1000 Feet of Wire | How to WIRE your SCHOOL BUS CONVERSION

Learning how to wire your school bus conversion and get all the 12v wires to the right locations. In this school bus conversion, I ended up using over 1000 feet of 12v wire. This part of the project is my favorite because running the 12v electrical system in the bus conversion is the first time we start to see what the final build is going to look like.
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[@Ringelsocke.]

Hi! There is always at least one person in the comments, who complains about the missing viewable progress and all of your talking. But if you want to see and to learn about how it is to convert a school bus, this is what you get. It's not only shopping for wood and color - bäääm - decorating and done. The biggest part of nearly everything is crumpling and straightening your brain *before* starting all over three times. Mayby those people should search for some quick and easy timelapse videos. I love to see and hear, how someone else is ticking and how someone else is tackeling things. For me thst's an enrichment. See you next time! 😊👋🏻

[@cmadk3423]

Upstate NY! I live in Buffalo and heading to Duane over the weekend. I'm refitting my Isuzu npr from my work truck to my house on wheels. Nice work, coming along.

[@slowrider1513]

I’m in Rochester, just bought a shuttle bus!

[@LeaveHerWild]

That’s one way to sharpen a pencil lol

[@navigationnowhere]

Use what you got 😂

[@LeaveHerWild]

@@navigationnowhere Oh, number one rule when building 😂

[@joeysawyer7572]

Quick tip. Have someone or something hold one end of the pair of wires and the chuck them in a drill and spin it up. Put a little heat to them and it will make a twisted pair if wire it will be easier to deal with as they turn 2 wires into 1

[@mrosenblatt]

Another reason to run a hot and a ground: PWM Dimmers for LED's work by modulating the negative, not the positive. Without a ground going back to the dimmer, the light will just turn on permanently rather than dimming on/off.

[@phillyguy8541]

I like your solution to the wire unrolling from the spools. Years ago and I mean years, (I'm ancient) when we used to make our own Christmas lights for outside from spools of wire and sockets, My dad did the exact same thing. It made the whole process easy, we just grabbed an end of each wire and pulled off the lengths we needed, no fuss, no muss.

[@jeffwrinkle575]

I really enjoy the detailed step by step on your bus build. The little things like where to run wire, leaving extra wire on the runs to allow for last minute adjustments. It is those priceless details that add to the already great quality of your build videos.

[@raiitooncreations8831]

Where exactly is he running the wires from tho?

[@CharlieandMeOurCampingVlog]

Greetings from Ireland the bus looks fantastic I am about to start an ambulance conversion and you have given me some great ideas.. this is my second conversion project.

[@karenkoontz4248]

You're making great progress. I'm enjoying the build.

[@elisabethm9655]

I love seeing all that chase tubing being recycled! This is going to be one gorgeous little rig 😊thanx for bringing us house bound folks along 👍🏽

[@GustheStruggleBus]

We really appreciate the way you explain and walk through things, it has always been so helpful! And that wire contraption is so freakin genius, we needed a contraption like that so bad!!! Bus is looking so good mike!

[@SaturnGeminiLove]

Awesome video as always. Learned a lot about wiring which would be my “fear” in doing a conversion in the future. Great information and I’m so glad that you labeled everything because that is going to save a lot of headache in the future. Much love to you and your friends and family ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@FloridaHomesteading]

Always a pleasure guys!! Nice, clean work! I’m always impressed! 🙂👍

[@lisaswinson2102]

God Bless Luc. Be careful and safe out there.

[@moschwaner]

AWWWWWW!! Hey Rita!!! Funny running into you here! lol

[@christopherwardlow6876]

I really admire your dedication, and talent. You, and your family/team, have truly inspired me to pursue this dream. Thank You, for all that you give !!!

[@Badgeweefixstuff]

awesome job great video well done 🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦🛠️👍👍

[@TheUtopiansBus]

Needed this video, thank you. Have yet to run 12 volt and have plans for enough devices to have concern that I have enough wire run. Nice job with details about safety and leaving excess for spray foam. Didn't think of that. Consider installing a dimmer up front for your three way. It's like night lights in the ceiling when they're all the way down, and the rear switch will memorize your dimness setting when turning the lights back on from the back. That's what I did for my main lights with a hallway switch exiting the bedroom, a separate 2 way dimmer for the two bedroom lights and a separate 1 way switch for a single utility light in the garage. Might as well have full control/convenience of lighting where it's desired. Bus looks great man!!! Can't wait to paint ours.

[@PheelTheJoy]

Hello Mike! I'm going back through the Ivan build videos now for the third time or so. I've been following you for years now and I'm about to start building within the next few weeks. Thank you so much for these videos, it really helps take the fear factor out of such a large project to realize it is just a ton of small projects that are very manageable.

