1993 Chevrolet P30 Food Truck Build

I have my garage refrigerator, deep freezer, 60Watt light bulb and floor fan all connected to my inverter right now and the battery capacity is still at 100% after 2 hours. Some of the readings on my meter seem off but I am waiting on a call/email from the company that makes the meter so I can make sure everything is accurate. Once I am satisfied that the meter is working as expected, I will post how many watts I drew and for how long before my battery bank got down to 50%.
 
P.S. I also plan on putting one of my 145W solar panels on the roof of the truck and having the charge controller connected to the bank so I am partially pulling/charging from the panel during sunny days.

I found the issue with the meter and reconnected and the readings are correct now.
 
However, the refrigerator, freezer and my T5 light (4 4' T5 bulbs) are only pulling around 35A, 419W total, which does not seem right and voltage is down from 12.4 to 11.9. The inverter has been running for 4hrs and the battery bank is at 92% usage. I will see where the percentage is after 10hrs and disconnect.
 
I will charge the bank tomorrow via solar panel and the next day I connect the inverter to the truck and run the lights, and exhaust fans and cash register along with the refrigerator and freezer (from garage) to simulate and average day of electricity use.

Reese, what kind of charger are you using to charge your battery bank?

King3


Reese, what kind of charger are you using to charge your battery bank?

 
I haven't purchased one as of yet, I used my solar panel and charge controller to change my bank recently. Took all day but it is only one panel.

tell us more about this solar panel if you can

THE WILD DOG


tell us more about this solar panel if you can

 
The battery bank was only at 87% before I connected the 1 solar panel. I say it took all day because I left it to charge while I was working, I did not really monitor it closely but next time I will get exact hours.
 
The solar panel is 145W and the charge controller is 30A.

 

so you were getting 295 watts of charging power instead of 145 ?   I'm actually contemplating selling my rig, the more I think about it, the more I really want to open a deli/sub shop. I hate bouncing around in my mind. lol  but I love my rig so much, i'd probably never sell it anyways

THE WILD DOG


so you were getting 295 watts of charging power instead of 145 ?   I'm actually contemplating selling my rig, the more I think about it, the more I really want to open a deli/sub shop. I hate bouncing around in my mind. lol  but I love my rig so much, i'd probably never sell it anyways

 
No, I only used one panel @ 145W.
 
Don't sell your rig. Open up a a brick and mortar location and park the truck out front as advertising and use the truck for events or even rent it out to people want to work events.

I would NEVER sell my rig, unless someone came to me with cash and it was ALOT of it. lol  too much went into that baby... I will probably be gunning for a B&M with the same name on it though. All the money is in the city and I am in the county and don't want to pay $1500 for a city license and then turn around in 6 months and have to do 750$ to renew cuz it's 6 months and no prorate
 

so tell me about this solar system, i debated going solar but I was told that in order to achieve max effectiveness you had to match the angle of the panel to the longitude.  Constant changing with no real system for doing so

oqanani


so tell me about this solar system, i debated going solar but I was told that in order to achieve max effectiveness you had to match the angle of the panel to the longitude.  Constant changing with no real system for doing so

 
Nothing special about it, the details are in my reply to WD above. The panel is not meant to run the truck, just to provide additional Wattage input so the bank does not discharge as fast. You cab buy tilt and follow brackets with photo cells online that will let your panel follow the sun but that would require your panel be mounted on a pole.
 
I will mount 1 panel on the top of the truck toward the front and it will just lay flat as you see on the top of many RVs.
 

Bay for my battery bank, as soon as I bend the piece for the behind the inverter, I will mount underneath the truck. I hope the 8 1/2" threaded rods, bolts and washers will hold the weight of the bay, batteries and inverter.
 

 

Reese, how much autonomy are you having with your battery bank setup? I want to know if you could keep your refrigerator turned on for more than 5 hours or something. Thank you.

King3


Reese, how much autonomy are you having with your battery bank setup? I want to know if you could keep your refrigerator turned on for more than 5 hours or something. Thank you.

 
Yes, I ran a deep freezer, refrigerator, fan and light for more than 5 hours and only used 23% of the battery bank.

These are great news!! My main doubt was that the battery bank could not keep the refrigerator turned on for at least 5 hours. Your battery bank is at 600Ah right?

