I have the Inficon D-Tek stratus, that things amazing. That cloud hunting feature has literally saved my butt a few times. I once picked up a leak inside a walkin freezer that was inside or accessed from inside the walkin cooler. I got a hit of about 10-15 parts per million (404A system) near the lineset connection to the evap, so pulled the covers off the evap coil, checked all the usual spots, TXV, external equalizer, return bends, nothing definite. Checked the unit on the roof, checked the microchannel condenser coil thoroughly, got nothing. Then I had a hunch and climbed up into the attic of this restaurant, and started getting a stronger hit. After awhile I found the culprit. There is a section of the attic above the cooler and freezer that's a storage area with a plywood floor and some shelving units. Well, they had put one of these shelving units on top of the lineset, and one of the legs had worn a small hole in the vapor line. It looked like a pre-charged lineset, and the lazy installers had just coiled up all the extra lineset and left it on the floor! Well, that was easy. I pumped the system down, cut out all the extra lineset (almost 15 feet!) along with the damaged part of the tubing, brazed in a coupling, swaged the 3/8 liquid line, added 4 pounds of gas, and a year later I still have a clear sight glass. Bottom line is that leak detector picked up the leak from that far away! Picked up just what was seeping thru the armaflex suction line insulation. I have not tested it yet with R290 with the included sensor, but just for fun, I tried it with a known VERY small natural gas leak, and it worked like a champ! So if it can easily pickup natural gas, I'm pretty confident it'll pick up R290. Reason being, it's infrared based, and propane is heavier and denser than air, a lot like R22, and I think it'll pick it up. I'll try it out with butane from a Bic lighter when I get a chance. So far that's my goto leak detector, and I think it might just be the closest thing to a '1 stop shop' detector. I use the bubble stuff for a backup, or just to confirm something is leaking enough to bubble. Basically if you get to 1000ppm you're very close, 3000+ is a big leak. One thing I've found is if there's a decent sized leak inside a small walkin, sometimes have to go outside and let it breathe some known clean air to settle down, because the cloud hunting mode is continually switching ports and alternately sampling the port by the handler and the probe tip, so if the refrigerant concentration is equal by your hand to the tip it doesn't work so well, but can just switch modes to Low or Med etc.
My D-tek select reacts to butane/propane mix from camping burner on my table, not above. Not sure what sensor type it has, guess non-IR. I was surprised. It seems to also detects ethanol in ridiculous smal amounts. If it reacts to R290, not sure if I need a better tool? Time will tell or someone else.
@@Casal70 The thing to keep in mind is propane, like most refrigerants esp R410 is much heavier than air, and will tend to 'pour' off the table top (assuming still air in the room), and then onto the floor. This is what makes it so dangerous in places like basements where propane will tend to collect in the lowest and seldom occupied part of the house. Until the gas/air mixture reaches just the right mix, and meets an ignition source... Natural gas which is mostly methane with a sometimes trace amounts of naturally occuring hydrogen, is lighter than air and will tend to float and disapate. The D-tek does use an IR sensor, like the fieldpiece, and things like propane and most refrigerants change the air density enough to disturb the IR light path in the sensor.
I couldn't help but to think "that is one expensive van with everything you have in there". I can understand now why people in your industry suffer alot if they get their van's broken in to. HVACR Tech's carry alot in those van's, I had no idea. Thanks for the Tour! It was very interesting.
Those Fluke 1587 are like $850-$950. Use the PI and DAR settings. They give a ratio which you can reference to be very precise. I'd like to think i know quite a bit about meggers and how to get proper readings....that 1587 is alsoa standard multimeter as well as a megger....i want one...but hard to cough up the dough for it
For your chemicals, here are a few options: 1 large boot tray for the whole shelf, some bigger plastic hotel pans to split things up, or various smaller fridge organizer containers (crystal clear)
@@quietone610 Yep, I was judging the plastic idea off what I saw he had. Nothing stuck out as an issue, although some of it might cause crazing on acrylic.
Boot tray's a good suggestion - Ikea do some if there's one around. Theirs are polypropylene, which unless you're dealing with extreme temperatures (think boiled oceans) will be fine with most things short of strong acids (sulfuric, nitric..), real turpentine (anyone still use that?), or paint thinners (toluene, xylene).
Not the same but my electrical van is similar. For suggestion, it's hard to tell but a battery charging station is probably highly needed. One of the improvements I made these past years was to try to reduce the passenger's side constant mess. One of the solutions that worked for me was to eliminate, to the best of my ability, everything papers related. I got installed a ram mount (seat's fixed) for a lte laptop and put all my documentation(pdf), invoices(excel sheets), etc, in there with an ac/dc converter+printer(HP OfficeJet 250) in the back; so far so good. I also bought a cheap bamboo steering wheel desk to eat or write. You could also maybe add a cleaning thingy in the back for your hands, a paper towel/soap/hydrate your hands' station. For the chemical galore, I bought an aluminum sheet and used a big hole saw in it to cover at less the can making a mess everywhere; if I was to redo it, I would use plastic instead to dampen the sound like abs pipe cut and glued together or whatever.
+1 on the charging station idea - I mounted a 2000w inverter on the inside of the bulkhead with an M18/M12 Fast Charger just above it - don't burn through batteries very fast running service - but I'm always able to charge a battery while driving between calls if needed. I just ordered one of those bamboo steering wheel desks too - I'm hoping it works well on a Chevy Express 2500.