[@Native-Kitty]

Loved this video. Shout out to Sir Dale and Lady Christina for helping out on this one. Who else laughed when Dale said: “You’re sad about that?” LOL!!!

[@navigationnowhere]

Always fun to have dale around.

[@smwon1]

Can't wait to see the finished interior!

[@gwenerikson7356]

♥️....yet another fab video of your Bus Build .... I sure enjoy them ...thanks 😊🌿

[@jdcooks9929]

Awesome video as always, missed your content. Glad your back!!!

[@greensnapper1602]

GO DALE !!

[@lisaswinson2102]

You are very smart young man. Can’t wait for the next video. 👍

[@cg60msc]

Great information, labeling is super important, as well as proper wire sizes...

[@jmcguire5548]

Very helpful saving all your videos to review again. Thank you.

[@marki122594]

Your videos are so relaxing!! Thank you!!

[@NIstrumone]

Love your videos...love your attitude and personality....great videos....

[@Theloze]

I am from Ithaca New York! I will be starting my build in September and have been binging your videos, thanks for all the help and hello from a fellow upstater 👍🏽

[@philbuilds116]

I don't miss the Oswego winters at all. Especially being 6 blocks from the lake and never knowing when it was going to snow. The other 3 seasons are awesome.

[@toddjohnston4788]

Roof top deck! I'll be there👍

[@bobmarie1450]

Nice pencil sharpener! I only have a box cutter to sharpen mine. Lol. Your build is great. I am almost finished with my build. I am ready to hit the road. Take care. Bob

[@gaileenfrost5212]

Your doing a fantastic job keep up the good work

[@melvinstephenson5535]

Yes a new video!!!

[@SteampunkSteve]

Lots of skull sweat upfront saves headaches down the line when you do the wiring. I'll be in WNY this weekend. Hope to get up there soon

[@navigationnowhere]

Sounds like we need to meet up then. Totally agree sweet now means easy going later

[@mik7564]

love the music choice

[@rolandoperez2779]

This is what I wanted to learn! Thanks!

[@navigationnowhere]

Awesome, glad the video came out at the right time

[@djbigdavethefyrm]

What guard wire??

[@johannesgerdszon2233]

Finally a new episode :) been waiting :)

[@crownewourth1]

I miss Luc already! New to your channel! Well done indeed!

[@cholvicario4770]

I'm enjoying watching your channel here from Philippines 🇵🇭😊📺👌🍻

[@whenboysetsfire1]

Great job, dude. Wish this video was out 6 months ago lol

[@trish_tha_dish]

Hmm. Now you've got me thinking about the space above the driver's seat in my future Collins. I think it'll be a perfect spot for my vinyl albums & all-in-one Crosley turntable unit to sit.

[@gymkhanaJOSH]

Dude, I had no idea you were in upstate NY, lol. Well, I'm sure you don't hang out there long. I'm down in the city about to start my own mini-bus build but with quite a different purpose. I'm converting the wheelchair lift into a motorcycle hoist, the back of the bus into a track day garage, and the rest into my weekend MAN CAVE. Haha maybe we'll cross paths in our travels. Also, I've watched your videos over and over and over again hoping that I'm absorbing all of your knowledge before I undertake this project lol. Thanks for doing what you do. Take it easy, brotha.

[@mcmullaj1]

Sweet. was ready for a new post!

[@navigationnowhere]

Thanks for waiting! Hope you enjoy it!

[@mariayu1012]

Have been checking on my subscription list..thought I missed any of your updates🤣

[@aspierunner1725]

I just saw Luke and his FJ on Number Juan Bus' latest video.

[@briandavis9975]

It's really coming together Mike tell your little sister thanks for making us wait 2 days I thought man we'll never see this thing get wired but you pulled it off buddy. Lol anyway can't wait to see the spray foam done if you don't mind could you give us the cost and a break down of what your goal is with it like how thick and R value your hoping to see. I'm asking because I'm getting mine done and don't have a lot of examples mines 40ft by 7.5 wide and a little over 76 inches in headroom is appreciate it very much thank you for sharing your builds with us Mike I know it's a ton of work to do it.

[@TenJ59]

It's coming along

[@T8RTU]

You’ve got some great design ideas for the van for sure! 👍 Love the idea for the pantry and the flexibility of the dinette will provide great useful space! Just watching again...How near will your bed/bench be when you want to sit at it to work at the desk... looks like a bit of a reach in the rendering which might be a problem unless I missed something? Are you considering a secure travel seat for a passenger up front or going with moveable chairs only.... I’m not sure of what your options might be for a second person in the van (or more!) when traveling should that ever be considered desirable or needed in future. Back in the U.K. they would need to be fixed and a seatbelt provided. Rather ask now than too late 🤞... top quality work as ever and looking forward to seeing the build progress. 😎👍✅

[@JT9685]

Great video, I was looking forward to this process and appreciate the explanations given for the process. Does the MaxFan run off 12V also??

