we dont have the same van but we ve got that same vango sizzle. The lowest 2 settings do cycle more. We have ours running on a 1000w /100 Amp power bank and it uses about 1 amp a minute on the highest setting. Takes about 4 mins for making tea for 2 . Fries bacon and eggs in about 3 mins.
Good to see you back Glyn, if anyone is wondering whether an env makes a suitable camper they really do as they are much bigger than they appear, if you recall I contacted you via twitter before we ordered our tesla 3 ( you were correct it's the best thing we ever bought btw) my diesel NV to camper conversion ( a test to make sure it was big enough before we ordered an env) is nearly finished now, and I prefer driving it to our much newer and 5 times more expensive VW transporter, it also does 17mpg more than the VW. I had to move the silly drivers electric window switch though it caused serious knee nerve damage. I still owe you a bottle when we get down your way, and as we have a new rescue springer that loves the van and beach I think we will get that way soon. More uploads please Ed
Good to see an update on the van and how you are doing. We love the van and what you have done. We have the grandma nissan elgrand converted camper. We would love to have the env200.
Thanx for sharing. I really like your video(s). Quite laid back. We have a 5seater NV200 which we use as a campervan with additional bustent. If you ever travel into the direction of Hamburg/Bremen you 3 are very welcome to camp/overnight/fully charge with solar(only) at ours...
With every new video my want for one of these vans (with the steering wheel on the correct side of course 😉) increases greatly. The range is a bit small for the US but I would be pretty damn happy with one. Damn the chicken tax! Another great video, keep on living, loving, and in doing so making the great content. Best of luck to you all in your travels.
Thanks, the newer 40kwh version has a longer range but probably not enough for the USA. Hopefully they will make a lager battery version and sell it globally in the future. The new Maxus van looks good th-cam.com/video/HEiozAuRkVQ/w-d-xo.html
@@GlynHudson Hopefully so. However due to the chicken tax there is a 25% tax added to all "light trucks" not made in North America. This van would be considered a light truck under their definition. They would only be allowed to import a passenger van version with a 2.5% tax on it. To avoid the taxes it would have to be made in North America. I hope we repeal the chicken tax but I doubt we will.
In support of Glyn's comment, I can endorse the 40kwh version as (thanks to Glyn's trailblazing example) I have converted such a van and so long as I stay off the motorways and keep the speed around 50 mph, I'm getting around 150 miles between charges
I am really suprised at how little range that took from your traction battery, and it's certainly a potential upgrade idea for my own van. Very inspirational stuff Glyn, and without you and Amy's pioneering attitude, I don't think I would have had the guts to build my own E-NV200 camper. It was finding your chanel, and seeing you guys proving the real world viability of a concept, which had taken root in my own mind after first seeing a standard Nissan ev van for myself up close a few years ago, that gave me the kick I needed. Oh, and good call on the instance recommendations as I made a good saving going with the same provider as yourself 👍👍
Hi Glyn, hugely influenced and inspired by you and your families campervan exploits I am embarking on the conversion of a 2020 E-NV200, 40KW battery. Done the swivel seat and windows, insulation and carpeting next. Bed on order from JDS. I am ok with the practical build stuff but less so with the electrics and so have some questions if you don't mind. Also now, more than four years on I'm interested if you would do the electrics different, knowing that it has evolved. 1) Is it worth putting solar panel/s up if the main high voltage battery is keeping the 12 volt battery toped up (when the van is on)? 2) Since you have installed the inverter I think you said that you rarely use the onshore power hook up. For simplicity could we not worry about onshore and just accept we are draining the main battery and must charge more? (I don't expect us to be at hook ups much) I accept we still need to be energy efficient with only a 1500W inverter. 3) On the subject of Inverters do you think you could get away with a 1000W inverter with your induction hob? Any advice would be most welcome.
That's great to hear! It sounds like you're making great progress with the conversion. I reckon the swivel seat was the single hardest part of my build! 1.) Yes, I reckon so because the van only tops the 12V when it's switched on. If you want to run a fridge / cool-box when your away from the van then having solar PV is useful. PV is also useful for keeping the 12V topped up when the van is not in use between trips. 2. Yes, this is true. Leisure hookup is not really needed, the van kinda already has a hookup e.g it's charging point! 3. 1000W inverter would be fine for a single Vango Sizzle hob, it used around 700W if I remember correctly and it's not usually on max for very long. Regarding electrics, I think unless you enjoy doing them and are happy calculating wire gauges and fuse sizes (there are lots of resources online for this), then a good option is just to use something like an EcoFlow all in one integrated battery, inverter and charger. They also have the advantage of being portable. Ideally you would rig up a system to charge it directly from the vans 12V when the van was running, it will need to be direct since the cigarette lighter socket is not powerful enough.
