June 25, 20196 yr Author Other wheel well im going to put a closet up...will post later today when doneTip for anyone who reads this....when trying to make template for curvature of roof make your measurements ceiling to floor every 3 inchesExample...61 inches is height at bus wallThen i measure 3 inches off of wall and get 69 inches floor to ceiling6 inches off wall is 70.5 inchesThen you transfer your measurements to some scrap wood and you got a template for all your curved pieces
June 25, 20196 yr Author Tip still stands for finding curve of roof/ceiling...but now im thinking i can just box closet off above windows and have a shelf/storage on top
June 25, 20196 yr 2 hours ago, Bone3421 said: Working on getting my utility area ready...framed up over the wheel well Plan on having electric on one side and water pump and ??? On other side...will have a wall built off of the middle 2x4 Are you gonna put in freshwater, graywater, and blackwater tanks? Water heater? Toilet, sinks, shower? For electrical are you going to install both a 120VAC system and a 12VDC system? Just wondering how close to a self-contained RV build you're planning, the solar system implies to me you plan to go off-grid with it for at least some of its life?
June 25, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, Bone3421 said: Tip still stands for finding curve of roof/ceiling...but now im thinking i can just box closet off above windows and have a shelf/storage on top Oh boy, I had to do a ton of this in the Airstream. As far as far as reproducing the curve, what you're talking about is called "scribing" and there are a couple of ways to do it. This guy uses a small circle/wheel to standoff the wall and scribe the curve onto his template. This guy uses an actual scribing tool, which is basically just a compass. He doesn't do a particularly good job of it, but the basic idea is there:
June 25, 20196 yr Author Are you gonna put in freshwater, graywater, and blackwater tanks? Water heater? Toilet, sinks, shower? For electrical are you going to install both a 120VAC system and a 12VDC system? Just wondering how close to a self-contained RV build you're planning, the solar system implies to me you plan to go off-grid with it for at least some of its life? Off grid 100% of the time is the goal....yes i will have a few DC circuits and running rest thru inverterGreywater yes...blacktank no(composting toilet) in futureYes to kitchen sink...no on shower currently(probaby will rig something up for outside shower) All in the air currently but i do want it to be as much open floorplan as i can Long ways to go
June 25, 20196 yr Author Had to get a little creative since wheel well didnt match up with steel ribs of the roof...Already had 1×4's up above windows for future shelve supports and 2×4's under windows for sidewalls. So just screwed 2×4's to those supports with 3in screws. Luckily the gap above windows was perfect fit for scrap 2×4 and was levelThrew in some winter clothes i wont need for 6/7 months....will make it look pretty later when i decide how i want to finish busLeaning towards a white/grey distressed wood look to tie cedar ceiling and floor together
July 1, 20196 yr Author 1200w pure sine wave inverter(2400watt surge)40amp mppt charge controller2 amg 200amp hour 12v batteriesWill wire in parallel for 400ahTexting electrician buddy about fuses and what not...hopefully we'll have time to get together this weekend
July 1, 20196 yr Author For anyone reading in future....to figure out your amp pull just divide your watts by volts If i pull the full 1200 watts at 12v(your inverter has to match batteries) then i will be pulling 100amps I shouldnt do that realistically as the most i think i would ever draw at one time would be using tv(200w) with xbox(112w) with mini fridge(200w high end)So your looking at 500 to 600 if lights are on at most realistically 600w÷12v = 50amps So you will want a thick enough wire to handle the amps to inverter from batteries...6gauge will handle 60amps but for surges and if i pull peak we are running 3 gauge that is rated for 110 amps This is only from batteries to inverter...from inverter you can run standard 12/2 romex
July 1, 20196 yr Maybe this has been covered, but it looks like some of those 2x4s are treated. Is that for any reason? Seems unnecessary and added weight compared to standard lumber.
