A snowy, freezing solar panel install // Skoolie Electrical (school bus conversion part 43

This week I finally bit the bullet and got around to installing my solar panels even though the weather was FREEZING. The solar set up in my skoolie is now complete 😊😊
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[@jjryansea]

You have a nice singing voice. Love your progress documentary/reality show. I find myself smiling when you smile. Weird I know.

[@Snipedog1978]

Does anyone else love hearing Emma sing while she works. She has such a lovely voice that goes so perfectly with her bubbly personality

[@deanberry5961]

Yes she has a beautiful voice

[@0HARE]

Great to see you chipping away at that pile of tasks. Slowly, but surely, she’s coming together. Rock & Roll

[@jayu724]

YES!!...EMMA you sing beautifully!..sing while you work! 🙂

[@willywonka4139]

"My forearms are going to be so sore." Wax on. Wax off. Wax on right hand. Wax off left hand. J/K. You're building strength for the heavy lifting later 😊😊 Sing like a 'birbie', Emma! Sing! I feel your pain of frozen hands. Starting at 13:14 Just a thought on testing the strength of the strips on your ceiling; tie some of your planks (with string) to the strips before you try to attach them (from side to ceiling top center). Another consideration on the rounded corners maybe add a couple of blocks (curved on the bus ceiling side and flat on the surface-mount ceiling side) along the length of the bus. You're getting there!

[@tossmein]

Your determination is awesome! Quick tip regarding the metal ribbing on the bus, when you install the the ceiling and walls make sure to take a thin foam and put it over all the ribbing. You can get it at any large hardware store It can either be a foam insulation tape or a Sill Plate Gasket one is called comfort seal it is a very thin pink foam. The metal is a direct conductor of heat and cold to the inside of your bus. you need to create a gap or it will just transfer it directly to the wood on the ceiling or walls defeating a large portion of your insulation. Keep up the good work.

[@totocolvin]

Make a wire map for the future so you will know where your electric is after your ceiling is in.

[@norm5785]

You are doing an awesome job in very cold weather. Now you have electric power. Have a great week out of town.

[@TroyDeanOnTheRoad]

I very much appreciate the honesty of all your videos. Thank you.

[@ronnievance6835]

I just gotta say I’m impressed😀

[@jameswatson521]

Emma it looks good girl keep the good work and don’t ever feel discouraged because only you can have the final say of it

[@stevesteel6066]

You have a great voice and you are so awesome and beautiful 😍 Hope the project goes well, you are doing an amazing job!

[@Incaensio]

Your shirt is from where I grew up 😁

[@randyrandolph9709]

Girl i love watching you. You are completely different from everyone else love that about you. Please don't change.

[@76Scutter]

You have such a pretty singing voice

[@joydiaz3052]

At 14:34 to 14:51 a wonderful love song that makes a good vibes. Happy New Year to you Emma 💕🎉

[@patriciaharkin1571]

Go Emma. I just love how your confidence is growing and look forward to each Fridays video. Enjoy your week away.

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

thank you!

[@HOODS]

Heck ya moving right along love it.

[@marymoyer1773]

You are amazing Emma..I love your channel..and I hope you don't mind me saying...you are growing in confidence with each project you do..figuring out ways to make things work..You go girl!!! Take care

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

thanks so much!

[@farmtruck9885]

If in the future, if you have to cut a grommet use super glue to glue it back together before you put the grommet in. 😊👍

[@tylerhowerton8518]

I been watching a few videos and I have to say I like the fact you tackle all the issues alone and you keep in good spirits while doing it strong woman 💪🏻👷‍♀️

[@joeyyoung1279]

Getting it done 😀 another great video 👍

[@DNA930]

This is a really late comment but have you thought about running conduit down the middle of the ceiling? A central tube with junction boxes every couple of feet cleans up wiring and allows for future upgrades without taking out the entire ceiling. Keep up the good work.

[@pixiebusadventures936]

I like this advice this is what I was considering doing.

[@michaelirizarry5037]

nice work emma.

[@TALAfan11]

Go Emma!!! Great job

[@barrywhitlock141]

Well done with the Solar installation so far, I know it wasn't that easy for you, you said about the ceiling where you have put those strips up. I know they are there to support your tunnel and groove boards but they don't look strong enough to hold the weight especially if you go over rough roads, I would suggest you put a few more up so you have more screw holes to be able to make it a firmer fit,

[@TheBlake27]

Kudos to getting it done even in the cold! It's coming along so well!

