I love the concept so far, and I am excited to see the completion of the build. I am currently saving to build myself a Skoolie as well. Luckily y'all might save me some headaches along the way by watching! Thanks for documenting the journey!
I sure hope we can help! Eventually we're going to start working on tracking our expenses on the build and go over them in a video. Good luck on your build!
When drilling through lumber like that you need to always use wood spade bits or drill a smaller hole first then a bigger hole that way the bit won't get has hot going through... I learned the hard way.... Y'all are doing a fine job... Be blessed... BBE..
12V wiring and fixtures would be the best choice for solar and 12V batteries (14 gauge). The washer, dryer and appliance plugs have to be 12 gauge wire and 20 amp breaker. Little Will did not want to get his jeans dirty. Great plan to make progress on the Bus.
+Norris Coleman I thought about doing a mix, but just decided to run everything on 110 cause it was simpler in my mind, and while I save up for batteries and a big inverter I can just plug my panel direct into a 30 amp plug
I know you're probably way past this but you were talking about 3 switches together near the door, turn it sideways so it will need less wall space. Check out on demand water heaters.
I'd go with the tankless water heater. Propane lines to the water heater and furnace. Stove should probably be propane as well. I would be leery of the batteries above the driver's area but you're there and can look at the support/strength of the area.
I enjoy watching your progress, great to see so much happening. In your next vid, can you talk about why you went with AC 110v lighting instead of the more traditional RV/automotive DC 12v lighting? I don't know much about school buses, maybe they don't have 12v like a car or light truck?
+Gordon McLellan sure! I'll make a note of that, buses do run on 12v but I would prefer to run my off grid power from separate batteries. I guess just to keep things simple I wanted everything inside to run from 110.
Can I just say a little bit, I don't think 12v will work on that distance and demand on power you need 110, so I feel your ok with what you have, however I do think batteries over head is not one of your better ideas, I think you should consider under the bus keep your centre of gravity low. I am no expert just my thoughts your a cleaved family you'll figure it out, love you guys good job
+mark bennett thanks, I'm pretty set on the 110v and it's already done soooo..... about the batteries, I'll be building 18650 battery packs or buying them depending on cost. They will be WAAAAY more efficient than lead acid, and low maintenance!
have you got insurance on that bus yet. Doesn’t seem like it would be cheap to insure something that big. And your wife has got a really cute smile. And just started watching your channel today and subscribed
+Dave Jackson I've gotten quotes for $60 a month with good sam. Just waiting on the conversion to be finished so they'll approve it... good to have you on board! And I agree... and your comment will definitely make her smile more! Ha!
Thanks for thanks giving Family Pic. Ya klean up real good . Having watched before the hurricane. And the turned notice. I was wondering if you ever took off the sheeting below the windows and added insulation. Just wondering the reasoning behind that. Having followed many builds most did it .was it economics? You may dec. Goal yet. liked narration on the problem and solution s .to the most interesting things are the individual solutions different people come up with. Do guys have patreon or is it the future. I have to go back and watch announcement video again .
+Page Greer Thank you and I hope you had a happy thanksgiving! We kept the insulation under the sheathing and then we're adding insulation in the wall that we build out in front of the metal (that'll be 3 or 4 videos from now) reasoning would mostly be timing. A whole lot of work for a little extra return IMO. We're hoping for DECEMBER! Also, patreon is not a thing yet for us. I'm not sayin it'll never happen, but we just haven't gotten one yet...
Do think the space you aloted for the wire run is wide enough .and what the 110 reasoning not a combination of it and 12 or 24. Volt.. Can't for other little one on the to be running around the bus. That will be excellent.
+Page Greer yes, all the wire should have enough space. And I have a couple reasons for 110. 1 it's less complicated in my mind and 2 I can just plug my panel into a 30 amp plug while I wait for money to buy all the fancy shmancy batteries and computers and charge controllers and all that stuff. January 15 is little one's due date! so excited!!!
They make a instant 110 hot water heater if NO generator then the instant propane will work just have a on off safety switch and carbon monoxide detector.
Putting the Batteries over your head in that front panel is not a good idea. It was never designed in any Bus to take that kind of weight. Not just that, but if they ever leak, they will leak Sulphuric Acid down on you or your children. Batteries should be in a separate compartment under the living space, or if needed, in there own box in the bus. As for hot water, think of on demand hot water, with Propane water heater. Can also be used in tandem with small radiators for heat.
+Hugh Roney you're right, I should've said in the video I was thinking lithium ion batteries, like a Tesla powerwall. That way I could potentially store 3 days of power minimum. Still completely in the imagination process still though! I'll look at some propane heaters and see what I think. I'd like to avoid running propane lines in the bus but I guess if I could just run a hose that'd be easy enough.
IDEA : Why don't you take the measurements of all the things you've done and make up a set of plans for people to convert schoolies....might bring some money in for you.
AC or DC makes no difference. Vibration will break the core, at best causing a broken circuit that will be difficult to find, at worst power will arc across the gap causing a fire.
ok for his build it is fine if he went the other route he would have to buy spools of wire (not as cheap) then run it in conduit also get ferrals and a crimper it is not cheap for the crimpers trust me i have them and yes i know about it all man used to wire machines
