Episode 8 - Removing a ceiling
panel and progress on the
generator cage
My plans for the skoolie include removing all the sheet metal
wall and ceiling panels so insulation can be sprayed in. One of
the selling points of the bus when I was checking it out in
Georgia, was that the
ceiling panels are screwed
in place, not riveted. Rivets
are common in school bus
ceilings, and other skoolie
owners report what a
hassle it is to drill or grind
off hundreds of them.
Screws are so much easier to remove, but there are still
obstacles. In this episode I tackle them.
The second part of the episode is about sources of electricity
on a skoolie. I’ve already bought six solar panels to mount on
the roof when the weather allows. But it they are aimed
wrong, under an inch of snow or the bus is sitting under a
tree, they don’t generate much electricity.
Early on I decided I want
an onboard gas generator
to charge the batteries as
needed, and to run an air
conditioner in the
absence of shore power. I
understand that Honda
generators are the top
brand for reliability and
low noise, but they have a
price to match. I settled
on the Predator 3500 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator
from Harbor Freight tools. It’s well reviewed and pretty quiet.
It’s a true sine wave inverter, that won’t fry delicate
electronics. Harbor Freight must sell a ton of them, because
you can buy a third party kit to convert it to propane, and a
third party kit to add a
remote starter.
Designing and building
a means to mount it on
the back of the bus has
been a really
challenging project. Of
course it has to be
securely mounted.
Because of G-forces
resulting from the bus
going over bumps, I
think everything on the bus should be designed to carry twice
the weight of the payload. The generator housing also has to
have enough airflow for air intake and exhaust, and to
prevent overheating. But the generator should not just be
exposed to the elements. That’s some balancing act.
The housing has to deter theft, but make it easy to slide the
unit out for maintenance and fuelling. And the electricity has
to be securely conveyed from the exterior of the bus to the
interior. In this episode I show how I am beginning to address
these challenges.
Click the image below to see episode 8 on my YouTube
channel. And while you’re there, click the Subscribe button so
you don’t miss subsequent episodes.
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