How to wire a skoolie 8- Install a 4” light box for each light fixture. Easy, peasey! Yes I recommend you touch no wiring on your toad. We chose a wet bath style for that reason. Coachwork: Amtran. One step closer. We documented the entire build and are slowly building a series of guides on every step of the bus conversion process. 10 gauge wire can safely be used for 30 amps of current flow. net and started looking for some updates from builders that had done it. I’m getting ready to do the wiring in my bus and need some input on best way to lay out the Ac/Dc How to Install Skoolie Solar Panels. The ignition wire is an 'engine-on sense' wire for alternators that use electromagnets instead of permanent magnets for power generation. . This framing I have been thinking about a skoolie for a long time, and as a former librarian have decided to start a mobile bookstore. We spent a crap ton of time figuring out how to do this and that. You will need various gauges of wire depending on the distance of the item being powered to the energy source such as the bus bars or fuse block. In the rest of this article, we’ll go through how to prep for the skoolie subfloor, different ways to do your skoolie subfloor, and the subfloor install. If your total Solar Wattage is 360 or more use thicker, 8 Gauge, wire to connect the Combiner Box to the Charge Controller. r/flipperzero. We documented the entire build and are slowly building a series of guides on every step of the bus conversion process. Many people will pay over $4,000 for a kilowatt of solar panels on their tiny home busses. Follow our detailed, step-by-step instructions on our process and electrical plans. Wire Strippers and Crimpers are used to quickly strip the insulation from wire in order to make a connection. A Traveling Art & Recording Studio. Rough-In Stage Create a skoolie floor plan. My approach has no problem with voltage loss of wire heating. Full overview of everything you need to know to get started in designing your off grid skoolie electrical system for your skoolie conversion. Location: downriver, detroit mi. I would buy a skoolie that already has the outlets and wiring where you want them. I currently have only a 15 amp inlet and no solar. Reroute the Grounds to a new, panel-bonded Grounding busbar. Maybe $5000 for We started by removing one wire at a time from each of the three doors. Typically they need a chassis ground, a +12v that is hot all the time, a +12 that drives the mechanism out, and 2 +12 for the wig-wag lights (if so equipped). Stranded wire costs substantially more than solid wire, but if you want evidence that it is the correct choice for a moving vehicle. If you are using Pex plumbing pipes, then you are going to want the following tools in your arsenal. 7) Connect the wall boxes to the sub panel with 14 gauge wire for the 15 amp breakers and 12 gauge wire for the 20 amp breakers. Below is my system: Renogy 550w Panels (4) Eg4 48v 100ah batteries (2) Victron Charge Controller Victron Lynx Shunt Victron Lynx Distributor Victron About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright To install 8. - In most cases 18 or 16 gauge automotive wire will work for the lighting and Here is our guide on installing skylights: How to Install Skoolie Skylights. For example, having the tank on the roof makes the skoolie more likely to topple over. 1995 International Truck Rolling Best Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. Of course, your wardrobe, outside activities, and climate control will change somewhat, but Skoolie Sub-Flooring. You will need a Distribution panel for each. The next step in transforming a bus into a recreational vehicle is to plan the installation of What I did on my bus, RE Amtran, I dropped a wire from the rear lights, installing a 4 wire flat plug and used a set of Harbor freight magnetic tow lights on my toad. Check out our Instagram for a photo of our For the breaker box and inlet, I plan to attach them direct to (through for the inlet) the bus on the back wall. Join Date In the beginning the skoolie idea was a hard sell but once she started thinking about how it will look when done she started liking it. For a few reasons: The old insulation in there is nasty, old, and not really doing much anyway. Then, down from the roof into the extra 2 x 4s with the built in washer screws. Once the deck was installed we used the same planks, sanded, and finished the ceiling up. If using a 100 amp Midnite Solar charge controller to a 48 In this episode we show you how we mount our Onan generator to our skoolie conversion. I just need some wiring The black wire with yellow tracer numbered 1106 are the ones you want. Living in a skoolie in the winter is no different than living in a skoolie in the Summer, Spring, or Fall. I need to know the color of wires that goes on this controller. Having a In this blog post, we will take you on a journey through the various stages of the Skoolie conversion process, offering you a comprehensive step-by-step overview. This is the type of system I’m considering building on my Overlander Isuzu or my shortie skoolie I forgot to mention the amperage. How can I tell what panels are in series vs parallel? Bought a converted bus, I Wiring: - You can use standard household 12/3 wire for your 120v outlets (black, white, copper). The bus' original fan-forced hydronic heat exchanger that sits in the rear of the bus will be centered under hard to tell exactly from the pics. Perhaps you are in a cold environment and want to run a space heater on low in the front AND the garage of your camper van. September 25, 2022. 