I covered my pressure relief valves for closing the doors. By putting a ceiling fan in you allow an even greater space for air to escape the van. I can tell it works because when I have a cover over the van for insulation it's harder to close the doors. Great videos, man. Keep it up.
Haha thank you. I’m surprised how few people notice I put these in my videos. I think I’m going to make it a thing where there is a secret message in each video 😂
Okay, I watched the video where you spray foamed your van. I’m not going to use spray foam as I almost have my entire van insulated. I used Havelock wool for my sides. I have to finish the ceiling but I was getting some ideas how others are doing it. Thanks!
Thank you for your videos! I am trying to learn more about heat bridges......where your wood attaches to the frame and you dont foam over them, are those not heat bridges? thank you for any explanation!
the foam is completely surrounding the metal and i even spray some in the holes of the metal beams. Before the insulation all the metal in the van is cold to the touch and after the insulation the exposed metal is room temp like the foam.
Thanks for this video. Very helpful. Quick question. My electric components are near the passenger wheel wheel, We also have a 4 gauge cable running to the front for alternator charging. It travel along the floor, like yours, to near the drivers side back wheel well. Now I need to run it across the van to the passenger rear wheel well. Trying to figure out if I go straight across (which means the wire will be hidden in the benches...or up the wall across the ceiling and down the other side. I feel like it should ALL be in the wall....but thought I get your opinion. Thanks in advance
I would go with whatever is going to be the shortest length since you will lose efficiency the longer the length and also check a wire chart. You may need to go with thicker gauge wire if the length is too far. Possibly consider drilling a hole in the van and run it underneath inside some plastic conduit. Hope that helps.
I love the detailed list added to this video. I have watched 100s of these videos and still haven't found what gage wire is used for a 12V setup. Can anyone help me with that?
@@Jusrich 12/2 is the a/c outlet wire. You should use a wire gauge chart to determine your wire size. It's depends on the amperage of the appliance you are powering and the distance of the wire. For almost everything in the van 16 gauge speaker wire will work just fine, but I use 12 to oversize. Here is what I use. DC Wire amzn.to/3EHVh0E
Hi … been watching and enjoying your videos. Can I ask if the cable you run to charge your solar batteries is from a 2nd alternator in the van? What if you only have one alternator? Thank you
I only have one alternator. The wire goes from the vans batteries, through a fuse or breaker into a special charge controller that has alternator charging and from the charge controller to the solar batteries. The very next video on the channel will be on the solar install of my current build which will cover that. I also have some videos already on the topic covering that. So, if you haven't already hit the subscribe and notification bell so you can see the next video on the solar install. Thanks for watching.
I just ordered the battery wire, fuse box, and terminal lugs from your list. How many bus bars will I need? Also, the charge controller on your lists is no longer available can you recommend another one. Thank you in advance for your time
How much copper cable do u need ? What gauge is it ? Also what size terminal did u put on the ends ? I’m about to start my wiring layout today I like your videos thanks your doing an awesome job I been watching your videos pretty much been doing what u share thank u
Cool would u consider helping me finish my van Let me know your rate $ Bud “Did u go with 150 amps on the bus bar ?here is my email mariovenegas525@yahoo.com
It expands as you put it in. It ended up being about 4 inches. Any low spots I’ll add some 3m thinsulate. The wall cavities are deeper on this build than my last one with the way I did the framing. The only place I left it thin was at the bed cut out.
Hello. I've been enjoying your videos and you're very informative. I'll be beginning my van build this fall and have questions on the wiring. Do you use regular 12/2 house wire for the outlets? Thanks!!!!
Why did you not (or appear not to) spray the insulation on the bottom portion of your rear doors? disclaimer, I'm in the pre, pre, pre planning stages and have been watching several DIT in particular for the RAM Promaster as I am a dodge guy.
A couple reasons. They have drainage holes, they have cables that move to open and close the doors. I removed those panels and put regular insulation in there later on and put the panels back.
@@jacquesbeaudoin9706 there is more than 2 a/c outlets but yes they all go back to where the inverter is and I will connect a male connection to the end so it can be plugged into the back of the inverter
@@jacquesbeaudoin9706 the inverter I use is not a charger. But because all my ac outlets are on one male plug, I can just unplug it from the inverter and plug it into an extension cord to use the ac outlets on shore power. I have needed to do that though bc I have so much solar.
The one part I needed was running all the wires
I covered my pressure relief valves for closing the doors. By putting a ceiling fan in you allow an even greater space for air to escape the van. I can tell it works because when I have a cover over the van for insulation it's harder to close the doors. Great videos, man. Keep it up.
I loved the 3:21 subliminal messaging "subscribe"
Haha thank you. I’m surprised how few people notice I put these in my videos. I think I’m going to make it a thing where there is a secret message in each video 😂
Okay, I watched the video where you spray foamed your van. I’m not going to use spray foam as I almost have my entire van insulated. I used Havelock wool for my sides. I have to finish the ceiling but I was getting some ideas how others are doing it. Thanks!
Oh it’s actually this one th-cam.com/video/egJ_oNIPaZ4/w-d-xo.html
Nice videos thank you.
Thanks for watching
Thank you for your videos! I am trying to learn more about heat bridges......where your wood attaches to the frame and you dont foam over them, are those not heat bridges? thank you for any explanation!
the foam is completely surrounding the metal and i even spray some in the holes of the metal beams. Before the insulation all the metal in the van is cold to the touch and after the insulation the exposed metal is room temp like the foam.
