Cerberus- The build thread

[JenniferWillow]

Well I have to remember today as the day we “finished” the bus (no it will never really be done). The reason I’m saying it done today is that May 30, 2025 was the day we finished the sign with the name “Elsewhere” and mounted it above the cab.

 

[nikitis]

Congrats!

We get a lot of starter projects here and few finishers. Happy Travels!

Go out and enjoy it now.

 

[JenniferWillow]

Thanks nikitis!

 

[nikitis]

I look forward to some Youtube videos! Do you have a channel? If no, starting one?

 

[JenniferWillow]

I look forward to some Youtube videos! Do you have a channel? If no, starting one?

We plan on doing a walk through video this weekend at Leo Carrillo beach. I’m let you know when I post it. I’ve avoided trying to do a channel on YouTube because I cuss so damn much when something goes wrong.

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

Looks great. Are the batteries in the slide out tray? if so do you have heat for winter time for the batteries? 800 watts will be a bit short for a mini split if it needs to run all the time.

 

[JenniferWillow]

Hi Ronnie-SKO,
I have 800 amp/hr of battery (four 200 amp/hr). The batteries are actually installed inside the bus in a custom box under the couch. The couch is connected to the walls of the bus with special fixtures that allow us to unhook it and pull it out with no tools. Our biggest problem is we only have space for two 400 watt solar panels on the roof. Two panels isn't enough to run the mini split for more than a day, they just can't keep up. When boon docking I'll need to run the generator in the afternoon to keep the batteries charged.
I'm planning on adding 2 external solar panels (eco flow portable 400 watt) by the time we're full time in the bus. I might need to add an additional propane tank (10 gallons) if we use our Newport heater a lot but so far we hardly need to turn it on (I'm in Southern California, not exactly a cold climate).

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

I just added a generator, as we have the same issue of not enough room for a lot of solar. I have seen people using additional panels, and thought of it myself. Where we use the bus most I have shore power available, but longer trips is what I am preparing for.