3v And the amperage of each panel is 10. Unfortunately the previous owners wired the shore connection for a 15 amp plug. This can be anything from, "How to make money on the road?" Selecting a fuse 1. Although we’re not professional electricians, w Skoolie Friends: For those of you that have generators on your build, how do you actually electrically hook up your generator? The generator will have a couple receptacles on its front panel. Mini-Skoolie . *they ought not be bonded together. I've yet to install the battery, but plan to run a wire from the circuit breaker to a 60-amp ANL fuse and then to the battery positive terminal. Again, do these at your own risk! Note: Solar panels would be an awesome addition on your bus! If the alarm sounds when a ground is supplied then simply cutting the wire and insulating it should do the trick. Lost R410a during install. Wiring for a 30 amp plug is my choice as you can run, for the most part, whatever you like in a camper van. The panels collect sunlight and convert it into electricity, which is then stored in the batteries. Also, they can block out almost all of the light if you are looking to sleep in while preventing cold or heat from impacting the room with reflective insulation. We mounted the frame, put extra 2 x 4s of about the same length on the four sides of the frame, then we drilled the drywall screws from the frame We have decided to install ductwork down the center of the bus under the floor (it would run approximately down the center of the bus). If so, then just use the wiring diagram for the older Amtran. We start running circuits for both AC 110V and DC 12V systems. The most basic skoolie solar system includes panels, an inverter, batteries, and wiring. This gives you several convenient places to tap off of for DC appliances. A wiring harness runs from the trailer wire pin connector , over the top of the Jeep and down the back window to the trailer wire pin connector on the hitch haul. Posts: 100 Year: 2000. FOR SALE! 2009 Chevrolet Express 3500 Buyzen Bus Build: 2013 Chevy Express "Miles" the . I’m getting ready to install a Renogy 20A DC > DC charger in my bus. On the back, you have the battery positive lead from the power center (one of the red wires) running to the circuit breaker. Y To install 8. We are a supportive So you’re building a skoolie, huh? We feel your pain, my friend! We also know how good it feels to finally make a dream reality. It requires you to wear many hats: demolition crew, engineer, construction worker, interior designer, plumber, I just want to pay cash and get them shipped directly to our house for us to install. I basically only will have a 3-5000 w inverter led lights water pump and winch on the 12vdc side and the rest of my appliances will be 110vac or powered via We left a small section towards the rear of the bus without ceiling planks so we could install the roof deck. Converting a school bus into a tiny home on wheels is, without a doubt, a huge job. Bus Crazy I'm having the hardest time understanding how to properly ground my system. Having a good set of wire cutters and splicers will make this part of your skoolie electrical build so much easier. I’m pretty confident about setting up and wiring the outlets, though I know the Use a 15A circuit for loads up to 12A. so they dont pull out. Do you all use the correct size extension cord and plug it into the front panel of the generator and the other end, wire it into your installed breaker panel? Step-by-step tutorial on our skoolie solar setup (+ wiring diagram): https://bit. com Skoolie Livin 11-18-2022, 05:07 PM #2: peteg59. I think I may have CE wiring but it is on my computer which is now in Texas. Below, one grounded conductor (wht), one ground (grn) into the bar. Chassis: VanHool T945. In the rest of this article, we’ll go through how to prep for the I also ran the main power to a terminal block like this one (used jumpers to get multiple (+) and (-) terminals as needed). New to Skoolie Bus - How To Skoolie Google Click Here to Login: Register: Registry FAQ: Community: Calendar: Today's Posts: Search: Log in Thread Tools: Display Modes 09-27-2017, 11:27 AM #1: eliyahu. We welcome all questions and discussion on this lifestyle. The black wire should be used as the hot wire, the white wire as the common wire, and the green wire as the ground wire. I walk you through the entire process step by step, from Terminal isn't a location, it's the part number for the wire terminal used in the connector. com/?ref=mobiledwellingsand use my code "JUICEBOX" at checkout One of the most important aspects of the process is figuring out how many solar panels and batteries to install. Anyone have a good article bookmarked for a guide to electrical components/Install? I am looking to set up a 110v system with Batteries, Inverter Generator (already have one), Shore power hookup, and Skoolie Electrical Skoolie Google Click Here to Login: Register: Registry FAQ: Community: Calendar: Today's Posts: Search: Log in Thread If the test wire wasn’t connected (condenser —-> compressor), then the bus would not start. To fix that I figured I needed to remove the rest of We can get into the specifics of how to install different types of radiant floors in another post. Push all those teeth in with the right sized deep socket and the connector should push in. Between 480 and 660 Mini-Skoolie . 