My friend has a van exactly like yours but instead of steel shelving it's rubber made and it's expensive, his van is super quiet I think he has OCD. For his tanks he sanded inside the tank rack and and put velcro and glued it down to make sure it don't come loose you hear nothing. I went with him on a big job, however I bought a 1/2 inch nipple tray for different job, the rattling was driving him nut's. He pulled over dumped all the nipples out and cut up some velcro right on the spot and lined the tray 4 pieces each slot 45 min's later we are off to the job. I will admit that was 1000% better, I was laughing so hard I started to cry He goes you owe me 30 bucks for that....LMAOOOOOOOOOO
Looks like the biggest problem with your refrigerant cylinders is that the bungee is letting it bounce. Use the bungee to pull it down and that might help. You could even use a rubber or insulation to keep the tank steady against the bungee so it won't move as much.
Now that is real Life , I can not keep my truck clean I move too fast from job to job I clean it on Sundays dirty by Monday afternoon I try to put stuff where it belongs but it is time consuming and I am Service and Install so there is a lot of tools in my small Van . good Videos . can't explain why I watch someone doing what I do for 9 hours a day FFS .
"Can't explain why I watch someone do what I do for 9hrs a day, ffs" is exactly what I've been thinking but we both know we're watching quality content! Cant explain why I comment on what I do 9 hrs/day, either :))
As someone newely into the software engineering field, videos like this just give the notion that I might have enjoyed the trades a bit more. Thanks for the video.
I would just get a plastic tote from home Depot and put chemicals at the bottom and tools above it. Or if your cheap like me get the tote from the dump people always throwing them away
You never know when having the Dye kit (even if it IS back at the shop) will end up being a requirement on a warrantee repair. So it's good that it's somewhere.
What is the app you use with your fieldpiece probes? I've seen your vids where youve got gauges and a completely different layout than the actual fieldpiece joblink app. Thanks, love your videos!
Its a clean working man van. Say that 3 times fast. Lol. Any van that gets used on the daily isn't gonna be show quality clean. It'll be organized chaos....without a bunch of crap all over the place and the floor.....with that said....end of the day.....throw that ish in and deal with it tomorrow.
Suggestion for your van that I'm looking into making myself is a piece of plywood with some magnetic pads that are coated in rubber, have a nut and stud that I will secure to the plywood and then just put standard drywall screws to mount all the Chargers with the keyhole slot and take a grinder and flap wheel to flatten the screws that stick out the back. Using a dab of hot snot to lock charger in place. For your inverter situation you need a lithium battery and an isolator to go with it. Allows charging but not discharging the main battery.
No ideas here myself on the "how/layout" of the battery charging, but like said consider having one of those "120v portable power banks" big things and plug all the chargers off that, so that if the van is off things can keep charging or if in some crazy reason you need 120v somewhere you have a portable pack. Then if/when it runs low you only really need to worry about the bigger power bank to recharge it, harder to forget or if you do at least your tool batteries are still in the truck in their chargers. Saw that from the electricians who rewired my house, they had only just got the bank a few months before but had already saved their bacon once or twice on "forgot to charge" or "need 120v for something but no mains power nearby".
In regards to the rubber feet on your bag, why not pool hot glue into the spot? It’s got grip and can fill that spot up (if you can’t find a replacement).
Plastic Tray for the chemicals, go to the cleaning product isle at the Home Store and you'll find some white, Libman brand cleaning totes - that's what I keep my aerosol and chemicals in....as well as use them to tote 3/4" and 1" PVC fittings/glue/cutters.
For the shelf with chemicals.. try the silicone dish drying mats. They come in all shapes and sizes on Amazon for cheap- with and without a lip around the edge to hold spilled liquid. Iv used them for all kinds of different off label applications. Check them out- might find one or a combination that will do what you need
Take a milk carton crate and cut down the one side so you can easily reach innwhen its on your shelf...then line it with cardboard and a towel...done....I'm here for you baby
If you keep heavier stuff at bottom, lighter stuff at top, it lowers centre of gravity of van, you will feel the difference, gives you more confidence in driving 🙏
The ceiling seems underutilized. I haven't seen any of those filters that you typically end up cleaning and are often abused and worn down that seem to have more-or-less standard sizes; can you include a few simple corner brackets to slide those into, or actually a shelf if sizes aren't as uniform as they appear on video? Or are those things far heavier than they appear? Another thing I didn't see that you probably already have is a proper first-aid kid. Maybe also add a panel with notes of important contact information in an eyecatching place; with all the welding/braising, heavy objects and electricity you come near, I think it would be useful to have contact info for either your own GP or an outright expert who is experienced in dealing with A/C related workplace injuries. (You might already have this info on your phone, but strangers might not be able to access your phone or know what to look for!) Given the amount of times you seem to work independently on very hot roofs in places where an ambulance might not reach you very quickly (or be desirable given the financial burden for comparitively minor incidents), having a stranger be able to easily access a key medical resource based on a simple instruction might really help out during the initial response when shit hits the fan.
Looks like a good setup. if you ever do end up putting an aftermarket inverter in check Kussmaul Electronics, they have an auto eject plug so you can plug your van into 110v power and it will keep your battery charged, and it will eject the cord when you start your van so you do not drive off with it plugged in.
