Wiring for 220v or 110v?

richard5933 · January 09, 2022, 05:09:19 PM

Looks like the start of a plan, but with all that you have listed I'm not sure if you need the diesel heater(s) as well. Especially if you have the 40,000 btu propane and the wood burner.

About getting all the wiring configured...

Might be easier to show you than explain to you. How close are you to me? I'm in Waukesha County, just east of Hwy 83. If we have a day with enough warmth to be outside for a little while and you want to stop by I'll be happy to show you how I've got all the transfer switch, circuit breakers, etc. configured to make all the systems play nice together.

If you're familiar with house wiring the bus won't be a problem. You've essentially got three separate systems: the bus/chassis system, the house 120vac system, and the house 12vdc system. To make it more confusing, the two DC systems can tie into each other, and the 120v system has multiple feeds - the generator, shore power, and the inverter.

Jcparmley · January 10, 2022, 09:12:19 AM

I would love to come out and see your bus. I live 20 minutes west of Madison. Perhaps I can meet with you in the spring. It's not a hurry since it's to cold for me to be working in the bus now. This winter I am working in my shop building my gray water tank. Here's a link to the stove I am going to put in.

https://www.tinywoodstove.com/product/small-stove-the-dwarf-5kw/

The wood burning stove will be a big investment because it's very expensive, however I love the heat, smell and sound of a wood burner. Also, if I do need emergency heat nothing beats a wood burner to keep my family warm. So in my opinion is the cost is worth it.

Quote from: richard5933 on January 09, 2022, 05:09:19 PM
Looks like the start of a plan, but with all that you have listed I'm not sure if you need the diesel heater(s) as well. Especially if you have the 40,000 btu propane and the wood burner.

About getting all the wiring configured...

Might be easier to show you than explain to you. How close are you to me? I'm in Waukesha County, just east of Hwy 83. If we have a day with enough warmth to be outside for a little while and you want to stop by I'll be happy to show you how I've got all the transfer switch, circuit breakers, etc. configured to make all the systems play nice together.

If you're familiar with house wiring the bus won't be a problem. You've essentially got three separate systems: the bus/chassis system, the house 120vac system, and the house 12vdc system. To make it more confusing, the two DC systems can tie into each other, and the 120v system has multiple feeds - the generator, shore power, and the inverter.

Lee Bradley · January 10, 2022, 10:39:06 AM

Where are you in this project? Just starting or already converted? I have a master breaker within 18" of where the power enters the bus. That feeds a 220v breaker box with 220v breakers for my 220v loads, only used on 50 amp pole. It also has a 110v 50 amp breaker that feeds the 4024 Zantrex inverter. This is on the leg that is powered by the 50, 30, and 15 amp side. I have a 110v breaker box upstairs, for all normal household circuits, powered by the inverter. The inverter is powered by pole, battery bank or generator. Because the inverter is power sharing I can run it on 15 amp pole and any shortfall is covered by the battey bank. If it is long term and the battery bank gets low the inverter will start the generator. The battery bank is charged by the inverter on pole power, the engine alternator on the road, solar panels via midnight controller, and lastly the generator.

Jcparmley · January 10, 2022, 04:37:40 PM

I finally have the entire bus gutted and am basically ready start figuring out how to begin building. I currently have no windows, floors or skin on the bus. As soon as the snow melts in the spring I am going to work on skinning the bus. I will also need to finish the floor and then get the interior spray foamed.

Quote from: Lee Bradley on January 10, 2022, 10:39:06 AM
Where are you in this project? Just starting or already converted? I have a master breaker within 18" of where the power enters the bus. That feeds a 220v breaker box with 220v breakers for my 220v loads, only used on 50 amp pole. It also has a 110v 50 amp breaker that feeds the 4024 Zantrex inverter. This is on the leg that is powered by the 50, 30, and 15 amp side. I have a 110v breaker box upstairs, for all normal household circuits, powered by the inverter. The inverter is powered by pole, battery bank or generator. Because the inverter is power sharing I can run it on 15 amp pole and any shortfall is covered by the battey bank. If it is long term and the battery bank gets low the inverter will start the generator. The battery bank is charged by the inverter on pole power, the engine alternator on the road, solar panels via midnight controller, and lastly the generator.

Lee Bradley · January 11, 2022, 10:51:42 AM

At this point, I would think about kind of heat you want. I have hot water system with pipes in the floor and toe kick heaters. Storage tank is a 19 gallon water heater with a 4,000 watt element (one of my 220v loads), diesel boiler, and heat exchanger loop to the engine also looped to a three way potable water heater to use engine heat to warm that water underway. Very comfortable heat.

Lee Bradley · January 11, 2022, 10:59:08 AM

If you have room for a stove, you might take a look at this one. At about 4:17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDv4zGlQJjs

Jcparmley · January 12, 2022, 04:25:13 PM

I believe I am going to get this stove. It's expensive but I think it will be a nice addition to the bus.

https://www.tinywoodstove.com/product/small-stove-the-dwarf-5kw/

Quote from: Lee Bradley on January 11, 2022, 10:59:08 AM
If you have room for a stove, you might take a look at this one. At about 4:17.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDv4zGlQJjs

chessie4905 · January 12, 2022, 04:50:04 PM

Some of those Scandinavian stoves are really nice. Colored porcelin finish and really efficient. Jotul? Probably too big for a coach though.
Found this though. The heavier model can burn hard coal if desired.
https://www.tinywoodstove.com/dwarf-3kw-standard-vs-dwarf-3kw-lite-product-comparison/

Brassman · January 12, 2022, 05:49:13 PM

Over in the skoolie world the word is that insurers won't cover a solid fuel heating appliance.

Jcparmley · January 12, 2022, 07:50:49 PM

Oh, I guess I should look into that. I hadn't thought of that until now.

Quote from: Brassman on January 12, 2022, 05:49:13 PM
Over in the skoolie world the word is that insurers won't cover a solid fuel heating appliance.

dtcerrato · January 13, 2022, 03:45:52 AM

Solid fuel? Does that include LP or diesel?

richard5933 · January 13, 2022, 04:18:03 AM

Quote from: dtcerrato on January 13, 2022, 03:45:52 AM
Solid fuel? Does that include LP or diesel?

They're both carried as liquids.

Solid fuel is things that can't be poured or pumped, like wood, coal, pellets, etc.

Lee Bradley · January 13, 2022, 09:30:01 AM

Won't be a happy life with coal in the bus.

Boomer · January 13, 2022, 11:39:50 AM

I'm very happy with the little Jotul wood stove that I installed in my off grid mountain cabin (280 sq. ft.). On a 30F day I got it up to 80F inside with no trouble. The salesman said it was the best selling wood stove in the world, but then he's a salesman. That said there is no way I would put one in a mobile vehicle. Can you imagine what would happen if it busted loose in a crash, or what about the fire hazard or hassle getting wood on the road.

Tedsoldbus · January 13, 2022, 11:39:52 AM

You never said you planned on using coal JC, so maybe a moot point, but my neighbor tried coal in his woodstove in his house in Alaska. It set off his CO2 detector a few times and the soot at the end of one season convinced him to give the coal away. We tried to find the leak since there had to be one to set off the CO2 alarm. We couldn't figure it out. When he gave up using coal it never went off again.