Thanks for this video. Very helpful. Quick question. My electric components are near the passenger wheel wheel, We also have a 4 gauge cable running to the front for alternator charging. It travel along the floor, like yours, to near the drivers side back wheel well. Now I need to run it across the van to the passenger rear wheel well. Trying to figure out if I go straight across (which means the wire will be hidden in the benches...or up the wall across the ceiling and down the other side. I feel like it should ALL be in the wall....but thought I get your opinion. Thanks in advance
I would go with whatever is going to be the shortest length since you will lose efficiency the longer the length and also check a wire chart. You may need to go with thicker gauge wire if the length is too far. Possibly consider drilling a hole in the van and run it underneath inside some plastic conduit. Hope that helps.
@@BuildingVanLife Thank you
I love the detailed list added to this video. I have watched 100s of these videos and still haven't found what gage wire is used for a 12V setup. Can anyone help me with that?
for the lighting i should specify. I see the 12/2 below for the outlets. The wire you used looks smaller.
@@Jusrich 12/2 is the a/c outlet wire. You should use a wire gauge chart to determine your wire size. It's depends on the amperage of the appliance you are powering and the distance of the wire. For almost everything in the van 16 gauge speaker wire will work just fine, but I use 12 to oversize. Here is what I use. DC Wire amzn.to/3EHVh0E
@@BuildingVanLife Thank you so much for the quick answer!
Hi … been watching and enjoying your videos.
Can I ask if the cable you run to charge your solar batteries is from a 2nd alternator in the van? What if you only have one alternator? Thank you
I only have one alternator. The wire goes from the vans batteries, through a fuse or breaker into a special charge controller that has alternator charging and from the charge controller to the solar batteries. The very next video on the channel will be on the solar install of my current build which will cover that. I also have some videos already on the topic covering that. So, if you haven't already hit the subscribe and notification bell so you can see the next video on the solar install. Thanks for watching.
i think when i do my kit in the spring ill use three times the thickness, we got minus 45 and more in saskatoon canada ehh
This was very helpful and informative. Just wondering, should the wheel wells be sprayed with insulation too?
You can. I build a box around them later on and then fill the box with insulation
I just ordered the battery wire, fuse box, and terminal lugs from your list. How many bus bars will I need? Also, the charge controller on your lists is no longer available can you recommend another one. Thank you in advance for your time
you should just need one bus bar for the negative lines with this set up. This link should work amzn.to/3wK7I4F
@@BuildingVanLife I just ordered that charge controller and the bus bar. I am hoping to follow along with your video on the Promaster. Thank You
How much copper cable do u need ? What gauge is it ? Also what size terminal did u put on the ends ? I’m about to start my wiring layout today I like your videos thanks your doing an awesome job I been watching your videos pretty much been doing what u share thank u
that's going to depend on your specific build. I use 10 gauge copper for the 12 dc and 12/2 romex for the ac.
Cool would u consider helping me finish my van Let me know your rate $ Bud “Did u go with 150 amps on the bus bar ?here is my email mariovenegas525@yahoo.com
exactly
Do you use 12v decora light switches?or standard home switches?
I use standard ac switches. I have had one or two (internet experts) say you’re not supposed to do that but it’s fine
At least in this case with the tiny amperage
Hello. The link for the spray insulation is for the larger size 620 kit. Is the smaller 210 kit not enough to do the van size you had? Thanks.
You will need the larger size to do the whole van
Thanks for the demo! Such a thin layer of foam, is that all you need?
It expands as you put it in. It ended up being about 4 inches. Any low spots I’ll add some 3m thinsulate. The wall cavities are deeper on this build than my last one with the way I did the framing. The only place I left it thin was at the bed cut out.
Hello. I've been enjoying your videos and you're very informative. I'll be beginning my van build this fall and have questions on the wiring. Do you use regular 12/2 house wire for the outlets? Thanks!!!!
Yes for the a/c outlets that will work great
How do you call the thing you spring and where can I buy it ?
Spring?
@@BuildingVanLife the white thing you sprung the wall!
@@naturallifestyle5830 i don’t know what you mean. Are you talking about the spay foam insulation? I have a link for that in the description
How did those 3M zip-tie mounts work for holding your wires up? Mine worked great until they got hot and delaminated and fell.
mine worked, they are just there to hold the wires until i put in the spray foam. Once the foam is in, they cant move.
Why did you not (or appear not to) spray the insulation on the bottom portion of your rear doors? disclaimer, I'm in the pre, pre, pre planning stages and have been watching several DIT in particular for the RAM Promaster as I am a dodge guy.
A couple reasons. They have drainage holes, they have cables that move to open and close the doors. I removed those panels and put regular insulation in there later on and put the panels back.
I thought from a previous video that your 2 ac outlets were wired from your extension cord plugged into the inverter?
What is the yellow extension plugged into inverter?
@@jacquesbeaudoin9706 there is more than 2 a/c outlets but yes they all go back to where the inverter is and I will connect a male connection to the end so it can be plugged into the back of the inverter
@@BuildingVanLife so when you say you can plug shore power into inverter this model is also a charger?
@@jacquesbeaudoin9706 the inverter I use is not a charger. But because all my ac outlets are on one male plug, I can just unplug it from the inverter and plug it into an extension cord to use the ac outlets on shore power. I have needed to do that though bc I have so much solar.
@@BuildingVanLife understood. Thanks for your quick replies. Great videos.