July 1, 20196 yr 2 hours ago, Bone3421 said: For anyone reading in future....to figure out your amp pull just divide your watts by volts If i pull the full 1200 watts at 12v(your inverter has to match batteries) then i will be pulling 100amps I shouldnt do that realistically as the most i think i would ever draw at one time would be using tv(200w) with xbox(112w) with mini fridge(200w high end) So your looking at 500 to 600 if lights are on at most realistically 600w÷12v = 50amps So you will want a thick enough wire to handle the amps to inverter from batteries...6gauge will handle 60amps but for surges and if i pull peak we are running 3 gauge that is rated for 110 amps This is only from batteries to inverter...from inverter you can run standard 14/2 romex So, you're saying that P=VI? And consequently I = P/V? Will you have A/C? And if so, it's only going to run when you're plugged into shore power? What about a microwave? Also keep in mind things like coffee makers and crock pots consume a lot of power, if you ever plan to use any of those in the bus.
July 1, 20196 yr Author So, you're saying that P=VI? And consequently I = P/V? [emoji4] Will you have A/C? And if so, it's only going to run when you're plugged into shore power? What about a microwave? Also keep in mind things like coffee makers and crock pots consume a lot of power, if you ever plan to use any of those in the bus. No microwave...to much juice Rv ac at some point...will scale up most likelyAs for the appliances just cant run them at once keurig is rated at 1500w surge 200-400 continuousOther coffee makers are 600w - 1200w so in range just cant do to much at onceAnd i was spelling it out real simple just in case someone stumbles across it in the future... Seen lots of people confused on the googles while i've been researching skoolie builds
July 1, 20196 yr Author Maybe this has been covered, but it looks like some of those 2x4s are treated. Is that for any reason? Seems unnecessary and added weight compared to standard lumber.More of a just in case....busses are notorious leakers...i think i got it sealed up pretty good though and if i get a leak with plumbing will have less damage
July 1, 20196 yr Just now, Bone3421 said: No microwave...to much juice Rv ac at some point...will scale up most likelyAs for the appliances just cant run them at once keurig is rated at 1500w surge 200-400 continuous Other coffee makers are 600w - 1200w so in range just cant do to much at once And i was spelling it out real simple just in case someone stumbles across it in the future... Seen lots of people confused on the googles while i've been researching skoolie builds Yeah, sorry, I'm an electrical engineer so I had to have a little fun. You definitely can't run too many small appliances at once. One year we were RV camping for TX-OU and my friends and I are sitting around outside drinking beer, and a friendly older guy comes around the corner between a couple of RVs and asks if I have a moment. Says he's borrowed an RV from a friend for the weekend but the interior power is dead-- although it had been working just fine beforehand. So I follow him up to this huge, brand new half-million dollar Tiffin motorhome, and he has about 8 friends standing around waiting for him to get back-- all decked out in Sooner gear, of course. I'm walking along in an orange Longhorn t-shirt with my beer can in my "ousux" koozie, and they are not looking very happy at all. Anyway, first thing I do is check his city/shore power connection and it all looks good, breakers are open and not tripped. So I go inside to look for his interior breaker panel, and I see in their galley area they have about 7 or 8 crock pots all plugged in. I just laughed, told them that was going to be a problem, unplugged all but a couple of the crockpots, and reset their circuit breakers. Told them to keep plugging more crock pots in until it tripped, and then they'd know their limit. Silly sooners.
July 1, 20196 yr 24 minutes ago, utee94 said: Yeah, sorry, I'm an electrical engineer so I had to have a little fun. You definitely can't run too many small appliances at once. One year we were RV camping for TX-OU and my friends and I are sitting around outside drinking beer, and a friendly older guy comes around the corner between a couple of RVs and asks if I have a moment. Says he's borrowed an RV from a friend for the weekend but the interior power is dead-- although it had been working just fine beforehand. So I follow him up to this huge, brand new half-million dollar Tiffin motorhome, and he has about 8 friends standing around waiting for him to get back-- all decked out in Sooner gear, of course. I'm walking along in an orange Longhorn t-shirt with my beer can in my "ousux" koozie, and they are not looking very happy at all. Anyway, first thing I do is check his city/shore power connection and it all looks good, breakers are open and not tripped. So I go inside to look for his interior breaker panel, and I see in their galley area they have about 7 or 8 crock pots all plugged in. I just laughed, told them that was going to be a problem, unplugged all but a couple of the crockpots, and reset their circuit breakers. Told them to keep plugging more crock pots in until it tripped, and then they'd know their limit. Silly sooners. Resistance heating elements, how do it work? Way to represent.
