Question for the mobile guys

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DedhamDetail

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Hey my name is David, am to posting here buy have been browsing for advice for a while. I had a customer call me today asking if I did mobile detailing. She wanted a interior cleaning only so I though yes I can do that. Except I dont know how i can vac her car? Lol I have a location and am slow right now so I am wondering if you guys have any idea. Shes not willing to drive and there is no outlet at her apartment complex to plug in. Thanks in advance
 
You might ask if you can come pick up her car, and deliver it when you're finished.
 
Before you drive a customers car make sure your insured for it.
 
then you dont have a job to do. simple as that.. you have a shop for a reason. is this a home based shop or lease/rent shop?

i understand youre slow with business but you cant go chasing everyone who gives you a call. market/network and direct more customers to your shop
 
I would pass. Sounds like you'll be spending more money in new equipment or insurance, than you would make on the job.
 
thebamboo23 said:
...simple as that..
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:dblthumb2: And how :dblthumb2:
Well said.​


Also, since you've never seen it, what if it calls for other interior detailing equipment other than a vac? Or is too far gone for you to comfortably work with?​

 
^ These guys are pros, and it sounds like they have sound advice.

BUT; just to throw it out there, power inverters have come a long way. A good quality, high output power inverter can do everything a small generator can do without all the noise, or dealing with storing it and fuel inside your car or van. I imagine if you did this all the time, you could mount the power inverter (the ones that could drive a shop vac are pretty big and will need to be wired directly to the battery). Then just leave your car/truck/van idling and run your equipment.
 
Yea i mean she was pretty crazy on the phone and everything, she wouldnt give me any info, so i just told her to call me back later after i did some research. I have a shop that i work out of and all the supplies needed for the interior just not too sure about the vac part. I may have to pass on this one. Thanks for the advice guys.
 
Well if she is crazy then I would definatelly not do it ! ;)
 
Stay clear of picking up her vehicle, especially if you have not dealt with her before. If she can't bring the car to you and you don't have the gear to go to her then politely offer to drive her home if she will agree to drop the car with you and pick her up when it's done...only if you REALLY want this job though. Make sure you price in the crazy factor as well.
 
ALL CUSTOMERS ARE LIER'S!
You have no idea what her problem is.
For you to go somewhere you will need a generator, a big one not a small one, a big shop vac, a steamer and even an extractor.
With that being said I'd pass on it. Unless you want to make a rig starting today.
 
Romans5.8 said:
^ These guys are pros, and it sounds like they have sound advice.

BUT; just to throw it out there, power inverters have come a long way. A good quality, high output power inverter can do everything a small generator can do without all the noise, or dealing with storing it and fuel inside your car or van. I imagine if you did this all the time, you could mount the power inverter (the ones that could drive a shop vac are pretty big and will need to be wired directly to the battery). Then just leave your car/truck/van idling and run your equipment.
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I did a lot of research on this subject as I was interested in an inverter over a generator. I came across conflicting findings; most instructions for inverters specifically say do not run them from your car battery, so you have a liability there. Also, if you want to power a shop vac, you're going to need a decent sized inverter, I'd say 1500-2000 running watts, and they can get pretty costly depending on where you look for one. Then you have to be very sure you get the right gauge wires for right length, otherwise you'll be putting out a fire! My situation is different than most with my mobile setup, because I'm just using my little car. If you had a van though, setting it up properly would be a little easier. I would be VERY careful setting up something like this if you don't know what you're doing exactly. It can be done though, so your best bet is to research, research, research, then build your inverter system and try it out.
 
Euphoria64 said:
I did a lot of research on this subject as I was interested in an inverter over a generator. I came across conflicting findings; most instructions for inverters specifically say do not run them from your car battery, so you have a liability there. Also, if you want to power a shop vac, you're going to need a decent sized inverter, I'd say 1500-2000 running watts, and they can get pretty costly depending on where you look for one. Then you have to be very sure you get the right gauge wires for right length, otherwise you'll be putting out a fire! My situation is different than most with my mobile setup, because I'm just using my little car. If you had a van though, setting it up properly would be a little easier. I would be VERY careful setting up something like this if you don't know what you're doing exactly. It can be done though, so your best bet is to research, research, research, then build your inverter system and try it out.
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Absolutely!

Cost wise, if you are willing to install it yourself, I think it comes out similar to a 'good' generator. Maybe a 2-stroke harbor freight generator is cheaper, but what you are going to quickly find is that they overheat quickly and you'll have to shut them down and wait.

