Flexible Solar Panels Full Installation - ECOFLOW GLACIER Portable Fridge - Van Life RV Living  

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When using silicon, use a mix of fairy liquid and water in a plastic cup or something similar, and dip your finger in that, makes a good finish and stops everything getting messy. Just a tip for anyone out there 👍

So aesthetically pleasing to watch!

Great to see the van is up and ready to go can't wait for you and blues new adventures..

Well done, Al. That took some patience. You're like that multi role combat aircraft we do at work. Tornado. Multi role! Cheers, Ozzy.

The workmanship, time, effort and attention detail on that van is absolutely first class. You should be really proud of yourself mate. True professional in every sense. Can’t wait to see where your adventures take you. Keep the great content coming mate 😉

Excellent video again, love the fridge/freezer 👍 my heart skipped a beat when you were testing the wires once the panels were installed 🤣

As a designer, I appreciate innovation and that van is absolutely 💯. I have been living vicariously through your adventure Al and simply love Blue. I did not know that the UK and Scotland had such beautiful spaces. Here in amazing South Africa, I wish we could do these things but the country is too dangerous for women...its not the wildlife...its the people.

Really good to see someone take such pride in their work. Nice one!

The best advice ever. "use your body while it still works well! the same advice I received from my father when he was in his 90s". And yeah, thank you for the informative video :)

great instructional video, thank you for sharing. I attached my 315W semi flexible solar panel to my Kia Carnival with Twin-wall polycarbonate strips using VHB (Very High Bond) Tape (as in the Vented Gap Kit) and I also used Gorilla Tape in between each cell around the sides from the top of the panel to the car surface, as my roof has ribs, it's not a flat surface. I never had any problems through marine force winds and hale storms, and road trains passing me on the highway etc. in Western Australia, it was when a skip bin truck operator emptied his rubbish on my car and the glass that was inside the rubbish bag dented the roof in a few places, I was so thankful I followed the manufacturers recommendations as the solar panel had to be removed to allow the crash repairer to repaint the whole roof of the car. Thankfully the VHB and gorilla tapes were so easy to uninstall, now I can reuse my solar panel on my 2nd home on wheels I'm building out in the New Year. The solar panel company advised MS Polymer (i.e. Fix15) and Sikaflex (Polyurethane adhesive) are unsuitable as it is unlikely both the panel and surface will expand and contract at the same rate, therefore an adhesive with some ‘give’ will be required to absorb the difference. The recommended adhesive products are: VHB (Very High Bond) double sided tape, Silicone based adhesives (i.e. SG20, Fix8) or Bi-adhesive backing. An excellent job on installation though, you're very talented, hopefully you'll never need to remove yours.

TWO Thumbs UP, Allen. Yes, FREE electricity if you don't count your time, effort & cost of all the equipment. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada U.S.A.

I like a smoke ! Same as you like a beer 😉 watch it young un !

hi allen yr camper is absolutely brilliant job y done love yr fridge a need 2 get one alive it so going out tomorrow 2 get one for my next trip it is great job y done 👍👍give blue a hug

hi allen just love yr camper you done a great job give blue a big hug miss him 👍👍

Afternoon Al…..nice neat job that, all the extra care in fitting now, pays off later ….👍👌🇮🇲.

You can't beat a bit of free power 🌞, nice neat job as always. off-grid sorted 👍. Let the adventures begin.

Hi Bushman! I'm choosing solar panel for my Delta mini, thanks a lot for this vid! Firstly Im was warried about fact that you can damage one panel (when putting it into glue moment), but I've seen few videos (about exactly this flexible panel) and can say that ~170 watts is normal results for your conditions! And of cause my heart is down when there is no "beep" on checking moment. Chees from Ukrane 💙💛 and sorry for my English writing. I think is good panel for placing it into balcony of my flat, then I was prepared for new blackouts at winter and at least can charge my phones and notebook!

That is a great fridge and the stealth black on black looks great.

Great idea. I am going to put these panles on my rooftop tent

Great job pal, that fridge is a belter piece of kit 👌👌

You look as though you are thoroughly enjoying yourself 🎉 and doing such an excellent job i would not be surprised if, in a few months, you did not do it all again in a larger van 😂 specially now you have found so many ways to improve your van ❤❤❤❤❤

Excellent job mate 👍

Brilliant video (Silly price for that fridge though...!!! Jeez) but.... no no no no no, 17:53 the way you put the plyers down on that beautiful new solar panel.... my heart sank! Anyway, Ive got another flexible panel going in next week on my girl so your vid really helped with some ideas. thanks

You have perfect roof racks for solid solar panels! You can't use them anyway, if you wish to gain some solar energy from the roof

Hi! Loved your video. I miss Blue.