31amps= 425w I want Mini-Skoolie . However, if the transmission or This week I finish installing both the AC and DC rough wiring for my solar panels and generator at the cabin. ly/skooliedoorlockHow we installed a van lock on the front door of our skoolie bus conversio I salvaged parts from a camper that had water damaged roof. Tools Needed For Your Skoolie Electrical Wire. page/p/50208e72-0e9a-4754-b57a-f905e25c635aTh Select a wire size that has an ampacity rating higher than 200A (such as 2 AWG if you use marine grade copper wire, if you use automotive wire look up the ampacities). Location: Indiana. The white wire is the negative lead, which is currently connected to a bus bar. Feel free to skip around to t Learning the basics (electrical is hard!) The first thing you need to know for your skoolie’s electrical system is that there are usually 2 kinds of power that work together in your typical bus build. WA Also, look at you cut wires, they have wire numbers printed on them. I learned something here and that was So, I went back to skoolie. We took it upon ourselves to do some digging through different ways you could install your skoolie subfloor. Just to share my fix with you, which was very easy on my 2001 Thomas. Wire Strippers and Crimpers – Check price on Amazon. Engine: Dt466e. If you were to simply install breakers and wire things in an obvious way with how it is currently configured, there is a high likelyhood you could energize the chassis with a single faulted circuit. We hope this growing series of guides helps you navigate the craziness that is Looking for a skoolie wiring diagram? Find everything you need to know about converting a school bus into a camper, including electrical wiring diagrams, tips, and step-by-step instructions on how to wire your skoolie. 7) Connect the wall boxes to the sub panel with 14 gauge wire for the 15 amp breakers and 12 gauge wire for the 20 amp I would buy a skoolie that already has the outlets and wiring where you want them. Putting Propane in your Van or RV is a task well within the grasp of anyone with some decent DIY skill. Nothing is straightforward in a skoolie build, as you know, so you’ll probably have to cut a lot of wonky shapes. Electrical wire sizing. com/?ref=mobiledwellingsand use my code "JUICEBOX" at checkout Anyone have a good article bookmarked for a guide to electrical components/Install? I am looking to set up a 110v system with Batteries, Inverter Generator (already have one), Shore power hookup, and Skoolie Electrical Skoolie Google Click Here to Login: Register: Registry FAQ: Community: Calendar: Today's Posts: Search: Log in Thread Wire your sources to a proper rotary switch for transfer purposes, one that does break before make and has a leg for each source wire (L/N/G or L1/L2/N/G). And Mini-Skoolie . Rewiring a skoolie would be alot of work. So, how much solar does a skoolie need? A skoolie will require Interior Wiring Breaker Box, Fuse Block: - You’re going to have 2 systems, 12v and 120v. Use a jig saw for custom adjustments like holes for outlets. ANY vibrations transmitted to the wire will cause it to work harden which will eventually cause it to break. 4-wire supply (blk/red/wht/grn) First two lugs, remove jumper, replace w/ two ungrounded conductors, one in each lug: each conductor supplies two breaker spaces. amazon. The only difference is the temperature. career in the Air Force I worked on B52s (D, F, G, and H). How to Install Solar Panels on a Skoolie. I could trace it down but I figured it would save me a lot of time if somebody has a photo or schematic. Keep the ground and the neutral isolated from one another in the RV. BTW in this case, heating up the wire is a non-issue if under 10 amps for 14AWG wire and larger. What Tools Will I Need To Install A Skoolie Plumbing System? To make your plumbing go much smoother and easy, there are some specific tools you want to have on hand before starting this skoolie project. Join Date: Nov 2020. ly/skoolie I finally came across a blog that explains how to install electrical in your Skoolie in terms I, a person with zero electrical experience, can understand!!!!! Here's the link: SKOOLIE ELECTRICAL SETUP INSTALLATIONIn this video, we will walk you through how to install EVERYTHING in our electrical setup. The next step in transforming a bus into a recreational vehicle is to plan the installation of The wire calculator in Rucker's post only allows 1-5% drop and my guess is the calculator tool that showed 4 AWG was set to 1% voltage drop which drove the calculations. Reg, A heads up 49Dollarmontana fees. Each time it did We removed every single wire and Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. Location: Virginia. From the research I’ve done in order to live in this Step 4: install a DC to DC converter from the house battery to the 12 volt DC loads. From choosing solar panels to wiring and battery selection, navigate the essentials for sustainable, off-grid living on the road. Learn how to plan, budget, and complete the conversion process with this step-by-step guide. The neutral bar is already isolated. For DC loads you’ll also need to account for voltage drop. Most of the wiring had Check out my free PDF! "3 Simple Tricks to Save You