I can also vouch for Kussmaul. Although their products are intended for keeping fire apparatus batteries and air tanks fully charged, Chris would probably appreciate their proven products
It’s always a great feeling when your vans organized. I love the set up! A recommendation I would make are getting some simple spill trays for your chemicals. I keep mine in crates so they’re not moving around too much. For the odds and ends in the tool bag, if become fond of using plastic pencil cases and labeling them accordingly. It definitely helps keeping my bag clean!
Get you a small 21Qt 12v vehicle Fridge/Freezer. Quiet -4° to 68°. Never have to buy ice again. No water logged food/snacks what not. Low battery shut off not to ever kill the vehicle from starting. Like $180 give or take. Enjoy the hell out of mine
I do supermarkets . Have had the stratus 2 years not big fan of it . I feel like it isn't as sensitive as an h10 . But really it's all preference. Honestly i have majority Dewalt but have millwakee pack outs I would say it's about 70 Dewalt 30 millwakee I love m12 stuff . I really wanna get the navac stuff especially after what you said about the battery compatibility.
Does the TP-XXL get caught on the cage that surrounds the roof access ladders? I currently carry the Klein backpack but it is constantly getting caught on the ladder.
Idk boss who you trying to fool that van looks pretty awesome. Milwaukee has a battery charger that plugs into a cigarette lighter. Yes I know most new vehicles don’t have one I hardwired mine.
You should really get some leather gloves from a welding shop for when you use the torch. If one of those globs of brazing rod fall on you it's going to suck. Also for Teflon tape the yellow gas line stuff I find is better in general just because it's thicker and easier to work with because it doesn't fold over on itself as easy
Black plastic restaurant server trays nestled in the rectangular black milk crates. Put your chem bottles on top of the tray inside the milk crate. Done.
I keep a 25’ ref hose and that nitro blow gun for flowing out drains in ceilings. That way the nitro tank stays on the ground. And not trying to balance in the drop ceiling
@32:25 -- I don't see how guys blow drains out correctly without an airgun - it makes it so much easier - not to mention blowing out line-sets. It's also GREAT for the times when you get water on or in something electrical and need to dry it out before you can power it back up.
Using compressed air and or nitrogen or c02 to blow out drains can cause problems, in my opinion water is the best thing... but Ive used air and or c02 in a pinch ... I will discuss this on my Livestream this evening 8/22/22 @ 5:PM (pacific) on TH-cam come over and check it out th-cam.com/video/qLynm0RQU7U/w-d-xo.html
For the chemicals, you could take out that bottom shelf and get a chemical storage/ fire cabinet it would ensure nothing moves around while in transit and in the event that you have a leak that causes a reaction you wouldn’t have to worry about it damaging anything outside of the cabinet only challenge would be ventilation for the cabinet.
I use a small metal drain pan that our sheet metal shop made one for me. Works pretty good. I love using cases for fuses too. Just in case the label rubs off I label the top of the case. I hate guessing what fuse size I have. And this mini fuses are crazy expensive!
The electrical trade isn't fond of midget fuses either, because they won't take a big line short too well. Between your unit and the wall, the Code calls for "class CC" Fuses, which cost even more, but will handle a line short on something big.
@41:55 I use floor-mat foam (the broad stuff that you cut to size) for vibration damping. No clue how you could secure it to the tank cradles, but it would cut down on their wiggling, and definitely the noise.
Do you get like a cabin pressure noise inside the van? When youre on the highway. I have a 2021 van probably exactly like yours. When i get on the highway, man it gets loud sometimes
No not really, other than the squeeking refrigerant tank rack it's pretty quiet.... I Mean i do hear a bit of road noise coming from the transmission tunnel area but not more than I'd expect from a van with no carpet
One of the neater vans! Any place with lots of stuff and no spare room gets messy. Maybe a big, wheeled Rubbermaid or whatever box for the chemicals? On the floor? Strap in, pull out, full liquid containment (as long as they don't eat plastic). PS Liked cargo netting as a trucker. Fast to throw on and take off, best coverage. Might be something for the shelves or extra security.
That is the way I used to carry the 4-wheel cart. Big difference with certain companies, nothing extra in the cab. Many co-workers seat-belted in items into the passenger seat. (Still disallowed). Company has had some crazy drivers over the years, unable to keep van upright.
I love your van set up. I'm obsessed with work van organization. My boss often tells me to "get a life" or "find a hobby" when he sees what I do to organize my van in my free time. That metal deep drawer, tool chest and "pack out" rack is is a dream set up for me. Lol.
Getting my van organized is good for my mental health - it's satisfying to get everything straight and relieves anxiety - especially the next day when you open the door to a clean van and don't have to worry about digging for things or climbing or fighting to get what you need.
Nice truck layout. I changed from Chevrolet 3500 extended vans about 20 years ago. Went to Chevy 3500 cut away, dual rears with a Zoresco enclosed service body. Saves your knees and banging your head as you get older.
I work at a family owned retail appliance and electronic store... I do all the installs and service work for the past 5 years...I like your load out... My van looks way worse after a week😂... Im curious where's the multi tool!😂😂😂 You have awesome tools...Great video and walkthrough!
Pack rat makes an awesome 40”wx48”dx8”&12”H drawer unit. My 2017 Chevy express van had on. I mounted it on the side doors directly to the floor. Lots of storage.
