Finally got my van

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LivGolden said:
Yes, from DO popcorn to practically biblical proportions.

I don't know how my dance card got filled up, Q!
4,000 RTR attendees heard about the evening fish fry. I have no idea how that happened.
 
HalfShadows said:
AT tires are nice just for the extra little bit of traction in different environments. SB has road tires with aggressive tread design.
AT tires are more rugged if you're driving up BLM and forest service roads a lot. BLM roads tend to have nasty rocks everywheres. When the current tires on my van wear out, I'll shirley replace with AT tires.
 
Wow , I stood on the bumper of SB and was able to rock it a little bit. When I finish loading it I may just have a smoother suspension instead of a vibratory machine.
 
QinReno said:
Best go on one of those Keto diets, 1/2.
I would consider it Q, but there is something about the word Keto is just not right.
 
Actually it's a rather extremist diet (will likely get feedback on that) that is so much into reducing carbs and eating proteins like red meat that your body starts exuding ketone bodies. Apparently if doing it right, you can smell it - think acetone. Or maybe that's overdoing it, I don't know. 
- https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/keto-diet
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-signs-and-symptoms-of-ketosis
- https://www.google.com/search?q=ketones+breakdown+of+fat

My plan, as mentioned on the other Liv(e) thread, is not going 100%. Do it gradually over time, mainly changing which carbs I eat. I'll see how it goes. I did lose 20 lbs when I made a basic adjustment to my diet and reduced carbs last time, abut 6 years ago. But I got somewhat weak this past year. Those pizzas just sort of sneak up on you.
 
I like to eat what I feel like. My appetite is returning which is a good sign. I was used to physical activity, so I burned the calories. With the onset of my appetite returning, I will have to find some form of physical activity. It will be hard to do since I am the type of person who got physical activity from working. I cannot just go for a run, bike, swim just to do it. I am taking up prospecting, digging and hauling material for an end result should give me plenty of exercise. Being occupied physically is not only healthy but emotionally therapeutic as well.
 
Reading about the chemistry of the Keto diet is somewhat gruesome. The other common one is like living on rabbit food, lots of salads. Oof, no interest. So I prefer a middle course, and still eat my goodies now and then, but less so overall. Considering it's hard to find swimming pools on BLM land, walking and hiking are probably the best things to do. Easy to do in the desert. Plus more so, if carrying a lot of prospecting equipment.
 
Installed fridge and freezer yesterday afternoon with a battery voltage of 13.32. Checked the voltage this morning it was 13.28. Sweetness!! After an hour of sun rise in the shade no less, the batteries were topped off again.
 
I like western movies as much as anyone, but have not been much into books in that genre. 1/2 mentioned Louis L'Amour the other day. When I was down in the Sierra last month I talked with 2 guys, both into fishing and reading. The one guy recommended "Education of a Wandering Man" by LL, which I picked up in the used book store this morning. The other guy was reading "The Epic of Gilgamesh". 

The LL book sounds like one of my genres. There is also "Travels with Charley" (now known to be mostly fiction),
"Blue Highways", "An Empire Wilderness: Travels into America's Future", all of which I have read. Kaplan also has a new one that might interesting.
- https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Highways-Journey-into-America/dp/0316353299
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679776877
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399588221
 
HalfShadows said:
Installed fridge and freezer yesterday afternoon with a battery voltage of 13.32. Checked the voltage this morning it was 13.28. Sweetness!! After an hour of sun rise in the shade no less, the batteries were topped off again.
Cool. Can you mention again how many watts of solar and AH of batteries you put in. Enough to light the desert?
 
QinReno said:
Cool. Can you mention again how many watts of solar and AH of batteries you put in. Enough to light the desert?
Was originally going to go with just over 1000 watts solar, but didn't want the over hang on the roof. What I ended up with is 2-340 watt panels and 4-100 AH Lithium. I have the fridges running on 12 volts. Could have ran them on AC but the inverter uses power with a slight loss. I am going to run my laptop, monitor, reading light and sound bar on AC. And a single burner induction occasionally. Will run the projector as well. LOL
 
400 AH sounds pretty good. Enough to run the egg steamer. I love this thing and use it 2X or 3X a week. No mess, no cleanup, my ideal appliance. Draws 360W for about 9-minutes, just a bit more than my tiny solar system can handle.
- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BKPBSFL
 
Overall energy draw is not every much, but 360W/12V = 30A is a bit more than my existing wiring and fuses can handle. The only thing I usually use my system for is to light a 120VAC 60W dimmable Led bulb (11W actual draw) and occasionally run my laptop via an inverter.
 
QinReno said:
Overall energy draw is not every much, but 360W/12V = 30A is a bit more than my existing wiring and fuses can handle. The only thing I usually use my system for is to light a 120VAC 60W dimmable Led bulb (11W actual draw) and occasionally run my laptop via an inverter.
As a minimalist you can appreciate your current power set up. But not being able to use your favorite appliance, must make you rethink.
 
I'm gonna buy a bigger fuse - that's always the first mistake.
 
QinReno said:
I'm gonna buy a bigger fuse - that's always the first mistake.

Just make sure your wire can support a bigger fuse.  You don't want the wire melting and shorting behind something.
 
B and C said:
Just make sure your wire can support a bigger fuse.  You don't want the wire melting and shorting behind something.
Yeah Q. LOL
 
B and C said:
Just make sure your wire can support a bigger fuse.  You don't want the wire melting and shorting behind something.
Yeah, I know. Since my system is so minimalist, I have 100% (literally) of my solar wiring in one little cabinet right by the side doors of the van. So if it ever catches fire, I can kick it outside real fast.
 
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