In my latest video I explain in more detail how to wire your van and give you a free wiring diagram and free parts list too. Here is the link to that video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rVkDPzrA-zw.html
Greg you need to check your affiliate links as I was just watching your wiring video and clicked the touch light link but doesn't go to a light also was the same with the fan's. You don't want to be loosing money 😉
I've probably watched almost every channel on RU-vid that is in the "van build" genre and yours are by far the most informative. It's great to watch someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Thank you so much for the time you have put into this series.
In the early stages of my build. No matter what I watch, all over the world, people recommend you! You explain everything so well!! Thank you for your time and content. Much appreciated by the whole world over!! ☺️✨️
I know absolutely nothing about vehicles but I am a carpenter by trade. Just trying to learn how to work electrics to our little camper. Thanks for uploading this.
Blimey! I've just taken delivery of my 12v DC cable (the type recommended) and, its so heavy duty, I think I'll be skipping the conduit. Thank you for all your tips and guidance Greg. Invaluable for any DIY conversion.
My partner and I are just about to begin our first campervan project. Nothing outrageous, just a Kia Pregio 2004 Model. Your channel has been so helpful and is genuinely the most informative channel I've found throughout months and months of research before we begin. Thank you for documenting your journey as well as you have, it has answered so many questions that we didn't even know we needed to ask. Legend!
Fantastic... I am an upfitter in Canada and I rather enjoy and learn something from your videos! Especially from the insulation side of things... I really want to build my own van now
Thanks, really helpful. Couldn't help thinking as you were demoing the lights, was like watching my wife displaying the results of her latest shopping trip.... Looks like this is all working well. Had to smile when you commented about running extra wires in future. Came true with that inverter failure....
Hey Greg, Just want to say that you are an absolute Legend, we watched all your videos and you are one of the reasons why we have the courage to take on our own van conversion project. I keep coming back to your videos for reference and ideas when I'm in doubt in each step of the conversion. Just wanted to say Thanks again, your videos are invaluable! Hope we bump into you one day on our road trip and I can repay you with a few pints !!
Hi GregI found your videos on RU-vid today and I have got as far as this one. It’s brilliant!! I really like the clear and careful way that you explain what you are both planning to do and then exectuting it. You clearly have an eye for detail and quality products. Great job Steve
I never knew it could be so much fun to learn about lighting. You are a good teacher. Those LEDs could make your RV the next party base with flashing lights to music! I've always discounted cell phone apps but this one is very cool. Thanks, Greg!
Lass-in Angeles I wouldn’t make them my main lights as it’s not as convenient to open the app each time but for evening ambience and for party bus 🚌 they are great 👍🏼
Hi Greg, thank you so much for your videos on building a van, I am just at the beginning off my first build,and you explain every detail so clear and very positively, I am very excited to build my van with you, I am very grateful.
You are ridiculous in the best most positive way possible. I did my brewery the same way on RU-vid. Tested each component in detail. I needed to know how each component worked because my teachers take other people’s knowledge for granted in other videos. Thank for the details
I really like to know how things work and that bench power supply unit I got reduced from Maplin when they closed has been used so many times in testing the van. I see you have a brewing channel :D we have done some home brews with great success.
Greg - I have really enjoyed your build series so far. I came to youtube hoping someone would walk slowly through their electrical build and I have found exactly what I was looking for in this series. Best of luck to you.
I am a total neophyte, but considering a conversion in the next 5 years. Right now I have a mini-van and am retiring in 8 months, so planing to do some cross country touring with the minivan as a mobile base. If that goes well and the wife is on board, we will execute a conversion - probably on a Sprinter van. My interest in the electrical is to dig into the hardest part of a project like this to see if I can figure out how to do it myself. Thanks again for your channel. You are very good at RU-vid. Congratulations.
Hi Daniel, my partner took some convincing. If it didn’t have the wet room the deal was off 😂 I’m planning to cover the solar panel install as well as the charge controller and inverter install. Once everything is in place an operational video. I’d like to make it as complete a package as possible. Look forward to having you follow me on this journey and please feel free to ask any questions.
Greg, your videos are very detailed, and well structured. It is obvious how much effort you put into making them. You are an amazing source of help, and inspiration. Thank you!
Greg! your videos are all excellent, mate. I start my own build in about 6 weeks and you just throwing so much new ideas around that i am just sitting here baffled. Thanks for all the info! And i am looking forward to your new vids.
