22-Year-Old Installs 2000watts of Solar using Unistrut

I'm converting this bus to a cozy home, and in this video, I add 1820w of solar to my bus roof without welding. Below you can find links to everything in this video.
You can check out my website where I am taking the knowledge I have gained over the years and giving it away for free. If you're interested in van life and maybe don't know where to start, check out:
www.offgridworlds.com/
Off Grid World's own site where you can learn about van life and all past and future projects of Off Grid World!
I'm not sponsored by Santan solar, but they are a really cheap way to get solar. They wholesale solar panels, and I got mine for around 70 cents a watt after shipping. Amazon is usually over $1 a watt. However, they don't carry these exact panels anymore.
Solar Panels: www.santansolar.com/
The following links are affiliate to help support the channel.
Solar Charge Controller: amzn.to/42EzYY4
Solar Crimpers: amzn.to/3I21bul
8 Guage Wire: amzn.to/3SUUxw2
Solar Fuses: amzn.to/3SCagyY
Solar Y Connectors: amzn.to/3HXU0mL
Eterna Bond: amzn.to/3wqMpdO
Timestamps:
0:00 Off Grid Freedom
1:49 Materials Needed
4:03 Install
6:59 Dust Catcher 3000
8:20 More Install
15:03 Solar Panel Clamps
15:23 Even More Install
25:25 Custom Siding
27:41 Outro

[@themax2go]

7:48 you're so fired up, your eyes are glowing 🔥👹🤣 good explanations, clever tricks, good explanations 👍🏼

[@minghiy]

Definitely one of the most thorough build videos I've seen on youtube!! Thank you so much!!!

[@redsquirrelftw]

Wow that's a nice install, the border on the side really completes it, and will probably help for aerodynamics too.

[@offgridworlds]

Thanks! It helps with crosswinds too, I’ve had a panel on my old van get ripped off in crazy cross winds that were tipping semi trucks over.

[@CanaryMiner-s3h]

If you drill backwards with your hole saw, you will get a clean simple start in the fiberglass. You can lower the RPMs to let your vacuum catch more of it. Great idea with the trash bag though. We work with what we have.

[@allonesame6467]

Rubber seal washers at the nut head and on the roof side would help reduce possibility of leaks. But, you go buddy! Awesome!

[@offgridworlds]

Had no idea those existed! Learn something new everyday.

[@Parchment1993]

Nice build enjoyed watching that.

[@Colby.bankss]

Heck yeah dude! Stoked to see more of this van

[@ericspano4350]

A very good job

[@daydreaminginventor-k8957]

40 year old comment , great work!

[@2hotscottpro]

Wow I questioned the counter person at a solar supply house.Canadian solar 525 bifacial we’re $333 per panel. Said they were $180 on eBay .They didn’t ship so I had to pay.He did calculate they were 62 cent watt same as a-cell 410’s.Location for sure so milagE varies haha

[@2hotscottpro]

Boing! Just bought some 2 foot sample struts.Your timing is good for to do a mount.Thinking about paying double for light weight aluminum .Wow took a year to make this vid,krazy good info man!

[@offgridworlds]

Honestly, I don't think aluminum would make sense for the weight vs cost, unless you have a lot of money!

[@dangeroustoman]

I would of used a metal strip at least as long as the unistrut spacer. Now you only have the washers holding on.

[@coliecat]

mika looking majestic at 16:28

[@TexasGTO]

Mika is the cat? That's my wife's name lol

[@offgridworlds]

Mika is the cat, shes the best van cat!@@TexasGTO

[@TheLittleMagnus]

Everyone I know who has solar on his van uses flexible panels glued right to the roof. They usually come with less kWp but you didnt seem to need it anyways.

[@offgridworlds]

I thought about it, the cons are: 1. Expensive, $1200 for the panels I got after shipping, Over $2200 for the same amount in flexible panels. 2. Less Power output and more heat clipping (power dropping from heat). I would never be able to get the same amount of power from flexible panels because of panel sizes. Most would be 1100w if I’m lucky. 3. Looks bad, you can see the flexible panels from the ground. I wanted mine to seem factory 4. Replacements. It’s extremely difficult to replace ones you glue down, these can be replaced in literally 30 minutes. 5. I wanted all the power I could get. I’m installing a A/C heater system that I want to run 24/7 365 to get the cabin at 72deg.

[@johnguilbert1349]

Cool video, Do you have a link to the Unistrut clamps? Those look pretty decent

[@offgridworlds]

Yes, I'm working on getting them listed. Ill reply to this comment with a link when its ready, however, it may take a few weeks.

