Hello from a neighbor to your east (R.I.). I am wondering about your solar power, looks like the harbor freight kit. I am starting the design part of converting my van and I cant find much about how much solar power I would need to be comfortable. I dont plan on using it to run a refrigerator or electric heater but just a tv, dvd player and maby a few lcd lights and a laptop. I have been guestimating a 200 watt system would work but would love some input from someone in the know.
@z1kstunna hello! Will you be using an AC or DC tv? If i remember correctly converting an AC tv to DC uses a significant amount of energy, For my Setup I have a 1200 watt interverter, 45 watt solar panels (which gives me about 3-4 amps per hour), and two energizer golf cart batteries. I have a 19 inch that has a rating of 40 watts, a PS2 Slim 45 watts. The Harbor Freight Solar Panel kit has a charge regular which offers USB/12v Ports.
If I were to do it again I would invest on better solar panels and pure sine wave interverter, maybe more batteries. They always say to plan for the future. The pure sine wave interverter will play nicer with your electronics. Since I live in the northeast and it's winter time there's only about 2 hours of peak solar shine, which with these panels only gives me about 6-8 amps to recharge the batteries.
Hello fellow Vandweller! Nice Van! I just got a '94 Chevy G30 Roadtrek, it has the same roof as yours. Could you do a video on how you built the metal holding brackets and where you bought/fabricated them? It would make for a great how-to video. You could even explain how the house batteries let you run what you need it too (tv, game system, etc.) Vandwelling is obviously getting more and more popular by the day. There are a ton of video but none that have solar panels like you! Please tell us!
@jp3eku I should've made the DIY video when I first started building them. It has been two years since I made these, I barely remember how I did it lol. I know I used off the shelf angle aluminum brackets from Home Depot that were cut to make an enclosure around the panels. I used the same style brackets, C-Clamps, and bolts to mount them to the rain gutters. It's actually a miracle it worked. Anyway It's getting warmer so I might take them apart and make a video let you suggested. Good Luck!
love what you did with the space , I have ponderd this idea aswell but I have my wife with me otherwise I might have taken the plundge , how does the solar fair with the weather?
Im going to be living in Phoenix, AZ so I don't think the cold wont be too much a problem, Im more worry about the sumer time. I plan to put a window ac powered by a gas gen. I bought a 89 chevy sportvan no high top tho :( but got a good deal on it just waiting on my futon bed and vent to come in before i move in. You got a nice full size van there sometime i wounder if i should got a mini van instead to save on gas but i do like all the extra room.
@peacefulenfilade I originally wanted to use a propane heater but that wasn't warming up anything, just giving off a strong smell. I decided to just use two comforters and a sleeping bag which works fine for me. It is cold in the inside of the van but as long as you stay under the blankets you're ok.I plan on buying a larger propane heater for this upcoming winter.
@krazilogicz that space heater you got should work fine. the strong smell is the brake in oil run it outside for a hr or so and the smell should go away. i use a 3000 btu of the same style and it heats my camper just fine if im not using electric heat. just rember there not vented crack a window.
I've been looking at a v6 cargo van with no windows, thought about a step van for a long time but I don't want the terrible gas mileage. I will be traveling alone. You should join up over there in yahoo. Where are you vandwelling at?
Hey man thanks for sharing I'm going to have a van in a few more months and be a full time vandweller myself. Are you part of the yahoo vandwellers group? If not I highly recomend it I've been on it over a year now and they are like family and very informative and nice.
@peacefulenfilade thanks for the view. I have heard of the vandwellers group on yahoo but haven't joined yet. I'll join and find you there. what kind of van have you been looking for? is this going to be just for you, or are you going to include a spouse?....
Hello from a neighbor to your east (R.I.). I am wondering about your solar power, looks like the harbor freight kit. I am starting the design part of converting my van and I cant find much about how much solar power I would need to be comfortable. I dont plan on using it to run a refrigerator or electric heater but just a tv, dvd player and maby a few lcd lights and a laptop. I have been guestimating a 200 watt system would work but would love some input from someone in the know.
z1kstunna 1 week ago
@z1kstunna hello! Will you be using an AC or DC tv? If i remember correctly converting an AC tv to DC uses a significant amount of energy, For my Setup I have a 1200 watt interverter, 45 watt solar panels (which gives me about 3-4 amps per hour), and two energizer golf cart batteries. I have a 19 inch that has a rating of 40 watts, a PS2 Slim 45 watts. The Harbor Freight Solar Panel kit has a charge regular which offers USB/12v Ports.
