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Messages - LeeCooper

#1
Hi there,

I have been looking into getting a Netgear Nighthawk Router with some external antennae in a bid to get a better mobile signal, but recently have been looking into the WeBoost products.   

I'm looking for something that means I don't have to drill hole in my roof and can just magnetically mount it on my roof when I'm parked up to get reliable internet usage through mobile date whilst travelling through Europe.   

Does anybody have any good recommendations for a simple setup that will provide this?  I have noticed that no-one seems to use WeBoost products outside of the USA.

I will be working from the road at times and will need fairly decent upload/download speeds.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Lee :)
#2
Hi there, I'm looking for specific, in depth, electrical advice from a professional electrician in London, UK, for a campervan conversion.    Does any-one know of any good individuals or companies who might be able to help advise on a setup and help with installation?

Thanks :)
#3
Hmm....not even with a gigantic lithium power bank?
#5
Hi there, Dan.

It's been a while.  Thanks again for your last responses. 
My concern with the deep cycle batteries is that I will need so many, (given the 50% charge rule).
Ideally, I will need a huge bank, as my work laptop alone will require as much as 150aH a day.
This is why a lithium bank seemed like a better choice.

Some-one I am in touch with is selling as 1000w pure sine wave inverter with a 30amp vehicle charger and a built in solar charger for only £229, but it's interesting that you're saying this will cost me up to 25% of battery space.  I suppose if I went lithium I could afford the extra battery space?

I've been looking at 3 way fridges, which as I understand them can be powered by two types of gas and/or electricity.  From what I hear, they need a lot of space for ventilation.   Obviously, I want to save on electrics, but also want to save space, too. 

I've seen some conversions get up to about 600aH battery banks with a huge budget! 

We plan on buying the van very soon now, and I can see that the electrics need planning in the initial stages, so am getting concerned that I have no idea what I am doing.  Do you have any preferred guides or reading material that you would recommend?

Thanks again for your time. :)



#6
Hey Nomadnovan,

this is what I'm worrying about, really.
I have a 130W, 20V laptop, and am told that a decent power bank and an inverter would sort me out, but I worry that people don't realise how much power they pull, and that it's not actually possible unless you're hooked up to shore power.

#7
Just wondering if there were any more updates on the desktop/van solution?
#8
...also, I just realised I forgot to mention what other electrics we would need.  My girlfriend has a less powerful laptop which is far less power hungry and wouldn't be running it as much as me.

We have phones, a small portable wireless speaker, a hairdryer and would like a fridge with a small freezer compartment. 

In a perfect world, we would also consider bringing a very powerful Vitamix blender for short blasts, but that is way down on the list of priorities.  It's the laptop that we're focussing on.

Thanks again! 
Lee.
#9
Interesting advice!  Really appreciate your response, Camper_Dan.  :)

So if I were running my laptop for 10 hours, I'd be looking at 110 amp hours per day.
(I wonder if rendering or doing more intensive stuff on the laptop will draw more power?  when the fan and graphics card are churning away loudly?)   If I'm running off the laptop battery, the life will drop from 10 hours to about 2 hours once I've fired up my graphics programs.

A friend of mine has told me that an inverter is the way to go, and holy heck are they expensive!  So I'd be interested to see if there are alternative routes that are reliable.    Being less dependent on shore power is my ultimate wishlist, but I'm aware I might just be hoping for too much.

Sorry for the basic questions but isn't an inverter the same as a generator?   Or am I thinking of an "inverter generator"  (vs a conventional generator)      In my (basic) head, a generator is something that is filled up with fuel and is quite loud and placed outside the vehicle.   

Your stance on solar is really interesting, thanks for that.   I have been looking into lithium batteries, and lots of people seem really excited by them.   They seem very expensive also.

Really appreciate you taking the time to read my posts.
#10
Hello there!

We are planning a sprinter conversion, with an ideal outcome of being able to do freelance animation work whilst on the road.

The electrics seem to be the most daunting prospect, and we're waiting to buy the van until we can confirm that it's actually physically possible to use a fairly powerful laptop, without having to be constantly near a power hook up.

The laptop in question is a DELL Precision 5520, 2.90 GHz, 32Gb Ram with a 4Gb graphics card.
I know literally nothing about electrics but it says it's 130W and 19.5V on that small black box that goes between the laptop and the plug in the wall.   (inverter?  converter?)

I've watched countless hours of YouTube vids and have tried to learn the basic terminologies, but still can't confirm that it's possible to make use a powerful laptop for extensive periods of time.   My question to any-one out there is, is there a way to know how long a specific laptop will run for once you have chosen your battery setup?

If any-one has any advice on this, it would be greatly appreciated.   I would consider any set up at all if it allowed us the freedom to be away from a power hook up.  Solar, generator, big power bank, etc.

Thanks for any help.  :)