I just encountered this interesting article.
https://www.facebook.com/tinyhousetalk/posts/1453634614660541:0
Admittedly busses are different, being tin hot houses but you can see roughly why I'm not bothering too much about electricity in my conversion.
I've put solar powered extraction fans at the back. My lighting is powered by D cells. My cooking is powered by butane. My shower is D cell powered.
Phone charging? My flip phone needs charging once a month!
Tablet etc? I could use a battery powered charger or charge it elsewhere or just read a book instead.
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Zephod
You are about one step above being homeless. Why do you even need a "tin hot house"-- you could just have a cardboard shack for all your needs.
--Geoff
Quote from: Geoff on March 18, 2017, 07:17:02 PM
Zephod
You are about one step above being homeless. Why do you even need a "tin hot house"-- you could just have a cardboard shack for all your needs.
--Geoff
I'm a school bus driver so I'm obviously fabulously wealthy. Living in my bus rather than crashing with a friend as I have been for the last 3 years is the goal.
Elimination of bills makes my income more survivable.
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Okay, I watched that video with the lady dressed in black in her 12x12 cabin and was not impressed like you were. I too started out crashing on people's couches and lived in a 1962 Ford Econoline as my first conversion for a few years as I went to school and built up my career. You might be in the wrong group in this bus conversion group as the majority of people here are not trying to get by but are looking for a home on wheels that they can make as comfortable as a house
Zephod,
That reminds me of a quote:
"I came into this world with nothing, and I am trying my hardest to keep it!"
Steve
Zephod
Do what makes you feel good...
Quote from: Geoff on March 18, 2017, 07:48:45 PM
Okay, I watched that video with the lady dressed in black in her 12x12 cabin and was not impressed like you were. I too started out crashing on people's couches and lived in a 1962 Ford Econoline as my first conversion for a few years as I went to school and built up my career. You might be in the wrong group in this bus conversion group as the majority of people here are not trying to get by but are looking for a home on wheels that they can make as comfortable as a house
I get concerned when some of us feel it is OK to ridicule or talk down to others. It does not add anything to our common interest in buses.
I'm trying to sort out an issue with a gen set that overheats and I can relate to the term, "A tent with wheels"
Quote from: Jon on March 19, 2017, 04:16:00 AM
I get concerned when some of us feel it is OK to ridicule or talk down to others. It does not add anything to our common interest in buses.
Absolutely. That's why I left the Skoolie group. A year after I left, they'd put up a thread causing many hits on my blog in which they were mocking my plumbing while demonstrating their complete ignorance.
Truth be told, I part company with most groups because either the group can't cope with reality being introduced to their fantasy or because there are enough assholes to make the group tiresome.
I often wonder about groups, how many members actually walk their talk and how many are just...
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WJgqRAx1PYY/TXmIcX7bipI/AAAAAAAAd0Q/HUESjQqaY1E/s1600/honest.jpg)
Not having electricity makes my life way simpler. It makes construction cheaper and it means I can use my bus faster.
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Quote from: Jon on March 19, 2017, 04:16:00 AM
I get concerned when some of us feel it is OK to ridicule or talk down to others. It does not add anything to our common interest in buses.
Jon. In your mind we might be talking "down" to Zephod but we are actually talking on his level. He has posted a LOT on this board about his ideas on living the way he does. I have always been nice if you look at my past posts. So when he posts he can live without electricity I answer in kind. I'm guessing he must have been in the Peace Corp when in Russia. I recall reading a story about someone who was held in Prison in "old Russia" and he met another American who was also a prisoner but had a sense of humor about it. The other American told the first one : "Just think about it, when you get out of here you will be able to live anywhere with nothing and it won't bother you because you are now used to it!".
--Geoff
That is the hard part about forums because what might seem like inappropriate comments are actually OK because the two guys know one another and are just breaking each other's balls. But there are also mean spirited comments made and they along with the ones made in jest between two friends scare people from participating because they are afraid to make comments.