[@navigationnowhere]

Yes it does

[@ohduana6746]

This feels soooo overwhelming

[@davehconner]

Something I just thought of as I was watching the video: A cabinet or two could be created with one or more sides left uninsulated, but with a heavily insulated cabinet door. This cabinet could serve as an auxiliary refrigerator during cold weather. Condensation could become an issue in such an area, so cedar framing and perhaps other precautions might be in order.

[@JordanWorkshop]

Great framing work! Did Rita's shuttle need a lot of bracing? I'm having to weld a good bit of metal framing to make my fiberglass sturdy.

[@itsanorristhing3825]

Oh how I wish you were in Rhode Island to Help a gal or give direction with her conversion. I watch so many of these builds I should know but your like a master builder love your videos! You are super nice and super friend ? Are these your peesonal buses ? Or Are these work project for friends? Awesome job my dude!! Lovin Rita! MUCH LOVE ❤❤

[@moriahjoynes9314]

Hey Mike! I have a quick question. Do you recommend marine grade wiring? I have seen a few skoolie people recommend it because of the high vibration environment of the bus. Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks so much for all the informative videos!

[@TripleXclown]

Lol Making Dale Work..

[@2AZSUN]

Well, a little disappointed it wasn't more of the Dale and Christina show, but since it's still your channel, I guess we have to take what we can get. Still waiting for your sister to get hers rolling. Otherwise, great vid on how to wire it all up. Doing these teaching vids makes the process that much longer for you, but you do a great job putting these together and showing how it can be done.

[@guy4462]

Here in New Brunswick... I hear you winter is never far.

[@navigationnowhere]

I forget summer happens. 😂

[@siobane5775]

From the Syracuse area...so much snow!

[@treychoice6332]

Dale always cracks me up lol I was curious. Do you have to know exactly what solar system you're going to put in before you wire 12v? Or is that the same wiring you would use for any solar setup?

[@edwardseth1230]

Technically speaking.. with all the work you 4 (yourself and friends n family) keep on doing.. you honestly should put up a XXL-large garage (pre fab) and start building buses or trucks by customer preferences.. and start selling (you pick they buy.. or they buy you do the work for $$$$ price) its a totally big thing to do and would need a lot of financial backing but am sure. its a positive thing to do especially in this time and place where you can do the hard work for someone who wants to do the labor along with you...stay safe.. GOD BLESS.

[@karenriggle5435]

That's also how we string barbed wire when fencing in a pasture 4 rolls of wire at a time our roller bar was in the pickup stake pockets

[@jasonalicea6209]

Hi Mike, I have recently subscribed and have been following your Ivan build. My wife and I have recently started our conversion and I am trying to get ready for spray foam. I have a question regarding your wiring for the puck lights. It looks as though you will have one set of wires that go to from the panel to the puck lights then are they all wired off each other?

[@TheWarrrenator]

Hey Mike! Great video, awesome to watch it all come along. I have a quick question- are you an Aquarius? Just curious. Thanks!

[@Mary-ix9ow]

I am wondering why do you not use say 14/2 wiring instead of the single black and red. It was recommend to me to use, such as speaker wire. Would you recommend this. I just want to make sure before I more forward. Thanks so much. I really enjoy all the tips and help.

[@cmadk3423]

Any idea what's involved in changing the registration for commercial or bus to Rv in NY, I'm getting to that soon

[@kevinmccarthy7776]

Hi Mike can you let me know what we’re those wire spools that you used? Thanks in advance.

[@MidnightAmratha]

are you going to use tubing to protect the electrical wires from chemically reacting with the spray foaming?

[@WK-dt7ed]

Did you register and insurance a Skoolie in NJ and if so what needed to be done and what company did you use for insurance?

[@DougOrDouglas]

what type/brand of paint did you use for the final color of navi jr?

[@canuckyank82]

Do you create wiring schematics or is it all just inside your head?

[@mindbreaking]

Suggestion for next time, get a few more colors for secondary stuff, switch legs, travelers and such.

[@failbox.]

Any reason why you wouldn't want to run conduit to chase the wires through? Would be rough to have a short somewhere in the future once it's buried.

[@alanconway7644]

Any ideas how to register and insure a bus. I’m in New Jersey and seems i can only get commercial insurance

[@billk.7889]

I would have flipped the spools 180 degrees so the wire fed off the bottom to decrease any friction caused by the eyelet.

[@reesewallace5448]

are those the standard bus windows??

