VERY well done ! Your written guide is very well written. Although not a full-timer; we spend at least 3-5 days out once a month & 6-7 week 'snowbird' trip in the Winter. 6 years ago I started studying solar. Watched a ton of TH-cam's and talked to a lot of people. I was getting paralysis by analysis, so I decided to start real small with 1-100W panel + PWM controller + 400W inverter + 2-6V golf cart batteries. I learned a lot with hands on. One of the biggest discoveries for me was learning that if the panel was not in direct sun; you achieve very little power. I "chase the sun" and move the panels couple of times a day. I have since added a 2nd panel and I am now adding Lithiums. Since we camp a lot in the wooded areas I added a 2000w inverter generator as a backup & the occasional need for higher Amp 110V. All in for
Glad to hear you found the video and guide helpful! Like you said, doing is one of the best ways to learn. Things became much more clear and understandable once we actually started planning out the system and then installing it. Until then, your brain is just trying to make sense of a ton of new information!
Awesome presentation! I will be viewing all of your topics. When I was a US FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE, AS A FOREST PATROLMAN (Fire Prevention & Investigation, law enforcement, Public Relations etc.). I LIVED FULL TIME IN MY 1972, 31 FT. CLASSIC AIRSTREAM TRAILER ... I LIKED IT A LOT. A FEW YEARS LATER I SOLD IT, WHICH INCLUDED A PART TRADE ... FOR MY AIRSTREAM, I RECEIVED PART CASH AND A 23 FT AIRSTREAM, WHICH WAS AWESOME.
Continued for Tom Smarsh Now, after marriage to share our lives together, college, university, medical profession, military, & now retired. My wife and I have decided to purchase a new AIRSTREAM. So, your reviews will help us focus on what equipment we want and the maintenance tools, etc. Thak you so much! Tom and Sandi. (S.C.)
Hi Victoria and Cameron. Appreciate the work you put into the video and guide. After about a year how is the 3M tape attachment holding up? I’m planning to add a 3rd panel and would prefer this to drilling into the roof.
It’s definitely a lot to digest! The concepts are relatively simple, but there are so many of them. Just chip away at it little by little, and before you know it, you’ll be ready to implement your own system.
Hey guys! I hope you both are doing well! If you're still checking comments on here I went to download the guide as the link isn't working. Any chance you could send a new link somehow? I finally got my Airstream and am hoping to make some modifications to the solar system.
Thank you for this great video on solar power. We recently bought a 2017 28' AS International Serinity RBQ and it has 200 Watts of solar buit I'm thinking to upgrade the Watts and the batteries. Where do I find the link to get access to the detailed document you mentioned several times. Thank you, Jim in Ontario Canada.
We're so glad you found that video helpful! You will love the upgrade to your panels and batteries. The guide link is in the description, but we'll include it here as well: thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf
So glad you’re back! You are our favorite TH-cam channel; your videos are the perfect combination of tips and inspiration. I love how you show us the details like what you’re packing. Our daughter has been very ill and it can be all-consuming. You inspired us to get SUPs and be more active. Thanks so much for the content!
Hi Kate, so glad to hear you're enjoying our videos! SUPs are such a fun and unique way to explore-we're stoked for you! We are sending healing thoughts your daughter's way.
Hi Victoria and Cameron, have you had any issues with the Inverter getting hot in that location & with the panel being in front of it? I really appreciate your video breakdown. Planning to install a 3000w Multiplus 2 in the front compartment of a 27FBT.
Excellent job on the solar program, I put in almost exact same system in our 23cb full-time, after seeing your 27 I think that’ll be our next move. Happy trails, Michael and Angie.