After this past week my van looks like a tornado went through it. Im going to have fun tomorrow sorting everything back out and cleaning all the failed components I replaced. 🤣
37:38 that type of wire stripper is very common in europe. I see pretty much every electrician use that wire stripper as the go-to tool. You can even use it to cut wire if you set the depth far enough.
@@HVACRVIDEOS if they’re not gonna change the design, I suppose that’s just a win win for you. A newer truck, but something you’re still used to. Love the videos!
I keep an ice chest between the seats too - up against the bulkhead. I don't see how other guys work all day without having water. In front of the icechest I have 3 of the Harbor Freight ammo cans to hold smaller parts I don't want riding in the back: * One can has all my small batteries and an M18 to USB adaptor. * One has things like brass caps, hose gaskets, o-rings, mini-split adaptors, service tees, and other various refrigerant hose fittings, etc. * The third has sauce packets, seasonings, plastic forks, etc for eating lunch on the go. ...I keep my Day Planner, paperwork, and iPad on top of the cans.
Drop some boot trays on the shelf with the chemicals, which will contain any leakage. There are all different sizes on amazon. Look for one with more vertical sides. You can tell you use your van and all the tools you keep on it.
Hey love the video man, I enjoy seeing how various professionals organize their work vehicles. As for your chemical storage, if you can find someone who could 3D print you a tray. Then spray in some layers of truck bed liner to seal it. Keep up the good work and please keep posting videos. P.S. my dad had a saying "if you have a spare, you will never need it"
I’ve lost and found tools so much that I have spares of most of them and this saying rings true- If you have a spare in the truck you won’t be without it on Saturday evening
Man I wish my van was laid out that nice haha also one thing I've found to cut down on tank rattle is to get a small bungy cord and wrap around the handle of the tank and then hook it on each side. Great video!
If you add the charging station, you should add a small solar panel and charge controller on the van to keep the battery topped off. I know you don't have much room for a solar panel with the ladders, but any extra energy helps.
To replace the feet, just get some thick neoprene, or if you can find it, conveyor belt fabric. Use a cleanable adhesive like ordinary rubber cement and mount pieces to the bottom. As they wear off, just replace them. Don't worry about riveting. Extreme heat may make them come a bit loose, but that's going to be reasonably rare; just when parking them for long periods on the hottest roots, and just be aware of it.
dude the milwalkee pack out crate container its 50 bucks and worth it i have my vans wall set up with their mounting system and it's awesome keeps my shelf clear and parts like pvc connectors and electrical stufff organizes in there clear top pack out trays
The first weekend I'm on call and it's below 80°, I need to do a van tour on my channel. ...mainly I wanna see if anyone has any ideas to organize what I have better.
Ah, a clean vehicle. Exactly what I *don't* have right now.
Ha yeah mine is not usually that clean
Mine would last about 2 days after a cleanup.
It is impossible to keep a clean van while you’re on call😂
Highlight for me was the yeti cooler
My van needs a good douche too, crazy hot lately….after a 12-14 hour day the last thing you wanna do is clean your van 🥱
I'm a field service tech for a forklift company. Thanks for showing me some ideas to play around with organizing my van!
Awesome bud glad to help!!
I have the Inficon D-Tek stratus, that things amazing. That cloud hunting feature has literally saved my butt a few times. I once picked up a leak inside a walkin freezer that was inside or accessed from inside the walkin cooler. I got a hit of about 10-15 parts per million (404A system) near the lineset connection to the evap, so pulled the covers off the evap coil, checked all the usual spots, TXV, external equalizer, return bends, nothing definite. Checked the unit on the roof, checked the microchannel condenser coil thoroughly, got nothing. Then I had a hunch and climbed up into the attic of this restaurant, and started getting a stronger hit. After awhile I found the culprit. There is a section of the attic above the cooler and freezer that's a storage area with a plywood floor and some shelving units. Well, they had put one of these shelving units on top of the lineset, and one of the legs had worn a small hole in the vapor line. It looked like a pre-charged lineset, and the lazy installers had just coiled up all the extra lineset and left it on the floor! Well, that was easy. I pumped the system down, cut out all the extra lineset (almost 15 feet!) along with the damaged part of the tubing, brazed in a coupling, swaged the 3/8 liquid line, added 4 pounds of gas, and a year later I still have a clear sight glass. Bottom line is that leak detector picked up the leak from that far away! Picked up just what was seeping thru the armaflex suction line insulation. I have not tested it yet with R290 with the included sensor, but just for fun, I tried it with a known VERY small natural gas leak, and it worked like a champ! So if it can easily pickup natural gas, I'm pretty confident it'll pick up R290. Reason being, it's infrared based, and propane is heavier and denser than air, a lot like R22, and I think it'll pick it up. I'll try it out with butane from a Bic lighter when I get a chance. So far that's my goto leak detector, and I think it might just be the closest thing to a '1 stop shop' detector. I use the bubble stuff for a backup, or just to confirm something is leaking enough to bubble. Basically if you get to 1000ppm you're very close, 3000+ is a big leak. One thing I've found is if there's a decent sized leak inside a small walkin, sometimes have to go outside and let it breathe some known clean air to settle down, because the cloud hunting mode is continually switching ports and alternately sampling the port by the handler and the probe tip, so if the refrigerant concentration is equal by your hand to the tip it doesn't work so well, but can just switch modes to Low or Med etc.
