Comment I wrote to Bob Wells

This is a comment I wrote to Bob Wells post: http://cheaprvlivingblog.com/2013/03/choices-to-the-rat-race/

Thanks Bob, yes it’s all about courage, I am getting there =). Minimalism perhaps is too extreme even for me. I don’t want to live like a monk with no possession. I think that a van or a boat will have the size that is just about the right size (all you really need, except all those tools you might need (very seldom), but you can’t have it all as you have been pointing out (in your very good blog)). I want to “DeOwn”, simplify my life. Simplicity is Genius.

It is a good suggestion Bodhi (Geocashing), yes I already have some GPS:s so no more stuff at least =). However I am not seeking any new hobbies right now :). I am still in the "Rat Race" or as we in Sweden call it "the hamster wheel" and my "free time" is very limited. I still will have some interest that I think will be enough, when I one day leave the apartment and aim for mobile living (whether it be a van or a boat). I am already trying to adapt so my "hobbies" don’t need that much stuff (for the future). Those “new” interest are for example, reading and writing. Reading good books is something I really enjoy. Taking pictures and so on. Perhaps produce some podcast. I also like to train my body, and this interest will perhaps be a little of a problem when hitting the road, cause it involves a lot of washing (cause the clothes gets a lot of sweat and so on). Here in Sweden there are not that many laundries (washing places) out in the public. I think you guys in America have a lot more (anyway, that’s the picture I have)?

Little of my background in hobbies

I have so far terminated my windsurfing hobby (It was a hard decision). Plenty of stuff, cause I could sail in any weather, lots of boards and sail and so on. To busy working (rat race) and so on, didn’t find the time really (and again the input/output ratio was to low).

I still have my "electronic hobby", and man that involves a lots of "good to have" stuff, and instruments and so on. However I don’t find (priorities) the time now to construct any new little gadget.  And I think the input/output ratio is too low. (Too much time in input and too little to show for it).

I also have a former interest, collecting nice older racing bikes from the 80-ties. = A lot of nice bicycles (to many ...) I have put a lot of time into this collecting thing.. And I have all sorts of tools to be able to fix whatever problems occur. Today I see it as waste of time :).  Yes, many mistakes have been done.

I also have a lot of other not so much stuff oriented interests. I am for example a radio amateur (Ham). But I will try to sell this stuff now.

I know it will be good for me to downsize (by choice), so I can focus on the things that is most important to me.  I have “been all over the place” with all interest and perhaps you know the speaking “he who chases two rabbits catches neither”, well that pretty much sums it up for me.

Today I am feeling chained by all the stuff, not feeling free to move on. I have a huge pile of stuff/crap to get rid of and that is my biggest obstacle right now. There is a lot of money ‘invested’ in all this “crap”. =)

I still have my “doubts” about taking the leap so I am taking it slow, so I don´t regret anything. This is because in the past, when I have terminated a interest/hobby and a few years later have been regretting it  and I  had to start all over (more waste of time). Today I am taking it slow and for example have promised myself that I can’t under any circumstances start to windsurf again (in that case I have to rent gears).

Wow, that was a long post.. (My thoughts at the moment).

Next place to visit: Kivik

Next stop on the summertrip was Kivik. I stayed here for a night.

Here are some pictures from Kivik:

The beach, an early morning in July 2012

A couple has transported there bikes in their Volvo, ready to take a ride

This is a nice place to stay in Kivik. The sea is beyond the Rv:s

Restaurants and toilets, here close to the water

Parkinglot in Kivik, a nice place

Early morning, it was really cold in the water..

I found a shower, but it not working. Kaputt!

View from the Bridge, Kivik

A nice park in the middle of the Kivik town.

Kiviksgraven

The kings grave in Kivik

Summer 2012 Roadtrip: Stenshuvud Nationalpark

In the summer of 2012 I went to see a well known national park here in Sweden. It is called Stenshuvud Nationalpark and is located a little south of Kivik (Skåne, Eastcoast).

What it is all about is to walk into the forrest and move yourself toward the 97 meter high top. Perhaps you walk about a couple of kilometers to get there. And from the 97-meter-high peak there is a
panoramic view of the sea, you can see the north, the south, west, east. You can see the sandy fields in
shore, the flower-rich meadows and over deciduous forest, which extends inland. Stenshuvud is one of the richest and most varied national parks in Sweden. For me who likes to walk this was a nice day, that I ended with a bath in a beach called Rörum. A couple of kilometers south of Stenshuvud nationalpark.

The information map for the National Park

 There are different trails (path?) you can take.

You start of by walking.. A slow slope upwards.

Fantastick views! From Stenshuvud top.

View from some of the tops you can walk to.

South view of Stenshuvud "mountain". You can see Rörums Beach down there

Quite steep to get down here... I tried it but it got to steep for my taste further down.

Books to read about electrical matters and other stuff

A book that has got really good reviews is Nigel Calder´s work: Boatowner´s Mechanical and Electrical Manual

Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems

It is also mentioned in:
http://www.victronenergy.se/upload/documents/Book-SE-FristaendeElkraft.pdf

Shunt Resistor to measure current (In Swedish)

Count on using a copper cable as a resistor shuntUse Googe Translate, This is written in Swedish.