A small power bank like the Ecoflow can be a good option for a lot of people. It's all about your specific needs. Things to consider: 1) what devices do you need to charge? 2) what appliances do you want to run? 3) do you want a full system that will also ensure you have power for lights, fans, etc. in the RV? 4) do you stay in one place for days at a time, or are you on the move frequently? (consider how you'll keep your batteries charged) Your answers to those questions will help you determine the battery capacity, number of solar panels, and inverter output that you need. Check out our free guide to help you make those determinations. The Table of Contents includes clickable links that will jump straight to a section. Some sections that might be particularly helpful are: • How Many Batteries are Needed for an RV or Van? • How to Select an Inverter for Your RV Solar System • How Many Watts of Solar Do You Need? Guide link: thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf Let us know if you have more questions!
Awesome video, my wife and I just purchased a 2021 AS FC FBQ. The research is almost overwhelming on batteries and components. We will probably just start with lithium batteries and add solar as soon as we can. Keep up the good work we enjoy seeing a couple in similar stages of life going on adventures.
Thanks for watching and congrats on the new trailer! There's certainly a lot of new information to digest. If you do just start with lithium batteries, make sure that your inverter and charger (in electricity-speak, the charger is a converter) are both compatible with lithium batteries. In addition, make sure that you reprogram those components when switching from lead acid or AGM batteries. Otherwise, the new lithium batteries will quickly be damaged.
Your secret is safe! The link is in the description, but here it is again. Let us know if you have questions 👍🏽 thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf
@@ThisWyldeLife Thank you for posting it here as well as in the description. I often forget to look at the description when watching TH-cam videos, so this was also a reminder to do that in the future. I was able to upload it into my IBook app for lager reference, so that we have it if we decide to go out on the road and would need to do this. Your videos are so well done, informative, inspiring, often beautiful as well as entertaining and I just want to show my appreciation for all that you have done with presenting such great material to your audience. Truly, your sight should be exploding due to the excellent content. I referred a friend just last night, as she and her husband are going on a ‘hurrah retirement’ in an RV for an exploration of the US for one year. I think they would find your channel so helpful for them. The RV checklist was the link I sent to them to discover first. Thanks again for all you do. PS … would love to see an update on the Sedona house sometime, or do I need to go to your blog for that update?
@@gretchenschaumann1808 Thank you for expressing your appreciation for the content that we have created. Our goal has always been to educate and entertain, so I'm glad we've hit the mark for you. Feel free to ask questions as they come up! Working all day on the house while also creating videos proved to be unsustainable, but here's the finished product! airbnb.com/h/crystal-sky-haus
We want to upgrade our FB airstream also we have the same model as yours! Just not sure if we a handy enough to take on so must electrical stuff. Thanks for the information.
It was a new skill for us too. The hardest parts were drawing up a wiring diagram, and figuring out how to route wires in our specific trailer. Once you have a plan of what goes where, connecting everything is pretty straight forward. Just about anyone should be able to tackle this project. Just set aside a good bit of time, and leverage all the amazing resources out there-our channel and solar guide included 😊
Great video and great explanation of the solar power components. I’m especially interested in the solar panel install as I don’t want to drill holes in the roof of my Airstream either! I will check out AMSolar.
Glad you found the video helpful! The adhesive mounts are a huge benefit, and SO much easier to install. No concerns with leaks, or hitting something important while drilling through the roof 😬
Wow, a new video from Cameron and Victoria and it’s not even my birthday yet! This video is super helpful. I’m definitely downloading the guide and will take advantage of the code if it’s still active when I need it. I’m still waiting for my airstream to come in (womp womp) but I’m anticipating needing need to upgrade the solar soon after. I’m curious, did you have any solar before taking this on? I ordered my trailer with solar to have a starting point but am a little worried it might be more complicated to upgrade it than start from scratch. Thank you for the video and great to see you again!