Thanks for the quick answers, much appreciated. Good point about the PV keeping the 12V topped up and we do intend running a cool-box. Also the last thing we want is a dead 12V battery immobilising the whole van. Will put in solar. I'm up for the challenge of the electrics although its not my strength and will do the heavy wiring. There is no end of online information on the subject. Having got the electric van I would like to make use of its full potential and not get other bits of kit like an EcoFlow but I follow your thinking. It will be a while before I commit to the electrics and if more queries arise I am afraid I will get back to you. Thanks again.
Hi Glen, thanks for sharing your ideas with us all! It’s your fault that we (my wife and I) have just purchased a new env200! Especially after watching your trips to Scotland, southern Spain and eastern Europe, brill. With regards the cable route for the inverter supply, can you remember where you cut through the bulkhead or flood pan? Cheer Mark & Karen 😀
Hi Mark, thanks for your comment. It's great to hear that you've got an env200! Here's a photo of where I routed the 12V cable from the engine bay: photos.app.goo.gl/7TCrSh3uWF7ZZTL8A
The Toyota Alphard (Japanese import) has a hybrid variant that includes 110V outlets run from the hybrid battery apparently. The Nissan inverter that charges the 1V battery is rated at a little over 1kw so any draw above this will be pulling power from the 12V lead acid.
Hey Glyn, I have a question for you! Do you know whether the 12v battery is charged only whilst the van is in 'ready' mode or does it also charge whilst in 'On' mode? The reason I ask is we've just bought an E-NV200 ourselves to turn in to a camper and what I'd love to do is be able to install a Battery To Battery charger between the vans 12v battery and a leisure battery in the rear. My thought was that if you were at a charging station, you could plug the van in via the usual charging port at the front, put it into the 'On' position and it would then charge the traction battery, vans 12 v battery and off of that, the leisure battery as well. Similarly at a campsite, if we were to obtain a commando hookup cable with a type 1 charger on the other end, we could then plug in via the front port, hit 'On' and charge everything at once, saving the need to choose whether to charge just the traction battery or just the leisure battery via a separately installed mains hook-up inlet. Does that make any sense lol? Many thanks in advance!
The 12V is only charged when the van is in 'ready' mode or when the van is actively charging via AC or DC. Also, the van does top up the 12V for a few min once every 24hrs to maintain charge if van is not being driven.
Thanks @@GlynHudson - Do you happen to know how many amps the DC to DC charger gives out between the traction battery and the vans 12v auxiliary battery? Can't seem to find that info anywhere and would be super useful in correctly sizing a charger between the vans auxiliary battery and the leisure battery that won't drain too much power from the auxiliary battery. I'm guessing it must give out a reasonable amount if it's able to keep up with the demands of your 1500w inverter? Do you guys often cook then when you're hooked up at a charging station? Loved the trip up to the NC500 btw, would love to do the same. Thanks again in advance for your help
@@GlynHudson Thanks, that's really helpful! That's more output than I had initially thought so should give us plenty to charge a leisure battery! Do you stick to the 1kw then just to make sure you don't run the battery flat?
Hi thanks for the videos. I’m in the process of converting a Peugeot E Expert (75kWh) snd intend where possible to go fully electric including an microwave and induction hob. I have purchased an Eco Flow Delta solar generator ((1.2 kWh) as my main power source it’s a great bit of kit - very interested in how you’ve worked up the inverter and your comments on the main battery charging the 12v battery (DC to DC). In the E Expert when you’re not moving the power from the traction battery shuts off after 12 minutes meaning you can’t leave heater or AC on even in neutral. Question is will it also stop charging the 12v - I suspect so! However the EF Delta charges at 600w from AC but only 120w from DC so I think doing what you’ve done should give me 600w charging while driving. Any thoughts??
