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[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm in North Branford in CT not far from New Haven. The travel trailer that I looked at this afternoon didn't have much to offer the converter/ charger was old technology, hot water heater didn't work and the guy wasn't so sure about the rest of the stuff.

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Another note regarding the travel trailer that I looked at: The owner had the interior ceiling off and I got to see first hand why skoolies are so much better, 2x2 wood construction and cardboard, pretty scary.

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

I've been thinking (I do a lot of that) I may just buy that travel trailer after all. There is some stuff that I can utilize but more importantly I can learn about RV wiring by taking stuff apart, for me I think it will be money well spent, your thoughts?

[Docsgsxr]

Buying the travel trailer is a choice only you can make. Whether it be a good one or not isn't up to someone else. Wiring in a travel trailer is not the same as most people use in a skoolie. There are several threads in here where people will debate types of wire to use for fear of breaks in the lines which would/could cause shorts or fire. I have regular 10/2 wire in mine for the ac's and 12/2 for the outlets. whatever you do with wiring just be sure to secure it firmly so it can't shake around, and ALWAYS use grommets or rubber tubing wherever you have to run the lines through metal.

Not an expert electrician, but I hope it helps.


-Doc

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thank you I've been reading a book on RV wiring with wire gauge recommendations based on distances from batteries and such. What i'm not familiar is converter wiring 12v vs. 120v so this should clear up some questions, I would never re-use wiring.

[bansil]

I would not buy a trailer to learn how it should be done

decide what you want such as:

cooking? in bus or out?

gas burner or electric eye?

ac while stopped? yes or no...decide on Ac unit for you a "new" roof top unit...$$$$600 plus easy or a 5K or 8K etc window residential unit?

what do you want?

it is a brutal image....follow the jones...or say %$#^ them and go skoolie

make a list over the next week...of what you want to:

cook (seriously this one is an absolute beotch...we eat on the road as we eat at home)
(reason behind...2-700wt electric burners, 1 propane burner (used for boils or huge pots of beans etc, and pasta when a pound or more is needed), small gas grill, large charcoal grill, and the rotiseerie kicks azz when birds need cooking)
dont limit what you want v/s need!!

watch (birds, lions and ooohhh my...or an hour of tv before bed...humming bird feeders kick azz)

wear (clean and carry extra...or wash and dry on spot....outside Old Skool is cool...just answer question)

water works (ie: dishes, shower, bath or poop)

we go and basically act and prep/do as everyday folks....we dont give a flip(new word for me) :mregreen:

the "jones' like us and visit....poor jones....we don "IT" on a bidget....they just buy more SHIAT...
.
.
.
.gotta fill glas and hit he....grill/stove////its fixin to be dinner time...c-ya'll

[r_w]

I would not buy a trailer to learn how it should be done

TRUTH. Buy a trailer to learn how it should NOT be done.

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thanks guys.

[dburt]

Go online and see if you have a Copart auction yard near you. They sell mostly Insurance salvage vehicles and RVs. You can bid on them in most states without being a dealer. And I have bought several Rvs out here in the west at very good prices, so if you can score a wrecked RV back there and then use components from it for your build it can save you lots of coin!

I believe there is a Copart auction yard in Hartford, Ct.

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thanks again all for your advise, scrapped the travel trailer for parts idea. Question: any recommendations for a converter/ charger?

[bansil]

Originally Posted by The Nebuchadnezzar

Thanks again all for your advise, scrapped the travel trailer for parts idea. Question: any recommendations for a converter/ charger?

I have heard lots of good about Iota and their 45 amp model, with 4 stage charger
Like:
http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/...verter-charger

You just need to figure out how much 12v power you really need, this will allow you to plug into 120v and have 45 amps worth of 12v available

I didn't get one, because the solar keeps batteries up while camped, and the big power 12v uses are while underway

Only 12v we run is a power invertor while on the road or keeping fridge running, with a 200 amp alt. with the diesel running down the hiway we have plenty of 12v on hand, we run microwave and fridge and even started the rotisserie so chicken was done by the time we got to camp ground

We rely on 120v 99% of our trips

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thank you Bansil

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Going to look at a couple of RE3000's Monday, I hope they look good, ready to get started. Does anyone have experience with First Student?

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

I'm 54 and possess a lot of the skills that I think i'll need to complete my skoolie, my thought is that I'll build one to last me. I'm thinking that I would like to have a lot of options for power. I would like to include shore power of course, I'll need a converter, a battery charger ( I'm not sure if the charger should be integrated in the converter or inverter or neither), inverter, generator, and I would like to do a couple of solar panels for battery charging. I do not plan to to camp in campgrounds only where shore power is available. Man I love the woods! So the reason that I'm mentioning all of this is that I'm wondering if information is available such as: you need this type of breaker panel(s) where to locate the inverter in the system, these are the types of switches you need and this is how to make the connections. I can follow directions. So far what I've been able to find in a book on RV wiring and online are parts of what I want to do. If this info is available in one neat package I would be so grateful.
Thanks again everyone for your advise.

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Just read HandyBob's Blog
Making off grid RV electrical systems work, really helpful!

[bansil]

also remember that higher voltages use lighter gage wire ie:

20 amps of 120v can use 12ga wire (2400 watts)

to make that power at 12v you need to feed a 3000 watt invertor (85% of capacity is normal for good electronic life)so you roughly 200 amps! (2400w/12v) that is huge $$$ cable

so mount the invertor as close to batteries as possible (separated by a vented compartment for batteries) don't mount electronics were gas can corrode them while batteries are charging

and then you can run smaller wiring 120v from the invertor to control box, etc

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thanks again Bansil

[Docsgsxr]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002MW6PHG

This is the inverter I went with. It has an integrated charger on it. Figured I could hook up a solar panel to it as well for charging on the go.

And I agree with bansil, mount the inverter in a dry place as close to but not in the same place as the batteries. In case of any type of rapid or over charge the gasses given off can be very VERY bad!

Just remember the amperage needed by your appliances. Rooftop and larger size ac's, electric water heaters, and cooktops most likely need larger guage wire (10g). And a 30 amp service breaker in you panel. The rest are good for 15 amp breakers with 12g wiring. And remember, if you run 12V LED lighting in the cabin, use bus bars with inline fuses straight from the battery. LED lighting is amazingly cool and very energy efficient!

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Thank you Docsgsxr

[The Nebuchadnezzar]

Looked at 4 buses yesterday, I liked one, it has more miles than than the others 150000, but is much better in terms of rust and dents, and I was able to speak with the guy who maintained it and said the driver was very upset when they were forced to retire it, runs very well, new brakes, new tranny last year. Anyway waiting to hear back from the main office and I'll make an offer.

Heard back, this bus is going to be available but not till the end of the month