{"id":28759,"date":"2024-06-26T10:15:35","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T08:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=28759"},"modified":"2024-06-26T10:27:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T08:27:32","slug":"maximum-mobility-rv-fit-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2024\/06\/26\/maximum-mobility-rv-fit-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Maximum mobility RV fit-out"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Rick Berger was looking for an RV he could use, or van conversion he found plenty …but none of which actually suited his needs. Rick has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is known in some regions as Motor Neurone Disease MND) and has no mobility from the waist down. “Remember the ‘Ice bucket challenge’ of ten years ago?”, he asks “…well, that was to raise awareness of, and money for the ALS association<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

Rick lives in Florida; he has grand children living in Colorado whom he plans to visit – and on the same tour he’ll be taking in The Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. He’ll be travelling alone. When I ask him how far The Grand Canyon is from home, his echo device tells him it’s 2,284.6 miles.<\/p>\n

Rick has made some adaptations to his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170” wheelbase so that he can use it independently. It has a wheelchair lift on the passenger side; the driver seat can be raised or lowered – as can his wheelchair seat – so that he can transfer himself from one to the other. There is also a ceiling lift which allows him to get from his chair into the bed, and vice-versa. He’s afraid that his mobility devices will fail to work – in fact they both have, once each, owing to a mechanical failure. “It scares the hell out of me – but you have to live.” He says.

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There are production vans for people with access-limiting conditions and there are van-converters who will build those solutions into as-bought vans. But if you wish to stay in control – perhaps doing some of the work yourself, all of a sudden you discover that the companies offering bespoke services actually want to do it their way. One quote for completing the accommodation had $10,000 added<\/em> to it because some of the work – fitting the mobility assistance devices – had already been done.<\/p>\n

Access equipment uses power – so Rick needs a cast-iron guarantee that power will always be there. Add to the mix that he has a hypersensitivity to temperature and wants to be able to use the air-con full-time if he chooses and you begin to appreciate that his power system is going to work hard …particularly as Rick prefers to stay off the beaten track rather than plugged in at an organised camp site. Many park up locations have anti-idling laws – so you can’t just leave the motor running. Neither does it work for him to check in at a hotel because American Disability Act compliant locations \u00a0don’t have the equipment he needs.<\/p>\n

His RV is his hotel room on wheels.<\/p>\n

It took Rick a long time to find a mobile power installer who would truly work with him to design the power system for his needs. \u00a0The company he eventually worked with was Mobile Solar Consulting<\/a> who thrive on responding to clients’ needs – rather than installing the same as last time.<\/p>\n

The first requirement was that Rick needs all control to be accessible from his chair “in the range of 15″ to 30″ in height” he says.<\/p>\n

Matt Walker of Mobile Solar Consulting likes to learn how his customers plan to use their van or RV \u2013 and then design a customised power system which will do that for them \u2013 both for DIY installers nation-wide<\/a>, and for those planning to visit the workshop in Jupiter, Florida, for an in-house installation<\/a> by their team of experts. The resulting installation will be one-of-a-kind.<\/p>\n

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Matt says he likes to install Victron Energy devices because they offer maximum flexibility. Choosing from an extensive list of models for power harvest, storage and conversion – all of which talk to each other – and being able to programme the functions of each allows limitless customisation. But as an installer your reputation is on the line, so it’s the reliability of the electronics which is paramount.<\/p>\n

The biggest power challenge of Rick’s installation to was ensure the AC unit could run ‘off grid’ – all day if necessary. In fact it can run for two days straight from his 10kWh battery storage – even if no energy is \u00a0replaced from the 750Wp solar panels, or his dual alternator system. A 48V Nations Alternator capable of delivering a massive 100A has been included in the installation and is controlled by a Wakespeed regulator. You can read more about Victron\/Wakespeed compatibility here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

System Overview:<\/p>\n