King3


These are great news!! My main doubt was that the battery bank could not keep the refrigerator turned on for at least 5 hours. Your battery bank is at 600Ah right?

 
675Ah ( 3 x 225Ah )

reese77

 I hope the 8 1/2" threaded rods, bolts and washers will hold the weight of the bay, batteries and inverter. 

Looking at your frame pic, and you mention rods.  It looks like your going to hang or suspend this from the top frame member?  If so not very structurally sound.  I'd recommend you place this unit on a platform that is mounted to the truck, then have some isolation mounts, these are like rubber feet on the bottom of the frame assembly that mount to the support plate.  Then you can remove the foot bolts and slide this sub assembly out.  Take a good long moment to think about mounting it, remember its on a bouncing moving truck.

RodBangkok

reese77

I hope the 8 1/2" threaded rods, bolts and washers will hold the weight of the bay, batteries and inverter. 

Looking at your frame pic, and you mention rods.  It looks like your going to hang or suspend this from the top frame member?  If so not very structurally sound.  I'd recommend you place this unit on a platform that is mounted to the truck, then have some isolation mounts, these are like rubber feet on the bottom of the frame assembly that mount to the support plate.  Then you can remove the foot bolts and slide this sub assembly out.  Take a good long moment to think about mounting it, remember its on a bouncing moving truck.

 
I am going to hang by placing the rod all the way through the frame. So the rod will sit on the floor inside the truck using large washes and and nuts and the rod will go though the top frame and all the way through to the bottom of the frame/box then a washer and bolt.
 
Good idea on the rubber mounts. I can place between the underside of the truck and the top of the frame/box. You lost me with the sub assembly talk, not sure exactly what your are visioning. I will take closer pictures of the frame with rods, etc. to demonstrate how I plant to attach.

Picture your rods, or something very strong going down at four corners, at the bottom make a platform a bit larger than your frame module.  You can then slide the entire frame module you have now onto that platform and bolt it from the base on rubber isolation mounts.  That way you can slide the whole frame assembly out.  It looks like you've drilled a major portion of the support frame out when making the holes, structurally this could be a problem.  The way your doing it with the rods may work, but its strength will depend on how you constructed the frame and how the weight is supported.  The entire frame may be dependent on the bottom welds, if they break the whole thing could drip out leaving your side supports.  But again that depends on how you constructed the frame.  Hope this helps and is not more confusing!

What brand and model batteries are you using Reese77 ?

RodBangkok


Picture your rods, or something very strong going down at four corners, at the bottom make a platform a bit larger than your frame module.  You can then slide the entire frame module you have now onto that platform and bolt it from the base on rubber isolation mounts.  That way you can slide the whole frame assembly out.  It looks like you've drilled a major portion of the support frame out when making the holes, structurally this could be a problem.  The way your doing it with the rods may work, but its strength will depend on how you constructed the frame and how the weight is supported.  The entire frame may be dependent on the bottom welds, if they break the whole thing could drip out leaving your side supports.  But again that depends on how you constructed the frame.  Hope this helps and is not more confusing!

 
I understand what your saying. I cannot create a frame that will hold my frame as the side of the truck is not fully cut out. I actually have to jack up the truck to get the frame under it initially.
 
I have rods going down the sides and the front/back of the frame so 8 total. I build the frame with angle iron on the bottom so the bottom holds the board/metal that the batteries, etc. sit on. I then used square tubing for the vertical and more angle iron for the top frame. I still need to weld to perpendicular square tubes under the very bottom that 4 of the rods will go through. I will post more pics, it will be easier that way. Thanks for your input.

mikejames533


What brand and model batteries are you using Reese77 ?

 
Go back a page or 2 and you will see all the battery and inverter info. They are Powertron batteries.

Hello Reese, Im glad you said that about the 4 tubes on the bottom of the frame I got kind of nervous there for a second . What size all thread will you use, and will you be using jam nuts or Nylon lock nuts? Im a fan of the Nylock nuts.

Uncle Groucho


Hello Reese, Im glad you said that about the 4 tubes on the bottom of the frame I got kind of nervous there for a second . What size all thread will you use, and will you be using jam nuts or Nylon lock nuts? Im a fan of the Nylock nuts.

