It starts with the sun.  3 Solarex MSX-120 panels produce 17 VDC at 7 amps each.  They charge the batteries we use for the two inverters on board to make house current.  They are regulated by two Trace C-40 charge controllers.  We needed two since we have a 12 volt and a 24 volt system, using 1 and 2 panels respectively.  The photo below is of the charge controllers and a switch for 12 and 24 volts, or 12 volts only.  In the 12 volts only position, the 12V batteries get a 21 amp quick charge on sunny days !

The solar panels and charge controllers came from Parts on Sale http://www.partsonsale.com/slrelecar.html   and worked right out of the box without any trouble.  They are great people to deal with and the whole package was about $2000.  The best buy so far besides the bus !

Here is a view of the 14 golf cart batteries in the left bay and the 2 starting batteries in the right compartment.   In the left bay are also two LP gas tanks, about 40 gallons each, and a Vanner 5000-watt inverter with 120- and 240-volt AC output to provide house current for the workbenches and lighting upstairs.

Here is a front face shot of the inverter.    This inverter runs pretty much everything in the bus, except the backup video camera and monitor, and the notebook computer and GPS receiver that keep the driver alert and informed (we hope).  The solenoid on the wall above the inverter connects the 24-volt starting battery bank to the 24-volt inverter battery bank, so when the bus is running, the 300 amps available from the bus alternator can charge both banks at the same time.  All those batteries and the inverter also keep the bus from tipping over on windy days.

A 1 kilowatt 12V to 120VAC inverter lives near the shifter knob.   This runs the backup monitor, notebook computer and GPS, and an onboard PC tower.   It is good to have two independent sources of house current and it keeps the electronic devices free from electrical noise and surges when large loads are added and disconnected from the 5KW system.

Have you ever tried to back up a 40' bus?  Even as you get experienced, it is hard to see anything smaller than a semi that is right behind you.   So there is video.  A hole was cut  above the driver's windshield for a 9" video monitor, and a camera was added to the rear window with infrared illumination for at night.  Much better now.

Last updated:  26 April, 2004

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