Are These Budget-Friendly Lithium Batteries the Solution for Van Life?

[@petewarby7158]

I love this channel, you're so down to earth and open about everything. This is one of those "trusted channels" you referred to, maybe not because (by your own admission) you're the most knowledgable, but you're honest. Means a lot. Thanks for the upload, another great video.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks a lot Pete, I massively appreciate this comment. Be yourself, that's the best way to be

[@manondeslauriers2645]

Well done! Catching up now as I was busy with other life stuff and needed a break from social media. Keep the good work. I watch you because you are honest and real ,and even though my van was converted for me, i love to see the process and get ideas for eventual changes in Petunia. And of course Amika is adorable!

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Welcome back! Ah thanks, it's part of the channel I suppose

[@WattsOccurring]

She's Electric...brilliant answer 😂 Great job with the installation pal 👍

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

She's nuts! What a loon of a child 😂 Hope your guys are well 💯❤️

[@LeisureBit]

Great video, gives you the ability to scale it as you need, the picture you showed of the large bank of batteries I thought ‘now that’s the vision of plenty of power’ 😀 Your board is looking good - great to have the space to add more bits and bobs in later too - great job. Good idea on a master kill switch - I find mine useful when working on the van electrics to cut it all off. Very good point on KZbin products too, I have thought some things were excellent, a few months on not so much. Thanks for the mention too ❤️ All the very best, David 👍

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

and plenty of power David. However, I want twice as much so I can stay off grid in the winter for a long time, although I keep adding more electrical devices so perhaps not ha ha. Thanks for the feedback about the electrics always good from somebody who has a clue what they’re doing. Yeah we need to be careful with them products. No problem mate hope to see you soon. Are you going to the Van Life in Overland show at Newbury?

[@kkrispy2009P]

7.34k subs nice update glad your both OK near July already near summer hols

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Still growing mate! Bit slow now hit hopefully speed up again over summer adventures 😅

[@peepresc8002]

Great video, Amika's knowledge of Electric is amazing lol, made me laugh.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Haha, what new is there to know, she's nailed it. 16th edition 😂

[@NigelLove-dt2xr]

Been watching and loveing your stuff for a wile so it was time to sub you keep it up 😙

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Brilliant thanks a lot Nigel

[@christineburns6656]

Hope everything works out for you both and with finding a job one day at a time keep strong chin up take care both of you see you both soon Christine and bob burns 😊😊

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks a lot both x

[@micro_adVANtures]

Greg is the van electrics wizard, if he doesn't know what it should look like nobody does - your in sae hands there.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Aye he's a good egg to learn from!!

[@ginibelle1416]

Cool video , you lost me though!... but still great to see you and Amika. Much love to you both ♥♥♥

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Ah thanks Gini, yeah a bit techy wasn't it

[@ginibelle1416]

@@TravelwithGaryandAmika 🤣

[@albybloke2289]

If Carlsberg did electrics !!. Thats looking so neat. And top sweeping from Amika.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks. I'm starting to understand it all better now. She did great. She cut the hedge with great precision too!!

[@Yvonneb_]

Great video Gary and Amika XX

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks Yvonne

[@glennmealing6907]

Gary, you do yourself down regarding your work with electrics. It's very good and well thought out. 👍 Btw, I couldn't find details in the description of the batteries. One thing I think you should consider for winter is an intelligent relay which enables charging of your leisure batteries only when the alternator is running, so it won't allow your vehicle battery to be drained by the caravan electrics. It senses when the charge from the alternator 14.2v exceeds the leisure battery voltage of 12.5v, and feeds charge into the leisure batteries at the same time as the normal charging of the vehicle battery. It charges them whenever the engine is running. The alternator can normally handle it. Especially useful when there's no solar or other means of charging them. Ok, you've got the Bluetti, but when all else fails it's a great standby. Amika can advise you on installing one!😅

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Hi Glen, thanks. Yes I will be adding a 40amp victron dc to dc charger (orion) around October time when I will start to sturggle. Unnecessary cost right now. Solar is useless in the winter isn't it 😂 I've consultated Amika, she agrees 👍😂😂

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

PS started running again! Achilled was swollen by just walking so again it's in bits but I'll run until it ruptures! One more go!! Hopefully I can get back to a good level and get some masters work done!

[@glennmealing6907]

@@TravelwithGaryandAmika Good to hear you're getting back into the running. Not so good to hear about your Achilles. That was a common complaint in my day, and caused by heel tabs on shoes. We would cut them out (shoes did not empty your bank account back then), until manufacturers recognised the problem. When I first had Achilles issues, a sports doctor recommended aspirin, which is an antiinflammatory, and it worked. However, yours may be different. Probably not the best idea to test to destruction though! Regarding the masters scene, those who started later in life seem to do well compared to we who ran in our youth. Ok, I'm 77, but all my contemporaries can no longer run either. Maybe you have just so many miles in you, a bit like vehicles. Take care,

[@rogershrubber36]

That raptor, has it got a v-shaped tail? If so might be a Red Kite.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

I think so yes

[@clarkspiemuncher24]

Ref isolation switches. They need to be inline before the B2B and MPPT. If you have power going to either without it flowing to the battery it will bugger the electronics in either as the power coming in to each unit has to have somewhere to go = leisure battery

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Aye that's how it's set up

[@ewanstevenson]