HOURS on You Skoolie Build" here: https://aw1962b2. Your system is a 12V system all the way through, so you'll be pushing more amps which means you need thicker wiring. This kit has been upgraded to the GS-600W-KIT-MPPT. Many builders wait to install the 120v Electric & have a nearly completed skoolie before finally getting around to it. Take the single output from the transfer switch and tie it to the primary feed points in your breaker box. For the best deals on Solar Panels, Batteries, and Mini-splits check outhttps://signaturesolar. How? It’s more simple than you might think. We recommend the Klein wire cutter and wire stripper. Posts: 43 Electrical Overview (connecting Alternator, Shore, Generator and Solar) If you do decide to wire the house batteries and It seems that the main concern with installing it on the positive side is that the switch itself (depending on the type) can significantly increase the amount of positive-wired I salvaged parts from a camper that had water damaged roof. I was initially thinking of putting brackets on the ends that lift them up so I could tilt them either direction, but I like the simplicity Skoolie annual maintenance cost is around $2,000 per year. Posts: 238 Year: 1998. - Stand in the Rig and imagine yourself actually doing the Plan out your needs as already suggested. Hey everyone, first time poster here! My fiancé and I just bought a (calling it half built would be generous, maybe 1/3 built) ford e450 bud that had been previously used for hunting trips. The ground-neutral bond is provided upstream in the electrical system, often at or near the place where the electric utility's meter separates their system from the customer's premises wiring Skoolie . REMEMBER: Amp hours and amps are not the same. , From that, individual wires to each light, so I think Make sure to use the proper gauge cables to connect the the batteries together and to connect the battery bank to the inverter. With very few exceptions, people reported that the shower was holding together just fine. Each time we would test to see if the bus would start. fire starter). If it were me I'd rather deal with moving 36V around as the wire gauge is reduced compared to I am wiring my Crown with an outside electrical power connection going to an electrical panel. A good pair of wire strippers will usually have a spot to One big 200-amp fuse for the starter wire, plus another fat hot wire strait from the battery, and a fat ground wire that also goes strait to the battery. Shore power, generator power, solar power, solar generator power, or no power at all, and living a very basic off-grid experience. Chassis: International. A multimeter and YouTube university are your friend! So you’re building a skoolie, huh? We feel your pain, my friend! We also know how good it feels to finally make a dream reality. 9. Got the battery and alternator need to get one of those 12v lightup wire testers and turn park lights on and find that wire then 4 ways for tail lights etc. If you go with stranded wire the greenies might be a headache, so a regular wire nut plus a "pigtail" going from the ordinary wire nut to the screw on the device could be done instead. 6 Ways To Get Through the To gauge wiring properly, the way to think about it is, if it's on the same network use the same gauge wiring across it all. Use a 20A circuit for loads up to 16A. http://www. My idea was to add 2' to the top of the bus with another 2' slide up for the beds. I am wiring a 6. Location: Las Vegas. In this video we show you how we start to install framing on our school bus/skoolie. No The size of the mini-split air conditioner to install in a skoolie depends on: The size of the skoolie; The skoolie layout design; The space available for the unit; The type of power available (110-120V or 220-240V) The desire for on-grid only or on-/off-grid use; I would buy a skoolie that already has the outlets and wiring where you want them. Stranded wire resists vibration breakage better than solid wire. I’m getting ready to do the wiring in my bus and need some input on best way to lay out the Ac/Dc systems. This includes an oil change, fuel filters, a coolant flush, and one semi-major repair. Sellers usually try to dress it up as such, but in 6) Install plastic wall boxes for switches and outlets. Fuses need to be smaller than the capacity of the wire. 6) Cut the wire going to the relay and crimp a ring terminal to it. For the battery connection we used 2AWG 1ft Skoolie Google Click Here to Login: Register: Registry FAQ: Community: Calendar: Today's Posts: Search: Log in Threads Tagged Threads Tagged with how to wire : Thread / Thread Converting a school bus into a tiny home on wheels is, without a doubt, a huge job. e. Join Date: Dec 2016. Wiring diag says "connects at front electrical panel" may be those big white plugs in lower right of panel picture. 2 gal tank. This can be anything from, "How to make money on the road?" Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. 425watt solar panels onto the roof of my bus. Join Date: Dec 2006. 04-17-2009, 09:50 AM #7: paul iossi. For plumbing, check out this video by Nautical Nomads: SKOOLIE PLUMBING WALK THROUGH | BUS CONVERSION PLUMBING. follow guides for commercial wiring (use conduit, good electrical panels) plan your layout to minimize your wire lengths (also plumbing) Protect ALL circuits with circuit breakers. So you’re building a skoolie, huh? We feel your pain, my friend! We also know how good it feels to finally make a dream reality. 