Always great to have you join us for a new video, Patrick! Our camper didn't have solar. We were using the portable Zamp panel to charge two lead acid batteries via alligator clips 😆 Our camper WAS pre-wired for solar, but that just meant Airstream had run some puny 10 gauge wires inside the ceiling. Those wires would only be good for 200 W of solar, so we ran all new wires. Whether the factory solar system is a good starting point will depend on the gauge of wire that Airstream is using these days. You also want to consider the specs on the charge controller, inverter, and batteries that you are paying to upgrade. If those components don't leave much room for expansion to meet your needs, you might be paying for an upgrade that you will tear out anyway. Do you know what those specs are?
@@ThisWyldeLife Thank for for the response and sorry for the delayed reply! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find all those specs. It’s a little frustrating how hard it is to find detailed information. I suspect they’re still using the wimpy wiring but am secretly hoping to upgrade that for 2023 as mine will likely be the new model year by the time I get it. It seems like they are catching on to the fact that people want to be able to boondock. As far as I understand they still just use a 1000w inverter. Did you consider pulling a bigger wire using the existing wiring? I suspect the walls aren’t strong enough to handle that but wondered if that would be possible.
@@patrickholmes1044 We briefly explored the idea of pulling a new wire with the pre-wire. However, the pre-wire is somehow secured within the walls (probably zip-tied to the frame), so it doesn't budge when pulling on it. Once we found the chase under the floor, pulling our new wires through there was pretty straightforward.
@@ThisWyldeLife ahh, very good to know! Your idea of running it through the refrigerator compartment was genius! May have to steal that when I get around to it.
VERY well done ! Your written guide is very well written. Although not a full-timer; we spend at least 3-5 days out once a month & 6-7 week 'snowbird' trip in the Winter. 6 years ago I started studying solar. Watched a ton of TH-cam's and talked to a lot of people. I was getting paralysis by analysis, so I decided to start real small with 1-100W panel + PWM controller + 400W inverter + 2-6V golf cart batteries. I learned a lot with hands on. One of the biggest discoveries for me was learning that if the panel was not in direct sun; you achieve very little power. I "chase the sun" and move the panels couple of times a day. I have since added a 2nd panel and I am now adding Lithiums. Since we camp a lot in the wooded areas I added a 2000w inverter generator as a backup & the occasional need for higher Amp 110V. All in for
Glad to hear you found the video and guide helpful! Like you said, doing is one of the best ways to learn. Things became much more clear and understandable once we actually started planning out the system and then installing it. Until then, your brain is just trying to make sense of a ton of new information!
Nicely done.
Thanks for watching!
Welcome back!
Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to watch.
Awesome presentation! I will be viewing all of your topics. When I was a US FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE, AS A FOREST PATROLMAN (Fire Prevention & Investigation, law enforcement, Public Relations etc.).
I LIVED FULL TIME IN MY 1972, 31 FT. CLASSIC AIRSTREAM TRAILER ... I LIKED IT A LOT. A FEW YEARS LATER I SOLD IT, WHICH INCLUDED A PART TRADE ... FOR MY AIRSTREAM, I RECEIVED PART CASH AND A 23 FT AIRSTREAM, WHICH WAS AWESOME.
Continued for Tom Smarsh
Now, after marriage to share our lives together, college, university, medical profession, military, & now retired. My wife and I have decided to purchase a new AIRSTREAM. So, your reviews will help us focus on what equipment we want and the maintenance tools, etc. Thak you so much! Tom and Sandi. (S.C.)
@@tkm97448 glad you found the video helpful! Have fun with your new Airstream adventure!
So glad to see you two posting again!
Woohoo! Thanks for watching!
Wow! I’m so impressed! You may have convinced me to try this myself. I’ll keep you posted lol
Happy to help in any way we can! It’s well worth the initial effort
Hi Victoria and Cameron. Appreciate the work you put into the video and guide. After about a year how is the 3M tape attachment holding up? I’m planning to add a 3rd panel and would prefer this to drilling into the roof.
It's held up great! It's an amazing product!
Great job explaining
Glad you found the video helpful 👍🏽
Nice job but my head is about to explode 🤪 you did a great job of explaining the whole system
It’s definitely a lot to digest! The concepts are relatively simple, but there are so many of them. Just chip away at it little by little, and before you know it, you’ll be ready to implement your own system.