[@davidmooney6497]

If you are using T&G cedar for your ceiling, why can't you drill hole for your lights before installing the board? Easier to pull the wire through for the light. I'm impressed how well you are doing, even with the mistakes. It's all a learning process. Keep up the good work!

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

thanks! I've thought about that as well but when it comes down to it I just don't trust myself to get the holes in the right spot before it's up and I can see the whole thing 😅

[@keithburkett9448]

Great Video Emma 👍👍

[@franciscoviola5599]

No fire no sparks here the danger?! 😂 Just kidding see you next week 😅

[@rodenystewart3590]

Good job pretty lady

[@mscarlarn]

Great job Emma! I so love watching your channel! You make me smile watching you figure things out.

[@techshoptalk375]

Just a quick note here. Glue has a temp rating because of the way it dries. If it is too cold it may become brittle and not have the hold it is rated for. My advise is to always follow the recommended temp. I would be interested to see how long this is going to actually hold with just adhesive. I would check the solar panels periodically to see if the adhesive is holding. 55 mph will put quite a bit of stress on the solar panels and once it starts giving it would be just a matter of time before it would be blown apart. You can periodically add adhesive as it begins to give. You might run a bead of roof outdoor rated caulk on the leading edge of the solar panels to keep the wind from entering underneath it if you haven't already. On the wiring please be careful when you put the ceiling up so that you do not pinch the wires under it. You may get the ceiling in and everything works but a few weeks or months down the road the wire breaks under the pressure of the pinch and your lights stop working. If you screw into the wires it will ground it out and keep the system from working. Keep plugging at it. Thanks for the video.

[@scottpothier2006]

Great video,

[@tinastuplesburnette1518]

Great Job! It's a tough job to get done and that cold weather isn't making it any easier! Keep chugging along!😊❄⛄❄⛄❄⛄❄⛄

[@terrybrannigan9963]

Yay solar. I can relate with the cold. It'll be a couple more months before I can work again.

[@AB-C1]

Well done Emma! GREAT job! You put a smile on my face with every video, your enthusiasm, ingenuity and the fact you get it done "by hook or by crook" lol just Brilliant!! And always comes out better than you think! You should give yourself more credit and cut yourself more slack, you've done AMAZINGLY well! Very talented and now a multi skilled girl! You'll be a self build expert after this Bus conversion!! Well done and Happy New Year from London England 👍❤️👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@xavierpendrag0n]

Excellent job. You were handling that like a pro. Please be careful with the temps that low for your own safety. I had a good laugh when you hauled the tube of adhesive out of the jacket at 3:01 . I can not confirm or deny if I have done the same thing when working in freezing temps. You did all you could do with the conditions you were in. Everything you did gave you an extra chance that adhesive would cure. Time will tell if it worked. Going back and checking if it cured will be something you will want to plan for later or at least before you take it out on the road next. With your wiring and plumbing, taking some graph paper and drawing out a quick line drawing of your bus and using the main frame structures and then drawing in your lines onto that would help even after it is all closed up. Just remember, one day you will need to know where all that is, wouldn't hurt to have that written down before it is covered. Your layout for your strips and the depth of the staples look perfect. Staples are usually good as long as the shield for the wire is not damaged in the process. One of my favorite methods is one hole zip ties. You can screw them into the wood, then create a channel out of the zip tie upon positioning of the wire. I could not tell If you have added fuse protection from your battery to your main positive into the system. That is super important. Overall though, nice work.

[@barryedwards1336]

You may want to consider also putting 4 self tapping screws in that cover you stuck down with sealant to make sure it stays put, cover screw heads with a little more sealant when screwed down and run a run a ring of sealant around the edge of the box to roof for good measure also.

[@snakeboren4814]

GOOD JOB EMMA!!!!

[@dennisporter753]

Great progress Emma.. I sure hope the glue holds... You have a beautiful singing voice... loved it!.. you should do it more often.. Happy New Year Emma!

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

thank you!

[@johnchryn1537]

I hope that Glue well keep your solar panels on top of that roof. I myself would not have put Them up there in the cold Love your videos And your attitude is Great even when things go wrong you just keep smiling

[@andrewwilson136]

Let there be 💡 ! Very nice ! 🌻 happy new year!

