Everything i use in my camper van you will find here www.amazon.co.uk/shop/melsvanworld Camper van build parts list www.amazon.co.uk/shop/melsvanworld buy me a coffee and i will send you a sticker . your support is really appreciated www.buymeacoffee.com/BigVanSmalWorld

I'm glad to see that no Mel's were harmed during the filming of this video. Great job fella

You're going to get so much more power being able to do that in the UK!

@BigVanSmallWorld

2 ай бұрын

Yes it makes a lot of difference

Great j9b Mel

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thanks 🙏

I have 2 of my 4 panels that tilt. This time of the year it makes a huge difference 👍 When you get the other panel then have it tilting front to back instead of side to side. You can park the van in any direction then.

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Brilliant 👍

@pavel9652

Жыл бұрын

At my latitude around 50 degrees north, latitude angle panel vs laying horizontally flat gives 2x the energy in december and january. - december and january (2x) - november and february (1.6x) - march and october (1.3x)

What a monumental effort mate .. im gunna giveya a hot tip .. yes ..😁😍😎pip pips and carryon

Nice to see a power comparison between flat and angled, especially this time of year in the UK. 👍🏼

@pavel9652

Жыл бұрын

At my latitude around 50 degrees north, latitude angle panel vs laying horizontally flat gives 2x the energy in december and january. - december and january (2x) - november and february (1.6x) - march and october (1.3x)

I watch enough of your videos I’m as well subscribing ! Nice the dif oil and gear oils are often overlooked.

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙏

Don't forget to remember the extra height added for any bridges and canopies etc 😆👍

Tuck them hoody ties in can see them wrapping around drill bit lol

Glad it worked for you dude, you’re welcome. lol 🥳👍🏼 (Reese) :)

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy 👍🤓👍

Well done Me.!

Awesome idea, I was thinking of doing the same,but had not decided how to do it. I am now going to do it exactly like this. Cheers

Cracking idea that Mel, looks great...👍🏻

Great idea lad going to do same myself now...thanks to you will now save a fortune.

Simple but effective 👍

@pageant1fd

Жыл бұрын

Don’t talk about Mel like that !😂

Great video as always Mel.

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

Well done I have been looking at a few different solar tilt set ups ( some really not thought through with far too much steelwork) you're approach is is nice and simple will be watching over again

Brilliant mate! Keep your wingnuts on your dash to remind you not to drive off with the spoiler up! 🏎🤣🤣

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Great idea 👍😅👍

Great job and good idea that I think I’ll be replicating, after I also saw how much difference the tilt angle can make! Thx for sharing!

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

It’s a massive improvement definitely worth the investment 👍

Great vid Mel. So good to see an honest "it doesn't always go smoothly" video. Mine tilts, but only one way...so I just turn the van round lol 😆 regards as always Medway Mick

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Hay buddy 👍👍

Great video Mel, Def going to look at doing this on my current van build

Angle of the dangle is 33 degrees

Mel just put some extension tubes over the rivnut gadget handles, works well with tin shears etc.

Brilliant mell what a cracking idea m8 well done mucka stay safe my friend 😉🙏🙏🙏🤙✊👊😁

Smart moves Mel ‼️ ✔💯

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

Simple but top job, looking at your layout with the high support brackets, its quite possible if you were to add some side angles on the end of the upright you made, i think you could make it lift forward or rear lifts using your method of the knurled bolts, keep up the great channel.

Great idea 👍👍 just drill more holes in the arms and you can have it at any angle then

His tilting 320 watt Renogy solar panel can tilt to either side. He mounted it on tall aluminum angle so the panel is high enough to clear his roof vent. This means there’s enough room to add a second panel.

@BigVanSmallWorld

7 ай бұрын

thats rite i have now added a second one

Thing is if it's cloudy winter day tiliting the solar pannels in nowhere near as effective because most of the light is defuse and not coming from a single direction so having them flat is optimal, although on a clear winters day tilting will make a massive difference due to how low in the sky the sun is.