Haven’t seen a video for a long time. Hope all is well. Will you be back? Thanks from 🇨🇦
Hey guys! I hope you both are doing well! If you're still checking comments on here I went to download the guide as the link isn't working. Any chance you could send a new link somehow? I finally got my Airstream and am hoping to make some modifications to the solar system.
Thank you for this great video on solar power. We recently bought a 2017 28' AS International Serinity RBQ and it has 200 Watts of solar buit I'm thinking to upgrade the Watts and the batteries. Where do I find the link to get access to the detailed document you mentioned several times. Thank you, Jim in Ontario Canada.
We're so glad you found that video helpful! You will love the upgrade to your panels and batteries. The guide link is in the description, but we'll include it here as well: thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf
How big is your truck that you use to haul your trailer?
So glad you’re back! You are our favorite TH-cam channel; your videos are the perfect combination of tips and inspiration. I love how you show us the details like what you’re packing. Our daughter has been very ill and it can be all-consuming. You inspired us to get SUPs and be more active. Thanks so much for the content!
Hi Kate, so glad to hear you're enjoying our videos! SUPs are such a fun and unique way to explore-we're stoked for you! We are sending healing thoughts your daughter's way.
@@ThisWyldeLife Thanks so much!
Hi Victoria and Cameron, have you had any issues with the Inverter getting hot in that location & with the panel being in front of it?
I really appreciate your video breakdown. Planning to install a 3000w Multiplus 2 in the front compartment of a 27FBT.
Great videos, what happened to your guys? no videos for over a year!!?
Excellent job on the solar program, I put in almost exact same system in our 23cb full-time, after seeing your 27 I think that’ll be our next move. Happy trails, Michael and Angie.
I'm curious if you think this is a better option over the Ecoflow generator. I can't decide between this or something portable like that?
A small power bank like the Ecoflow can be a good option for a lot of people. It's all about your specific needs. Things to consider:
1) what devices do you need to charge?
2) what appliances do you want to run?
3) do you want a full system that will also ensure you have power for lights, fans, etc. in the RV?
4) do you stay in one place for days at a time, or are you on the move frequently? (consider how you'll keep your batteries charged)
Your answers to those questions will help you determine the battery capacity, number of solar panels, and inverter output that you need.
Check out our free guide to help you make those determinations. The Table of Contents includes clickable links that will jump straight to a section. Some sections that might be particularly helpful are:
• How Many Batteries are Needed for an RV or Van?
• How to Select an Inverter for Your RV Solar System
• How Many Watts of Solar Do You Need?
Guide link: thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf
Let us know if you have more questions!
why no new vids in a year?????
Awesome video, my wife and I just purchased a 2021 AS FC FBQ. The research is almost overwhelming on batteries and components. We will probably just start with lithium batteries and add solar as soon as we can. Keep up the good work we enjoy seeing a couple in similar stages of life going on adventures.
Thanks for watching and congrats on the new trailer! There's certainly a lot of new information to digest. If you do just start with lithium batteries, make sure that your inverter and charger (in electricity-speak, the charger is a converter) are both compatible with lithium batteries. In addition, make sure that you reprogram those components when switching from lead acid or AGM batteries. Otherwise, the new lithium batteries will quickly be damaged.
Okay, I admit it. I’m a very old Luddite. I can’t find the solar guide of which you speak. Help me without telling my children.
Your secret is safe! The link is in the description, but here it is again. Let us know if you have questions 👍🏽 thiswyldelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Solar-Guide-This-Wylde-Life.pdf
@@ThisWyldeLife Thank you for posting it here as well as in the description. I often forget to look at the description when watching TH-cam videos, so this was also a reminder to do that in the future.
I was able to upload it into my IBook app for lager reference, so that we have it if we decide to go out on the road and would need to do this.