My D-tek select reacts to butane/propane mix from camping burner on my table, not above. Not sure what sensor type it has, guess non-IR. I was surprised. It seems to also detects ethanol in ridiculous smal amounts. If it reacts to R290, not sure if I need a better tool? Time will tell or someone else.
@@Casal70 The thing to keep in mind is propane, like most refrigerants esp R410 is much heavier than air, and will tend to 'pour' off the table top (assuming still air in the room), and then onto the floor. This is what makes it so dangerous in places like basements where propane will tend to collect in the lowest and seldom occupied part of the house. Until the gas/air mixture reaches just the right mix, and meets an ignition source... Natural gas which is mostly methane with a sometimes trace amounts of naturally occuring hydrogen, is lighter than air and will tend to float and disapate. The D-tek does use an IR sensor, like the fieldpiece, and things like propane and most refrigerants change the air density enough to disturb the IR light path in the sensor.
Have you thought of installing a Turbo encabulator?
Rockwell is introducing a new lineup of turbo encabulators next month. There will be great discounts on present inventory
I couldn't help but to think "that is one expensive van with everything you have in there". I can understand now why people in your industry suffer alot if they get their van's broken in to. HVACR Tech's carry alot in those van's, I had no idea. Thanks for the Tour! It was very interesting.
I personally was impressed with the R22 cylinders. Currently in my area they are $1,500.00 each.
We easily spend several thousand dollars just to get the tools that we need to do jobs large and small.
I want to be an HVAC technician like you, Thanks for showing us all the cool tools you have.
When I say us I mean everybody who watches the video
when I grow up I wana be just like you to 🥹
Those Fluke 1587 are like $850-$950. Use the PI and DAR settings. They give a ratio which you can reference to be very precise. I'd like to think i know quite a bit about meggers and how to get proper readings....that 1587 is alsoa standard multimeter as well as a megger....i want one...but hard to cough up the dough for it
For your chemicals, here are a few options: 1 large boot tray for the whole shelf, some bigger plastic hotel pans to split things up, or various smaller fridge organizer containers (crystal clear)
Might want to research what chemicals eat which plastics. You may need stainless steel...
@@quietone610 Yep, I was judging the plastic idea off what I saw he had. Nothing stuck out as an issue, although some of it might cause crazing on acrylic.
I bent up a sheet metal tray then sprayed it with flex seal. Also foil taped the bottom of my shelf and flex sealed it. Both work equally as well.
Boot tray's a good suggestion - Ikea do some if there's one around. Theirs are polypropylene, which unless you're dealing with extreme temperatures (think boiled oceans) will be fine with most things short of strong acids (sulfuric, nitric..), real turpentine (anyone still use that?), or paint thinners (toluene, xylene).
Not the same but my electrical van is similar. For suggestion, it's hard to tell but a battery charging station is probably highly needed. One of the improvements I made these past years was to try to reduce the passenger's side constant mess. One of the solutions that worked for me was to eliminate, to the best of my ability, everything papers related. I got installed a ram mount (seat's fixed) for a lte laptop and put all my documentation(pdf), invoices(excel sheets), etc, in there with an ac/dc converter+printer(HP OfficeJet 250) in the back; so far so good. I also bought a cheap bamboo steering wheel desk to eat or write. You could also maybe add a cleaning thingy in the back for your hands, a paper towel/soap/hydrate your hands' station. For the chemical galore, I bought an aluminum sheet and used a big hole saw in it to cover at less the can making a mess everywhere; if I was to redo it, I would use plastic instead to dampen the sound like abs pipe cut and glued together or whatever.
+1 on the charging station idea - I mounted a 2000w inverter on the inside of the bulkhead with an M18/M12 Fast Charger just above it - don't burn through batteries very fast running service - but I'm always able to charge a battery while driving between calls if needed.
I just ordered one of those bamboo steering wheel desks too - I'm hoping it works well on a Chevy Express 2500.
My friend has a van exactly like yours but instead of steel shelving it's rubber made and it's expensive, his van is super quiet I think he has OCD. For his tanks he sanded inside the tank rack and and put velcro and glued it down to make sure it don't come loose you hear nothing. I went with him on a big job, however I bought a 1/2 inch nipple tray for different job, the rattling was driving him nut's. He pulled over dumped all the nipples out and cut up some velcro right on the spot and lined the tray 4 pieces each slot 45 min's later we are off to the job. I will admit that was 1000% better, I was laughing so hard I started to cry He goes you owe me 30 bucks for that....LMAOOOOOOOOOO
Looks like the biggest problem with your refrigerant cylinders is that the bungee is letting it bounce. Use the bungee to pull it down and that might help. You could even use a rubber or insulation to keep the tank steady against the bungee so it won't move as much.
Now that is real Life , I can not keep my truck clean I move too fast from job to job I clean it on Sundays dirty by Monday afternoon I try to put stuff where it belongs but it is time consuming and I am Service and Install so there is a lot of tools in my small Van . good Videos . can't explain why I watch someone doing what I do for 9 hours a day FFS .
"Can't explain why I watch someone do what I do for 9hrs a day, ffs" is exactly what I've been thinking but we both know we're watching quality content!
Cant explain why I comment on what I do 9 hrs/day, either :))
As someone newely into the software engineering field, videos like this just give the notion that I might have enjoyed the trades a bit more. Thanks for the video.
