seandurcan1966 wrote: » No expert at all on power but if you were to run the equipment at 110V, obviously requires a different type of inverter and all new equipment to run at 110V. Would that help in any way?
ironclaw wrote: » Heating water will alone need a very large generator unless you want to go the gas route, and that's even more expensive. Overall, this is extremely poor advice and not even remotely realistic or grounded in fact.
jetfiremuck wrote: » Have her contact a hair company or supplier and have a sponsored wrap done on the ambulance. Great advertising and will boost your business.
You can use those quiet run honda generators for power backup to an inverter set up.
Youll need instant hot water as well as water and gray water holding tanks. Led lights etc and youre all set.
Gloomtastic! wrote: » I'm still trying to decide if this is a brilliant idea or an awful idea. It's a great marketing idea but if I saw you parked outside my neighbour's house I'd be thinking, 'Jazzus, your one needs the emergency services to try and fix her!'. :rolleyes: It just takes one comment and you'll never be asked round again!
banie01 wrote: » I don't know much about the vagaries of converting the Ambulance. But! The naming possibilities are bloody brilliant! Beauty 911, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Hair Attack, Blue light specials! And loads more, and undoubtedly loads better too
ironclaw wrote: » You'd want to seek out the camper van community I'd say, would be a good place to start and ask for the best electrical company you can find. Assuming someone had fitted an electric shower, it would be a good start on the level of wiring and load. But keep in mind that these types of loads are generally for when you are parked up and connected to mains, not on the road etc. The baked in cost per appointment would need to be pretty high alright. It would only work if you had a group or were doing community outreach I'd say.
generalmental wrote: » Thank you. I honestly wouldn't know where to start. Can you make any recommendations of what I should be looking for.
listermint wrote: » She'd be losing time and money between appointments travelling around the place.
ironclaw wrote: » As others have said, speaking as an electronic engineer, solve the power issue first. And I don't mean estimate or take a guess, I mean go and talk to someone who's already done it professionally. Don't take a single step further until you have that solved. As even if you could get a generator big and quiet enough, the existing power system may not support the loads you would be asking it to and you may need to rewire it. The cost could be substantial and I doubt you want to go through a complete set up each and every time you have a client. I've worked on ambulances and they have no where near the power draw required for what you want to achieve. Most of the systems are battery powered first and the simply charge off the alternator, there is no heavy load for sustained periods of time as you will require here.
generalmental wrote: » I was thinking of the generator like oceanman said. This is one of the reasons why I started this thread.
Padre_Pio wrote: » I don't think you're right there. Ambulances are always running, alternator is probably flat out. Their equipment is designed to be portable and battery powered. Your use case is different, your wife could be parked up for hours, I'm thinking a bridal party or something. You need to look at the power requirements as it could really increase your investment. A hairdryer could be 2kW. Curlers, straighteners, lights, heater and all the other stuff is way more than most camper type systems are designed for. Solar PV is no good either, no reliability. I'd say mains is your only choice unless a bespoke system. Also, running a mobile salon from a single extension cord could be dodgy too. My recommendation is to look at the power requirements.
Dial Hard wrote: » Being supportive in the abstract is very different to actually climbing into the back of a converted ambulance that's just rocked up to your house. I honestly think she'd be better off just finding alternative premises.
generalmental wrote: » I didn't know about the licence if I'm being honest. Regards to the power issue, she seems to be thinking about the ambulance as it already has the power to run the machines in the back that it would already have a big battery and possibly an inverter. She wants to keep the costs down and is concerned that the wiring and bigger battery and inverter would cost a lot.
generalmental wrote: » Very good point. I know she has mentioned it to a few of them and they all were supportive.
RurtBeynolds wrote: » Why can't she just go to her client's homes and cut their hair indoors? I'm not seeing why there's a need for a converted van?
Mrs OBumble wrote: » Do some market research among the clients: would they really want a big mobile hairdresser rolling into their neighbourhood for all the world to see? What would the neighbours think?
Padre_Pio wrote: » Interesting. Few things though: What license do you need for an ambulance? I'd imagine its a Cat C, so she'd need the lessons and test. Ambulances are wide beasts of things. I'd be looking at a high roof transit bus, with the windows. It's a Cat B, and narrow enough so it's easier to drive and manoeuvre around a clients estate or driveway. That said, I converted a high transit into a camper and anyone over 6 foot would be stooping inside. Power is a the main issue. You'd need to plug in to mains, or have a massive battery and inverter. Straighteners, hairdryers and the like are high wattage and they'd be used for hours of the day. Even keeping it warm on a cold day. You would need to put some legs on it to stop it rocking when people are in the back and some stairs for elderly. From a practical side I think it's doable so long as you solve the power issue. An camper extension lead into the clients house might be a short term solution.
generalmental wrote: » Hi all any help would be appreciated. My wife has her own beauty salon in the country, she has been getting a lot of grief from her landlord and is thinking of giving up her place and buying a discontinued ambulance and using it as a mobile beauty salon. The reason for the ambulance is that its already wired up for electricity in the back and she has come up with a creative way of using the space. People literally come from all over the country to use her salon, so now she wants to be able to go to her regulars and possibly pick up some new clients who wouldn't have been able to or into the travel previously. What we dont know is can it be done. Will the insurance company cover her, will just having the ambulance insured be enough or will she need public liability etc. Seen as though she is going to be in different parts of the country at different times will she need to pay rates. Anything else that you see as a barrier can you please mention. I think it's a good idea but I think she may need to use a van and not an ambulance. Thanks for reading.
