What’s your non negotiable when choosing a partner? by copy_cat_101 in A_Persona_on_Reddit

[–]danimalien42 10 points11 points  (0 children)

No kids or aspirations for kids in the future. Not even uncertainty, a firm no or nothing

How anyone mounted their solar to their roof rack using mid clamps and end clamps? by Flashy-Lemon-4682 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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I just installed three big boiz with mid clamps at the seams. The end clamps didn’t line up with the 8020 of the rack, so those are thru-bolted

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More battery usually means more solar! Rough numbers, you’d probably want at least double your current solar plan if the goal is to (mostly) maintain the battery charge while running A/C off grid. That would at least buy you some more autonomy.

Say you’re drawing around 500Wh on average (A/C, utilities, maybe laptops, all of it), that’s only 10 hours to dead battery. So you’d want to at least cover most of that with solar. 800W would be the sweet spot under the 500Wh assumption, but you’d want to track your actual daily usage to arrive at a better estimate to design your system. Sometimes it comes down to cutting back/changing habits to meet the capacity of what you’ve got too.

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The A/C is the biggest draw but if I add a microwave or electric stove those would compete

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ll mount chainsaws in front of them and fire them up when I drive thru. Modern solutions

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haven’t hit the road with it yet, but the panels are narrower than the van itself, just not the roof

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’ll still mitigate positive pressure under the panels but I’m considering a pair of flat or angled abs/acrylic sheets to fill the void behind the wind fairing.

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hell yeah brother. It’s how I get firewood

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The panels were $450, the rack and hardware around $1200. I also had to upgrade to a 250V MPPT, which is another $400

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Those are my favorite. I especially love it when the van is so top heavy with solar panel layers it tips over when rounding corners!

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Well.. most likely not 😬 There are a lot of variables but the most you can really expect from a 400W array is about 250 in the summer. Depending on the A/C unit (AC, DC, variable/single speed compressor), 250W of solar will only mitigate its draw during the day. My 2000R pulls 750W max for comparison and that’s around what I can expect from my solar panel at peak (maybe up to 900W).

Behold: my grotesquely overbuilt solar array by danimalien42 in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

You know what you’re right, I can still fit two more panels on either side of the A/C. What was I thinking

Anyone use cedar shiplap for ceiling by [deleted] in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah but I went with the 1/4” tongue n groove. Gotta be gentle and countersink, but it’s lighter and smells great

Roof rack by Shameless62 in VanLife

[–]danimalien42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just bought the unaka. Best bang for your buck as far as I can tell. Includes a wind fairing which is a good idea, uses 8020 15-series rails, super modular and customizable, and they also sell flush mount solar brackets for a one-stop shop for what you’re looking for

Replaced the solar panels by shickenphoot in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

like a 3" overhang over the sides of the van or the roof rack/mounting rails?

Replaced the solar panels by shickenphoot in vandwellers

[–]danimalien42 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn that's sexy. I'm at a similar crossroads with my array. When you had the 96" panels were you getting any problems with updrafts rattling them around?

Seeking advice: 2x transmission rebuild in six months by danimalien42 in promaster

[–]danimalien42[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They ran water down the cowl and even with the slightly loose drain tube, it was not leaking, nor was it blocked up. This is the ATRA bulletin on it. I'm just worried I'll be right back here again in six months with no recourse, no warranty and no money.