I would just get a plastic tote from home Depot and put chemicals at the bottom and tools above it. Or if your cheap like me get the tote from the dump people always throwing them away
Thoughts on gorilla ladder? It’s kinda heavy but collapses from 8ft to 4ft and you step on the top rung.
I've had to use those a few times. They are very stable, but so heavy that they weight more than I'm willing to lug around.
You never know when having the Dye kit (even if it IS back at the shop) will end up being a requirement on a warrantee repair. So it's good that it's somewhere.
Rubber boot tray thats shallow would work for ur chems
What is the app you use with your fieldpiece probes? I've seen your vids where youve got gauges and a completely different layout than the actual fieldpiece joblink app. Thanks, love your videos!
Its a clean working man van. Say that 3 times fast. Lol. Any van that gets used on the daily isn't gonna be show quality clean. It'll be organized chaos....without a bunch of crap all over the place and the floor.....with that said....end of the day.....throw that ish in and deal with it tomorrow.
Suggestion for your van that I'm looking into making myself is a piece of plywood with some magnetic pads that are coated in rubber, have a nut and stud that I will secure to the plywood and then just put standard drywall screws to mount all the Chargers with the keyhole slot and take a grinder and flap wheel to flatten the screws that stick out the back. Using a dab of hot snot to lock charger in place.
For your inverter situation you need a lithium battery and an isolator to go with it. Allows charging but not discharging the main battery.
I really like your van setup.
No ideas here myself on the "how/layout" of the battery charging, but like said consider having one of those "120v portable power banks" big things and plug all the chargers off that, so that if the van is off things can keep charging or if in some crazy reason you need 120v somewhere you have a portable pack. Then if/when it runs low you only really need to worry about the bigger power bank to recharge it, harder to forget or if you do at least your tool batteries are still in the truck in their chargers. Saw that from the electricians who rewired my house, they had only just got the bank a few months before but had already saved their bacon once or twice on "forgot to charge" or "need 120v for something but no mains power nearby".
In regards to the rubber feet on your bag, why not pool hot glue into the spot? It’s got grip and can fill that spot up (if you can’t find a replacement).
I'm not sure that would hold up in the heat he sees on a roof. Might just end up making a sticky mess.
Plastic Tray for the chemicals, go to the cleaning product isle at the Home Store and you'll find some white, Libman brand cleaning totes - that's what I keep my aerosol and chemicals in....as well as use them to tote 3/4" and 1" PVC fittings/glue/cutters.
For the shelf with chemicals.. try the silicone dish drying mats. They come in all shapes and sizes on Amazon for cheap- with and without a lip around the edge to hold spilled liquid. Iv used them for all kinds of different off label applications. Check them out- might find one or a combination that will do what you need
Take a milk carton crate and cut down the one side so you can easily reach innwhen its on your shelf...then line it with cardboard and a towel...done....I'm here for you baby
If you keep heavier stuff at bottom, lighter stuff at top, it lowers centre of gravity of van, you will feel the difference, gives you more confidence in driving 🙏
Grainger has plastic shelf bins that come in a couple sizes and has plastic dividers you can use for the chemicals.
The ceiling seems underutilized. I haven't seen any of those filters that you typically end up cleaning and are often abused and worn down that seem to have more-or-less standard sizes; can you include a few simple corner brackets to slide those into, or actually a shelf if sizes aren't as uniform as they appear on video? Or are those things far heavier than they appear?
Another thing I didn't see that you probably already have is a proper first-aid kid. Maybe also add a panel with notes of important contact information in an eyecatching place; with all the welding/braising, heavy objects and electricity you come near, I think it would be useful to have contact info for either your own GP or an outright expert who is experienced in dealing with A/C related workplace injuries. (You might already have this info on your phone, but strangers might not be able to access your phone or know what to look for!) Given the amount of times you seem to work independently on very hot roofs in places where an ambulance might not reach you very quickly (or be desirable given the financial burden for comparitively minor incidents), having a stranger be able to easily access a key medical resource based on a simple instruction might really help out during the initial response when shit hits the fan.
Looks like a good setup. if you ever do end up putting an aftermarket inverter in check Kussmaul Electronics, they have an auto eject plug so you can plug your van into 110v power and it will keep your battery charged, and it will eject the cord when you start your van so you do not drive off with it plugged in.
I can also vouch for Kussmaul. Although their products are intended for keeping fire apparatus batteries and air tanks fully charged, Chris would probably appreciate their proven products
I lined my cylinder racks with drawer liner from home depot. The same kind that lines the big tool chests. Worked perfectly and is super quiet now.
It’s always a great feeling when your vans organized. I love the set up! A recommendation I would make are getting some simple spill trays for your chemicals. I keep mine in crates so they’re not moving around too much. For the odds and ends in the tool bag, if become fond of using plastic pencil cases and labeling them accordingly. It definitely helps keeping my bag clean!
Always a critic
Get you a small 21Qt 12v vehicle Fridge/Freezer. Quiet -4° to 68°. Never have to buy ice again. No water logged food/snacks what not.
Low battery shut off not to ever kill the vehicle from starting.
Like $180 give or take.