Awesome, the E-Expert will make a great campervan. My first self-converted campervan was a Peugeot Expert, sadly a diesel but a nice size van. Fully electric interior is the way forward, not needing to waste space and faff around with gas. Its suprising to hear the E-Expert shuts the HV traction battery down after 12 min, what if your sitting in traffic!? The 12V battery will almost certinaly stop charging when the HV shuts off, you can easily verify this with a volt meter, it will read around 13V-14V when the 12V is being activly charged. It's a good idea to fit a wall-mounted voltage display in your camper so you can keep an eye on this. The 120W limit on the EF Delta DC charging is due to the 12V cigarett ligher aux sockets in vehicles being limited to 10A. If it's really not possible to keep the DC-DC converter running overnight in your van I would recomend fitting a normal campervan leisure battery using a voltage sensative split-charge relay. I guess it would be possible to fit a AC inverter like I have connected to your main battery to AC charge the EF Delta, however this is quite a convoluted way of doing things and duplication of assets.
A trivial question. What make is your cafetière? I have been hunting for one which works on induction hob, gave up and bought one with its own plug. I would much rather have the Vango as my sole cooking/heating source
The Vango hob is very good at working with small footprint cooking pots. My friend has her coffee made in one. She bought a second one only to find it didn't work on her kitchen induction hob, despite it being magnetic. It works perfectly on my Vango hob. I can even heat up soup still in the can.
Yes, as long as it's done to a high standard there's no problem. Electrical inspections are not a standard part of the UK MOT test, as long as it does not adversely affect the vehicle there's no problem. What I've done is standard practice for camper vans, also ambulance and service vehicles use the same setup to provide 240V from the 12V system.
@@GlynHudson Very interesting, thank you. I never even owned a car before this e-NV200 I bought last week (from 2019, so it has the 40 kWh battery). I was first thinking I'll need one of those huge and expensive power stations, but it would be wonderful if I can find a way to use the car battery instead. I'm from Italy, live in Norway and the e-NV200 is Norwegian. I believe regulations will be pretty similar all over Europe. Btw I'm planning some Arctic trips next winter in the interior of Finnmark. I have to understand if I can power the floor electric foil heating I'm planning to install with the built-in 12 V outlet... or if it is unrealistic 😬
@@GlynHudson Wait a second. Why would you not just connect the inverter to a 12 V outlet already existing inside the van? Why did you instead route a 12 V cable from the engine bay? Pretty sure there's a clear explanation for that :)
The van can't do V2H without additional hardware that costs $2800 and is very large and bulky, not practical for a campervan www.setec-power.com/product/vehicle-to-home-v2h-6kw/
@@GlynHudson yeah I did a deep dive after my question and found out that stuff. Should still be possible to fit it somewhere. Does not seem to be really practical. There is another competitor who offers completely different dimensions. Maybe something is possible there. Anyway thx for the quick reply!!! Do you know how much percent you lose through the usage of 12V and the inverter?
I am surprised that one of the inverter etc manufacturers doesn't produce a high dc voltage to 240 v ac inverter. Since the dc current is much lower it would be simpler than a normal 12 v one. The issue then is where to connect to the EV so the power usage is measured correctly.
It would need to be built into the vehicle as standard, some EV's e.g Honda E do gave a 240V outlet. However, there is now way to safely connect to the 400V DC high voltage battery on our van.
Could you do me a favour? Can you check on the hob to see if it's 100-240v switchable; vango don't have this spec on their site? I'm hoping I can plug it straight into the factory inverter in my Japan import env. Thanks a bunch.
@@GlynHudson Thanks for checking mate. Looks like I'm going to have to find a 100-to-240v step-up inverter to run everything on. Currently I can only find crappy looking Chinese ones, so I'm not winning right now :-/
Did you consider putting the inverter under the bonnet with a switch to change all the 240 volt systems to the inverter that would avoid having to run 100amp cables around the van.
I did, but I was worried the inverter may get a bit damp under the bonnet and there wasn't an easy place to mount it. I would also have had to extend the switch and figure out some sort of automatic 240V change over system for when we plug into the hookup. I figured it was easier to keep the two systems separate and mount the inverter in a dry location
Thank you for a fantastically useful video and for sending me the link to it too So to summarise, you are simply hooking a couple of high amp cables up from the 12v battery to your inverter. Much simpler than I anticipated! I think you have the vehicle on at the time - presume that's needed to enable transmission of main battery power to the 12v battery? Or does the battery just top up all the time? I would have assumed this would degraded the 12v battery - I guess not your experience though. No benefit in running some kind of B2B link to a leisure battery on board the vehicle I take it?...
Yes, that's it. Just a 12V to 240V inverter. The van must be switched on in 'Ready' mode for the 12V battery to be topped up. It doesn't wear the 12V battery since the current is coming from the DC-DC converter, which is in turn connected to the high voltage traction battery.
