The installation of a Victron Smart Solar Controller and a Victron Orion Smart DC-DC Converter as part of my vanconversion. The “Smart” part of this, is the ability to access the settings and output values of these devices through Bluetooth. While the DC-DC Converter is a new addition to the electrical system of the van,… Continue reading Victron Smart Devices
Category: Solar Panel
Bluetti EB55
Just got this Bluetti EB55 in the mail. The company send this to me without any strings attached, just for some exposure. Ordinarily, I just don’t do these things, unless it really fits within the character of this channel. It arrived at the right time, as I have been looking for one of these for… Continue reading Bluetti EB55
Flexible Solar Panel Update
A very short update about the flexible solar panels from Link Solar. Many of these flexible panels on the market today, are of a low quality, but with the arrival of ETFE laminates and high quality Backcontact solar cells, I took a gamble on these improved panels. Now, about six months after the original installation,… Continue reading Flexible Solar Panel Update
Solar Blanket And Day4 Tech Solar Panel Review
Click here for Part One of this video This is a short review of two brand-new flexible solar panels. The Day4 Tech panel looks very similar to the current flexible panels, but uses two fine wire meshes to connect the individual solar cells together, one mesh on each side. They replace the bulky silver contacts,… Continue reading Solar Blanket And Day4 Tech Solar Panel Review
Solar Mumbo Jumbo
Why A 100W Solar Panel May Only Give You 50W There is much to do about solar panels on RV’s. They are affordable, virtually maintenance free and easy to install. But do they deliver, what they promise? Actually, most of these panels produce the indicated watts, with a big caveat: in summer under ideal weather… Continue reading Solar Mumbo Jumbo
Deep Cycle Batteries
Watch all my videos on YouTube! The final episode of the complete installation of ETFE Flexible solar panels, wiring, roof entry, solar charge controller and deep cycle batteries. I end with a bit of testing of the output of these solar panels. So far the installation is complete up to and including the solar charge… Continue reading Deep Cycle Batteries
12V System Setup
Watch all my videos on YouTube! Now the solar wiring is in the interior of the van, I still have to attach it to the breaker box and solar charge controller. The #8 AWG wire transitions to a #6 AWG wire at the breaker box, to minimize voltage drop, and continues to the bus bars.… Continue reading 12V System Setup
Installing A Cable Gland
Watch all my videos on YouTube! Now that the solar panels are installed and roof wiring added, it’s time for the cable gland to lead the MC4 cabling into the interior of the vehicle. While black cable glands are readily available, I ordered the wrong color and had to paint it to remain somewhat stealthy.… Continue reading Installing A Cable Gland
Solar Panel Wiring
Watch all my videos on YouTube! Following the installation of the Flexible Solar Panels, I continue by wiring them up. For that, I’m only using the cables that come with the panels, plus a few MC4 (branch) connectors. The 12 AWG panel cables are sufficient to carry the collective amperage over the short distance of… Continue reading Solar Panel Wiring
Flexible Solar Panel Installation
Watch all my videos on YouTube! One of the major steps of this van conversion, is the addition of solar panels to the roof of the Ford Transit. It creates an independent source of energy, which in turn, makes vandwelling or boondocking a possibility. I chose flexible solar panels for their light weight, bendable and… Continue reading Flexible Solar Panel Installation