Cargo Van Conversion

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….

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….

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…

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…

Watch all my videos on YouTube! Solar Power has put Vandwelling within reach of ordinary people. So, with full-time RVing in mind, I have begun with the installation of some solar components. DISCLAIMER: I’m not an expert at this and this is not a How-To guide. 12V can KILL you; consult an expert first. The…

Several car companies are designing and building electric vans and in the next couple of years and consumers will have a choice of vehicles to choose from. Major obstacles still remain, such as driving range and charging capabilities. For vandwellers, the idea of a full-electric van for boondocking is still unrealistic and hard to imagine….

Just received my solar panels. 3 ETFE Flexible solar panels of 135W each, from LinkSolar. Now I can be flexing some power!

With the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, I decided to take some time off and drive in my van from Central Florida to Anderson SC to watch this unique phenomenon. While the proper eclipse only lasts a minute or two, the entire event is spread out over a couple of hours. The complete darkness during the…

A few years ago, flexible solar panels became popular with RV owners as they represented a innovative solution for smaller RV’s, where weight reduction played an important role. Less weight meant more panels and more power to stay off-grid longer. With a weight difference of about 20 lbs per panel, easy installation without holes in…

The roof vent in an integral part of the ventilation, cooling and insulation plans. Living in an RV, one constantly faces the issue of cooling & heating and lowering humidity levels. With only few choices, I decided to install a MaxxAir vent; its ability to remain open, when rain is pouring down, made it a…