Räkna på kopparkabel som shunt.

Nu är koppar ganska temperaturberoende så det finns så klart bättre material att använda (t ex legering av konstantan, manganin eller kanthal A-1), men man taver vad man haver.

Vi behöver en antingen en motståndstabell eller så räknar vi fram en lämplig längd och resistans.

Själv tycker jag det är smidigt att använda jämna siffor, dvs 1 millivolt motsvarar 1 ampere och därför anpassa motståndet därefter.

Ställ multimetern på minsta voltmätning, ofta 400 mV.

Om du använder exemelvis en resistans på 1 milliOhm så fås när du kopplar in multimetern över shuntkabeln ut att tex 0,1 mV är lika med 0,1 ampere (vid en viss temperatur, ex 20 grader C).

Tittar man i olika tabellsamlingar så hittar jag t ex tre olika resistivitet angivna.

Följande tre resistivitetvärden hittade jag:

0,0167 ( ohm x mm^2 x (1/m) vid 20 grader Celsius ) //Tabeller och formler för NV- och TE-programmen, tryckt 2002//

0,0172 vid 20 grader Celsius //äldre fysik och formelbok som en kollega på jobbet hade//

0,01745 vid 1 meters längd och en area av 1 mm2 vid 15 grader Celsius. //Karlebo//

Det var i alla fall samma Temperaturkoefficient ( 1/K )

4,3 x 10^-3 = 0,0043

För att räkna fram resistans i en trådlängd finns följande formel:

Resistans= resistivitet x ( trådlängd/genomskärningsarea )

Anta att vi vill räkna fram en resistans på 1mOhm ( = 0,001 Ohm )och vill få fram rätt trådlängd, Låt oss räkna på en temperatur på 20 grader Celsius så kan vi ta tabellvärdena rakt av och slippa räkna på temperaturkoeffcienten. Jag vill använda en 16 kvadramillimeterskabel.

0,001 = 0,0167 x ( Obekant/16 mm^2 )

è Obekant = (0,001x16)/0,0167 vilket om man räknar ut det blir 0,95808383233532934131736526946108 meter

Dvs. jag ska ha en kopparkabel som är  ca 96 cm lång och där ledningsarean är 16 mm^2

Hur påverkas då resistiviteten av temperaturen, låt oss räkna lite igen

Då finns en formel som låter som mäter resistivitetens temperaturberoende:

Nya Resistiviteten = resistivitetvidbörjan,dvs i vårt fall 20 grader x ( 1 + (Temperaturkoefficient x temperaturskillnad))

Anta att vi vill veta vad resistiviteten blir vid 15 grader, dvs. en minskning av temperaturen och därmed kommer resistansen att MINSKA, dvs. ström går lättare igenom kabeln.

Nya resistiviteten = 0,0167 x ( 1 +(0,0043x-5grader C) )

0,0167 – (0,0167x0,0043x5) à 0,0167 - 0,00035905 = 0,01634095

Så nu har vi en ny resistivitet som vi kan räkna med, den som gäller vid 15 grader celsius.

Låt oss se vad vi får för Resistans genom vår ca 96 cm långa kopparkabel på 16 mm^2.

Resistans= resistivitet x ( trådlängd/genomskärningsarea ) à

Resistans = 0,01634095 x ( 0,958 / 16 ) = 0,00097841438125 Ohm

Vilket alltså är nästan 1 milliOhm (0,98 mOhm ). Som vi ser har temperaturen en rätt stor betydelse.

Jag testar med att räkna på 0 gradigt väder också.

Nya resistiviteten = 0,0167 x ( 1 +(0,0043x-20grader C) )

0,0167 – (0,0167x0,0043x20) à 0,0167 - 0,0014362= 0,0152638

Då räknar vi på samma kabelstump  på ca 96 cm igen, nu alltså vid 0 gradig temperatur:

Resistans = 0,0152638 x ( 0,958 / 16 ) = 0,000913920025 Ohm

Oj, nu är vi nere i 0,91 milliOhm.

Vad har då detta för praktisk betydelse, låt oss ta ett exempel på dessa tre temperaturer. Och låt oss räkna på att det går en likström på 100 ampere som går genom våran strömshunt.

Ohm lag: U = R x I à 0,001 x 100 = 0,1 volt dvs. 100 millivolt.

Så våran kopparkabel fungerar =) Vid 20 grader Celsius så kommer vi få ett spänningsfall på 100 millivolt.

Allt perfekt alltså. Som ni kommer ihåg så var tanken att 1 millivolt skulle representera 1 ampere, dvs 100 millivolt lika med 100 ampere.

Vid 15 grader: U = R x I = 0,00097841438125 x 100 = 97,84 millivolt vilket allstå ger ett felaktigt utslag på 2,16 ampere..  om man tolkar 1 millivolt som 1 ampere.

Vid 0 grader: U = R x I = 0,000913920025 x 100 = 91,39 millivolt vilket allstå ger ett felaktigt utslag på över 8 ampere.. Det går alltså mer ström än man tror i kabeln (om man tolkar 1 millivolt som 1 ampere).