I don't know the answer to how to sort out the mean spirited posts from those made in jest.
Quote from: Jon on March 19, 2017, 08:20:37 AM
That is the hard part about forums because what might seem like inappropriate comments are actually OK because the two guys know one another and are just breaking each other's balls. But there are also mean spirited comments made and they along with the ones made in jest between two friends scare people from participating because they are afraid to make comments.
I don't know the answer to how to sort out the mean spirited posts from those made in jest.
It's only mean if a comment intentionaly hurts someone's feelings. I think Zephod is taking this thread in stride and I admire his strong personality. If he has a blog I would like to read it because he has proven himself to me. However, I don't think his conversion ideas are shared by many people on this board.
--Geoff
Quote from: Geoff on March 19, 2017, 08:33:57 AMIt's only mean if a comment intentionaly hurts someone's feelings. I think Zephod is taking this thread in stride and I admire his strong personality. If he has a blog I would like to read it because he has proven himself to me. However, I don't think his conversion ideas are shared by many people on this board.
--Geoff
Www.schoolbushome.blogspot.com
Don't forget I'm on a very limited budget. For 2 years of construction I lived on a 20hr a week $9 an hr job that went away during school holidays. Now I'm a bit more flush with a schooldays only $12 an hr, 30hr a week job.
The bus is so I can get the Hell out of South Carolina and get real work at real wages.
This online only job application crap is for the birds. I need to go North, join a decent golf club and go from there.
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Quote from: Geoff on March 19, 2017, 07:30:56 AM
Jon. In your mind we might be talking "down" to Zephod but we are actually talking on his level. He has posted a LOT on this board about his ideas on living the way he does. I have always been nice if you look at my past posts. So when he posts he can live without electricity I answer in kind. I'm guessing he must have been in the Peace Corp when in Russia. I recall reading a story about someone who was held in Prison in "old Russia" and he met another American who was also a prisoner but had a sense of humor about it. The other American told the first one : "Just think about it, when you get out of here you will be able to live anywhere with nothing and it won't bother you because you are now used to it!".
--Geoff
Nope. Never been incarcerated. Been an interpreter at the local jail though, when I worked in the former USSR.
Never been in the peace corps but then, when I was in the former USSR, I hadn't become a USA citizen. I was solely a British citizen.
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FYI
i've read the skoolie forum posts mentioned here. Zephod, I can't attest to whether the skoolie group was mocking you or not but you have to understand that both on the skoolie forum and here (again, I am on the skoolie forum too so I've read in the past every single post you're talking about) and it's pretty immature that they were mocking you on that forum, but do understand that your plumbing and battery bank ideas are sometimes confounding. I've tried to understand them myself and don't always. I don't know if you're genius or unique but try to understand where some of us are coming from. We are a group that discusses mostly reasonable ideas and help each other out on projects related to our coaches and their converted interiors. I think when you try to reinvent the electricity or plumbing wheel you're not going to find a lot of support discussing certain things that aren't necessarily relevant to most of the club members. Was this the plumbing photo that they were discussing? In my opinion, that's a unique way to plumb, but I'm guessing it works for you, so it's not really an issue. But you do discuss using your bathroom sink as a urinal...and again, this kind of discussion isn't going to find a lot of support here at BCM. More power to you, just trying to help. (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-MkFW4Ncmk/VyZdpil1TqI/AAAAAAAADt4/_wFAjGOdSiAFTULRQU25hRpUtShDHhAjQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160501_125858.jpg)
Yep you find it all here,we are created equal but ideas vary a lot and I do mean a lot