Your videos are so well done, informative, inspiring, often beautiful as well as entertaining and I just want to show my appreciation for all that you have done with presenting such great material to your audience.
Truly, your sight should be exploding due to the excellent content. I referred a friend just last night, as she and her husband are going on a ‘hurrah retirement’ in an RV for an exploration of the US for one year. I think they would find your channel so helpful for them. The RV checklist was the link I sent to them to discover first.
Thanks again for all you do.
PS … would love to see an update on the Sedona house sometime, or do I need to go to your blog for that update?
@@gretchenschaumann1808 Thank you for expressing your appreciation for the content that we have created. Our goal has always been to educate and entertain, so I'm glad we've hit the mark for you. Feel free to ask questions as they come up!
Working all day on the house while also creating videos proved to be unsustainable, but here's the finished product! airbnb.com/h/crystal-sky-haus
We want to upgrade our FB airstream also we have the same model as yours! Just not sure if we a handy enough to take on so must electrical stuff. Thanks for the information.
It was a new skill for us too. The hardest parts were drawing up a wiring diagram, and figuring out how to route wires in our specific trailer. Once you have a plan of what goes where, connecting everything is pretty straight forward. Just about anyone should be able to tackle this project. Just set aside a good bit of time, and leverage all the amazing resources out there-our channel and solar guide included 😊
@@ThisWyldeLife Thanks for the encouragement
Great video and great explanation of the solar power components. I’m especially interested in the solar panel install as I don’t want to drill holes in the roof of my Airstream either! I will check out AMSolar.
Glad you found the video helpful! The adhesive mounts are a huge benefit, and SO much easier to install. No concerns with leaks, or hitting something important while drilling through the roof 😬
Wow, a new video from Cameron and Victoria and it’s not even my birthday yet! This video is super helpful. I’m definitely downloading the guide and will take advantage of the code if it’s still active when I need it. I’m still waiting for my airstream to come in (womp womp) but I’m anticipating needing need to upgrade the solar soon after. I’m curious, did you have any solar before taking this on? I ordered my trailer with solar to have a starting point but am a little worried it might be more complicated to upgrade it than start from scratch. Thank you for the video and great to see you again!
Always great to have you join us for a new video, Patrick! Our camper didn't have solar. We were using the portable Zamp panel to charge two lead acid batteries via alligator clips 😆
Our camper WAS pre-wired for solar, but that just meant Airstream had run some puny 10 gauge wires inside the ceiling. Those wires would only be good for 200 W of solar, so we ran all new wires.
Whether the factory solar system is a good starting point will depend on the gauge of wire that Airstream is using these days. You also want to consider the specs on the charge controller, inverter, and batteries that you are paying to upgrade. If those components don't leave much room for expansion to meet your needs, you might be paying for an upgrade that you will tear out anyway.
Do you know what those specs are?
@@ThisWyldeLife Thank for for the response and sorry for the delayed reply! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find all those specs. It’s a little frustrating how hard it is to find detailed information. I suspect they’re still using the wimpy wiring but am secretly hoping to upgrade that for 2023 as mine will likely be the new model year by the time I get it. It seems like they are catching on to the fact that people want to be able to boondock. As far as I understand they still just use a 1000w inverter. Did you consider pulling a bigger wire using the existing wiring? I suspect the walls aren’t strong enough to handle that but wondered if that would be possible.
@@patrickholmes1044 We briefly explored the idea of pulling a new wire with the pre-wire. However, the pre-wire is somehow secured within the walls (probably zip-tied to the frame), so it doesn't budge when pulling on it. Once we found the chase under the floor, pulling our new wires through there was pretty straightforward.
@@ThisWyldeLife ahh, very good to know! Your idea of running it through the refrigerator compartment was genius! May have to steal that when I get around to it.
@@patrickholmes1044 we can't claim that idea (The More We Explore was the first we saw do it), but it sure works well!