July 1, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, utee94 said: Yeah, sorry, I'm an electrical engineer so I had to have a little fun. You definitely can't run too many small appliances at once. One year we were RV camping for TX-OU and my friends and I are sitting around outside drinking beer, and a friendly older guy comes around the corner between a couple of RVs and asks if I have a moment. Says he's borrowed an RV from a friend for the weekend but the interior power is dead-- although it had been working just fine beforehand. So I follow him up to this huge, brand new half-million dollar Tiffin motorhome, and he has about 8 friends standing around waiting for him to get back-- all decked out in Sooner gear, of course. I'm walking along in an orange Longhorn t-shirt with my beer can in my "ousux" koozie, and they are not looking very happy at all. Anyway, first thing I do is check his city/shore power connection and it all looks good, breakers are open and not tripped. So I go inside to look for his interior breaker panel, and I see in their galley area they have about 7 or 8 crock pots all plugged in. I just laughed, told them that was going to be a problem, unplugged all but a couple of the crockpots, and reset their circuit breakers. Told them to keep plugging more crock pots in until it tripped, and then they'd know their limit. Silly sooners. This is a lovely story told well
July 2, 20196 yr This is only from batteries to inverter...from inverter you can run standard 14/2 romexWhy not 12/2?
July 2, 20196 yr Author Why not 12/2?You're right, i said it wrong...i was looking at 14/2(white) but ended up getting 12/2(yellow)
July 4, 20196 yr Great thread Bone. Discovered it a couple days ago. Will keep up with progress. Great job.
July 12, 20196 yr Author I have test going on solar right now....batteries where at 71% fullI only hooked up 2 panels and getting 3.5 amps and 31volts currently at 6:30pm Mppt says batteries are at 100% after like 10 mins...think i will be fine lol
July 12, 20196 yr Author Everything running good...this step is quite simple...i have batteries in parallel(+ to +) and (- to -) then just runwire to (+) battery spot on charge controller. You want a fuse here, im using 50a anl fuse for 40amp mppt charge controller.Then from other battery run wire from negative, no fuse on negatives
July 13, 20196 yr Author You'll want to check your panels just to be sure but most positive leads will be the male adapter. You can also tell by the stripe on the diode(grey if it shows in picture) the stripe should on positive side.So when you connect to charge controller you need to make sure know which is which to avoid ruining equipment first time you connect it.So if the male adapter is your positive on panels you need to hook up the wire with female adapter to your PV+ spot on charge controller...and then of course your male adapter from charge controller will be connecting with the negative on solar panel
July 13, 20196 yr Author Cut hole and fed solar panel wires into bus...and close up of mppt charge control for reference to above posts
July 13, 20196 yr Author Everything is hooked up and in its home for now...going to mount inverter on the wall and panels will be mounted on roof when i am ready to get it mobile
July 13, 20196 yr Author Just need electrician friend to come and run ac through distribution box and few circuits.I will probably run one circuit straight from inverter today so i have one outlet for tv and radio for now
July 13, 20196 yr Author For comparison yesterdays test run had 2 solar panels getting 3.5 amps and 31v around 6All 4 today at 5pm are pulling 13.25 amps and 60volts. Tomorrow will make some temporary mounts to boost efficiency.For my ft.worth location the math says i need panels mounted at 28 degreesMath for solar panel tilt is.....if latitude is below 25° times it by .87If latitude is between 25° and 50° times it by .76 and then add 3.1° to itIf above 50° it gets trickier so google it lol
July 17, 20196 yr On 7/13/2019 at 3:13 PM, Bone3421 said: Everything is hooked up and in its home for now...going to mount inverter on the wall and panels will be mounted on roof when i am ready to get it mobile you gonna run some fiddeens off dat amp
July 17, 20196 yr I can’t remember if this has been asked yet, are going to give this beast a new paint job when you’re finished?
July 17, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, ERhine said: I can’t remember if this has been asked yet, are going to give this beast a new paint job when you’re finished? I'm imagining burnt orange metal flake with pearl white rally stripes.