1. Solar and batteries are still electricity.
2. Jon is sympathetic to a kindred spirit who still uses a flip phone.
3. No criticism intended in any of 1 or 2.....
Quote from: Scott & Heather on March 19, 2017, 09:14:59 AM
FYI
i've read the skoolie forum posts mentioned here. Zephod, I can't attest to whether the skoolie group was mocking you or not but you have to understand that both on the skoolie forum and here (again, I am on the skoolie forum too so I've read in the past every single post you're talking about) and it's pretty immature that they were mocking you on that forum, but do understand that your plumbing and battery bank ideas are sometimes confounding. I've tried to understand them myself and don't always. I don't know if you're genius or unique but try to understand where some of us are coming from. We are a group that discusses mostly reasonable ideas and help each other out on projects related to our coaches and their converted interiors. I think when you try to reinvent the electricity or plumbing wheel you're not going to find a lot of support discussing certain things that aren't necessarily relevant to most of the club members. Was this the plumbing photo that they were discussing? In my opinion, that's a unique way to plumb, but I'm guessing it works for you, so it's not really an issue. But you do discuss using your bathroom sink as a urinal...and again, this kind of discussion isn't going to find a lot of support here at BCM. More power to you, just trying to help. (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-MkFW4Ncmk/VyZdpil1TqI/AAAAAAAADt4/_wFAjGOdSiAFTULRQU25hRpUtShDHhAjQCKgB/s640/IMG_20160501_125858.jpg)
Yes. I couldn't get a small P trap. The usual size just took up too much space and the water flow - who cares if it's slow. It's a tiny handbasin and I'm using water supplied from either a jug beside the sink or a cooler with a faucet beside the sink. The clear tubing was lying around so it got used.
The waste barrels that they couldn't be bothered to read about and look at photos of are 15 gallon uline drums from a local car wash. They had detergent in them and hence cannot be used for fresh water. I'm putting waste water in the bottom and combining the input-output piping so when I empty, I just turn a garden hose faucet. There are indeed vent pipes. Each barrel has two threaded holes. The top one has my vent pipe.
As far as pee goes, I've heard it's not good to pee in the poo container but I'll have to see if that's a load of bunk, given everything gets a scoop of cat lit on top. If it turns out to be true. Peeing in the sink is an option but somebody I know came up with using wide mouthed orange juice bottles from Walmart. That's an option to explore too.
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Quote from: Kirby-XL40-FL on March 19, 2017, 10:15:42 AM
1. Solar and batteries are still electricity.
2. Jon is sympathetic to a kindred spirit who still uses a flip phone.
I like my flip phone. I had a smart phone but when it became too challenging to charge (it would like this cord but not that cord and this charger but not that charger and finally would only charge to 75% and only if it was plugged in all day and only if it was in my car), I switched to a flip phone to see if I'd notice a difference.
Well, I looked back and said hang on, I paid $300 for that smart phone in 2013 which was then about a weeks wages. Then I back calculated that I'd spent $2100 over the years in phone service. That totaled $2400 or slightly more than half the original cost of my bus!
I noticed in a trial month of using a Tracfone that I really didn't miss anything about the smartphone. The tracfone worked at work but not at home so after that month I got a Verizon flip phone for $12.88+tax and a connection at $15 a month +tax.
I've been using my Verizon phone now for 3 months and do not miss a smart phone one little bit. I've saved over a hundred dollars in phone charges and a couple of hundred over buying a new smartphone.
The kicker.... I get 300 minutes a month and last month I used a whopping 75 of them! It's also nice that I can charge that phone once every few weeks! It'll run for 30 days between charges.
Yes, I put in solar powered ventilation. I did have it originally direct hook up fan to panel but decided I might shift more air in cooler weather using a battery and charge controller. In retrospect I made an error. For the $100 or so I spent on battery, panels and charge controller, I could have bought 100 packs of 4aa batteries from the dollar store and replacing them twice a week (if they were on continually) I could have had a year of continuous powered ventilation.
Given that the two 10W panels produce pitiful amounts of power, I won't be wasting further time, money nor effort on solar power. When the battery dies, the fans are going back to direct hookup.
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Quote from: Kirby-XL40-FL on March 19, 2017, 10:15:42 AM
1. Solar and batteries are still electricity.
2. Jon is sympathetic to a kindred spirit who still uses a flip phone.
Hey whats wrong with a "flip phone" I use one too!
