Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-15-2018, 05:56 PM   #41
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
Quote:
Originally Posted by nanoplane View Post
I plan on traveling all over.. I'm planning on only 9000 BTU for my bus (10000 heating).. it's less than 300 square feet of space that needs heating/cooling.
... and it needs about 4 x the amount of heating and cooling that most calculators suggest, especially in hot summers or cold winters.

__________________
Steve Bracken

Build Thread
Twigg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2018, 06:43 PM   #42
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,775
Insulating panels or hanging heavy blankets to shrink the space cooled, plus of course solid insulation to start with.

Windows are deadly!
john61ct is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2018, 10:52 AM   #43
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Tahoe
Posts: 513
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 3000RE
Engine: T444E w/ MT643
Rated Cap: 84 pass, 40'
Quote:
Originally Posted by john61ct View Post
Insulating panels or hanging heavy blankets to shrink the space cooled, plus of course solid insulation to start with.

Windows are deadly!
I have seen people plan TWO 15k BTU units front and back for AC for a 40' bus in AZ. I think. It's been a while now. I have a portable one that is supposed to be enough for that sized room and will certainly be enough for the bedroom at night only. And then it could do the living area during the day probably, but it's only designed to lower the temp so much -msybe 20 degrees and if it's 100 then 80 is better but not good enough for me probably. And then I still have to figure out AC and heat for while driving!!! So far I just drove with a lot of layers and gloves on!
__________________
middle aged mom on a learning adventure
2martins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2018, 01:14 PM   #44
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Solar updates

Solar panels are all installed:



Each panel has some 1/8" thick weatherstripping on the bottom to provide a little space between the panel and the roof.. slightly better cooling.. probably only when driving down the highway




The panels are connected in parallel for each of the 8 "rows" some with two and some with three panels. Each Row is routed back to a terminal strip in the back of the bus where I can implement a parallel or serial/parallel configuration.. or experiment.

Wiring to the farthest 4 rows of panels is 8# copper wire. The near 4 rows are 10# copper wire.
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2018, 10:51 AM   #45
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Solar System Circuit

Here is the circuit diagram for the solar system / chargers / inverter...



There are 8 "rows" of solar panels, from the front of the bus, 2 rows of 2 panels, then 4 rows of 3 panels then another 2 rows of 2 panels.

Each row is connected in parallel at the panels then pairs of "matching" rows are connected in series at the terminal blocks and then those in turn connected in series to create two arrays, each having 10 panels with an open circuit voltage of about 40V. Each of these arrays route to a Midnite Solar charge controller and then to the Battery Array (12V, up to 880AH / 10kW).

The Inverter is an AIMS 3000 W nominal/9000 W peak device. It also supports battery charging at 140A when connected to shore power. It has automatic shutoff when the battery voltage gets too low.
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2018, 10:57 AM   #46
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Solar Power

So far, the installation looks like this:



... almost there
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2018, 06:10 PM   #47
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Upstate, SC
Posts: 278
That's a clean install and those freaking huge dozer batteries should run the freakin' town next door.
ben2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2018, 06:16 PM   #48
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Smile Big Batteries...

Quote:
Originally Posted by ben2go View Post
That's a clean install and those freaking huge dozer batteries should run the freakin' town next door.
I'm not too sure about that, but I could probably replace my house backup generator with the bus...
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 02:36 PM   #49
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
We have Power !!!

Basic power is ON

Here's the final installation,


Now I just need to add the AC/DC distribution panel and all the rest
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 02:49 PM   #50
Bus Nut
 
Rovobay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Damascus, OR
Posts: 681
Year: 2004
Chassis: International
Engine: T444e w/ 2000 Allison Trans
Rated Cap: 35
impressive setup. I loathe working on electronics. I wish I didn't but I do. I was going to attempt to strip all unnecessary wires from my bus but feared doing damage.
__________________
My Build: https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/sk...doo-22140.html

Follow our build on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skoolie_doo/
Rovobay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 04:59 PM   #51
Bus Nut
 
Ninjakitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Brevard County, FL
Posts: 911
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Ford
Engine: 6.6 New Holland Diesel
Rated Cap: 60 kids, 10 window
That is a great looking setup. I really like how clean it is. I have a similar set up to yours that I haven't installed yet. I think I may order a couple of more busbars.
__________________
Nick
Ninjakitty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 05:13 PM   #52
Bus Nut
 
jjhwick119's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 829
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: Dt466e
Rated Cap: 71
Very nice wiring job! I worked at Car Toys for a decade doing aftermarket installs and that looks like it was done by a pro. A lot of people i worked with in the company couldn't even do it that clean to be honest, lol.
__________________
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/n...tml#post256987
My build thread - Started 3.2.18
jjhwick119 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 05:35 PM   #53
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovobay View Post
impressive setup. I loathe working on electronics. I wish I didn't but I do. I was going to attempt to strip all unnecessary wires from my bus but feared doing damage.
When I have a job like this I turn the vehicle on and all accessories on, then start cutting wires one at a time. If cutting one shuts something down or changes the sound of normal, I reconnect that wire and proceed on.
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 06:38 PM   #54
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjakitty View Post
That is a great looking setup. I really like how clean it is. I have a similar set up to yours that I haven't installed yet. I think I may order a couple of more busbars.
I made most of my Busbars.. 3/16" x 1" copper flat bar and some plastic and stainless flathead bolts and flange nuts...
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 09:25 PM   #55
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Solar Updates

Ok, I've done the whole power system "backend"



added the AC distribution panel, sensors connections and negative to chassis... Which was "interesting"...

I had connected everything except the ground to chassis and when I added that last green wire (at the bottom center...), there was an interesting result...

Things you learn... when screwing Busbars to plywood, don't use screws that will be longer than the depth of the plywood.... They can touch metal (in this case, foil tape) and when you suddenly add the ground line... if the long screws were on the positive busbars.... you get a very large spark... enough to melt some of the copper in the ground wire AND blow away a bit of the Aluminum Tape...

... Screws Replaced....

At the top of the plywood you can see my wiring trays... these are segmented trays, 1 part for AC one part for DC...



The caps for the trays are made from some of the ceiling perf metal..
__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 09:34 PM   #56
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Removing the Extra Door..

I decided my bathroom needed to be where the driver's side emergency door was.. so it had to go... It did not go easily... Well, the door went fine, the frame was a real pain... The top part is riveted into the seam for the rain drip tray... so I had to cut it free with cutting wheels.. But, now it's gone and in it's place will be a panel, with a tiny window (my SO insisted we have a window in the bathroom)..

Here's the current state... Lower panel in place... need to create the upper frame to match the structure and hold the tiny window. I am also getting some bumper rail to match the existing.

note: I created the tiny window by cutting down one of the old windows that isn't being used... Score both sides of the safety glass.. trim and drill the frame bits to match...


__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 09:42 PM   #57
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
I have the same door delete planned for mine, thanks for the experience and pics. Be glad it wasn't a wheelchair door that protrudes into the roof skin.
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2018, 09:52 PM   #58
Bus Nut
 
oricha1984's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 938
Chassis: GMC or Chevrolet, I hope
Engine: gasser probably
that is some serious money spent on a solar set up.
looks good, gratz!
__________________
the more i learn, the less I know what to buy . . .
oricha1984 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2018, 12:02 AM   #59
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Quote:
Originally Posted by oricha1984 View Post
that is some serious money spent on a solar set up.
looks good, gratz!
About $6k so far. Not too serious
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2018, 03:41 PM   #60
Skoolie
 
nanoplane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Kingston, WA
Posts: 111
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Door be Gone

So.. just apply a little DoorBeGone and ... voila:



I tried to match the "patterns as much as I could.. almost successful .

on the inside, I'm insulating and covering the "hole" with sheet metal and then once I add the interior framing, there will be more insulation and yet-another-wall..

__________________
--Marcel
Build Thread
nanoplane is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:26 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.