You need to be careful with the type of silicone because some will dissolve the wire.

Thank you for an absolutely awesome video 🎉🎉😊

Great 👌 Alan fantastic Ur vans mint mate

Good job there Al - as long as the blind man on his horse is riding past at midnight that is 🤣😂😁 rack 'o 't eye and twist 'o 't gob was a common phrase when I was serving my time! (bricklaying that is, not prison!) BTW you can get really handy cable tie mounts with 3M tape on the back. We use them at work and you can get UV resistant ones - just peel off and stick on the roof and then you could cable tie those cables on the roof. They are really low profile and won't be noticeable. Any other type of cable and I may be having words about your bend radius though young man! Cheers, Matt

Love that fridge

You should be quite proud of your work on the van! I don't think you realize the positive messages you send during your videos. I can relax while I watch your harsh weather camping, especially in Snow, while it's currently so hot outside! I plan to send you a couple of beers and a meal for Blue when I figure out how to send money from across the pond! LoL! God Bless! Sam Drake

How are the black panels holding up on the black roof? Should have some temperature damage already after one summer.

Get on my Alpicool fridge is class, but that's another level, bud.

thanks for the great video! we have just purchased our first camper van and we are trying to figure out the best way to power it up. We purchased a. bluetti ac180 1800w power bank along with a 200w portable panel and we are hoping it can power our mini fridge and a fan. i was also looking into the flexible panels but i'm worried bc we get really hot weather here in socal and i'm worried about the longevity of it, i might try to attach a glass panel but use your hook up design. we just want something that's easy to set up and function!

Nice and neat work! Just wondering what silicon was used and where to get that plastic cup (for wires going into van). Thanks!

You are great! Like very much you and your videos even without understanding all the talking, because my english is poor.

Wow, no end to your talents fella. Its a great watch although i will give you a call rather than tackle myself as i would make a small explosion. Great to watch a true craftsman working on the Caddy Mobile. Atb best matey

Totally engrossing Al 🙂

Hi allen dude you got skills the eco flow is excellent in fact looking into one for the boat now the panel that amazon good may I suggest cap cover the center with fiber glass cap or flat hat so all is inside wires and all but this van nice you do good work did blue approve

Ótima idéia 😎👍🏼 Estou pensando em fazer algo parecido, mas tenho um sedan. 😅 Vou pensar em uma forma de instalar um painel solar.

Great video, love the van😂

What grey paste are you using to seal the connector cavity of the solar panel? Thanks, awesome video!

I'm at 14:56 and I'm thinking, test the bloody panels before you start glueing them down and cutting wires. Yes, yes.

I’m not clear why you opened up the panel soldering connections instead of just cutting both cables short and splicing the two resulting short stubby cables together with a marine grade butt connector. It would have saved you the trouble of modifying the panel, soldering and then trying to re-seal it back up again. Interesting video though. Thx :)

any issues with your kayak on the roof bars. that domed connector mount won't rub against the kayak?

I can't take anyone seriously that would use a wood bit to drill a hole in metal

Ayup Al, what days will you be at CamperJam this weekend? Me and the Mrs are going and be amazing to meet you.

How quiet is the fridge at night, and where are you going to put it so it makes room for your bed?

I know this pays the bills, or gets you free stuff, but come on, where’s the dog? You know you’re just his side kick!! 😂😂

Now that the coldest days are hopefully behind us, how did the van hold up over winter. Is there anything you would do differently or would change now?

All I want to see is how people route the wires without pinching them

Where did you get that 12V switch panel from (the one besides the door in the first few minutes). Also where is Blue? This video needs more dog.

Once again, extraordinary Renaissance Man! It wouldn’t surprise any of us if you were an artist, musician, singer etc. Do you practice any of the fine arts? Because your van has become a work of art, know how and wonder.

Where is the fridge going to be stored

its only 100 watts though is that enough to sustain the fridge? I think you would need at least double that, or am i mistaken?