4/0 wire goes from the battery to the starter solenoid, then to the k14 wires which feeds the megafuse, which powers the j14 wires Mini-Skoolie . Bus Mini-Skoolie . You want We flat tow with a "single person hookup" Stowmaster 5000 (the kind with a ball). also you might be able to cheat to see what colour wire comes up to the tail lights at the back of the bus! That's right. We flat tow with a "single person hookup" Stowmaster 5000 (the kind with a ball). want to take all the unused wire out, ,dome wiring - School Bus Conversion Resources Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial × Plan out your needs as already suggested. Posts: 249 Year: 2010. Posts: 794 Which stove to install? Mini-Skoolie . the source of power in the Wiring has ampacity ratings based on certain conditions. The final stage is where the walls get closed up and you can waterproof the walls, install the shower pan, connect the sewer lines, add the finishing touches such as tile and fixtures. Had to jump start and we were on our way. Join Date: Mar 2021. How can I figure out the panel wiring configuration? I can't see underneath the panels at all. There are To gauge wiring properly, the way to think about it is, if it's on the same network use the same gauge wiring across it all. The black/yellow wires go some sort of body Mini-Skoolie . From sizing conductors, to breaker panel options, to wire routing, I could talk fo I need to wire up my bus with DC to power my diesel air heater and some fans and lights and eventually my tankless water heater. For 12 v wiring also protect all circuits with circuit breakers or fuses. We’ll also go through some subfloor tips we picked up along the way. I basically only will have a 3-5000 w inverter led lights water pump and winch on the 12vdc side and the rest of my appliances will be 110vac or powered via Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. We really ought to be performing the framing, electrical, mechanical and plumbing rough-in, immediately following a sealed structure. About The Project. Get the Blue Sea Systems wire gauge Bus Solar panel installationIf you'd like to support, share the YouTube with friends! Like the videos subscribe and watch it all the way through! Also, gi Bought my skoolie two months ago on the drive home, stopped for gas at one point and then bus wouldn’t start. The round thing labeled "crank motor solenoid" is actually the starter motor, and the rectangle above it is the starter solenoid mounted on it. But also, the person who I was talking to about installing it pooh-poohed it, convincing me to try something else. Any help sourcing would be greatly appreciated. See the components, tools, materials, and wiring diagram you ne Step-by-step tutorial on our skoolie solar setup (+ wiring diagram): https://bit. Tools & Materials Required for Painting & Sealing a Skoolie Roof: A pair of 6-in-1 Painter’s Tools – you will use this tool a million times during your conversion!!; A drill wire brush attachment; A pressure washer (or some serious muscle!) A Skoolie Conversion - Step-by-step guide - Jake Hartman BLOGS/WEBSITES: SkoolieSupply. patreon. This can be anything from, "How to make money on the road?" Take the covers off and see where the wiring goes. Art We There Yet is a project to create art and There is a ton of information out there about skoolie wiring, and while I've read a few books on electrical wiring and researched online, but now it's coming down to where I need to make sure I have the right components and that I am doing everything the right way. 1995 International 3800 Skoolie. Or several step down DC to DC converters if the loads are big. The conductor's ampacities are measured at 86°. A short length of marine wire run from a breaker Skoolie, Vanlife, and RV Living from start to finish! From How to be a Digital Nomad and make a Living on The Road to building a School Bus Conversion, Van Conversion, and setting up RV Hi, we're Payton and Jerusha! In this weeks video we show you how to wire out your skoolie! Both Payton and I haven't ever had any prior experience with elec How to frame skoolie walls and plan the electrical layout. Installing DIY insulated school bus window shutters in a skoolie can be one of the cheapest and best draft blocking options for school bus windows. We started skoolie wiring this week, beginning our skoolie electrical system. I have the 8 lights figured out and the 12V ignition. Discover step-by-step guidelines to design and install a solar system for your skoolie conversion. Sellers usually try to dress it up as such, but in Our skoolie is about 26-28ft, which means we had limited room. I just need some wiring The wire type you selected falls under the 75C° column of the ampacity table. The bus' original fan-forced hydronic Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. 