July 17, 20196 yr Author I can’t remember if this has been asked yet, are going to give this beast a new paint job when you’re finished?Yeah....and as comment above said i have thought about burnt orange to go with white roof
July 17, 20196 yr Author Abc supply in burleson will let you have all the pallets you can haul fyi....got these 10ft ones yesterday When i strip them down will have about 45/50 free 10ft 2x4 for some projectsAnyone close by that wants some free lumber thats the place
July 17, 20196 yr Before I opened this thread, I felt pretty good about tightening the bathroom door knob with the old screwdriver.
July 17, 20196 yr 2 hours ago, Bone3421 said: Abc supply in burleson will let you have all the pallets you can haul fyi....got these 10ft ones yesterday When i strip them down will have about 45/50 free 10ft 2x4 for some projects Anyone close by that wants some free lumber thats the place I used to make some side-money building furniture out of pallet wood and selling it to hipsters that dug the "upcycling." But then a lot of the large stores and warehouses started having recycling companies come by and take all of their used pallets, so that source dried up. I wonder if there's a similar place near Austin?
July 17, 20196 yr Author I used to make some side-money building furniture out of pallet wood and selling it to hipsters that dug the "upcycling." But then a lot of the large stores and warehouses started having recycling companies come by and take all of their used pallets, so that source dried up. I wonder if there's a similar place near Austin?Dont think im going that far...think i will make a small lounge area under a tree with one of themThinking about making a outhouse/outdoor shower on the land so another one could be base for that...but we shall see
July 23, 20196 yr Author Anyone have any dynamite.....Looks i picked a bad spot to dig.Hopefully it will break up easy tomorrow when i have more energy
July 24, 20196 yr 1 hour ago, Bone3421 said: Anyone have any dynamite..... Looks i picked a bad spot to dig. Hopefully it will break up easy tomorrow when i have more energy
July 24, 20196 yr Are your solar panels going to be easily moveable? I follow a board of off-road expedition drivers and it seems like the guys who can remove their panels and move them around throughout the day get a lot more power than the guys who keep it fixed on the roof the whole time. Seems like the best set up is one where they can be mounted flat on the roof when you're driving and then removed and aimed properly when you set up camp somewhere. The biggest benefit, besides just a better angle, is that you can park in the shade and run the panels out into the sun. More comfort for you, less demand for your fridge, etc..
July 25, 20196 yr Author Panels for now are off the bus and moveable...would like the idea of that set-up, should be simple to execute.
July 26, 20196 yr Author I dont think i mentioned it earlier but the 4 panels,mppt charge controller and the wires were 700$ renogy kit....2 agm 200ah batteries 600$ and the 1200w/2400w surge was 170$Wires, outlets, and fuses probably another 120$ with romex taking up 70$ of that total
July 26, 20196 yr 18 hours ago, Bone3421 said: Panels for now are off the bus and moveable...would like the idea of that set-up, should be simple to execute. Yeah I know some folks that have removable panels on the tops of their RVs. They set them up with some kind of quick-disconnects and when they move them to the ground, they put them on tripod-style stands that swivel in two directions to angle the panels exactly as they need them based on the location of the panels wrt the sun. \
July 28, 20196 yr Author Can your solar set up run an AC? RV style 30 amp?I could run a 10,000 btu rv ac on my setup for a few hours per math....but wouldnt have power for anything elseI would have to add more battery storage plus maybe 2/3 more panels to handle load plus have power for tv,fan,lights,...Which i plan on doing in future....current set up can run tv,fan,lights and appliances for 2 days with some rationing.(ie dont run tv 8 hours a day)
October 9, 20196 yr On 7/28/2019 at 2:35 PM, Bone3421 said: I could run a 10,000 btu rv ac on my setup for a few hours per math....but wouldnt have power for anything else I would have to add more battery storage plus maybe 2/3 more panels to handle load plus have power for tv,fan,lights,... Which I plan on doing in future....current set up can run tv,fan,lights and appliances for 2 days with some rationing.(ie dont run tv 8 hours a day) I wouldn't bother with a 10K BTU RV AC in Texas. Even my 15K struggled at the height of summer and my RV was a lot smaller than your bus. Hope you're able to get some more work done with the cooler temps!
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.