 
1/2" steel threaded, with regular nut and nylon lock nut at the very end. This is the same way I did my water tank support.

Sounds good to me

Reese,
I'm sure you realize that no one here is trying to put pressure on you, it's just that you have an entire thread group that is watching and everyone wants you to succeed in the biggest, most positive way. And you will of course sooner or later and I just wish we had a 20 or 30 year veteran on RF that could help in any way. Unfortunately we don't so all the would be battery run rig, wannabes are saying a little prayer for you from time to time.
stay cool and the best of luck
jack
 
PS And to the new people read the entire thread 3 more times before you ask questions that have been answered in it. Use the search engine at the top right hand side of the page it will save you lots of time.

Dr of BBQ


Reese,
I'm sure you realize that no one here is trying to put pressure on you, it's just that you have an entire thread group that is watching and everyone wants you to succeed in the biggest, most positive way. And you will of course sooner or later and I just wish we had a 20 or 30 year veteran on RF that could help in any way. Unfortunately we don't so all the would be battery run rig, wannabes are saying a little prayer for you from time to time.
stay cool and the best of luck
jack

PS And to the new people read the entire thread 3 more times before you ask questions that have been answered in it. Use the search engine at the top right hand side of the page it will save you lots of time.

 
No pressure...I have definitely taken too long to build this truck. Due to my job and then obligations on the weekend I have to really plan ahead to find time to work on the truck. However, I, as well as many others are wanting this build to come to climax, so I am rushing. I am now dedicating Sundays to work on the truck and I do what I can in my garage in the evenings, depending on what needs to be done as I cannot use loud saws at night in the garage.
 
I put an ad on CL a month ago for someone to come out and install my Ansul. I got replies but the contractors all required that I buy the Ansul from them to have it installed. However, I got a reply today and I spoke to a guy that is coming out Monday or Wednesday to install for $500, I might be over paying but I just want it done.
 
Other than that, I have small things to complete:
1. Build/weld 2 brackets to hold the LP tank to truck.
2. Complete large under counter drawer that will house the cooler for drinks.
3. Complete small missing trim pieces.
4. Attached battery bay underneath truck.
5. I cannot get a mobile mechanic that specializes in electrical to come out. So I am having truck towed to a nearby shop. My current issue is that the last mobile mechanic idiot that I had come out, took my steering wheel to get rebuilt, took him two weeks to get it back to me and he said he is missing a bolt, so he just partially installed the steering wheel and now I cannot start the truck. I did not bother to call him back. I just cut my loses. In order to have the truck towed, I need to get it out of my driveway to the street because the tow truck cannot tow from the rear of the truck. So I will use a pick up truck to push out to the street after the Ansul is installed next week. This is the last major hurdle, the guy at the shop is going to fix all the electrical issues. (Not sure of cost yet)
6. Pick up and install the refrigerator from Home Depot. ($300)
7. Pick up and install the 27" sandwich prep from local restaurant supply. ($800)
7. Pay the last large fee to have the wrap installed ($3000).
8. Inspection.
9. Install external speakers, internal speakers, radio system, back up camera and monitor. (saving for last)

Wow you are closing in on the finish line! I am getting jealous every time I get on RF and see how many more posts you have. My life got a little crazy the past few weeks so haven't been working on my truck at all, but glad to see SOMEBODY is making progress! :p. btw the frame looks really legit! How heavy is that sucker all together though? Don't hurt yourself trying to get it installed.

OurCoffeeTruck


Wow you are closing in on the finish line! I am getting jealous every time I get on RF and see how many more posts you have. My life got a little crazy the past few weeks so haven't been working on my truck at all, but glad to see SOMEBODY is making progress! :p. btw the frame looks really legit! How heavy is that sucker all together though? Don't hurt yourself trying to get it installed.

 
I understand, don't give up on the truck and try to fit in time to work on it when you can.
 
The frame alone in not that heavy, around 70lbs but the batteries all together are very heavy, I will get the total weight and post.

Reese your a good man and a hard worker your going to make it and because of your hard work we can all learn. And thank you for that.  I doubt that I'll go battery type system but from day one I have been rooting for your success.