;D BK ;D
I like my flip phone and would not trade it for a smart phone
if you cant find me leave a message at work and I will get back to you on working hours !
only a small few people have my cel # and it is going to stay that way
why some people are glued to there smart phone is beyond me
but to each there own
dave
I guess I won't mention how I love my bag phone...
I guess I won't mention how I love my bag phone...At least till 2008.
Had an old AT&T phone that I referred to as the 'BRICK
Had an old AT&T cell phone that I called the "brick"because that was exactly what it looked like ,a brick with an antenna sticking out of it .I listened to my friends telling me that I needed to get rid of that antique and get a modern phone.I did !! Worst mistake I ever made ,I never found a dead spot with that phone .This thing i've got now ,you never know if it will "hit"a tower or not!!!
=
'
Quote from: sledhead on March 19, 2017, 12:48:24 PM
I like my flip phone and would not trade it for a smart phone
if you cant find me leave a message at work and I will get back to you on working hours !
only a small few people have my cel # and it is going to stay that way
why some people are glued to there smart phone is beyond me
but to each there own
dave
I notice the vast majority of smart phone users seem to use Facebook or play Facebook games. I'm rather glad I'm not addicted to any of this social media garbage.
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Solar,water, mean comments, peeing in a orange juice bottle from WM to a brick cell phone I would say we got this one well covered in detail ;D ;D
I can see that Kirby is going to be a problem, but as long as BK has my back all is good.
On all of the forums I am on there is no lack of folks who seem at one extreme or another, and sometimes I would like to say things I know I will regret. But my view is tempered by the fact that as a group of folks with a special interest we need to avoid scaring people away by being mean to others. I don't always keep my mouth shut and there are times I eat a lot of crow. But to encourage others to join us as the crazy bus people we need to at the very least show them courtesy and respect. We can still constructively criticize ideas.
Zephod might be unconventional, but it seems to me that he has been treated fairly well over the course of his postings. It is strange that he would feel less welcome on the Skoolie forum, but that could be because his views are controversial, and the members of that forum might not be as accommodating. Clearly, his plumbing ideas stink (as in not in compliance with any plumbing code), but they might be a severe reflection of the need to use parts that could be scrounged. If there are forums dealing with survival and alternative forms of energy, he might benefit from them. He undoubtedly must cringe at the vast amounts of energy we use to keep our coaches comfortable, and the cost, but that is our lot. Living without electricity in an all-electric coach does not work well, just as solar panels and battery operated fans will not cool a school bus.
Quote from: Zephod on March 18, 2017, 07:33:01 PM
I'm a school bus driver so I'm obviously fabulously wealthy. Living in my bus rather than crashing with a friend as I have been for the last 3 years is the goal.
Elimination of bills makes my income more survivable.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatal Maybe you should check in to moving to S.C .Heard on T V the other day where they are paying experienced SBD's over seventeen dollars an hour.Sure is an improvement over what I got paid as a student driver.
I will say this, don't let anyone tell you your ideas of using a bunch of battery cells as a battery bank is silly. I just watched a NOVA channel special and apparently the batteries inside our hybrid cars are just that. Tons and tons of little batteries. You're on to something :)
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I think he is on to something peeing in wide mouth orange bottle also ;D a coke bottle would work for me
Quote from: bigred
Maybe you should check in to moving to S.C .Heard on T V the other day where they are paying experienced SBD's over seventeen dollars an hour.Sure is an improvement over what I got paid as a student driver.
Quote from: Zephod link
Don't forget I'm on a very limited budget. For 2 years of construction I lived on a 20hr a week $9 an hr job that went away during school holidays. Now I'm a bit more flush with a schooldays only $12 an hr, 30hr a week job.
The bus is so I can get the Hell out of South Carolina and get real work at real wages.