[@jereschweitzer9195]

Happy New Year to you too I always look forward for your videos each week enjoy watching you work you do an awesome job your bus is going to be so neat when you got it all done

[@terristenacious2279]

EMMA, GREAT JOB YOUR TENACIOUS🎉🎉🎉

[@warrendelay]

It is hard to find the words to express how impressive your capabilities are. Very!!!. to say the least. and THAT is why I have been kind of biting my lip (or my keyboard) on an issue. but my respect for you forces me to address it. The thought of locating the components which have the highest degree of fire potential under the bed is very disconcerting. OK I've mentioned it, now My conscience will be clear if God forbid the worst possibility happened. I apologize if I've overstepped. With that said, the combination of your capabilities and your personality, makes it truly a pleasure and fun following you.

[@mrmotofy]

Yep you worry too much

[@EvaJurisson]

I think another build showing the same install would be appropriate. Dude.

[@warrendelay]

@@EvaJurisson 2 people doing it wouldn't make it any safer. It's basic logic. not rocket science.

[@grosseileracingteam]

Hi Emma. I know you're working really hard on your bus, but here's a few suggestions. Remember when you touched positive to negative with your battery? Are those metal staples holding the positive and negative wires to the ceiling? Vibration of the bus going down the road will wear away the insulation from the wires rubbing on the staples, and the staples will connect those wires together and cause a short circuit. Wire protection is one reason why vehicle manufacturers put wiring in wire loom. I would put ALL wires in loom. You can zip tie the loom to the staples with the wires in the loom. Just FYI, I buy 1/2" wire loom (you can buy different diameter depending on wire size) in 50' rolls on Amazon for $16. If you shop around, buying materials in bulk usually costs a lot less. I would also at least use self tapping screws with fender washers and LOTS of silicon around the holes to secure the four corners of each solar panel to the roof. The grommet should be okay. Grommets are to protect the wire from rubbing on the metal edge of the hole. I knew you were finishing your ceiling, just thought wainscoting panels would be easier for you. Hope this helps and you had a good trip.

[@carls4552]

As always, loved your video. Thanks for clearing up your ceiling plans. Although I have to say, I don't know that those slats will be strong enough to hold up your future ceiling as is. There's a lot of distance between screws and they've very thin slats (aka not very strong). Make sure you put up plenty of them so that they can carry the weight.

[@sharonsmith9478]

You go girl love you

[@martionpaul3210]

A find it cool come Ireland see cold

[@nealmurphy647]

The sun will likely dry that glue even in the cold. Those panels produce heat and will help cure the glue also. Nice job!! I'm jealous of your progress!!

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

i'm excited to see your progress too!

[@bretthibbs6083]

You're doing a great job Emma yes you have made some mistakes like you have pointed out in the videos but you learn from them and correct them. You should be hopefully done with the bus by spring cause the hardest parts are the wiring and plumbing the rest should go pretty fast.

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

i sure hope so! 😊

[@danielwood2134]

If you drill the holes as you go would be a better idea,just saying ❤️

[@spiritlove2]

I think u should find 2 strips of metal to put at each end of the panels to go across all 3 n that way it prevents the glue from coming loose while driving down the road and ur panels flying off and killing someone.

[@PromasterHOF]

You need to wrap the open ends of your solar panel wires and the connectors with something water proof! If you don’t water will get into the open ends….the ones that aren’t connected or the one that you are getting the extension for, if water get in it will short out that panel and maybe the whole system.

[@dougintothesunset]

Wholly cats that was some good progress this week, good job Emma! :-)

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

Thank you! 😊

[@judy6416]

Almost to 10000

[@lucmmeyer9835]

I love you canal

[@APinkPterodactyl]

One thing with the “drill” you were using is actually an impact style drill (better for screws and stuff like that) you’ll want to use an actual drill with a drilling setting and it’ll save your hole saw bits and be smoother to drill

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

yeah my other drill is broken and I've been too lazy to get it fixed so far :/

[@paulshannon4576]

I would be nervous about glueing the panels in cold weather. 🤔 You need to have 3/8” arbor for your drill. I finally bought a 1/2” battery drill after way too many years. You need to look for tie downs for the roof wires so they don’t flop around.

[@theskooliepad6095]

Congratulations! 👍 Keep it up. I’m having to wait for warmer weather to do stuff on my bus, so good thing you got to where your at now. How many watts of solar are each of those panels? I’m still looking for some.

[@billsandrelli957]

You will have a video file to look back on great idea

[@codyschiemann4732]

Okay... so i just wanna be sure here.. you did put light switches in right? because its kinda important to walk into the bus and turn lights on.. generally one by the bed... one at the front... but at the same time you probably want to be able to turn on/of lights while your laying down... as well.. etc.. EDIT: OMG GO GET THE RIGHT SIZED GROMIT.... your bus drives.... it vibrates when driving pretty violently actually, the rubber covering the electrical wires are going to rub off it it hits the metal at all.. and its a huge... huge problem that can be solved with a 2 dollar rubber ring..