Hi Glyn I've been enjoying watching your EV adventures and I'm tempted to get one myself as a daily driver/weekend camper. Does your van have any space to use a portable loo when the bed is made up?
Hi Christian, thanks that's great to hear. No, we opted to fit the biggest bed and largest side storage units, table and sink we could; therefore when the bed is out there isn't really any space around it. You could choose to fit a smaller bed or less storage
I think it came out at the end of last year. I'm impressed even 800W is fast enough to bring water to the boil quite quickly. Induction is so efficient, they also do a double hob version which was slightly too big for our van
My multimeter has a special adapter, however any multimeter can measure current in series then multiply by voltage to get power. If measuring mains power of appliances its probably easier to use a plug in dedicated power meter
Great vid as always! I've been watching some env200 youtubes by a guy in Japan from years ago; I think he had a first edition. And his came with a built-in socket as standard, which you can run kettle, hob etc straight from the 'big' battery. Wish that was offered outside Japan. I'm planning to get one of these vans and was wondering if I need to buy one with a satnav screen, or if it's kind of irrelevant if the best option is to get one of those Android head units? I have an iPhone, so can you get the same kind of thing? I had a quick google to see what they were all about but TBH it just confused me even more? Is it just a way of bluetoothing to your phone and using the google maps gprs, music, and other apps on your phone? If so does that mean there's no way of getting radio if you have no 4G signal. Thanks mate.
Thanks. Yes, it's a real shame the European version does not have a domestic socket built in as standard, all EV's should have this! I don't think it's worth paying extra for the Tekna trim level with the Nissan satnav. I've got a Leaf with the same satnav and it's terrible, your phone with google maps will be a million times better. The Acenta is the best middle-of-the-road trim to go for IMO. My head unit actually runs Android itself, and it's got a built-in FM /DAB radio. It works well, and I choose it since I could run EV charging maps e.g PlugShare natively. However, I think if I was fitting one now I would choose a unit that supports Android Auto / Apple Carplay since these two platforms have developed a lot in the past 12 months, and should soon have support for finding EV charging stations.
@@GlynHudson Thanks, thanks really useful info. I have to do some reading on apple car play and head units that suit me here in New Zealand, so I get the right one too; no point getting a UK one where the radio won't work here for example! Interesting recommendation on going Acenta rather than Tekna too; I'm finding it really hard to work out which version offer which features as they change in different countries and for different model years. For example, I want one with a tailgate and glass all-round (so the 'car' version) and some years they're tailgate and others double doors and there doesn't appear to be any logic! It's great that you published the full shopping list of your conversion for us as I'm going to try and cram as much stuff from Britain, that I'll need for the conversion, as I can into the van before I ship it, as everything's four times the price here. Also, before I ship it I'm looking at getting a battery upgrade and pop top done as no-one does either over here. Cheers mate!
Hi Billy, we're good thanks. I paid £9k for the van 2nd hand. It's the Acenta Rapid+ model with 6.6kW charger and heated seats and wheel already fitted. I added cruise control and a new head unit. I think 2nd hand prices for the e-NV200 may have increased since I bought the van in 2015.
@@GlynHudson Cheers Glyn, good to hear you're well. Thanks for all the info, yes they've become very popular, I'm keeping a look out for a reasonably low mileage one with winter pack! Perhaps a 30kwh one🤞🏻 Start safe and happy guys 😉
we dont have the same van but we ve got that same vango sizzle. The lowest 2 settings do cycle more. We have ours running on a 1000w /100 Amp power bank and it uses about 1 amp a minute on the highest setting. Takes about 4 mins for making tea for 2 . Fries bacon and eggs in about 3 mins.
Good to see you back Glyn, if anyone is wondering whether an env makes a suitable camper they really do as they are much bigger than they appear, if you recall I contacted you via twitter before we ordered our tesla 3 ( you were correct it's the best thing we ever bought btw) my diesel NV to camper conversion ( a test to make sure it was big enough before we ordered an env) is nearly finished now, and I prefer driving it to our much newer and 5 times more expensive VW transporter, it also does 17mpg more than the VW. I had to move the silly drivers electric window switch though it caused serious knee nerve damage. I still owe you a bottle when we get down your way, and as we have a new rescue springer that loves the van and beach I think we will get that way soon. More uploads please Ed
Good to see an update on the van and how you are doing. We love the van and what you have done. We have the grandma nissan elgrand converted camper. We would love to have the env200.