Thoughts about storage and bed frame

I belive in the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Simplicity is Genius sometimes. Instead of using 2x4 woodframes, I will try to use storage compartments to make the base of the bed.

One of my role models is Laren Corie,

Laren uses a couple of big Walmart trunks, for his bed foundation. He then uses plywood which is only 1/8" luan. I think he lays this plywood on his trunks. On top of this I think he uses an air madress. He sleeps diagonal in the back of his AstroSafari van.
The size of his trunks are 42"x18"x13", thats equivalen to 105x45x32,5cm

So I started to look for some trunks also: This is what I found at Jula:



249 kr. Picture from Jula: http://www.jula.se/stor-plastback-108-l-781898

  Max loading capacity: 70 kg. Volyme: 108 l.
Length: 600 mm
Width: 500 mm
Height: 390 mm


Cover for the trunk above: 99 kr. Picture from Jula


Other KISS storage: I have seen a lot of Vandwellers usting something like this:


349 kr from Jula: http://www.jula.se/forvaringsskap-med-plastlador-460004

Width:  380 mm 
Height:  800 mm 
Depth:  430 mm 

Cotton VS Wool VS Synthetic (Polyester, Fleece and so on)

Now when its getting colder, avoid using cotton clothes when sleeping
Cotton sucks moisture from your breath and body and will get damped with moisture when humidity gets in your van. Low temperature also increases the relative humidity
Cold weather underwear (I think you call them that, in Sweden we call it “underställ”) often have a base of polyester or polypropylene. These materials absorb very little moisture and thus keeps the body dry and warm. A basematerial of wool has in recent years been increasing its market share. The wool absorb although moisture, but it heats (unlike for example cotton) even when damp. Furthermore wool underwear almost never smell bad and feels comfortable to wear even for extended periods of time without washing. A polyester underwear will pick up smell more than wool.
Keeping warm when sleeping:
Fleece Sleeping Bag Liners

Wool Blankets (ullfilt) (the inner core of wool fibers absorbs moisture (as much as 36% of its weight))
, long johns (underställ) and wool socks.


Other alternative:
Build a isolated triangle to lay in, use some cardboard for the “small triangle house” and dress it with insulation boards on the inside.

Here is an example with some pictures:
http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/urbansheltercoldweather

On the Road Stuff that can be useful, Shower and emergency blanket

Here in my country Sweden there is no Walmart that has just about anything. But we still can find some useful stuff, and here are a few:


Emergency blanket (Nödfilt värmefolie in swedish)
Insted of using reflectix (which I still havent found cheap here), less expensive,
easier to store, no seams to leak heat. Put a mylar emergency blanket between
it and your sleeping bag if you want to add "reflectix".

This emergency blanket is of dimension: 2,1x1,3 meter. Try putting your sleeping bag in this blankett. Or use as an isulation for the windown on a hot summerday, reflecting the sun radiation.

This blankett cost 29 swedish crones, and is available at the Jula shop:


mylar emergency blanket to keep you warn when it´s cold outside your car
Picture from: http://www.jula.se/nodfilt-varmefolie-956122




Picture from: http://www.jula.se/nodfilt-varmefolie-956122




Camping shower
This cost 69 swedish crones.
Put it on your car roof under a warm summerday and you get some nice warm water to take a shower in later. If you want you can save the bag, put it in a isolated bag inside the car, and get heat during the night when sleeping. This bag is easy to store, when not using it. (instead of a black plastic container)


5 gallons or 20 liter pvc-bag (so dont drink the water)
Picture from http://www.jula.se/campingdusch-20-l-759003




Simple camp shower, hanging from the tree
Picture from: http://www.jula.se/campingdusch-20-l-759003



Summer Road Trip 2012: Yngsjö havsbad in the evening

Before going to the next town Kivik, I stopped at Yngsjö Havsbad to have a look. I always like beaches, trying to find beutiful spots. This was a Nice beach with pure sand. If I remeber correctly this was close to a camping.

Took a photo, Beachtime in the evening.

On the road between Åhus and Kivik I went passed Yngsjö Havsbad, and had to stop to se what the place looked like

DIY Heat Exchanger ventilation, save on energy

I found this Do It Yourself instruction on the Internet and thought I share it. Why? Heat Recovery Ventilators helps you keep the air varmer and saves on your energy.

So here it is, a nice DIY Heat Exchanger project from Charles Platt:

http://makeprojects.com/Project/Heat+Exchanger/279/1#.UKo0XmfRZ8H

Also featured in Remake America: http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol18/


Värmeväxlar ventilation (in swedish)

Keeping food cool. Refridgerator with extra insulation

I think this is a perfect solution. A small chest fridge box (running on 12 volt) with some extra insulation material and then some straps.

Use som polyisocyanurate to put your fridge box on. And on the sides.




Refridgerator with extra insulation Chest box Waeco Dometic
Picture from Excellent site by Bob Wells:
http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Converted_Cargo_Trailer.html



Living small, the Bufalino concept

This is the Bufalino concept, folds down the driver's seat to provide a sleeping berth.

Always fun to find new ideas! =)