krazilogicz 1 week ago
@z1kstunna
If I were to do it again I would invest on better solar panels and pure sine wave interverter, maybe more batteries. They always say to plan for the future. The pure sine wave interverter will play nicer with your electronics. Since I live in the northeast and it's winter time there's only about 2 hours of peak solar shine, which with these panels only gives me about 6-8 amps to recharge the batteries.
krazilogicz 1 week ago
Hello fellow Vandweller! Nice Van! I just got a '94 Chevy G30 Roadtrek, it has the same roof as yours. Could you do a video on how you built the metal holding brackets and where you bought/fabricated them? It would make for a great how-to video. You could even explain how the house batteries let you run what you need it too (tv, game system, etc.) Vandwelling is obviously getting more and more popular by the day. There are a ton of video but none that have solar panels like you! Please tell us!
jp3eku 3 weeks ago
@jp3eku I should've made the DIY video when I first started building them. It has been two years since I made these, I barely remember how I did it lol. I know I used off the shelf angle aluminum brackets from Home Depot that were cut to make an enclosure around the panels. I used the same style brackets, C-Clamps, and bolts to mount them to the rain gutters. It's actually a miracle it worked. Anyway It's getting warmer so I might take them apart and make a video let you suggested. Good Luck!
krazilogicz 1 week ago
love what you did with the space , I have ponderd this idea aswell but I have my wife with me otherwise I might have taken the plundge , how does the solar fair with the weather?
MNC122703 1 month ago
@MNC122703 solar works with clouds just not as good. i use a truck camper myself with solar wind so if theirs no sun theirs normally the other.
ssj4goko4 1 month ago
Got my van! No more high rent !!
MrImisolate 4 months ago
@MrImisolate congrats. keep warm during the winters if you live up north.
krazilogicz 4 months ago
@krazilogicz
Im going to be living in Phoenix, AZ so I don't think the cold wont be too much a problem, Im more worry about the sumer time. I plan to put a window ac powered by a gas gen. I bought a 89 chevy sportvan no high top tho :( but got a good deal on it just waiting on my futon bed and vent to come in before i move in. You got a nice full size van there sometime i wounder if i should got a mini van instead to save on gas but i do like all the extra room.
MrImisolate 4 months ago
@krazilogicz If you had to do it again would you go for a full size or a mini van?
MrImisolate 4 months ago
I only wish there was a van the size of yours but one that gets good gas mileage like 28 to 32 mpg. Need a Prius/ Camper Van combo
Andreas748 6 months ago
@Andreas748 I hear Astro and sprinter Vans get around that mpg, 25 hwy.
krazilogicz 6 months ago
@Andreas748 i use a 250cc scooter to get around and they attach just fine to most bike racks.
ssj4goko4 1 month ago
@peacefulenfilade I originally wanted to use a propane heater but that wasn't warming up anything, just giving off a strong smell. I decided to just use two comforters and a sleeping bag which works fine for me. It is cold in the inside of the van but as long as you stay under the blankets you're ok.I plan on buying a larger propane heater for this upcoming winter.
krazilogicz 6 months ago
@krazilogicz that space heater you got should work fine. the strong smell is the brake in oil run it outside for a hr or so and the smell should go away. i use a 3000 btu of the same style and it heats my camper just fine if im not using electric heat. just rember there not vented crack a window.
ssj4goko4 1 month ago
I'm in southern pennsylvania, how do you deal with the winters there?
peacefulenfilade 6 months ago
I've been looking at a v6 cargo van with no windows, thought about a step van for a long time but I don't want the terrible gas mileage. I will be traveling alone. You should join up over there in yahoo. Where are you vandwelling at?
peacefulenfilade 6 months ago
@peacefulenfilade somewhere in Connecticut, how about you?
krazilogicz 6 months ago
Hey man thanks for sharing I'm going to have a van in a few more months and be a full time vandweller myself. Are you part of the yahoo vandwellers group? If not I highly recomend it I've been on it over a year now and they are like family and very informative and nice.
peacefulenfilade 7 months ago 2
@peacefulenfilade thanks for the view. I have heard of the vandwellers group on yahoo but haven't joined yet. I'll join and find you there. what kind of van have you been looking for? is this going to be just for you, or are you going to include a spouse?....
krazilogicz 6 months ago
do you travel...... or stay in one area?
Andreas748 8 months ago
@Andreas748 I stay in the area. My original intention was to travel though.
krazilogicz 8 months ago
@dsmashh I haven't really measured it but I ran a ps2 and the TV for two days straight trying to be a game.
krazilogicz 8 months ago