Thanx for sharing. I really like your video(s). Quite laid back. We have a 5seater NV200 which we use as a campervan with additional bustent. If you ever travel into the direction of Hamburg/Bremen you 3 are very welcome to camp/overnight/fully charge with solar(only) at ours...
Thanks!
I was wondering about an induction hob, you've saved me a little work, cheers stay safe and happy guys 😉🇬🇧
Very cool vlog! I love your details on the use of the convection stove top... Great info. Thanks
With every new video my want for one of these vans (with the steering wheel on the correct side of course 😉) increases greatly. The range is a bit small for the US but I would be pretty damn happy with one. Damn the chicken tax!
Another great video, keep on living, loving, and in doing so making the great content. Best of luck to you all in your travels.
Thanks, the newer 40kwh version has a longer range but probably not enough for the USA. Hopefully they will make a lager battery version and sell it globally in the future. The new Maxus van looks good th-cam.com/video/HEiozAuRkVQ/w-d-xo.html
@@GlynHudson Hopefully so. However due to the chicken tax there is a 25% tax added to all "light trucks" not made in North America. This van would be considered a light truck under their definition. They would only be allowed to import a passenger van version with a 2.5% tax on it. To avoid the taxes it would have to be made in North America. I hope we repeal the chicken tax but I doubt we will.
In support of Glyn's comment, I can endorse the 40kwh version as (thanks to Glyn's trailblazing example) I have converted such a van and so long as I stay off the motorways and keep the speed around 50 mph, I'm getting around 150 miles between charges
Great episode mate, this looked well edited as well :)
I am really suprised at how little range that took from your traction battery, and it's certainly a potential upgrade idea for my own van.
Very inspirational stuff Glyn, and without you and Amy's pioneering attitude, I don't think I would have had the guts to build my own E-NV200 camper. It was finding your chanel, and seeing you guys proving the real world viability of a concept, which had taken root in my own mind after first seeing a standard Nissan ev van for myself up close a few years ago, that gave me the kick I needed.
Oh, and good call on the instance recommendations as I made a good saving going with the same provider as yourself 👍👍
Hi Glyn, hugely influenced and inspired by you and your families campervan exploits I am embarking on the conversion of a 2020 E-NV200, 40KW battery. Done the swivel seat and windows, insulation and carpeting next. Bed on order from JDS. I am ok with the practical build stuff but less so with the electrics and so have some questions if you don't mind. Also now, more than four years on I'm interested if you would do the electrics different, knowing that it has evolved. 1) Is it worth putting solar panel/s up if the main high voltage battery is keeping the 12 volt battery toped up (when the van is on)? 2) Since you have installed the inverter I think you said that you rarely use the onshore power hook up. For simplicity could we not worry about onshore and just accept we are draining the main battery and must charge more? (I don't expect us to be at hook ups much) I accept we still need to be energy efficient with only a 1500W inverter. 3) On the subject of Inverters do you think you could get away with a 1000W inverter with your induction hob? Any advice would be most welcome.
That's great to hear! It sounds like you're making great progress with the conversion. I reckon the swivel seat was the single hardest part of my build!
1.) Yes, I reckon so because the van only tops the 12V when it's switched on. If you want to run a fridge / cool-box when your away from the van then having solar PV is useful. PV is also useful for keeping the 12V topped up when the van is not in use between trips.
2. Yes, this is true. Leisure hookup is not really needed, the van kinda already has a hookup e.g it's charging point!
3. 1000W inverter would be fine for a single Vango Sizzle hob, it used around 700W if I remember correctly and it's not usually on max for very long.
Regarding electrics, I think unless you enjoy doing them and are happy calculating wire gauges and fuse sizes (there are lots of resources online for this), then a good option is just to use something like an EcoFlow all in one integrated battery, inverter and charger. They also have the advantage of being portable. Ideally you would rig up a system to charge it directly from the vans 12V when the van was running, it will need to be direct since the cigarette lighter socket is not powerful enough.
Thanks for the quick answers, much appreciated. Good point about the PV keeping the 12V topped up and we do intend running a cool-box. Also the last thing we want is a dead 12V battery immobilising the whole van. Will put in solar. I'm up for the challenge of the electrics although its not my strength and will do the heavy wiring. There is no end of online information on the subject. Having got the electric van I would like to make use of its full potential and not get other bits of kit like an EcoFlow but I follow your thinking. It will be a while before I commit to the electrics and if more queries arise I am afraid I will get back to you. Thanks again.