Wow great job buddy I love it and totally agree I rather have it tilt both ways ❤ having those electric ones you can only tilt one way. Fantastic video bud❤ rain is always a nightmare 😢 hope your keeping well 💙

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy and you 👍

@whippetsadventuresandoneman

Жыл бұрын

@@BigVanSmallWorld one day love to tilt mine. I’m ok just sorting last few things :)

Great video! Looked really stressful when you were on the roof but i'm glad it came out the way you wanted. Looks snazzy and happy it works better than it did when it was lying flat :D winter working doesn't sound ideal! But content is KING

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you sweetheart 👍

Genious Mel wouldn’t plumbing pipes be lighter and T brackets in the middle for tilting :-/. Just a thought. Great job if it was my van it probably fly off when doing over 10 mph 😂

good vid

Shit sharp angle!? 😂😂😂 I’d keep an eye out for that if I were you Mel!😮

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

I’m editing that out right now Lol 😂

maybe sliding slots on the arms loving the videos stephen

#Waffle on a wednesday Hi Mel Not a quick question but I'd just like to tell you how informative and helpful your videos have been and that you have been my inspiration to build my own camper. As a small thank you I've started collecting hardware for my van Halogen hob, ladder and diesel heater etc and I've bought them all through your store front.cheers for all the helpful vids and keep up the great work Dodgy Dave 😁

Hi Mel Great video when you slipped on your roof i thought you were going straight through the skylight onto your bed lol😂 Just a thought Couldn’t you drill a series of holes so you can adjust the height on both sides ? Well done like this idea lots. Take care 👍😎

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Yes I was lucky to get away with that and that’s a great idea 👍🤓👍

Where you get that drill from,? Toys r us 🤣🤣

Hi Mel, You recently did a video about a power bank that cut out when trying to start a dieasel because it drew to much current I think David mcluckie has just put out a video saying some deisel heaters draw more current on startup than others. I wonder if you could use a glow plug that draws a lower current and maybe the power bank would not cut out. Hope this helps

Nice one Mel, Is there any chance you could design a mechanical screw thread system to tilt a solar panel from ground level using say a starter handle or awning winding handle?

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

That’s a great idea I’ll have to give it a thought 👍🤓👍

@michealgillman7418

Жыл бұрын

I'm still thinking about this one to, using 10mm threaded bar with a suitable size welded on the end??? 🤔

@SACREDTRAVELLER

Жыл бұрын

I love this idea ❤❤❤

@michealgillman7418

Жыл бұрын

It has to be doable...we have the technology...and a full set of hammers! 💪 nothing on the market as far as I'm aware of...if someone has an idea, then I know the enough people in engineering that can do what's required...acorns and oak trees spring to mind! Mick

OK SERIOUS QUESTION why dose a job that should take you an hr take you all day . I’m glad it’s not just me . Cold don’t bloody help as well . Job well done mate

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Hay buddy you know rite it’s always the way just watching your video about the actuators lol 🤪

my panel is a flexible one stuck to the roof-another plan that might have not been a good one....come to think of it getting viv-i-van in the first place didnt work out too well until this last week. I think I'll wait until I can afford a bigger van before doing anything else solar wise. I must admit I did bite my lip when I saw how slippy your roof was...eeeek! I enjoyed the video though. Bessy regs-Kenny

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy 👍

instead of cutting the are why dont you place more hole so you can have more adjustment

Even more important to tilt solar panels for those of us up in Scandinavia at latitudes of 63 plus degrees. I never understood why so many people in Scandinavia put their panels flat on the van/campervan roof, very inefficient. Even mounting on the side walls vertically would be much nearer the correct angle for people living at these higher latitudes. Jerry

@pavel9652

Жыл бұрын

True, at my latitude around 50 degrees north for winter the best angle is about 75° or at least 65°. Basically, multiply the latitude by 0.9 and add 29° or simpler add 15° to the latitude. It doubles energy production in december and january (2x), and almost doubles in november and february (1.6x). I am not surprised in Scandinavia it makes more sense to hang it vertically on the wall!