Hi Greg i have enjoyed watching your videos ,and am now learning to use sketch up,thanks to one of your videos.The dog one was sad though hope everyone feeling a bit better.it's great to be on this adventure with you .thanks Chris
Hi Greg I have been planning my campervan which I call my camper-studio(art) and am at the wiring stage. I have been running cable too and back from each light to the next light, but I note you said you run a long cable and splice each cable per light into it. It would be useful if you could show how you do that please., as it saves on doubling back cable from light to light. Your series and explanation has been a blessing and so clear and understandable Many thanks, Bruce
Greg I have to say I have seen a few van build videos and this series has got to be the most comprehensive i've ever seen, very professionally presented with excellent detail for the nerd in me, I am looking to do the same thing further down the road after having owned a big old van a few years ago, keep up the fantastic work, thanks!
Greg, it's such a pleasure watching, listening & learning from your vids, & you're such a nice bloke too, I wish I lived next door. I'd be a priviledge to be there. So inspiring, thanku, Alan Norwich.
Thanks Greg for your light & wiring details again great details I love the touch on/off spotlights,, regarding the ablue I've finally found info from Mercedes, they started introducing adblue in Sept 2013, now I can plan my build now.
Sorry to comment so late on this one. Your attention to detail is sensational. Love this series. If your videos don't become the 'go to benchmark standard' of youtube van-torials I'll be very surprised. Looking forward to building mine.
Got half way through my wiring and it just wasn't going well. So I checked out your video again, ripped it all out and started again using your layout ideas. A wasted day, but much happier:)
Hi, it has taken me much longer to wire my own van. There is so much to think about and plan where everything is going to go. Have you got links to your build I can look at?
Yes planning and more planning. Today I moved the temporary mains panel to where the alarm circuitry was sited. So this has created more work. I'm photographing as I go, so I will try get something posted when it's complete.
Sadly our last van was stolen, and since I don't trust any alarm system supplied by Halfords, Ebay etc, I've designed my own. I have a prototype working. You must enable the ignition with a simple dash mounted push button. However it requires a morse code type sequence of pushes. Get it wrong and the alarm goes off. You get just one life! This will be suplimented with an intruder alarm. I'm designing a PCB for this, but it's early days, since my day job is making demands. Further down the line I will try to get some more info to you. Lastly I had to have a Tracker fitted to get re-insured, but at least this gives me a little bit of piece of mind.
I’m planning a hidden cut off switch. Had one on my kit car. Simple yet very effective. Do you think the Tracker is worth the money? Obv essential for you but heard they are easy to cut out and get rid of? Cheers
Just stumbled onto your older van build videos here on RU-vid. Fantastic stuff! You cover far more detail than others do on the many facets of a rebuild. Thanks so much, Greg!
very much enjoyed watching the level of your cup of tea on your work bench decrease as the video progressed! Looked slightly weak, thought you'd be having a strong brew like!
Hi Jamie, maybe it's the lighting? I do like a strong brew but with a little extra milk to make it drinkable. Most of the time it's cold and covered in sawdust by the time I drink it. Thanks for watching
A very well planned installation -clearly a lot of thought and effort. On the LED kitchen light controller - it is amazing what can be achieved with modern tech and smartphone apps but I really do think for this application you may soon be wishing for an on off switch before too long.
Norman, I can switch all the spots, reading lights and kitchen light on and off. The WiFi colour LED are only for ambient effect not as a main source of everyday light. Party time and mood lighting.
Hi, thank you for this explication. I also see some guys put the "TITANEX" cable for the french factory NEXANS. It's for me the best cable in a campervan project.
camerachica73 you don’t need phone or network internet coverage to use the WiFi device. The phone just connects to the remote by WiFi directly. No WiFi network needed.
Tanks a lot m.r virgoe about sharing your experience and teaching amazing made a vans. I live in Iran however my country have not motorhome.I try made a Van or Motorhome myself.
I totally have to hide this video from my partner -- I love colourful LED lights, and if he sees this he'll be pretty happy that we designed and built the lighting on our boat before LED lights became cheap and plentiful. Halogen is boring! I want that programmable LED strip light in the fo'c'sle! My tea would be getting cold too if I had this to play with. ;)
Just discovered your channel Greg. Thank you for being so informative and detailed. I am currently building out a 2016 Sprinter and watching your series has been incredibly helpful!!
Greg, great detail in your videos... Keep it up! I'm sure you'll get to it at some point but just in case, I'd like to put in a request to mention the approximate budget for the entire build. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos!
There will be a full breakdown of the costs in due course, I'm keeping detailed accounts of the bills on a spreadsheet with links to all the places where they were sourced. In broad terms, Van £6.6k, Build £8k that excludes my time of course. :D
I'm sorry, just couldn't stop looking at that cup of tea getting cold:) but seriously an excellent video. Looking forward to your next installment, the insulation. It's my next job on my Transit conversion and I've been scratching my head on what's the best method.