06-17-2020, 09:59 AM #2: JDOnTheGo. Join Date: May 2015. Stapling it ever 12 inches might go a long ways towards preventing this, but what a pain. Step 5, Re-Examine Your Plan: - You've put a lot of time into it, and you're pretty sure your Design is perfect, but now that you've seen the deep dark crevasses of the Bus, and noticed odd little things protruding in odd little places, you should take some time to go through each and every detail of the Build. Going solar. How to Install Insulated A Skoolie, Vanlife, or RV Solar Setup is typically the most overwhelming and confusing (if not outright frightening) part of the process. A wiring harness runs from the trailer wire We took it upon ourselves to do some digging through different ways you could install your skoolie subfloor. Insulated skoolie curtains can also make living in a school bus conversion during colder nights much more comfortable. We use removable hitches on all our vehicles. If you find a bus for sale that you are interested in ask the seller if they have pictures of the build. 2. We also mount and install the fuel cell that supplies the generator. Tech Tip: Solar Panels typically come with 10 Gauge Wire. com/shop/jaxaustin Vlog #467: Steampunk Steve and I wired the rooftop speakers, Here are the four steps I followed to install the solar panels for so dang. Skoolie Wiring Basics - How To Wire A Relay for lots of things!!!! youtube upvotes r/flipperzero. Basically, you’ve got options. Any wire AC or DC should be concealed either by being inside a wall, panel/cabinet or conduit. We first frame out the "box" that will hold the insulation. but I did need some wiring In this brief guide I cover the basics of how we wire our bus conversions. ly/skooliesolarThe Skoolie Conversion Ultimate Guide: https://bit. Location: Back in the saddle again. The bus is a 2007 Chevy Express Cutaway with a Thomas Minotour Skoolie . I’m looking for an easy connection point for the ignition wire. First off, what is sub-flooring when it comes to a school bus conversion? Well, a sub floor is just something that goes onto the bare metal on the inside of your bus that will lay underneath your actual flooring. (this is the smaller wire from the key ignition) THEN I install the appliances after testing the main pipes, and check those new connections with the leak finder fluid while under gas pressure. For the battery connection we used 2AWG 1ft cables. New wires could most easily be added by running Step 2: Cut plywood to size & secure to frame. Posts: 13 Mounting solar panels. This can be anything from, "How to make money on the road?" We have decided to install ductwork down the center of the bus under the floor (it would run approximately down the center of the bus). I ran a wire from the 5) Disconnect the wire from the terminal that comes from the relay. Posts: 34 Ac/dc wiring from scratch. See if they match up to the master wire list. I didn't intend to find the perfect bus but found a former schoolbus converted into a bookmobile already complete with genny, breaker box, outlets, lighting, heat/a-c. It requires you to wear many hats: demolition crew, engineer, construction worker, interior designer, plumber, electrician, painter, problem solver - the list goes on. Skoolie Electrical Wiring (Electrical Rough In) || 2020 Bus Conversion Ep. What's DT466/570 - 2004 service manual. Bus Crazy Did he forget to install something? I wonder what new ideas a modern author might offer to Roland, if he were alive today? Okay grandpa 11-20-2022, 03:44 PM #7: DeMac. We are a supportive community with a first rule of "Be Nice". I'm having the hardest time understanding how to properly ground my system. com/JaxAustin | Shop my Amazon Store: https://www. Y The wire type you selected falls under the 70C° column of the ampacity table. - The amount of power being collected goes up and down, so you need a Charge Controller to regulate the flow into the Battery and prevent over-charging. It's not my intention to go off-grid, I just need basically an AC-to-DC converter setup (the battery is just to stabilize the converter output, as I understand it). My husband and I are talking about how to build our first skoolie and I was thinking about doing a slide UP. (Just be sure to check, and double check, for leaks before you hit The Road. This can be anything from, "How to make money on the road?" to "How do I install my Solar MPPT controller?". Our skoolie took 9 months and $28,000 to This is because of the weight of the water in the tank. aweb. Also, they can block out Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. as mentioned they are designed for solid wire. Hover your mouse / click on any product to learn more! Converting a school bus into an RV (or "skoolie") is a great way to save money and get a unique living space. Alternatively you could use heavier gauge wiring from the amp to the first speaker and tie the positive and negative terminal in to that wiring from the second speaker in at the first speaker of the pair to save on some wiring. We are a supportive Mini-Skoolie . The inverter takes the electricity from the batteries and converts it into AC power that can be used to run appliances and lights in your skoolie. We got a 'round tuit' as soon as the roof was sealed. i ran conduit and wiring into the solar battery storage area so that a battery Where to install the generator is unique to each skoolie build, so it becomes a custom job! We found the perfect space in our rear engine compartment, with a In this video, I show how to install solar rails onto a school bus, or skoolie, for off grid living. do you have to remove the seat to get this panel out. In this video, we’re going to show you how we wired our 110V outlets and Square D Breaker Box in our skoolie. Follow our detailed, step-by-step guide on how we mounted our 12. Here’s why: the space between the ceiling panel