Nomad Electric

We were interviewed by Rose Willard at the RV Entrepreneur podcast! https://open.spotify.com/episode/13Bvciewtliz2y5gZ6iMeb

 

MaryLea got all her components delivered to her house and we met again to finalize the list, make sure everything had truly arrived, and then set up a date and time to do her build!

We met at a state park campground and got to work! MaryLea was intimately involved in the build and within just an hour or two, was stripping wires and adding lugs and connecting components!

Her service dog, Rosy, was a huge help as well, by ensuring to always be underfoot. HA

At the end of build day 2 when MaryLea flipped her switches and saw that she had power, the look on her face was amazing. She yelled out "I have power!" and jumped around.

Helping people become independent of the grid, live the life they want, and in this case, be able to live safely with medical conditions that require electricity for devices, is the best part of what I do. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world.

Are you ready for your build? Let's chat! DM me today to determine what you need and let's get your build scheduled!

ASK ME ANYTHING! Got a pressing question regarding van life, electricity, solar power, off grid living? Hit me up! Let's get those pressing questions answered today!

MaryLea came to me because she needed a solar system build out in her van that could support a fridge running constantly and other medical items as needed. She wanted to spend more time in her van and on the road but without the ability to support her medical devices and keep her and her service dog comfortable and safe, she found herself stuck more in her house than her van. And she couldn't travel like she wished to.

She had started gathering components and had quite a bit already, but had reached a point that her knowledge of how to put them all together, safely, was not there.

She reached out to me and we met over video chat several times and helped her get together the missing components.

Once they arrived, it was a go!

ASK ME ANYTHING!!! Got a burning question about electricity, your solar system, solar, off grid living, and more? Hit me up in the comments below and let's get those burning questions answered!!

Why can I help you with these questions?

Good question! I am a solar tech, specializing in off grid solar system installs and repairs for RV's, vans, buses, and cabins. I myself live off grid in my van, that I custom installed solar on. Its been 4 years on the road and 3 years since we have needed to stay in an RV park for any length of time to charge our batteries. My family travels with me and we live 100% off grid year round!! I love this life so so much and I want to help you love it as well.

In my last post, I discussed why choosing the correct wire sizing is so important. In today's post I want to discuss my philosophy in how I choose wire sizes and build or repair systems.

My design philosophy is to maximize your off grid life to the best of my abilities. This means mounting all components close together, which means shorter wire runs. This in turn reduces your overall costs for the build as we can use less wire overall. It also reduces the weight of the system and in turn allows us to maximize the size of the wire to accommodate the maximum current possible.

This means a MORE EFFICIENT system for you!! Which is a win win for everyone.

Also, you are present during the entire build so you can see the quality of the build, assist with making the build, and obtain education along the way to you can maintain the system on your own down the line! This is mine and my client's favorite part of the build. No more dropping it off at a shop and hoping that when you get it back, everything is done correctly.

You KNOW its done correctly because you were there the entire time!!

Schedule your Discovery Call today so we can determine your needs and get you on the books to build your system out NOW!!

Did you know that the SIZE of the wire is super important when building out a solar system for your rig? This is one of the top mistakes I see in build that I have fixed. Wire sizes being the incorrect size.

So WHY is it so important to get the right sizes? Well, incorrect sizing can lead to fires! And when you live in your van or bus or RV, and space is tight, your system is probably under your bed. Not exactly the place you want a fire to start!!

My latest blog post details WHY you want right wire sizes and more. Check it out now: www.nomadelectric.net/blog or at LINK in BIO

Ask me anything!!!! DM me or comment below. Let's get those burning questions answered!!

Types of fuses and what they are used for in your build. Fuses are must haves when installing an off grid system in your rig. These are the types most commonly used.

If your current system is missing these, you could be living in a ticking time bomb. Let's chat so I can help you know for sure if they are missing and the next steps to take to get them placed. Your safety is of utmost importance to me. DM me today!!

I have seen so many off grid solar builds without fuses. Is that ok? What harm is there if there isn't any fuses? In my latest blog post, I detail why you need fuses, how they work, and the importance of having them.

All of my builds come with them automatically. No matter your budget, your safety is never compromised. And you know how you know your build with me has them? Well because you are present the entire build. You actually see the install happening and the fuses being placed. You are educated on why they are there and shown, not only how to install them, but how to safely replace them if they do blow.

You can rest assured and sleep safely and peacefully in your bed each night, knowing your system will keep you safe even if a surge happens.