Hi, my tea is either cold or got a film of sawdust on it, you get use to it after a while lol The insulation video will spill the truth about what is best in great detail. Thanks for watching
Well done again Greg. Already looking forward to your next video. Really interested to see how you tackle the van insulation. Seems to be a lot of different approaches to this subject, but not a lot of science applied. Keep up the the great work buddy.
I'm sure you'll enjoy the next ones Russell, it's something I studied in university and use regularly in my job as a mechanical services design engineer. I shall be explain what works, what doesn't and why. Thanks for watching.
Greg this is just the channel I've been looking for. Just starting a 2014 sprinter conversion. The devil is in the details as they say. Keep up the good work mate! 👌👍
Greg, if I may, what are your electrical boxes affixed to? How did u maintain vapor barrier when installing electrical boxes? Are the boxes installed before the vapor barrier was installed? Are they anchored to the steel frame? Are they a shallow box ? I have been mulling this over for a few hours and figured I would just ask. I try and answer questions by rewatching vid and looking at other comments first as I am sure you get tons of questions already. Thank you for your valuable time, Ron
Hello Ron, they are shallow plastic dry lining boxes. They are cut into the celotex. I cut out a shallow recess in the insulation then fully line it with foil tape before inserting the dry lining box. They are installed below the ply lining and once faceplates go on from outside and long screws fitted that it enough to secure them. Watch my ply lining video for more details. Cheers
Greg, I have really enjoyed the pragmatics and wisdom of your very informative videos. Keep up the fantastic work and thanks for the quality tutorials I have learned a lot.
Absolutely Greg, they are extremely well presented and love the detail. You are a natural teacher. I am certainly looking forward to the (re) birth of the van.
Another great video Greg. The links are very useful as well. I have all these jobs to do and hopefully will be able to get a chance to do them soon when time permits.
Hello David, pleased you are enjoying the videos. Time is a huge problem. I’m commuting to London every day for my full time job and working on the RU-vid channel evenings and weekends. Now the nights are dark it’s very difficult to fit everything in. Enjoying the whole process and it’s great when you get such good feedback. So thanks a lot.
Hello David, pleased you are enjoying the videos. Time is a huge problem. I’m commuting to London every day for my full time job and working on the RU-vid channel evenings and weekends. Now the nights are dark it’s very difficult to fit everything in. Enjoying the whole process and it’s great when you get such good feedback. So thanks a lot.
Hi Greg. Yet another excellent video with a proper beginning, a middle and an end, AND perfectly explained to boot! You are a true credit to RU-vid as a creator, and as a very capable DIY person - (having watched ALL your videos). Right, that's enough brown noseing - but actually I DID mean it. Given that my wife and I have committed to the concept of a self build motorhome, we are STILL in the 'looking for a decent van' stage. (been looking for at least 3 months. Jesus, there's some cr*p on ebay!) I've spent quite some time looking at what vans are even possible/worth considering, and due to OUR spec, we have narrowed it to, (like yours), a Sprinter; or more likely, the exact same vehicle from VW, a long wheelbase Crafter. For some reason they seem to be just a shade less expensive for the same yr/spec etc. Hmmm. Perhaps somebody knows something I don't eh? I'd be really interested to know what your budget/costings are/were. Do you plan to do a video on that? Regards Mark in the UK
Hello Mark, it took us quite a few months of searching to find our van. When the good ones pop up you have to be very quick. We did look at crafters too. Same body, slightly bigger engine. As for budget we will do a video on that once all the numbers are in. My partner has been keeping a detailed log of every expense. We did a high level spreadsheet at the start of all the main components I’ll send you a copy by pm. What is surprising is how much all the small items add to that. I think all in with the cost of the van it’s going to be £15k The van was £7k of that.
@thecorbies - Hi Mark. You are at the same stage as us then. My wife and I have watched loads of videos and are looking for probably a crafter or sprinter. Do you know of any CAD models of them so I can do a virtual build before a real one? Thanks all.
Hello Nomadd UK, you have come to the perfect place. In my SketchUp tutorial I walk you through how to draw your own van from scratch in simple steps. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-b47sF7l1yDM.html
Used VW Crafter price discrepancy against Merc Sprinter may be down to VW emissions testing scandal? The fix led to some issues EGR valve issues apparently.
I'm getting ready to do a conversation in the near future, subscribed to your channel as i'm really impressed as to the detail and the way you cut no corners, your channel will definitely be my go to for information and advice when I start.......
Hi Greg, Another well thought out project. All that techie stuff with the phone is too much for me, give me a switch anytime but i do like the idea of being able to touch individual lights to turn on or off. Many thanks
Hi keith, thanks for your feedback. The coloured lights won't be everyday lights but just for ambient effect or iVan party nights. Really pleased with the spot lights too. Thanks for watching.