[@XxViper06xX]

Probably should have used some wood or such as a backer internally. I don't know how thick that remaining layer of the roof is but wind under those panels will probably eventually rip them through that.

[@offgridworlds]

I did some tests and determined that the wind from driving gets pushed over the panels and almost no wind gets under the panels

[@luwright1025]

Cool

[@themax2go]

on another note, i heard buses (though maybe more like school buses) are notoriously difficult and increasingly expensive to maintain (especially the older they get) - might be a good idea to consider a full electric drive conversion

[@offgridworlds]

I have considered an electric drive, however this bus is 2015, so I have at least another 10 years before running into any issues. The newer busses are also built much better than the older ones so they should last longer. I won't be holding onto this bus for too long when it's done, so who ever owns if after me may consider going electric once the engine fails.

[@richardc3208]

Sweet build, I was wondering how you liked the pannels but apparently they get the job done nicely.

[@offgridworlds]

I’ll be doing another video soon going into depth of the electrical, I love it so far and it’s produced so much power!

[@2hotscottpro]

Cool I’ll watch ! Sub !

[@nicholasthon973]

You blocked in heat with that side plastic. Heat damages and decreases output.

[@offgridworlds]

There is more than enough airflow in between the panels, aslwell as in front and behind the panels

[@elminster8149]

Use a hole saw dade, captures pretty much all the dust and debris.

[@offgridworlds]

I was actually using a hole saw, the dust still was flying everywhere!

[@elminster8149]

@@offgridworlds No , a hole saw dade. It's a plastic cup that you attach to the drill and it cups over the hole saw and seals against the roof, capturing all the dust etc.

[@offgridworlds]

Oooohhhh, I've seen those for making cuts in the ceiling of drywall. Thats a good idea, however I don't think I'll ever be needing to do that ever again.

[@jeffwashburn36]

i would love to know where you got those clamps

[@offgridworlds]

I had them custom ordered from china, I plan on mass ordering some and making an Amazon listing if enough people are interested! I take it you would be interested?

[@jeffwashburn36]

i would @@offgridworlds

[@themax2go]

though i'm wondering... why didn't you just mount the panels width wise along the width of the bus, saving you some work? and on another note, why didn't you get the new flex panels that have a much longer lifespan? the other issue with large solar panel configs is the power drop associated with partial shading, but depending on your parking situation and wiring config, that might not be a (big) concern

[@offgridworlds]

-The orientation I went with allowed the most amount of solar power with how much roof space I have. The little bit in the back will have a star link and some other stuff in the future so the whole roof will be full. -The flex panels have less power output and flex panels have heat up a lot quicker and can heat clip much sooner. I'm not sure about the lifespan of a flex panel, but these panels are warrantied for 30 years but can last 100 years (with degradation of watt output), definitely longer than this bus will ever make it. -These panels specifically are 9bb half-cell, so they have less drop than normal panels. However, you still get the same power drop with panels because you run smaller panels in series or parallel. If you look closely, these panels are pretty much 4 100w panels combined in series. I also plan on only parking in the sun most of the time.

[@felixsouteredgelife1166]

I noticed you have a CNG bus. Compressed Natural Gas. I didnt think that fuel was readily available, did you find a place to fuel up? Or......?

[@offgridworlds]

So fuel can be an issue, and you can’t drive everywhere. You can only access like 70% of the US. However you can’t beat $1.30/gal at some stations, and if you end up going everywhere you can, you can change it back to normal gas for around $10k

[@Parchment1993]

Whats that material you used to cover the sides?

[@offgridworlds]

It’s an aluminum composite used for making signs like real estate signs. It’s aluminum on each side sandwiching plastic. It was left over product from my dads old sign business

[@AKAtheA]

why not use aluminium extrusions that are specifically designed and made for mounting solar panels? Also, they're considerably lighter...

[@chimpo131]

because people don't care😂

[@offgridworlds]

Because the availability, you cant get those most places, and if you have them shipped, it cost hundreds of dollars. Unistrut you can find anywhere!

[@dfuentes420]

Make sure you paint the unistrut you cut. The galvanized protection was compromised where it was cut.

[@offgridworlds]

Ill do a 1 year update video for the roof rack to get an idea on wear and tear.@@dfuentes420

[@robertvanhollenbeck3608]

33 year old comments, "great job"

[@TV3MASTER]

Having the sideskirts will ruin your panel efficiency because the heat cannot get away easily, also, if your solar charger supports it, don't use Y splitters, putting panels in series in much better.

[@offgridworlds]

There is more than enough ventilation, the panels have gaps between them as well as in front and behind. I couldn’t go series because the panels are 50v each and the charge controller only supports up to 80v at 12v batteries.