@theworldssexiestman

Жыл бұрын

@@pavel9652 Interesting to read about your formula to increase energy production, as my (simple) trials with my solar panels showed that 90 degrees to the sun was the best angle. But I will have to experiment with your formula. Jerry

@pavel9652

Жыл бұрын

​@@theworldssexiestman Thanks! It isn't my formula. I found it on Sinovoltaics, the article is "Solar Panel Angle: how to calculate solar panel tilt angle?" They provided two methods, the simpler one is latitude +/- 15 deg and the more precise seem to prefer more drastic angles for winter. Using your 63 deg in winter: 63 + 15 = 78 63 * 0.9 + 29 = 85.7 Method one, general - winter, add 15 degrees to your latitude - summer, subtract 15 degrees from your latitude Method two, improved - winter, multiply the latitude by 0.9 and add 29° - summer, multiply the latitude by 0.9 and subtract 23.5° - spring and fall, subtract 2.5° from the latitude

When changing the rear diff oil, do some research on molyslip additive...I did my old LDV and my MK7 transit minibuses diffs and gearbox oils and added some molyslip. As I said do research first Mel

It seems like it is easy now to make it tilted but I am not sure if you realised that you made it much easier to steel it as well 😃

won't those hand screws rattle loose and wear out the holes in the aluminium? and is it not rattling while driving?

If you were to get a new van today what van would you buy .short question , all the very best Dave…..

Yes, poor Nick and Sarah of the Ex-Pawers. Looks like further problems are plaguing Vinny now as well.

Round those corners off with a file Mel or one day they will bite you.

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

That’s a good shout out thank you 🙏

# quick question , what’s the easiest and cheapest way to charge the starter battery when at home with the van plugged in, I know all the blue stuff is good but it’s not cheap. Cheers mate.

did I miss it Mel or did you tell us why the long thread on the bolt after?

# Quick question, Is it beneficial to have a B-to-B when using a Bluetti AC200 MAX.

I am going to have to fit my solar panels before my battery is set up, what is the best method to cap off the live/ground wires coming into the van while not connected to a battery?

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

MC4 connectors 👍

Mel, have you used this much. I've read a few people who have fitted something similar but they never found the effort to adjust it each day.

Hi Mel, I am keen to know the make of your hand gloves you wearing on this video. If you could put a link to purchase those pls. Then you can have an commission too. By the way great show. Keep up the good work. Many Thanks. Don

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

There just mechanics gloves

#waffleonawednesday I've insulated and vapour barriered my van, i don't want wood cladding, have you any experience with plastic cladding and can i carpet straight over the insulation foil ? 👍

# Woffle on a Wednesday, Mel great video. Quick question, is it best to install 1 solar panel or 2 smaller solar panels, ie 2x200 or 1x400w for performance kind regards Adam

@germurphy4986

Жыл бұрын

Watts is watts, but 2 panels is twice in installation work, mounting brackets, wiring connections etc.

@adambrannon7778

Жыл бұрын

@@germurphy4986. Makes sense 👍

Hi Mel witch rivet gun would your recommendation please thanks

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

The best one you can get don’t get the cheap ones they’re rubbish

@Charlemagne1367

Жыл бұрын

you don't need a rivut gun if you just want to install a couple of rivnuts.... kzread.info/dash/bejne/hGmhuraAhbKeYso.html

Mel what did you search for to get them bolts with the plastic ends you can unscrew. Wing bolts ain't coming up with them ones.

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

took me ages to figure it out lol Handle Knob, M8 x 40mm Thread Clamping Knob amzn.to/3VvRRnE

@reddave8628

Жыл бұрын

@@BigVanSmallWorld top man. I'd have been looking for a month and still not found them 😂😂👍

Yeah their ( ex pawers) diff oil was soo bad!!!!!

I didn't, I bought the £50 one that's much easier to use 😅

Mel - what's a "shit sharp angle" ?

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

About 80 degrees

Don't forget to add pink paint to the bolt heads so your lass knows which one to undo when you send her up top.

Those aren't clouds.

Why didn’t you unplug it, carry it inside and do it in the dry where all your tools are too? 🤔

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Where was you to help me get it off and back on the roof 😳

@keswickadventure

Жыл бұрын

@@BigVanSmallWorld hehehe

Shit sharp angle 🤔

@BigVanSmallWorld

Жыл бұрын

Ops sorry i'll edit that out