this video. Thank you
Loved this video I would just be careful with putting the blanket on the bonnet seen photos of people burning paint on the bonnets.
Something to think about for those of you that off road to a destination and then park the vehicle to camp out of while you fish, hunt, explore, hike, etc. If you have solar panels on the roof, that means you have to park the vehicle in the sun....essentially all day. In hot climates that sucks compared to parking in the shade of large trees. What I've found that works great for those that are stationary for days at a time is using a very small inverter generator (1000-1400 watts) to charge the batteries when you're away from the truck doing other stuff. You can get units for under $500.00 brand new...cheaper than three quality solar panels and controllers and the generator weighs less. A couple of hours of generator run time trumps the solar panel output which is only great during bright sun and in the middle of the day. It is very easy to chain and lock the generator to the truck to avoid theft while its running and you're away from camp. When you return to camp you have a full battery bank for silent power all night long.
Redarc has a relay that will jump your start battery if it’s dead.
Follow up on this this summer I’m sure you’ll do. Considering this video started in November and finished in February
Thanks Nate. Awesome video 👍
Thank you so much for this I've been wanting to do this for my vehicle!
I had a ctek system on my truck when I lost my alternator in remote central Nevada. I planned to head towards pahrump until the batteries died and then call for a tow. Instead, the controller sensed a draw and started charging my starter battery from the solar panels. Not only did I drive all the way to Vegas, but I kept going to Laughlin, spent a couple days there and then drove to SoCal on power from my panels. It's great, just don't try it at night!
I have been slowly building a small solar setup in a one of the larger plastic ammo crates
Best tutorial video yet!
This is great man, I'm digging the setup.
My only gripe is that there are no "service" loops at your points of ingress for the wiring into the cab. A little half loop would give the water something to run down and fall off instead of running into the connection.
It's all above my pay grade but I still enjoyed the video and the information!
Before setting up a lithium-based rig, I've seen emerging tech videos on sodium ion batteries. Several companies are in the r&d phases, and a lot of what's coming out is that the by-weight electrical storage is a primary hold-up. Last I saw, the sodium was about 85-90% storage of the lithium, but the gap is closing. Look for some comparison videos on both the cost and the safety sides, as lithiums have known, potentially catastrophic, failure incidents.
Great video on your set-up, and keep up the fun. 🙂