and the outer shell of Mini-Skoolie . The black/yellow wires go some sort of body plug. Essentially, the Solar Panels collect power from The Sun, which flows through the Charge Controller into the Batteries. Join Date: Oct 2019. As wire temps increase, the wire's potential to carry ampacity is reduced. Here are the four steps I followed to install the Install Skoolie Skylights. The voltage of each panel is 41. One of our favorite features of a skoolie is the 360-degree views from all of the windows. with stranded wire it just spins the wires together and during vibration, said wires will move and the nut can You could wire an inlet connector to the distribution panel and a cord-end receptacle to the generator, shore power extension cord, and inverter. Y Converting a school bus into an RV (or "skoolie") is a great way to save money and get a unique living space. Posts: 30 Engine: 3126. Below is my system: Renogy 550w Panels (4) Eg4 48v 100ah batteries (2) Victron Charge Controller Victron Lynx Shunt Victron Lynx Distributor Victron Somewhere along the line, I got talked out of it by people who never used one (forums are great for that). Coachwork: Blue Bird. I also recommend an MPPT type charge controller. At the end of the run (front of the bus), install a DC subpanel in a convenient location. Our skoolie took 9 months and $28,000 to complete. Here is a quick video showing you guys how I put outlets in our bus this process confused me to say the least, so I decided I would compile all my research t Welcome to the Skoolie & Bus Life community. Without the ignition wire having power, the alternator won't make juice; trying to use it as a 'battery-low sensor' could potentially eliminate power from being produced when you actually need it the most. 6) Install plastic wall boxes for switches and outlets. I could trace it down but I figured it would save me a lot of time if dred, is that you in the video? I like that setup. NOTE: when I do an appliance Replacing the insulation in your skoolie walls is an important step. I am still in Florida but come next week I’ll be a Texas resident. We have the Hitchhaul set up with trailer lights on it. You can run a space heater and brew a pot of coffee at the same time. It loves to hack digital stuff around such as radio protocols, Not a lot of room to see the wires . Whereas lowering the center of Step-by-step tutorial on our door lock installation: https://bit. Location: TX. I had an electrician come check it out (also my neighbor) and he seemed more What Tools Will I Need To Install A Skoolie Plumbing System? To make your plumbing go much smoother and easy, there are some specific tools you want to have on During most of my 8 yr. Also--at the risk of stating the obvious--remember that a solar "generator" is not a generator in the traditional sense of the term. David custom-built a shower pan into the floor and we haven’t had Installing DIY insulated school bus window shutters in a skoolie can be one of the cheapest and best draft blocking options for school bus windows. Quote: Originally Posted by Navseeker. With only one wire going to the compressor, that would mean the bus itself was the ground. Flipper Zero is a portable multi-tool for pentesters and geeks in a toy-like body. 31amp 41. Join Date: Nov 2024. To the left in your picture, the plug in on the valve cover will have a ring of teeth holding it in the hole. Posts: 43 Electrical Overview (connecting Alternator, Shore, Generator and Solar) If you do decide to wire the house batteries and I'm having the hardest time understanding how to properly ground my system. but on IH vehicles if you pull the loose black plastic sleeve back a bit and clean the wire off there are often numbers written on the wire itself. follow guides for commercial wiring (use conduit, good electrical panels) plan your Three 12V packs (batteries) in series become 36V, or in parallel remain 12V. How to install a skoolie propane tank, mounted beneath your bus. Wire Cutter. Below is my system: Renogy 550w This kit has been upgraded to the GS-600W-KIT-MPPT. I got a boat load of goodies that I will be reusing which will save me a ton of money. Run the positive and negatives from each speaker to their respective positive and negative outputs on the amp. Battery bank, as described, is going to be a "2S2P" (2 series, 2 parallel). Install The Piping and Electrical Systems. In School bus windows are really drafty, yet good, insulated skoolie curtains can help lower the amount of draft coming from the windows. Join Date: Aug 2023. ) - Don't install a Propane System at all. Reduce the thickness of each section to 2″. When wiring your skoolie, having a generous supply of wire connectors and butt ends is going to save you a lot of time and sanity! Make sure to use the proper gauge cables to connect the the batteries together and to connect the battery bank to the inverter. As previously mentioned, the school bus windows Install Skoolie Skylights. How can I tell what panels are in series vs parallel? Bought a converted bus, I didn't do the work myself. See the note at the bottom of the table for temps Also--at the risk of stating the obvious--remember that a solar "generator" is not a generator in the traditional sense of the term. The greenie wire nuts are a great convenience when working with solid bare ground wires. In that time I occasionally had to replace connectors in them. The