[@DavidWischnewski]

Why aren't you grounding the 12 volt wire for the negative side of the light fixtures?

[@terminsane]

Everyone: "nice woodworking bar clamp." Navigation Nowhere: "this old broken piece of metal"

[@Pozoe12]

What part of upstate New York? I’m up here too lol

[@KellySandra716]

western Ny here and dont poke the bear.... burrrrrrrr

[@FrethKindheart]

Nice to see Rita popping in. Does she have a YT channel? Does Luke have a YT channel?

[@navigationnowhere]

Neither of them have YT channels.

[@ddstewart6574]

Nevermind I found the wire video!

[@jeanbuckley5917]

Do u work for hire on other people buses?

[@danieleastlund7986]

Come on been waiting for these episodes for so long. Let see the end

[@jerryhofstra6894]

Where in upstate N.Y. ?

[@gordr8024]

Okay 3 things you could do to make life easier 1 - run conduits with LB's that way if you have any working problems in the future you won't have to rip the bus apart to fix wiring problems. 2 - you could use teck cable the smallest guage you can get is awg 14 in a tech cable they can be multi strands. Tech cable is the bomb. If you need smaller guage you can get instrumentation cable in a casing like the tech at any guage with multiple wires I have used both and it makes wiring easy it is direct burial approved if ever needed, you could run 2 tech cables on either side of the bus with junction boxes at the front corners, back corners and in the middle. Only thing is tech would not be serviceable but it is very robust it can be expensive there are special water proof connects that are water tight ratings. You would be running 1 cable with multi wires if needed or 14 3 tech cable. Just a thought. 3 - run multi wire cabtire wire. Will be less fiddling with individual wires, better isolation, more durable

[@danielvanmourik5247]

I hope the wires are not broken in the future when te are in the spray foam. How can You fix them than.

[@nw7696]

😊👍🏻

[@matthewmcnutt3665]

Where are pulling all the power to power everything an external battery or from the bus batteries?

[@navigationnowhere]

The bus batteries and house batteries will be separated. They will be connected through a DC to DC charger to allow for charging from the alternator.

[@swaterman08]

I would put them in a drill and twist them, but I would also just ground each device next to the light.

[@scuzpunk79]

Attaching the ground to the hull next to the device is called local ground.

[@laurakramer396]

Are you available to help with a van or bus build? I'm disabled and need your help.

[@bhandarij]

Mike, Do you have a diagram of this wiring which I can use how many switches, lights, speaker wires, etc to be used in the 30 ft bus? If yes, please share that diagram.

[@navigationnowhere]

I don’t have a diagram. I just go wire by wire and take my time. Sometimes you can get a schematic from the company.

[@johnathansparks1678]

With copper prices up this year 2021, do you have a good link to a place to buy the 14 Gauge THN wire? I did not see a link on this video. I am trying to explain to my son that you can not just run single strand copper in a bus. He knows how to build houses, but I am telling him he needs to think as if he is building a boat instead when it comes to electrical....Thanks

[@navigationnowhere]

The 14 Thoth I got at HD so I didn’t have a link for it. As for wiring a bus you are right in thinking it’s just like a boat. We use almost exclusively low voltage and either use a common neutral (bus body) or run two wire system. Best with your build. ✌️

[@johnathansparks1678]

@@navigationnowhere we have a ground to the frame from a wheel chair lift we removed. So I am thinking of attaching a bus bar to it and send all the grounds to thst main frame ground. There is also a power lead from the 3 bus batteries. I am thinking of using that hot wire in the build as a aux power or a aux supply to charge the house batteries when the bus is on the road. Listed as always hot on the bus fuse panel.

[@charleskrowl9318]

So many advertisements!! Hope that means you’re doing well🖤

[@timothynaquin8899]

Is that cutaway section strong enough to support the battery or batteries for the solar system?

[@navigationnowhere]

It might be. But, it’s not much space and would be a pretty high location to put battery weight

[@timothynaquin8899]

@@navigationnowhere thanks. How do you figure out how much battery storage and solar panels needed for a build. Do you have a video on that?

[@moustachemike7128]

ive used jack stands before to hold the reels..my 2 cents...lol

[@BreakTime10101]

Doe Luke have his own KZbin channel?

[@cynthiab6475]

I want you to help me build my bus please you and your friend Dale remind me of my dad and brother so cool.

[@TyRodriguez]

Question I was wondering if anybody ever thought of raising the roof on a short bus and put a loft bed but still have enough room to stand underneath?

[@sarabeth3016]

That would require a very tall roof raise, at LEAST 24" but probably 30" or 36". It would also restrict your ability to put anything on your roof and still meet the height restrictions for traveling under overpasses.