You are cool

Hi Al, I'm loving the videos as always! Currently converting my own Caddy Maxi and looking to attach a flexible solar panel in a similar manner, but I have a concern which I'm wondering if you had pondered on. Some sources suggest that having some airflow beneath your panel greatly enhances the life of a solar panel as opposed to glueing directly to the roof (i.e., a spacing layer such as corrugated plastic). Glueing to the roof as you have looks much slicker and is my preference, but I'm wondering about the longevity of it, especially when attaching with sikaflex! What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!

Thank you master I want to build a ecoflow system in to my VW I'd.3 Also the Glacier fridge. Your video help alot... Now the Scandinavian outdoor adventure to Nordic polar cirkle take shape ❤❤

Vans coming on sweet 👍 Out of interest did you leave a gap under those panels?

Hi al, did you use sikaflex 221 for any reason, ive seen 512 used, not sure the difference, never used the stuff?

👋🏻

🖖

That’s a pricey fridge/freezer. Great features but way out of my budget

A grand for a fridge? ! I can only assume that they did a mega deal for you. Or sponsored you. That’s absolutely ridiculous for a fridge. Plus, their solar panels are way overpriced. Your Northern credibility is slipping a tad.

I sikaflexed corrugated plastic first then sikaflexed flexible panel down. It's been on for a few years and still great 👍 🌸

love that fridge, it costs loads, i guess i would go for a cheaper version! smashing job on the van

Hello. Thanks for this as I’m about to do the same thing. Just one Q: why didn’t you get a single 200w panel rather than 2 x 100w? It would’ve made installing it a lot easier as you could’ve avoided all that curve shenanigan...

Grab an extra foldable 220 watt bi-facial to deploy and you'd be covered.

As a female who knows absolutely nothing about things like this, i ll admit i didnt watch it through but gave u a thumbs up anyway. Looking forward to seeing bluey and youey back on the fells again

Van is looking fantastic bud,well done and enjoy!

My experience of sikaflex.....its a good job you didn't drop any clangers or you'd be stuck to the roof. Excellent video as per. 😊

Not for me. More features, more to breakdown.

I'm thinking of getting similar ones for my van - nice video, subscribed!

Great video ! Do you find you get much heat transfer by sticking them direct to the roof ?

So it has been a year since you did this. As I am wanting to do something similar, how is the panel installation holding up?

Well done! H onest question, I am about to do this myself but... you plan to never ever take them off again? I need to think of a system that is not so permanent.

As usual, ‘ top job’ with the panels, thank goodness those wires you tested worked, once you put the machine on the correct thingy Me jig 🤣🤣🤣 The fridge/freezer is super duper!! 😊

did you do a video on you bed/seat... cant find it if you did

Boom

Look wicked Al😮

Evening, are these films shown out of sequence, as I am certain I saw an internal shot showing the internal paneling of the van removed. Still a great video. You need to get a bespoke tool belt made for Blu. That wire stripping tool, is very similar to a tool I use for making antenna cables (Radio Ham) clamp it around the cable and all the cores are cut to the right length in seconds, even does satellite cables.

Hi, what is this called? 28:40

Another job well done B & B Nice one mate 🙂

Van is coming good Al👍

Yes another tremendous video excellent work. Geared up now to really hit the road. Take Care. Cheers. B. K

I just love your problem solving! Cool idea with the wood wedges! Ill use that on another curvy project!

Short question: i heard that having space between the roof and the solar panel (air gap) should improve performance because of the slight cooling of the panel. Would it be a good idea to have some spacers (like 2mm, plastik) stuck to the solar panel to just lift it of the roof a slight bit, or would that be to much for the glue (as the glue would have to gap the 2mm distance)?

Just curious. If you hadn’t centered the solar panels but had them tight against one side, would there be enough room on the opposite side to have roof rack storage without obstructing the solar panels?

Well Al, what can one say? Your bushmobile is looking good, but more importantly, it does what it says on the tin, and that is being a home from home. Well done there. All you now need is a gee-tar so that other campers can sit and listen to your dulcet Yorkshire tones. You've made quite the dream real, and I'm sure you'll have inspired others to work on their dreams, too. Now, sell your house and away ye go!

Hi mr. Bushman, So you can do without a roof vent in a insulated van, just opening window a little is enough? Planning to do cooking outside van ofc. Cutting a big hole in the roof makes me nervous, but many builds here have it😬

not sure if they are about but a very small fan for wild power on top changing the battery's would be good too when its cloudy , enjoyed your video 😎