You're living proof that a van build is never finished! 😂 Also, it looked like a buzzard to me. Or 'Englishman's Eagle' as they're sometimes called in Scotland! 😉

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Haha tell me about it. A few people have said Buzzard. Seems so

[@Antonia.Bradley]

Good batteries Gary, good prices too. But, no low temperature charge protection! So make sure not to charge them 0°C and below 😊

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Very true but don't really have an intention of putting them that low. Can always add them into a heated container with a ruuvi tag for monitoring. Maybe a project when I run out of jobs 😂 Hope your are both well 👍❤️

[@rogershrubber36]

Would the batteries not get hot even in the winter from use, so u might not want too small a gap between the shelf and the battery below. Watch the vids for tips & ideas on fitting out a van as\when, as well as the travelogue stuff

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Hi Roger. No they won't keep warm. Only when charging will they generate a bit of heat. Definitely need to be off the floor. Even a few inches makes a huge difference as the floor will act as a means to transfer cold from the shell of the van to the batteries

[@WhipperdeetsAdventures]

Hi Bud apologize sorry to sound stupid. What you mean by set up Parnell the battery’s and Plus balance the battery’s? The batteries looks nice 😊 Such a beautiful build bud ❤ vans are never finished one day il love to sort all my electronics out. Great vlog bud hope your both keeping well 😊🤗

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Hi mate. Balance the batteries means make sure they are the same voltage so they charge and discharge equally

[@WhipperdeetsAdventures]

Ok sorry bud what about the parelle bit? Sorry

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

There are 2 ways to link batteries. Parallel or series. 2 x 12v 200Ah batteries wired in series will give you 24v, but only 200Ah capacity. Positive to negative terminals 2 x 12v 200Ah batteries wired in parallel will give you 12v, but 400Ah capacity. Positive to positive, negative to negative terminals .

[@WhipperdeetsAdventures]

@@TravelwithGaryandAmika oh sorry bud I sounded stupid I had no idea there was two different ways :( sorry bud thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. I did the way you did :)

[@gp3255]

If you get time to reply i was wondering what you use to heat the water for your shower?

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Hi there. I have a 800w electric water heater. It's 240v so I use my power station to run it. Its 10l and I use 3l to 4l of water per shower.

[@rosesevers5181]

Great job 😁👏🏼👏🏼

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks rose

[@ThePistol1977]

Looks mint m8

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Thanks a lot mate. 💯👍

[@dalegreenacre2635]

What volt is your solar panel breaker as most of them are rated 48v

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

It's a 30amp breaker

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

12-48v Dc

[@dalegreenacre2635]

@@TravelwithGaryandAmika didn't you say you had 85 volts coming from solar panels

[@dalegreenacre2635]

Your breaker in-between the solar panels and change controller is under voltage at 48volts.. If your solar is bringing in 85volts

[@shirleyboy8859]

Looked like a Buzzard to me..... But I was half asleep........ :-)) xx

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Wine?

[@shirleyboy8859]

@@TravelwithGaryandAmika Yes Please.... :-))

[@geoffs3805]

Please check your wire sizes, they look far too thin for 400A.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Please explain further

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

The wires are massively oversized. The battery bank is 400ah for storage not discharge. Max amps is pull is maybe 10amps, unless I'm using my external lights and even that would never reach 30ah.

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

By winter my I will have 800ah storage. My discharge will remain the same. It just allows me to be off grid for longer

[@geoffs3805]

@TravelwithGaryandAmika I've just upgraded to lithium and found that a 700w air fryer was drawing 60A from the battery using the inverter. I just wanted to be sure you understood the potential as you have wired your batteries in parallel hence up to 400A if it is shorted out accidentally. Safe travels Geoff

[@mrswelsh2467]

Rattling through to catch up, commenting because I know it helps but haven’t got anything specific to say 😂 #honest

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Haha thanks a lot x

[@OldBaron5664]

Amika I hope you got your £50 pocket money you do your dad proud, Gary if the bird of prey had a V tail white patches on the underside of the wings it was a red kite they generally have a high pitch call they are the only UK bird of prey that live in a colony. They are gradually spreading across the country since they were reintroduced keep an eye out for white tailed eagles the four reintroduced on the Isle of white have moved over to the mainland basically a lot bigger than a golden eagle the nickname is barn door due to the wingspan you will see them in the Highlands. Stay safe and good luck with the Van

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Haha brilliant. Ah that's super useful infotmation. Thank you. I'm going to get some binos to get a better look I think

[@christinemarchant4678]

Really interesting video, & I really don’t know anything about electrics 😊

[@OldBaron5664]

There are some really good books on bird identification if you are near At Neots Cambridgeshire the RSPB head quarters are there so you could pick up a book and advice plus when looking for binoculars not only look for a good brand Zeis is the best but focal length you will have to also consider the physical size and weight sadly the old fashioned specialist camera stores have long gone

[@md2320]

All the dodgy connections are at the back of that board 😂🤣😂🤣👍

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Out of sight out of mind 😂

[@terryhere3889]

🦅 Buzzards they was released into the uk 🦅

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Amazing Terry cheers.

[@MartinKennedy636]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

😎

[@md2320]

Remember when you're trying to find the live wire., Stick each wire on your tongue one by one you'll find the live one eventually!!!!!

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

Lesson one, age 9 😂

[@davebergstrom1819]

promo sm 🙏

[@TravelwithGaryandAmika]

What's that?