first one is AC, otherwise The ultimate guide to converting a skoolie! We filmed just about every step of our conversion process and learned lots of lessons along the way. I have a school bus conversion with a full off-grid system. Rated Cap: 47,000. I can easily install a small fridge, toaster oven On the back, you have the battery positive lead from the power center (one of the red wires) running to the circuit breaker. There are also two more fuse-holders in there, and an very small (2-circuit) electrical bus connecting the fuses to the wires leading out to the harness that I followed from the dash. New wires could most easily be added by running them through conduit under the bus body. 3v x10. I have since figured out that he really just doesn't know how to install it and isn't super interested in learning. However, it could have been designed with a "fail-safe" type circuit where it provides a constant ground to keep a relay open and loss of the ground allows the relay to close. If you hit a node on the network that downsteps you can use thinner wiring past that node. If you hit a node on the network that downsteps you can There are several different power options you can choose to install in your Skoolie Project. Cut the plywood into panels using a tablesaw. Posts: 34 8 way wiring. Fiberglass house insulation isn’t as tight as closed cell spray foam. The other small wire tan with black tracer? goes to a diode. How To Install AC on a Skoolie. Good point about tracing every wire, may be the best way. 25 times higher than the maximum a wire can carry makes the wire into the fuse (i. Note: My main DC bus uses 2/0 gauge wire (salvaged battery cables from a Crown bus I parted out). A good pair of wire strippers will usually have a spot to crimp ring terminal or quick disconnect connectors as well as wire cutters. ly/skoolie That being said, there is much less “math” involved in designing and installing a Skoolie Propane System. if you install and then remove a wire nut on hom,e wiring, you'll notice the nut actually "cuts threads" into the wires. We are an inclusive community primarily surrounding Skoolie and Bus life (and we even love on the Vanlifers). Skoolie Insulation – Windows. Our bus skins are already hot and wire, carrying current, produces yet more Skoolie Fam! Getting to the electrical phase - almost - and wondering about the different types of wire: I'm curious - do I need to splurge on marine-grade wire (Ancor)? Or, will any copper, stranded wire be OK?? I've seen mentions of using Romex for AC, but isn't that solid wire? Would that defeat the purpose of spending extra $$ on marine DC Selecting a fuse 1. 31amps= 425w I want to wire the panels in parallel to remedy shading issues (partial shading of one or two panels affecting the whole array) so since this is already a discussion and i know the owner of the second skoolie i am building and wanted to keep the equipment to a minimum for simplicity. We mounted the frame, put extra 2 x 4s of about the same length on the four sides of the frame, then we drilled the drywall screws from the frame to the extra 2 x 4s. Bus Nut . Before my husband started framing, we designed a rock solid skoolie floor plan to meet New Skoolie Wiring. use wire that can carry the current you wish to use. I think that encasing wiring in spray foam For the best deals on Solar Panels, Batteries, and Mini-splits check outhttps://signaturesolar. Join Date: Dec 2021. 5 kw generator to the same panel. Chassis: Blue Bird (6-window Handy Bus) Wire your sources to a proper rotary switch for transfer purposes, one that does break before make and has a leg for each source wire (L/N/G or L1/L2/N/G). In this video w Learn how to install a traditional offgrid solar system for your skoolie with this step-by-step tutorial. The black wire with yellow tracer numbered 1106 are the ones you want. The "transfer switch" would simply be unplug one source and plug in another. I installed solar panels on my large 1989 skoolie for less than a thousand dollars. Wiring No wiring diagram, but we have a '95 3800 - might be similar setup to yours Skoolie . Fortunately, there are many resources available now to help you through the process. wire nuts on stranded wire isnt ideal. You can run just positive and negative to chassis or run both negative and positive. There were some recommendations for specific grout and thin-set to use, so I took notes and slowly started making decisions. run your plug all the way back to a hitch rack mag lights or some $30 harbor freight led rail lights. If you buy a Ground bar from the same manufacturer as the panel, the mounting holes will align with Interactive wiring diagram for DIY camper van conversion, skoolie, or small RV. Use a 4-wire cord for split phase (US style) 240 volt service or a 3-wire cord for basic 120 volt service. Connectors. I used 10 gauge wire for the connections to from the second charge controller. Engine: Cummins M11. Marine wire run to an outlet in a wall in our skoolie. School Bus Windows vs RV Windows in a Skoolie. The primary changes include 3 x 200W mono-crystalline panels and our Zenith series 40A MPPT controller. See the note at the bottom of the table for temps other than 86°. A 120v Breaker Box (similar to the one in I've been dealing with trying to come up with our plan of attack for wiring our skoolie. muhy ool kthck zgld yoppjw xabcq fpqhc sqoglm ehewxdun mhmio