Some people go as crazy as installing a second alternator run to a separate battery! Most though, when installing a serious heavy duty inverter, will install a second battery in the trunk/rear of van, which is wired to the alternator directly, or in parallel to the main battery. Idling the car provides all the power you need! You are absolutely right though, you should research!

I do think though, if I was in a similar situation, I'd go the inverter route. Even a 2kw inverter is not that expensive anymore and should (depending on the vehicle) be able to be wired up right to the main battery. I've even heard of people using inverter systems off of their cars to power their houses in a power outage! Inverters are how solar electric systems in homes generally work, too. Most solar panels produce low voltage electricity. Some solar systems them store the power in batteries, and an inverter converts the power in the batteries to usable current for the home. Cool stuff!

The 'direct to battery' comment above was a little over-simplified, but the point was it would not be the cigarette lighter type. I really wouldn't pull any more than a cellphone or laptop charger through the cig lighter! (I do have a small, 150 watt inverter just for that though! I call it my universal cellphone and laptop charger! Just grab the wall charger from inside! lol)
 
Euphoria64 said:
I did a lot of research on this subject as I was interested in an inverter over a generator. I came across conflicting findings; most instructions for inverters specifically say do not run them from your car battery, so you have a liability there. Also, if you want to power a shop vac, you're going to need a decent sized inverter, I'd say 1500-2000 running watts, and they can get pretty costly depending on where you look for one. Then you have to be very sure you get the right gauge wires for right length, otherwise you'll be putting out a fire! My situation is different than most with my mobile setup, because I'm just using my little car. If you had a van though, setting it up properly would be a little easier. I would be VERY careful setting up something like this if you don't know what you're doing exactly. It can be done though, so your best bet is to research, research, research, then build your inverter system and try it out.
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Car batteries are not designed to provide power over time. The way they work is they can give a huge amount of power for a very short time (start the car) afterwards the car runs off the alternator. You can run the inverter off deep cycle batteries (usually sold under marine battery type) that are designed to be discharged repeatedly over 50% of their charge and are designed to provide continous power.

If you decide to go with an inverter, you can leave your engine running while working, your alternator would serve as a generator.

Cable gauging is always important when you work with any electrical system.
 
Calendyr said:
Car batteries are not designed to provide power over time. The way they work is they can give a huge amount of power for a very short time (start the car) afterwards the car runs off the alternator. You can run the inverter off deep cycle batteries (usually sold under marine battery type) that are designed to be discharged repeatedly over 50% of their charge and are designed to provide continous power.

If you decide to go with an inverter, you can leave your engine running while working, your alternator would serve as a generator.

Cable gauging is always important when you work with any electrical system.
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+1. Though I think a lot of people who use systems like this just leave the car idling. Even a deep cycle battery will not provide power for a days work, you'd need several, at some point it just gets easier to leave the engine running! Doesn't use any more fuel than a generator (probably less), and is much, much quieter.

As an add, aside from car batteries not being able to store energy for long term use, it can actually damage them to use them for that purpose. Generally speaking, internal corrosion (called sulfation) begins when the battery's no-load voltage drops below 12.4 volts. Car batteries are designed to stay charged-up for their entire life. That's why cars that aren't driven should be on a battery tender, to keep the batteries from corroding due to low voltage!
 
You have a few options here....

1) Turn down job do to insufficient Tools (generator) and high cost of aqcuiring

2) Purchase a generator because this probably wont be your last mobile call

3) Rent a generator from Home Depot and incorporate the cost of + fuel to the price



I personally purchase the tools I need when needed knowing that it will be an asset for my detailing business in the future.
 
Romans5.8 said:
+1. Though I think a lot of people who use systems like this just leave the car idling. Even a deep cycle battery will not provide power for a days work, you'd need several, at some point it just gets easier to leave the engine running! Doesn't use any more fuel than a generator (probably less), and is much, much quieter.

As an add, aside from car batteries not being able to store energy for long term use, it can actually damage them to use them for that purpose. Generally speaking, internal corrosion (called sulfation) begins when the battery's no-load voltage drops below 12.4 volts. Car batteries are designed to stay charged-up for their entire life. That's why cars that aren't driven should be on a battery tender, to keep the batteries from corroding due to low voltage!
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Yes, I was thinking of the second battery as a voltage stabilizer. Kinda like a capacitor. But it might not even be needed. Unless you use a lot of power hungry Tools at the same time. And even then the alternator would probably just crank up more juice.
 
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