Enjoy the hell out of mine
I do supermarkets . Have had the stratus 2 years not big fan of it . I feel like it isn't as sensitive as an h10 . But really it's all preference. Honestly i have majority Dewalt but have millwakee pack outs I would say it's about 70 Dewalt 30 millwakee I love m12 stuff . I really wanna get the navac stuff especially after what you said about the battery compatibility.
How do you carry condensers, furnaces, etc. to a job site for installation? It doesn't look like there would be enough room between the shelves.
Not related to this video but my 75 MG Midget I just noticed today has a radiator cap made by Parker (sporlan)
Does the TP-XXL get caught on the cage that surrounds the roof access ladders? I currently carry the Klein backpack but it is constantly getting caught on the ladder.
Pivoting roof rack. Never occurred to me. That would be very handy, and not just for servicemen.
Idk boss who you trying to fool that van looks pretty awesome. Milwaukee has a battery charger that plugs into a cigarette lighter. Yes I know most new vehicles don’t have one I hardwired mine.
You should really get some leather gloves from a welding shop for when you use the torch. If one of those globs of brazing rod fall on you it's going to suck. Also for Teflon tape the yellow gas line stuff I find is better in general just because it's thicker and easier to work with because it doesn't fold over on itself as easy
Freon cylinders (re: squeaking) .. use some knee pad / yoga mat material and cut small wedges to place under the strapped down end. No more squeaking.
U have to get the heavier gauge jumper wires those little ones the wires always breaking under the clip boot u think ur jumping but ur not
Hi I’m looking for a similar drawer system that you use for your parts. Do you happen to know what brand it is or where you got it? Thank you
This old dude told me the best techs have the messiest trucks lol You just confirmed it
Black plastic restaurant server trays nestled in the rectangular black milk crates. Put your chem bottles on top of the tray inside the milk crate. Done.
I keep a 25’ ref hose and that nitro blow gun for flowing out drains in ceilings. That way the nitro tank stays on the ground. And not trying to balance in the drop ceiling
@32:25 -- I don't see how guys blow drains out correctly without an airgun - it makes it so much easier - not to mention blowing out line-sets.
It's also GREAT for the times when you get water on or in something electrical and need to dry it out before you can power it back up.
Using compressed air and or nitrogen or c02 to blow out drains can cause problems, in my opinion water is the best thing... but Ive used air and or c02 in a pinch ... I will discuss this on my Livestream this evening 8/22/22 @ 5:PM (pacific) on TH-cam come over and check it out th-cam.com/video/qLynm0RQU7U/w-d-xo.html
Wow this is full packed hvac car evrything you need good job 👌
About the chemical shelf, you might give some thought to spray in truck bed liner.
Akro-Mils makes many different kinds of trays and storage stuff, love them in my truck...
I want to use netting to hold stuff on my shelves I'm setting up a new truck in the next week I'm going to try that instead of bungees
Clean set up . Did you exceed the max weight limit on the van 🚐?
Who makes that parts drawer you have against the bulkhead? I want to get something like that.
Resisto membrane use a piece of that for the shelf to contain any leaking chemicals
Your clean and pristine van are an exact opposite of my chaos portal Van. Somehow happen to know where all the stuff I need is though lol
I love my composite bulkhead. Much quieter much cooler.
try some thing like foam board in t in the refrigerant tank holder to give it a bit snugger of fit that also bubbles as padding
Wait wait wait what is wrong with the term midget I've used that and my friend who is a midget use that since forever.
Kudos for showing it before being cleaned! Makes me feel not so bad about how mine looks lol
Your van is pristine compared to Steve Lavimoniere.....having a surplus of old parts is what made me think of him 😂
No filing cabinets though🤣
why no packout boxes? you got something about parkout boxes?🤨
For the chemicals, you could take out that bottom shelf and get a chemical storage/ fire cabinet it would ensure nothing moves around while in transit and in the event that you have a leak that causes a reaction you wouldn’t have to worry about it damaging anything outside of the cabinet only challenge would be ventilation for the cabinet.
I use a small metal drain pan that our sheet metal shop made one for me. Works pretty good.
I love using cases for fuses too. Just in case the label rubs off I label the top of the case. I hate guessing what fuse size I have. And this mini fuses are crazy expensive!
The electrical trade isn't fond of midget fuses either, because they won't take a big line short too well. Between your unit and the wall, the Code calls for "class CC" Fuses, which cost even more, but will handle a line short on something big.
@41:55 I use floor-mat foam (the broad stuff that you cut to size) for vibration damping. No clue how you could secure it to the tank cradles, but it would cut down on their wiggling, and definitely the noise.
I didn't see where you keep your taser for those that leave the walk-in doors tied open.
Do you get like a cabin pressure noise inside the van? When youre on the highway. I have a 2021 van probably exactly like yours. When i get on the highway, man it gets loud sometimes
No not really, other than the squeeking refrigerant tank rack it's pretty quiet.... I Mean i do hear a bit of road noise coming from the transmission tunnel area but not more than I'd expect from a van with no carpet
If your van is super clean your not working hard enough lol
How long is the back of the van? How many feet
One of the neater vans! Any place with lots of stuff and no spare room gets messy.
Maybe a big, wheeled Rubbermaid or whatever box for the chemicals? On the floor? Strap in, pull out, full liquid containment (as long as they don't eat plastic).
PS Liked cargo netting as a trucker. Fast to throw on and take off, best coverage. Might be something for the shelves or extra security.
