Ultimate VICTRON Off Grid System for Van Life (step by step) PART 1 || Self Build Van Conversion

[@johnpatterson5744]

Well done very nice high spec high end job 👍.✊🙏❤️👌😎

[@abucklife]

Thanks John. Thanks for the lovely comment. I’m trying my best to make a nice job of it. 🤜🤛 appreciate the support.

[@scr206]

im at the picking a van stage lol i was kind of set on a LWB Master, but seeing the 4x4 in the LWB crafter and what i plan to do with it has me thinking now!

[@abucklife]

@@scr206 thanks. I guess if you want to get off the road a little it’s a good idea. 👍

[@BenWalkerPhotos]

Great video! & love the electric cupboard - I would recommend one small addition however for safety - you need to 'box in' the base of those batteries with some wood or metal "stops" - to prevent them sliding around (no amount of straps will stop something that heavy if you emergency brake). The base of my batteries has a 1 inch high wooden boarder around the bottom of the batteries so they cannot move - the straps then stop it bouncing up & down over bumps. Looking at the cupboard you could attach a metal 'lip' on the side edge of the shelf and wooden spacers between the batts - put some rubber between the metal lip and the battery itself. Just an idea to increase safety - otherwise looks perfect!

[@abucklife]

Thanks Ben. I think you’re right. I’m defiantly going to put a strip round the base of the batteries. I think I might dab a breaker up to hold them down to. Something more strong.

[@VanFamilyAdventures]

Mega bud 🤙 It’s very rewarding seeing it come together isn’t it? I was in a similar position but Chris was great in advising on components to make it functional and safe.

[@abucklife]

100 percent. Pretty overwhelming at first but I guess once you have done it once it seems less complex. Yer top bloke.

[@BruceLauderdale]

Looking good!!!👍

[@abucklife]

Thanks Bruce. That means a lot coming from you a man of your electrical know how. Thanks for answering a few of my 230 questions. 🤜🤛

[@amitkatzir]

Good stuff! Cheers

[@abucklife]

Thanks man 🤜🤛

[@koksaltskenneth]

Hey, fantastic to follow this build! i’m currently doing the same thing, as i have the same van and very similar electrical components, would you mind sharing the measurements? and what size plywood did you use?

[@abucklife]

I used 15mm lightweight plywood and I’m not sure of the measurements but when I get in there today I will have a measure for you.

[@koksaltskenneth]

@ thank you so much 🙏🏻 do you think 12mm would suffice? as i have some left over from the floor

[@abucklife]

I think 12mm normal ply would be ok but I would double up for the battery base and maybe the multiplus both very heavy.

[@abucklife]

127cm long 87 high 33deep.

[@koksaltskenneth]

@@abucklife a thousand thank you! I wish you and your family all the best, congratulations!

[@andybuckley2807]

Looks awesome mate, Quick question where did you buy the 15mm Laminated light weight ply (Arctic Blue) from?

[@abucklife]

Thanks mate. U.K. leisure parts in Barnsley. 👍👍

[@andybuckley2807]

@@abucklife Thanks!

[@abucklife]

Anytime.

[@lucamarcspieletv]

Do you have a parts-list by any chance ? Good, clean setup!

[@abucklife]

Yes I will add it the description for you. This evening. 👍

[@lucamarcspieletv]

@@abucklife Thanks big man!

[@abucklife]

I’ve put all the stuff in for the cupboard build and tools. I am just in the middle of editing the next part which will detail all the electrical components. Lugs and sizes and wire gauges. 👍

[@AndrewFisher-x1e]

Great series and your van build looks great. You mentioned Chris from Bespoke Solar. Can you share their details please, as I am about to embark on my electrical system build using a similar set up to yours. Thanks

[@abucklife]

Thanks Andrew. Yer it’s bspksolar on instagram. Also totally not sponsored or anything we found him at the adventure overland show and he has a good reputation for designing good systems.

[@thenortherntideriders]

Another outstanding video guys ❤ literally just bought an trend airshield mask similar to the ones yous guys have (got to wear them due to working on sites😢) the cabinet you made is awsum 👌🏻 very neat !! Loving the videos

[@abucklife]

Thank you 🤜❤️🤛. Yer there’s a lot of dust and nasty fines from some of these materials. As Edd china would say. Safety first. 😂 I do forget to wear it when I’m rushing. I thought the cabinet was pretty simple but I should have learnt by now nothing is simple on these builds. It’s going to have clear Perspex fronts in the end. 👌

[@estedentkaleta]

I'm building a similar system, but a double Orion XS 50 A. I commissioned it to a company that knows what they're doing, because for me it's a flight to Mars 😂. I admire your courage 😵‍💫

[@abucklife]

Awesome. I did consider getting it done for us but we just couldn’t afford it. So I dived in. Thank buddy.

[@EricMarshall-y8s]

With the weight of them batteries you sure that shelf is going to be strong enough.

[@abucklife]

It was in the garage for a couple of weeks with no movement. But I was a little worried.

[@robfodder5575]

@@abucklife My concern is about a crash or emergency stop scenario. Those inverters are what, 20kg? (mine is the smaller version). Mine will be a similar setup and Im thinking of an 3 or 4mm ali plate at the back of the multiplus with a bend in it to the vans structure. Same sort of thing with the batteries, as I have 2x280Ah fogstars about the wheel arch like you; reinforce the cabinet with ali and straps bolted to the van structure. Just to stop them cutting loose.

[@abucklife]

The cupboard is very strong it’s not going anywhere. But safety for my family is paramount so I have definitely thought about it. I am looking for a better battery mounting option.

[@speedsweets67]

Awesome series. One question though. It seems with watertank and the electric system all the way back behind the axle, you could get some weight related problems. Did you take that in account? Thx Eric

[@abucklife]

Hi Eric. Great question. I considered the weight. Front to back and side to side. Front to back we do have the rock and roll bed which is heavy at the front. I then considered the water on the left and the electrics on the right because the rock and roll bed is on the right and figured the water weighs more. Fingers crossed it’s ok. If not and you see a wonky van go past give us a wave 😅

[@speedsweets67]

@@abucklife wonkyness saves the world I heard 👍😜

[@abucklife]

😂😂

[@truth3358]

Now how much did that victron system cost ?

[@abucklife]

A lot

[@neilmick6778]

Your inverter isn't 3000w, it's 2400w.

[@abucklife]

Ahhh my bad at the start of this video series I was certainly leaning.