Your videos are brilliant Greg, thank you. just one silly query. You show your bundles of wire supspended from the van ceiling using what looks like cable ties with self adhesive pads. What are these called please?
Most of the black cable tie clips that you see there are the manufacturers clips for the lighting looms. I cables tied to this loom. You can simply search for “self adhesive cable tie bases” and you will get lots of options im sure 👍🏼😃
Hey,very informative and professionally done,and none of that frustrating noise that the T4/5 lot call music! Some how I missed the link to the lighting products ,doh🙄can you post that sometime? Great work . Thanks for the prompt reply 👍,I’ve only just discovered the description part after all these years 🤔,you learn something new every day,happy motor homes get .
I've really enjoy your videos, absolutely amazing. I'm going to start my van build this year coming up and I'm following your instructions to the letter. I've noticed that some of the links on the bottom of this video don't work. I would appreciate it if you could update them. Because I absolutely love the lights that you've have chosen and I would like to order them. Thank you keep up your amazing work... God bless
Thanks again for sharing this professional build, it's always a pleasure to watch good work what ever it is. You'll probably find that you wont need the little rubber flap over the USB sockets, but I guess it depend on how dirty you and your assistant are planning to be in the van :)
Hi Karl, I thought about removing the waterproof cover but there is a bright blue LED which is on all the time there is power to them, that would light up the whole van at night so the cover will come in handy to block them out.
Ah yes of course, that pearcing blue light, I hate even seeing my toothbrush charging at night with the same blue LED. You can draw black on them with a Sharpie to take the intensity off. Also can you switch the LED string lights on without the app, do they have a default on/off?
Greg Virgoe not gonna lie buddy seen them twice over! For you to take your time out to give us all that information for free shows what a top bloke you are! Thank you
Thank you so much for these videos... they have helped me significantly in figuring out what supplies I'll need and why. I was wondering if that string of lights can be cut to smaller segments to use perhaps on entry ways front and back or if thats even a good idea ... thanks again Greg
You can create as many circuits as you like to switch individual areas, it just more wires to run. That's why I went for the touch lights as you can wire them all together and just touch the ones you want on, best of both worlds. Have you seen my later wiring lights video? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-koFg6oFs0RU.html
HI Greg. Great videos on van conversion they are the best out there. Can you tell me what thickness of plywood you put down on the floor. Many Thanks. Oisin
Thank you, I used 12mm marine plywood as it has better glue and less likely to delaminate. Anything thinner would be too flexible for flooring. Most flooring grade timber is 18mm thick but then that adds a lot of extra weight to the van.
Another great learning video Greg, love those LED lights with phone app. Your going to have an awesome van once finished...you’ll have to do a tour!!… 👍🏼😊😉
Hello, first let me say how much I appreciate all your videos! Thank you for taking the time to do them! I wonder if you have a video that shows how to attach the puck lights to the main wire in the van? The puck light comes with 22 gage wire but we are using 12 gage wire for our electrical system. We are struggling to understand how to attach the different size wires to each other.
Hi Greg. Thanks for your videos and information, helping me massively on my first sprinter build! Could you tell me which wire on your spot lights you connected to the positive/negative please? One has black stripe the other writing. I’ve seen conflicting information now and can’t work out on your video which way round you connect them! Thanks again!
I think I remember one had a black line down it so I wired that to negative. You can touch one onto your battery to try it. It will only work one way as they are diodes.
Great Video, again. Having a hard time find the round led lights or similar. Did check with a couple of sellers in the UK, but none ship to the US. Thanks again for your vids!
On the plate of your jigsaw, you can also use the "loop" side of a hook and loop (Velcro) tape. It not only protects your surface but also traps the metal shavings. I wish I had my shit together like you! Great vids buddy.
Awesome! Been looking around for properly effective means of insulating the Dodge Roadmaster I plan to purchase, and I'm totally sold on your approach. Love the lighting, controls and wiring. I trust wiring diagrams are available? Preston NJ USA
Hey Greg, I've checked out a few of your vids to do with your camper and you've been a massive help so far - great to see how to really do each step of a conversion, most of the blogs and vlogs I've watched about conversions kind of skim over the details. The electrics is the main thing that's blowing my mind at the mo, but luckily I've got some family who are electricians so as soon as I choose a van I'm going down to them and getting them to help!! XD Still looking for a decent van atm. We're only working to about a £3k budget (for the van) so we can't quite get a Sprinter like yours, as much as I'd love to, but I have found a local VW Crafter for sale in budget - '07 plate with about 170k on the clock (not ideal, but it'll have to do for my budget!) and we're planning on doing the inside for £500, so it's not going to be anywhere near as spectacular as yours is setting out to be, but it's (hopefully) going to be pretty cool none the less!! Keep up the great vids :)