Hi Glen, thanks for sharing your ideas with us all! It’s your fault that we (my wife and I) have just purchased a new env200!
Especially after watching your trips to Scotland, southern Spain and eastern Europe, brill. With regards the cable route for the inverter supply, can you remember where you cut through the bulkhead or flood pan? Cheer Mark & Karen 😀
Hi Mark, thanks for your comment. It's great to hear that you've got an env200! Here's a photo of where I routed the 12V cable from the engine bay: photos.app.goo.gl/7TCrSh3uWF7ZZTL8A
There are more photos of the conversion in this photo album. Happy electric travels :-) photos.app.goo.gl/CmbCeMN6rBCoMBT87
I noticed the new Skoda Enyaq has a 240v outlet in it. Very handy
That's cool. The Honda E also has one
The Toyota Alphard (Japanese import) has a hybrid variant that includes 110V outlets run from the hybrid battery apparently. The Nissan inverter that charges the 1V battery is rated at a little over 1kw so any draw above this will be pulling power from the 12V lead acid.
The e-NV200 DC-DC converter is rated to 135A, approx 1.7kW, my induction hob is only 750W so plenty to spare
Hey Glyn, I have a question for you! Do you know whether the 12v battery is charged only whilst the van is in 'ready' mode or does it also charge whilst in 'On' mode? The reason I ask is we've just bought an E-NV200 ourselves to turn in to a camper and what I'd love to do is be able to install a Battery To Battery charger between the vans 12v battery and a leisure battery in the rear. My thought was that if you were at a charging station, you could plug the van in via the usual charging port at the front, put it into the 'On' position and it would then charge the traction battery, vans 12 v battery and off of that, the leisure battery as well. Similarly at a campsite, if we were to obtain a commando hookup cable with a type 1 charger on the other end, we could then plug in via the front port, hit 'On' and charge everything at once, saving the need to choose whether to charge just the traction battery or just the leisure battery via a separately installed mains hook-up inlet. Does that make any sense lol? Many thanks in advance!
The 12V is only charged when the van is in 'ready' mode or when the van is actively charging via AC or DC. Also, the van does top up the 12V for a few min once every 24hrs to maintain charge if van is not being driven.
Thanks @@GlynHudson - Do you happen to know how many amps the DC to DC charger gives out between the traction battery and the vans 12v auxiliary battery? Can't seem to find that info anywhere and would be super useful in correctly sizing a charger between the vans auxiliary battery and the leisure battery that won't drain too much power from the auxiliary battery. I'm guessing it must give out a reasonable amount if it's able to keep up with the demands of your 1500w inverter? Do you guys often cook then when you're hooked up at a charging station? Loved the trip up to the NC500 btw, would love to do the same. Thanks again in advance for your help
Its 125A DC-DC, to be safe I've never draw more than 1kW continuous. Yes, I use it to power a 800W Vango Sizzle induction hob
@@WoodandWild here's a video of my setup th-cam.com/video/v6VsGV9emVI/w-d-xo.html
@@GlynHudson Thanks, that's really helpful! That's more output than I had initially thought so should give us plenty to charge a leisure battery! Do you stick to the 1kw then just to make sure you don't run the battery flat?
Hi thanks for the videos. I’m in the process of converting a Peugeot E Expert (75kWh) snd intend where possible to go fully electric including an microwave and induction hob. I have purchased an Eco Flow Delta solar generator ((1.2 kWh) as my main power source it’s a great bit of kit - very interested in how you’ve worked up the inverter and your comments on the main battery charging the 12v battery (DC to DC). In the E Expert when you’re not moving the power from the traction battery shuts off after 12 minutes meaning you can’t leave heater or AC on even in neutral. Question is will it also stop charging the 12v - I suspect so! However the EF Delta charges at 600w from AC but only 120w from DC so I think doing what you’ve done should give me 600w charging while driving. Any thoughts??
Awesome, the E-Expert will make a great campervan. My first self-converted campervan was a Peugeot Expert, sadly a diesel but a nice size van. Fully electric interior is the way forward, not needing to waste space and faff around with gas. Its suprising to hear the E-Expert shuts the HV traction battery down after 12 min, what if your sitting in traffic!? The 12V battery will almost certinaly stop charging when the HV shuts off, you can easily verify this with a volt meter, it will read around 13V-14V when the 12V is being activly charged. It's a good idea to fit a wall-mounted voltage display in your camper so you can keep an eye on this. The 120W limit on the EF Delta DC charging is due to the 12V cigarett ligher aux sockets in vehicles being limited to 10A. If it's really not possible to keep the DC-DC converter running overnight in your van I would recomend fitting a normal campervan leisure battery using a voltage sensative split-charge relay. I guess it would be possible to fit a AC inverter like I have connected to your main battery to AC charge the EF Delta, however this is quite a convoluted way of doing things and duplication of assets.
