Getting caught up!

Hello Reader!

I am back-posting a lot of content right now, so it might appear that I just up and disappear from the planet – let me assure you that is not the case.

May the next decade bring you prosperity and positive change!

9 Replies to “Getting caught up!”

  1. Your home is awsome thank you for shareing. Got a question what’s your ham call mine is kb3poc and I hope to catch you on the airwaves. we just went fulltime in sept 2019 and we have so much to learn the reverse asmosouse is a great ideal what machine are you running is you feel like answering that question you can email me at thank you again

    73s
    Kb3poc

    1. Aaron Bockelie says: Reply

      Hey Joseph!

      My callsign is KE7NMX, I’m usually diddling around on APRS. I’ll send you an email separately!

      aaron

  2. Hello Aaron. I am in the planning stages of a build likely based on a expediter truck. Two questions: 1) can you point to resources for designing electrical systems? I’m a mechanical engr. by training, so can do much of the work, but elec. engr. guidance would be useful. 2) You mentioned in a video that your work centers around, among other things, collaboration tools for distributed work groups. Do you have a website dedicated to that work? I am currently managing a tech startup and we could use better data sharing tools, etc. Regards, Chris.

    1. Aaron Bockelie says: Reply

      Hi Chris,

      As for #1, I can’t point to any specific resource. I’ve found that ultimately, I picked up some concepts around risk driven development processes that I picked up working in the nuclear engineering space.

      Obviously if it’s my own project and I’m financing it myself, I’m the only one answering to any questions, methods or processes. Using this process has proved especially valuable in other large projects and tasks.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_model

      So, that’s kind of a non-answer for electrical design, but that approach facilitated minimum learning as well as implementation.

      For #2, I work as a solutions engineer for Cprime https://www.cprime.com/ Give us a call, we have several practices that might be able to facilitate your startup behaviors in a positive manner.

  3. Dennis brok says: Reply

    Hi

    I’m working on using the raspi with victron
    I got it running but was wondering if you ever got the tank lvl indicator to work ?
    I have the 713 smart the 100/30 mppt smartsolar the 12/12-30 amp smart and the 240/12-30 amp smart charger from victron would like to make them all work on the raspberry pi wondering if you have a thread on this

    Greetings from holland

    Dennis

    1. Aaron Bockelie says: Reply

      I installed resistor style tank level sensors. They use reed switches and a magnetic collar. They work natively with the Venus GX.

  4. Nicolaas Basson says: Reply

    Hi Aaron. I saw your bus tour video. Its so inspiring. I am looking at options for my wife and I to have a good liveable size home, but small. Conventional home living is just proving to be very expensive to rent or buy. I would love to hear if you could share a basic estimated price, cost it took you to create your home. Having the option to move it around with you is quite appealing. I would like to learn what the budget is for a special rv home like yours. Please wisp me an email. Or let me know how i can send you one.

  5. Hi Aaron,
    Congrats on all you are doing. I enjoyed the youtube video. And I saw on AAA Bus Sales that you bought your bus from them-is that true? If so, would you recommend them? We are in the Chicago area and want to avoid buses that have been battered by the weather that we have been over the past decades.
    I saw on the AAA site that they have a few RE 40′ buses available and that is the size we are looking for-but I wanted to get an opinion from someone who has more experience.
    Thanks so much-and thank you for the generosity you show in sharing information!
    Margaret

    1. Aaron Bockelie says: Reply

      Hi Margaret,

      While we did not purchase our bus from AAA (we started our project in Washington state, and weren’t aware of AAA at the time) we did several significant repairs and upgrades at AAA. I would absolutely recommend them – they have consistent volume of turnover in all makes and models of buses. Give them a call.

      If there’s any advice I can give you for a bus that you’re planning on owning long term as a conversion is this:

      If I were picking the “perfect” school bus for conversion, I’d pick transit style rear engine bus with full under bay and air coach air conditioning. This edges closely to simply considering a used MCI/VanHool/Prevost from a motor carrier. Consider the pros and cons of each.

      I would want the engine to be a full mechanical inline injection pump, and the transmission would probably be an MD3060 with a WTECIII TCM
      This places the age of the vehicle at the newest at the beginning of the 2000’s.
      I’d want an exhaust brake for the engine, not the transmission retarder (MD3060R)
      Finally, you’d want it to be first hand disposal from a school district, or at least only owned/operated by a dealer or fleet lease.
      It’s likely you’ll need to budget for replacing tires, shocks, and suspension repairs and replacement

      The reasons with some pluses and minuses for each:
      + Mechanical engines are simpler to repair and do not require specialized computers to diagnose.
      – Mechanical engines do not have as high of an output, and likely pollute more than newer computer controlled engines
      + Engine braking helps on long downhill grades
      – A retarder style transmission is more effective at engine braking but costs way more to resolve when something goes wrong.
      + the rear engine is quieter, doesn’t heat up the passenger area, and doesn’t look like a school bus as much
      – rear engines are more difficult to get access to, and need their cooling systems maintained well
      + the coach air conditioning (which everyone rips out for some reason instead of repairing) allows you to drive without heat exhaustion during the summer
      – Coach air requires a bit of forethought if you’re planning a roof raise and takes up a bit more room.

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