Ready to get your system installed? Or your current build evalutated for safety? Book your Discovery call today so we can get your rig on the books! Www.nomadelectric.net

Solar panel shut off switches are another thing I see missing often. If you are parked in the sun and you need to work on your system, yet you have no way to shut off the input coming from the solar panels, you could be in for a nasty shock or worse.

These are also required by code/law, but despite that I have seen WAY too many builds without them, leaving the owners in danger if they want to add a component or need to troubleshoot something.

I repair this issue in already built systems. When I build a system from scratch, these are always installed. Your safety is my top priority, besides making sure you have a system that meets your needs and your budget.

Do you have a solar shut off switch in your build? If not, let's chat. DM me or comment below and let's get that fixed ASAP!!

It's ASK ME ANYTHING Thursday!! What is your burning question?? Post it in the comments and let's get it answered for you ASAP!!

Are safety shut off switches necessary or not?

I have seen so many builds without them, one would begin to assume that they are not. If you assumed that, you would be wrong. These are necessary for safety as well as per the electrical code.

If you do not have these in a current solar build you have, let's chat and get these installed ASAP for you.

And rest assured, every new build I do, these are installed per code and I ensure you know where they are and how and why to use them. Your safety is my biggest priority, outside of making sure your build fits your budget and your needs.

What are shut off switches in a solar system build and are they necessary?

The answer is a VERY emphatic, YES! They are not only necessary they are required by law for your build to be up to code.

I have seen soooooooo many builds without them and its scary to see how many people doing solar system builds know so little about safety and the codes they need to follow.

Does your system have shut off switches? If not, let's chat. I want to get you up to code and SAFE as soon as possible.

Send me a DM or book a consultation so we can figure out how to get your system safe. today. now.

One thing that I want to touch on is something that is an integral part of my business model. Having the owners present during my builds!

So many of the builds that I end up fixing, the owners were not present. They dropped off their rig and came back at a later date to pick it up. They were not around to see the quality of the build or if they were cutting corners, no education on the system occurred, and no final wiring diagrams were provided so if a problem occurred the owner, or someone they hired, could figure out what the f**k was going on and how to get to it.

This is such a common issue that I decided I wanted to do things differently. When I do my builds, you are right there with me! Every step of the way I am educating you on the basics of electricity, why I choose the wiring size I do, showing you how to wire things up, how the components work together, how the solar panels work, and how to troubleshoot things when problems occur.

I also provide ongoing tech support as needed through my Discord Group. You can ask me literally anything 24/7 in there and we have a video chat feature if I need to get a good look at anything.

My clients leave feeling empowered in their ability to handle their systems, add components along the way, and knowing that if they need help, I am only a quick message away. They also leave with a wiring diagram so they or anyone else can trace the wiring for issues.

If you want a system built for you or one fixed, let's chat. Schedule a discovery call today and let's figure out what is going on and what is the best option for you and your budget.

LINK in BIO to schedule now!!

ASK ME ANYTHING day is here!! Got a burning question about solar systems, battery banks, van life, off grid living, or electricity? I am your man!!

Let's get your question answered and your issues resolved today!

Keith's build part 2- Keith was living in a ticking time bomb just waiting for something bad to happen and he didn't even know it!

Today, let's talk about just a FEW of the issues I found when overhauling his system.
~Bad splices
~No disconnect switches or fuses
~Inadequate wire sizes (Per NEC regulations)
~Poorly located charge controller
~Incorrect use of a DC block to distribute AC power!!!
~No strain relief
~Incorrectly wired solar panels
~Lack of sealant around where the solar panel wiring entered through the roof, allowing water intrusion. As you may already know, electricity and water and NOT friends!

Just one of these could have led to a bad outcome for Keith and his family. Combine them together and they were at risk of a fire happening at any moment!

This is why its important to not only get the right people for the job, but to also be present during the build. More on that friday.

to read more, hop over to the blog. Link in BIO

Let's talk the importance of finding the right people for the job. Today in my blog post I talk about how Keith thought he found the right people, but when something went wrong he found out how wrong he was!

Thankfully, he found me and I was able to correct the issues he was having due to poor workmanship and unsafe measures taken.

But what if he HADN'T found me? Keith was living in a ticking time bomb and he was bound to get seriously injured.

Read more at my blog. Link in BIO

Ask me anything today!! Let's get those burning questions answered!!

Recently was asked this question and I felt it was a good one to share. Many people think that wind power and solar power are equal and well, they just aren't.

What is your thought on solar vs wind power?

Let me know in comments below.

Also, I am now scheduling appointments for installs, repairs, and more for October 2023! These are filling fast so get in NOW!

Redundancy for cold weather camping is imperative to ensure your safety and to keep your warm throughout the night.