That is the way I used to carry the 4-wheel cart. Big difference with certain companies, nothing extra in the cab. Many co-workers seat-belted in items into the passenger seat. (Still disallowed). Company has had some crazy drivers over the years, unable to keep van upright.
I dont work as hvac technitian for about 6months and i miss it so much
Ur truck much drive like a Cadillac with all the weight
I love your van set up. I'm obsessed with work van organization. My boss often tells me to "get a life" or "find a hobby" when he sees what I do to organize my van in my free time. That metal deep drawer, tool chest and "pack out" rack is is a dream set up for me. Lol.
Getting my van organized is good for my mental health - it's satisfying to get everything straight and relieves anxiety - especially the next day when you open the door to a clean van and don't have to worry about digging for things or climbing or fighting to get what you need.
Man I really dig your setup Chris. Seems like everything fits wonderfully. I'm sure it took you some time to get it right. Nice job man
Daaaamn. Hope you never get your probes bag stolen O.o'
Use a portable compressor fridge ,,, way cool lol.
Nice truck layout. I changed from Chevrolet 3500 extended vans about 20 years ago. Went to Chevy 3500 cut away, dual rears with a Zoresco enclosed service body. Saves your knees and banging your head as you get older.
I have the combustion sensor, it works good.
I work at a family owned retail appliance and electronic store... I do all the installs and service work for the past 5 years...I like your load out... My van looks way worse after a week😂... Im curious where's the multi tool!😂😂😂 You have awesome tools...Great video and walkthrough!
That is very impressive and well done. I especially like that everythig is tied down, If you have a wreck, stuff will not be flying around.
Pack rat makes an awesome 40”wx48”dx8”&12”H drawer unit. My 2017 Chevy express van had on. I mounted it on the side doors directly to the floor. Lots of storage.
Use the warranty Veto provides and get a new bag.
After this past week my van looks like a tornado went through it. Im going to have fun tomorrow sorting everything back out and cleaning all the failed components I replaced. 🤣
37:38 that type of wire stripper is very common in europe. I see pretty much every electrician use that wire stripper as the go-to tool. You can even use it to cut wire if you set the depth far enough.
I used to pull the set screw out
So why the GMC/Chevy van? Any specific reason you didn’t go for the a Ford van? Or a Nissan van?
Im a creature of habit, we have used the chevy vans for at least 20 years and they are super predictable
@@HVACRVIDEOS if they’re not gonna change the design, I suppose that’s just a win win for you. A newer truck, but something you’re still used to. Love the videos!
I keep an ice chest between the seats too - up against the bulkhead.
I don't see how other guys work all day without having water.
In front of the icechest I have 3 of the Harbor Freight ammo cans to hold smaller parts I don't want riding in the back:
* One can has all my small batteries and an M18 to USB adaptor.
* One has things like brass caps, hose gaskets, o-rings, mini-split adaptors, service tees, and other various refrigerant hose fittings, etc.
* The third has sauce packets, seasonings, plastic forks, etc for eating lunch on the go.
...I keep my Day Planner, paperwork, and iPad on top of the cans.
Drop some boot trays on the shelf with the chemicals, which will contain any leakage. There are all different sizes on amazon. Look for one with more vertical sides. You can tell you use your van and all the tools you keep on it.
How many quarts is that cooler?
Hey love the video man, I enjoy seeing how various professionals organize their work vehicles. As for your chemical storage, if you can find someone who could 3D print you a tray. Then spray in some layers of truck bed liner to seal it. Keep up the good work and please keep posting videos.
P.S. my dad had a saying "if you have a spare, you will never need it"
I’ve lost and found tools so much that I have spares of most of them and this saying rings true- If you have a spare in the truck you won’t be without it on Saturday evening
My guy has the Chevy express luxury sport
Consider putting a makita cooler in place of the yeti ice based cooler, can be powered by 18v, 36v, or plug in !
Thank you for making the video
To store the chemicals in a tray, check out the Hazet 190L-1 plastic tote tray. It is a solvent-resistant tray that can hold quite a bit of weight.
Mannnn I can't wait to be able to put a van together! I am outgrowing my truck. Thank you for sharing!
Man I wish my van was laid out that nice haha also one thing I've found to cut down on tank rattle is to get a small bungy cord and wrap around the handle of the tank and then hook it on each side. Great video!
If you add the charging station, you should add a small solar panel and charge controller on the van to keep the battery topped off. I know you don't have much room for a solar panel with the ladders, but any extra energy helps.
To replace the feet, just get some thick neoprene, or if you can find it, conveyor belt fabric. Use a cleanable adhesive like ordinary rubber cement and mount pieces to the bottom. As they wear off, just replace them. Don't worry about riveting. Extreme heat may make them come a bit loose, but that's going to be reasonably rare; just when parking them for long periods on the hottest roots, and just be aware of it.
dude the milwalkee pack out crate container its 50 bucks and worth it i have my vans wall set up with their mounting system and it's awesome keeps my shelf clear and parts like pvc connectors and electrical stufff organizes in there clear top pack out trays
That lil piston doe! Its sooo cute!!
Beautifully done. Thanks for making this video. GREAT job.
The first weekend I'm on call and it's below 80°, I need to do a van tour on my channel.
...mainly I wanna see if anyone has any ideas to organize what I have better.
Chris I did the work for 40 years and never seen the floor we always said if your truck is clean you don’t work