[@stregaone4471]

💖💖💖

[@kimyotab7586]

I've been watching her for a while now, please tell me she finally finished this project

[@r13s]

i'm sure sombody's already said something, but u can't charge that battery below freezing or u will damage it because it doesn't have a low temp cutoff switch built in. u have to turn off the solar when t's cold in the bus.

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

thank you!

[@r13s]

@@EmmaBuildsBirbie make sure ur voltage matches too if that's a 12V bat you need 12V of solar coming in. Use a fluke on the solar wires to check voltages.

[@mrmotofy]

@Dick Jones No Sir you're incorrect. The panels can and should put out well over your battery voltage. The controller will reduce down according to settings that need to be set for each battery type. The panels being 12v 24v etc are general marketing terms. Those panels are gonna run around 22v.

[@r13s]

@@mrmotofy ​ur right, I misspoke. I assumed she knew I meant 12v system vs 24v system. obviously there is more than 12v in a 12v system and more than 24v in a 24v system. just wanted her to insure her voltage is within range for her charge controller because I heard her say 24 volts and was too lazy to rewind to see if she meant system or actual voltage since 23 volts is usual max for a 12 v system. So, sorry for the laziness :)

[@r13s]

especially with her, she needs specifics. 😁

[@duathlete827]

I've mentioned it before but that charge controller really should be mounted in an area where you can easily look at it at anytime to see what your solar system is doing including usage, battery level etc. Hidden under a bed is a bad spot. Maybe you can find another accessory display that can be connected to the controller but mounted out on a wall panel somewhere so you wouldn't need to move the actual controller.

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

yep i've got one 👍

[@duathlete827]

@@EmmaBuildsBirbie You're doing great. I feel better now lol.

[@francoisg1393]

There I was, for a moment, thinking Winston was one of your brothers, and how weird you talked to him...

[@lucmmeyer9835]

😀😀

[@RTVance]

Well done. I don't know if I could drill through a perfect good roof. I haven't caught the back videos yet because I haven't time yet. So if you cover this there let me know. Just a few thoughts I've had as I've continued to talk myself out of buying a bus. First does your bus have air brakes? Did you get the endorsement on you license if it does? Second some states don't care that you pulled the seats out they go off the occupancy plate on the bus, Nevada, and they will ticket and tow if it happens to be that one weekend a year they check everything with wheels. I am told this is also a thing out east but I don't drive out there so honestly no idea. Unsure what it takes to get that plate changed. Finally, cabinets. What are your plans for cabinets? Please don't say Ikea. You are to the point now that a little work is actually going to start showing up as results. Exciting.

[@mightystreaming933]

Quess you did not know flex panels over heat mounted like that

[@willow55us]

It's a shame you don't have anyone on your channel, who is local, that would allow you to use an indoor space to pull your bus in. Doing that kind of work in that kind of cold is brutal!

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

it weirdly was not as bad as i thought!

[@r8edrv4fun65]

Did the heating up of the grommets work? I hate putting grommets in, flipping the edge up, forcing it into the sharp edged hole. Looks good when done.

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

haha not at all

[@stevegillingham4781]

Am wondering were the flexible solar panels more exspencive and I belive you were charging at 23volts

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

yes they were

[@messengerofiexist2139]

Genesis 2:7, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24

[@messengerofiexist2139]

The important verses : Genesis 2:18, 22, 23, 24, 25

[@jb158t]

You are absolutely beautiful

[@jar407]

one of your earlier video rotated one captione dummy . good you no longer use dummy in description your no dummy in fact i see a lot of maturity in you from 9 months or so to now. be extremely careful if the flex panels don't completely stick use a external reinforcing the panels are very fragile even more in cold if you ever upgrade use regular mounted slightly off roof for air flow outside if that your doing ok should be mostly ready a builds never fully done by late spring rv season keep up the good work

[@beachlife9419]

No bf to help

[@mrmotofy]

Boys suck Girls rock haha

[@gadiantonx8474]

your poor arms (all 4) i fear you are going to redo that gluage in the spring

[@EmmaBuildsBirbie]

very possible 😅

[@gadiantonx8474]

@@EmmaBuildsBirbie but it appears i mistit yugogirl

[@selcuksadiktekin3854]

You haven't to eat eggs..for your face

[@DNA930]

Good job. My goal for 2022 is to find a girlfriend as cool as you.