aVANger Build

[bdosborn]

We finally made a screen for the trailer after 8 years and then we wondered why we waited so long. They're pretty handy in hot, buggy weather. Sewing screens is really hard to do well so I cracked open the wallet and bought them for the van.
Bruce

[bdosborn]

We had a nice trip to Nebraska for a balloon festival. Its unusual for us to visit when its so green. Moo enjoyed the campground:

The new screen door was very nice to have as the flies and mosquitoes were cruel.
Bruce

[bdosborn]

Well I haven't done any big work on the van lately but I have done a few small tweaks.

That plastic armrest gets pretty hard after awhile so I added a stick on gel armrest. More better!


I added a Victron GX 50 touch display. This was a like to have rather than a must have. You can read most everything you need to know from Victron equipment using Bluetooth on your phone. I just like how everything is presented on a single screen. Oh and it looks pretty cool too.


I installed it in the ventilation panel for the fridge, it was just easier to run the wires there than over to the other side of the van where the control panel is. The screen turns itself off after a bit so it wont light up the van at night.


I added another PV controller for a portable PV panel, in case we want to camp in the shade. Its the yellow and green thingy:


The panel connector is at the driver side back door, I can close the door with the cable connected to the panel.


The van looked awesome when we camped at Sink Canyon in Wyoming:


Bruce

[S. Heisley]

Bruce, you van looks awesome anywhere! I like the idea of a hidden control panel, too!

[bdosborn]

Thanks Sharon!

[lfhoward]

Looking really good! I think you’ll be glad to have a portable PV panel. I found that my portable panels made more watt hours than my roof panels most every day of my last camping trip. That’s because I pointed them at the sun of course.

You’ll also like having the LCD screen to see all your Victron parameters. Depending on how much you use it, maybe you will end up wiring it across the van to the wall on the other side! I used mine almost all the time, even forgetting the battery monitor was located right next to it. Meanwhile the stealth location in the fridge vent is pretty neat.

[bdosborn]

Looking really good! I think you’ll be glad to have a portable PV panel. I found that my portable panels made more watt hours than my roof panels most every day of my last camping trip. That’s because I pointed them at the sun of course.

Ha, I found the same thing with the trailer portable panel. My OCD doesn't let me walk by the panel without adjusting it to face the sun.
Bruce

[Toytaco2]

Bruce - Long time t&ttt member here although I don’t post often anymore. I’ve been building out a Transit camper van the past year and a half and passed the TD along to my son. I’ve been contemplating that same solar panel connector at the rear driver side door just as you have done. I'm really new to solar and just picked up a portable 130 watt suitcase unit to supplement my B2B charger with a Renogy 100AH lifepo4 Smart Lithium battery. May I ask how long is your extension cable and what gauge wire did you use? What have you found to be a good compromise length to balance weight, bulk, and distance from the van?

Thanks,
Mike


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[bdosborn]

<snip> just picked up a portable 130 watt suitcase unit to supplement my B2B charger with a Renogy 100AH lifepo4 Smart Lithium battery. May I ask how long is your extension cable and what gauge wire did you use? What have you found to be a good compromise length to balance weight, bulk, and distance from the van?

Making a guess that your portable panel max power is at around 18V (that's what mine is) then 130W/18v=7A maximum output. Using this fancy voltage drop calculator, you can go 20' with #12 wire and have around a 3% voltage drop. A #12 is the size cable I've been using for years without any issues that I've noticed. I did spring for some nice marine rated wire though, it's super flexible.

eBay linky

Bruce

[Toytaco2]

<snip> just picked up a portable 130 watt suitcase unit to supplement my B2B charger with a Renogy 100AH lifepo4 Smart Lithium battery. May I ask how long is your extension cable and what gauge wire did you use? What have you found to be a good compromise length to balance weight, bulk, and distance from the van?

Making a guess that your portable panel max power is at around 18V (that's what mine is) then 130W/18v=7A maximum output. Using this fancy voltage drop calculator, you can go 20' with #12 wire and have around a 3% voltage drop. A #12 is the size cable I've been using for years without any issues that I've noticed. I did spring for some nice marine rated wire though, it's super flexible.

eBay linky

Bruce

Thanks for the Ebay link on the cable. I was already considering a marine rated cable in #12 wire of around 20 to 25 feet, so it looks like I'll be running a duplicate of what you have done. It's just good to hear some firsthand experience to help me avoid "stupid beginner mistakes". My charge controller is combined in the same unit as my B2B charger and is about 5 to 6 feet from my rear door where that connector will be (I plan to make that 5-6 foot run using #10 wire I have left over from the build). I had also been wondering if I could get away with running the cable out with the rear door closed. Sounds like you have already had good luck with that approach. Sounds like it should work for me as well.

Thanks for the help,
Mike

[bdosborn]

I made some floor covers out of 1/8" hardboard and grey marine canvas (matches the van). There's nothing wrong with the carpet that's already down except it holds dirt like crazy. I didn't want to add all the weight of a hardwood floor so I'm giving this a try. I hope it works as I think it looks pretty good. I finally got around to making a step threshold, only using stuff that was already in the garage. It's held on with magnets so I can change it out for something else if it doesn't work.





Bruce

[lfhoward]

Those should work nicely. I would love to see your van conversion in person. It really is beautiful.

[bdosborn]

Thanks dude!

[featherliteCT1]

Besides looking great, is the functional purpose of the new flooring to make it easier to sweep up dirt with a broom as opposed to vacuuming? Asking for a dumb friend.

[bdosborn]

Besides looking great, is the functional purpose of the new flooring to make it easier to sweep up dirt with a broom as opposed to vacuuming? Asking for a dumb friend.

Pretty much. Its amazing how much dirt you track into the van compared to a teardrop, The carpet really grabs a hold of dirt and you can't really sweep stuff out. The wife says I should Scotchguard the canvas (great idea), which I will be doing today. I was going to use hardwood flooring until I picked up a box at the home store. That stuff weighs a ton....
Bruce