For this I help you design a system that can handle cold weather days with low Sun exposure. We also help you create backup systems to make sure that if one way fails, you have another you can quickly pivot to to keep you safe and warm.

Do you cold weather camp? Are you prepared for this upcoming season? What are your best tips and tricks. Share them below.

And for more of my tips and tricks, head on over to the blog www.nomadelectric.net/blog or at the link in BIO

Cold weather is coming and if you are not prepared, cold weather in an RV, van, or bus can be life threatening.

This weeks blog post is all about preparing for cold weather and how to make sure you have enough solar and batteries and redundant systems to make it through the long cold nights.

Do you cold weather camp? Where has been your favorite place to cold weather camp so far?

Now accepting appointments for installs, overhauls, and virtual consults for October 2023!! This Fall/Winter I will be servicing the Yuma, Quartzsite, and Lake Havasu AZ area. If you have been wanting solar installed, your system changed up or looked over, are having issues with a current one and want an experts eyes on the situation, or want to DIY with an expert in your back pocket, I'm your guy!

I have installed multiple systems in RV's, vans, off grid cabins, and overhauled already installed systems in the same. I know how to install systems that are safe for bouncing down the road. I do budget friendly build outs that give you everything YOU need for your way of living, but won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Head over to www.nomadelectric.net or the LINK in BIO to get on the books now before its too late.

When we start to plan out your solar build for your van, RV, or bus, the biggest thing to consider is where do we put everything?

We want to avoid obvious safety hazards, such as water, but dirt and dust can be a problem as well. Electrical components are not made to handle copious amounts of dirt and dust everyday. If you plan on doing any sort of staying on BLM land, dirt and dust are common.

Other things to consider are:
~How much airflow is my system going to get?
~How close do my components need to be? And is that safe?

Have you considered these when considering where to place your system? Let me know below!

Check out the rest of how I feel about these and why to avoid them at my blog: www.nomadelectric.net/blog or at link in BIO

Let's talk about the external components for your solar system and the challenges they can bring.

It can be tricky to get them up to the roof to start with. They are awkward sizes and shapes usually and some can be quite heavy. Climbing a ladder with them can be tricky for sure.

Mounting the parts and keeping leaks from happening is imperative to keeping your rig mold free.

Getting the wiring from the solar panels down into the rig without leaving a hole anywhere for leaks is like a weird game of Jenga sometimes. It takes a great deal of patience on your part for sure.

It can be tedious but its so rewarding when you finally get it done!!

What have you found to be the hardest part for you when installing the external components?

Read more at the blog: www.nomadelectric.net/blog or at link in BIO.

Book your Discovery call today and let's get your build on the schedule. My schedule fills fast in the fall and winter so its important to get your build scheduled ASAP.

It's ASK ME ANYTHING Thursday!! Got questions about van life, off grid living, electricity issues in your rig, solar, nomad living? or whatever. Literally, ask me ANYTHING! Let's get those pressing questions answered.

Solar build outs can be very complex, especially if your rig has an existing electrical system. This complexity provides the challenge I love and am good at overcoming. With experience, comes the ability to know, just by looking what challenges may come up and all the ways to overcome those.

If you do not have that experience, this blog post can help walk you through some of the challenges you may face to help you prepare for them in advance.

Do you want to install solar on your rig? What has been your biggest challenge in getting started?

Today's blog is all about retrofitting your RV, bus, or van with solar. This is not always an easy task, especially if an existing electrical system already exists. Knowing where to place the new components and how to tie them into the existing system is imperative to avoid issues in the future.

I talk all about these steps in this new post. Have you installed a solar system around an existing electrical system? How did it go for you? Tell me in the comments.

Read more at nomadelectric.net/blog or link in BIO. Sign up for a Discovery call today and let's discuss getting your rig retrofitted!

components are are absolutely amazing for their price point in keeping your system safe from overcharging and helping you monitor your battery life and so much more.

Some of the reasons I recommend them for my builds is their size (they fit in tight spaces easily), their quality, and the ease of interface with you via bluetooth and phone app. And well I probably have 100 more reasons, but thats for another post. HA.

If you want to find out more about Victron components in tandem with your lithium batteries, read more of this article at my blog now! www.nomadelectric.net/blog or at the link in my BIO.

Do you use Victron components? Why or why not?? Tell me below 👇

Thursday is here!! Got a question about solar, electricity, off grid living, van life, RV life, Schoolie life, or well pretty much anything about Nomad life in general.... ask away below!! Let's get those burning questions answered so you can get back to living the life you love as quickly as possible.