A trivial question. What make is your cafetière? I have been hunting for one which works on induction hob, gave up and bought one with its own plug. I would much rather have the Vango as my sole cooking/heating source
It's a Bialetti Moka Induction 👍
@@GlynHudson Thank you - again. It arrived incredibly quickly and has already been used. Very pleased.
@@FrancesRAllen Great, I love mine. I really like the design of it.
The Vango hob is very good at working with small footprint cooking pots. My friend has her coffee made in one. She bought a second one only to find it didn't work on her kitchen induction hob, despite it being magnetic. It works perfectly on my Vango hob. I can even heat up soup still in the can.
Informative and entertaining video! One thing worries me though: changing the electrical setup, would the van still pass vehicle inspection?
Yes, as long as it's done to a high standard there's no problem. Electrical inspections are not a standard part of the UK MOT test, as long as it does not adversely affect the vehicle there's no problem. What I've done is standard practice for camper vans, also ambulance and service vehicles use the same setup to provide 240V from the 12V system.
@@GlynHudson Very interesting, thank you. I never even owned a car before this e-NV200 I bought last week (from 2019, so it has the 40 kWh battery). I was first thinking I'll need one of those huge and expensive power stations, but it would be wonderful if I can find a way to use the car battery instead. I'm from Italy, live in Norway and the e-NV200 is Norwegian. I believe regulations will be pretty similar all over Europe. Btw I'm planning some Arctic trips next winter in the interior of Finnmark. I have to understand if I can power the floor electric foil heating I'm planning to install with the built-in 12 V outlet... or if it is unrealistic 😬
@@GlynHudson Wait a second. Why would you not just connect the inverter to a 12 V outlet already existing inside the van? Why did you instead route a 12 V cable from the engine bay? Pretty sure there's a clear explanation for that :)
@Glyn Hudson: Why do you use the 12V Battery when you could use the V2H System? Is it a matter of cost or weight or usability?
Greetings
The van can't do V2H without additional hardware that costs $2800 and is very large and bulky, not practical for a campervan www.setec-power.com/product/vehicle-to-home-v2h-6kw/
@@GlynHudson yeah I did a deep dive after my question and found out that stuff. Should still be possible to fit it somewhere. Does not seem to be really practical. There is another competitor who offers completely different dimensions. Maybe something is possible there. Anyway thx for the quick reply!!!
Do you know how much percent you lose through the usage of 12V and the inverter?
Cooking a full dinner for two people, coffee and boiling water to wash up uses just 1.7 miles of range th-cam.com/video/v6VsGV9emVI/w-d-xo.html
I am surprised that one of the inverter etc manufacturers doesn't produce a high dc voltage to 240 v ac inverter.
Since the dc current is much lower it would be simpler than a normal 12 v one.
The issue then is where to connect to the EV so the power usage is measured correctly.
It would need to be built into the vehicle as standard, some EV's e.g Honda E do gave a 240V outlet. However, there is now way to safely connect to the 400V DC high voltage battery on our van.
Could you do me a favour? Can you check on the hob to see if it's 100-240v switchable; vango don't have this spec on their site? I'm hoping I can plug it straight into the factory inverter in my Japan import env. Thanks a bunch.
Hi, I've just checked and it's 220-240Vac only I'm afraid
@@GlynHudson Thanks for checking mate. Looks like I'm going to have to find a 100-to-240v step-up inverter to run everything on. Currently I can only find crappy looking Chinese ones, so I'm not winning right now :-/
Did you consider putting the inverter under the bonnet with a switch to change all the 240 volt systems to the inverter that would avoid having to run 100amp cables around the van.
I did, but I was worried the inverter may get a bit damp under the bonnet and there wasn't an easy place to mount it. I would also have had to extend the switch and figure out some sort of automatic 240V change over system for when we plug into the hookup. I figured it was easier to keep the two systems separate and mount the inverter in a dry location
Thank you for a fantastically useful video and for sending me the link to it too
So to summarise, you are simply hooking a couple of high amp cables up from the 12v battery to your inverter. Much simpler than I anticipated!