This online only job application crap is for the birds. I need to go North, join a decent golf club and go from there.
Looks like he's already in SC.
But maybe he's in the wrong part of it.
;D BK ;D
Quote from: bigred on March 20, 2017, 06:17:42 AM
$13 an hour in the next district but not worth changing districts fir $1 more. $17 is probably part time. I'm full time with benefits.
I don't intend to drive schoolbusses for more than another few months at most. I need a better job. Admin or something but elsewhere.
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Quote from: Scott & Heather on March 20, 2017, 06:58:53 AMI will say this, don't let anyone tell you your ideas of using a bunch of battery cells as a battery bank is silly. I just watched a NOVA channel special and apparently the batteries inside our hybrid cars are just that. Tons and tons of little batteries. You're on to something :)
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Yes. The LiOn 12v car batteries are made of 2.7v LiOn cells. 5 in series is 13.5V and that's pretty close to 13.8v.
NiMh cells are cheaper and in packs of 10 come to 12v. Most charge controllers can be programmed for different cut in and cut out voltages.
The advantage of NiMh is non flammability, non spill and no fumes.
LiOn holds more but they're cluster bombs.
Supercaps sound fantastic but the pricing is unrealistic.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/nWg4h2IK6jYRO/giphy.gif)
This one is for Dave ;)
Carry on! ;D
Quote from: luvrbus on March 20, 2017, 07:10:14 AM
I think he is on to something peeing in wide mouth orange bottle also ;D a coke bottle would work for me
Heck Cliff,most men can't hit the John much less a Coke bottle lol!!!!!
Quote from: bigred on March 20, 2017, 01:54:00 PM
Heck Cliff,most men can't hit the John much less a Coke bottle lol!!!!!
Maybe... it's the size that matters?
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I like Delo 100;D
Quote from: Dave5Cs on March 20, 2017, 07:08:22 PMI like Delo 100 ;D
No, no, no - you're getting the oil thing all wrong. Mobil 1 5W-40 gallon jugs - they have a wide mouth and a "see-through" stripe down the side of them so that you can see if they're about to overflow. Unless you're one of the kind of guys who craps in a bucket and don't care if you splash pee all over your floors, too.
Oh, yeah, Mobil is better than Chevron -- and it's multi-weight; and their jugs are better!
Or... could do what I did a few minutes ago... stand between my bus and my and pee on the ground!
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Quote from: Zephod on March 21, 2017, 05:55:48 AM
Or... could do what I did a few minutes ago... stand between my bus and my and pee on the ground!
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You don't want to do that, your camp will start smelling like pee.
:o :o :o the search feature on this board is going to be totally confused with this post
And the next thread will be 'Living Without Water- and recycling pee'...*lol* Oh dear....
Why not. You'll grow up and be a big strong astronaut. :)
Quote from: CrabbyMilton on March 21, 2017, 06:58:47 AM
Why not. You'll grow up and be a big strong astronaut. :)
A cosmonaught- surely- he's Russian!
Enough pissing around. Let's get back to the business of electricity before we wet ourselves laughing.
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You could use Piss as an electrolyte. If you apply a current to water you get hydrogen- which you could use as a fuel source.
However it takes a lot of current- so if you used piss- it uses a lot less current.
-See- I've supplied you with an energy/fuel source.
:P
Quote from: Dreadnought on March 21, 2017, 09:31:22 AM
You could use Piss as an electrolyte. If you apply a current to water you get hydrogen- which you could use as a fuel source.
However it takes a lot of current- so if you used piss- it uses a lot less current.
-See- I've supplied you with an energy/fuel source.
:P
If you used straight water, it would be easier to crack to get the hydrogen out...
But if you separate the water from the heavy water you could use it to moderate the nuclear reaction in a nuclear powered bus such as The Big Bus.
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Hey Guys. If you want some electricity funny stuff, check this out. This is another board I participate in.
https://forums.radioreference.com/everything-else/348107-la-z-boy-electric-chair.html