I think you have the vehicle on at the time - presume that's needed to enable transmission of main battery power to the 12v battery? Or does the battery just top up all the time?
I would have assumed this would degraded the 12v battery - I guess not your experience though.
No benefit in running some kind of B2B link to a leisure battery on board the vehicle I take it?...
Yes, that's it. Just a 12V to 240V inverter. The van must be switched on in 'Ready' mode for the 12V battery to be topped up. It doesn't wear the 12V battery since the current is coming from the DC-DC converter, which is in turn connected to the high voltage traction battery.
Hi Glyn I've been enjoying watching your EV adventures and I'm tempted to get one myself as a daily driver/weekend camper. Does your van have any space to use a portable loo when the bed is made up?
Hi Christian, thanks that's great to hear. No, we opted to fit the biggest bed and largest side storage units, table and sink we could; therefore when the bed is out there isn't really any space around it. You could choose to fit a smaller bed or less storage
Thanks for the tip on the Vango induction hob I couldn't find anything like this a year ago when I was looking is this new?
I think it came out at the end of last year. I'm impressed even 800W is fast enough to bring water to the boil quite quickly. Induction is so efficient, they also do a double hob version which was slightly too big for our van
How do you measure POWER with multimeter ?
My multimeter has a special adapter, however any multimeter can measure current in series then multiply by voltage to get power. If measuring mains power of appliances its probably easier to use a plug in dedicated power meter
Great vid as always! I've been watching some env200 youtubes by a guy in Japan from years ago; I think he had a first edition. And his came with a built-in socket as standard, which you can run kettle, hob etc straight from the 'big' battery. Wish that was offered outside Japan. I'm planning to get one of these vans and was wondering if I need to buy one with a satnav screen, or if it's kind of irrelevant if the best option is to get one of those Android head units? I have an iPhone, so can you get the same kind of thing? I had a quick google to see what they were all about but TBH it just confused me even more? Is it just a way of bluetoothing to your phone and using the google maps gprs, music, and other apps on your phone? If so does that mean there's no way of getting radio if you have no 4G signal. Thanks mate.
Thanks. Yes, it's a real shame the European version does not have a domestic socket built in as standard, all EV's should have this! I don't think it's worth paying extra for the Tekna trim level with the Nissan satnav. I've got a Leaf with the same satnav and it's terrible, your phone with google maps will be a million times better. The Acenta is the best middle-of-the-road trim to go for IMO. My head unit actually runs Android itself, and it's got a built-in FM /DAB radio. It works well, and I choose it since I could run EV charging maps e.g PlugShare natively. However, I think if I was fitting one now I would choose a unit that supports Android Auto / Apple Carplay since these two platforms have developed a lot in the past 12 months, and should soon have support for finding EV charging stations.
@@GlynHudson Thanks, thanks really useful info. I have to do some reading on apple car play and head units that suit me here in New Zealand, so I get the right one too; no point getting a UK one where the radio won't work here for example! Interesting recommendation on going Acenta rather than Tekna too; I'm finding it really hard to work out which version offer which features as they change in different countries and for different model years. For example, I want one with a tailgate and glass all-round (so the 'car' version) and some years they're tailgate and others double doors and there doesn't appear to be any logic! It's great that you published the full shopping list of your conversion for us as I'm going to try and cram as much stuff from Britain, that I'll need for the conversion, as I can into the van before I ship it, as everything's four times the price here. Also, before I ship it I'm looking at getting a battery upgrade and pop top done as no-one does either over here. Cheers mate!
Hi Glyn
I was wondering how much the van cost before you fitted it out
Did it have a winter pack already fitted 😉
Hope you guys are well 😉
Hi Billy, we're good thanks. I paid £9k for the van 2nd hand. It's the Acenta Rapid+ model with 6.6kW charger and heated seats and wheel already fitted. I added cruise control and a new head unit. I think 2nd hand prices for the e-NV200 may have increased since I bought the van in 2015.
@@GlynHudson
Cheers Glyn, good to hear you're well.
Thanks for all the info, yes they've become very popular, I'm keeping a look out for a reasonably low mileage one with winter pack! Perhaps a 30kwh one🤞🏻
Start safe and happy guys 😉
@@billyray323 good luck. The e-NV200 is only available with a 24kWh or a 40kWh battery pack.
@@GlynHudson
I guess it'll be a 24kwh then, thanks again 😉
10:53 SpongeBob SquarePants
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