School Bus Conversion Website

Conversion Addenda: Tweaks, fixes, and stats Galleries

Water quality assessment and arsenic abatement : One problem with our new home area...the water has too much arsenic!

A quick summary of the arsenic levels in the Ajo water system is available here.

Water treated through reverse osmosis is available from kiosks for $.25/gallon. We didn't want to deal with the hassle of having full and empty water jugs kicking around.

 We researched various water filtering apparatus, and decided to utilize the "Travel Berkey" model of filter available from British Berkefeld. In addition to the standard Black Berkey® purifying elements, we purchased additional PF-2 filters for arsenic and flouride. We purchased our system through Pleasant Hill Grain.

To test the effectiveness of the filtration system we purchased Arsenic Quick Tests from Purewater 4U of Las Vegas, NV. Below are the results of the tests before and after water filtration.

Water quality assessment and arsenic abatement

One problem with our new home area...the water has too much arsenic! ...

Updated: Dec 17, 2006 4:54pm PST

Numbers : Miscellaneous stats

Numbers

Miscellaneous stats

Updated: Oct 12, 2006 9:27pm PST

Awning : Since our bus is facing south, lots of sunshine is pouring in through the front windows. We considered shades for the inside of the windshield, but that solution still allows the sun to bake the exterior metal, and the glass. An external awning would provide both shade and privacy...but as usual there are few off-the-shelf items for school buses. So, with sketches and tape measure in hand, we patronized the local hardware store.

UPDATE: The material did not hold up in the strong wind gusts we experienced that winter. We were able to use the materials to make an interior curtain that hangs near the windshield.

Awning

Since our bus is facing south, lots of sunshine is pouring in through ...

Updated: Nov 17, 2006 5:42pm PST

Wind Turbine : This evening (11/21) we assembled and erected the wind turbine! 
The turbine is a Southwest Windpower Air-X capable of producing 400 watts of peak power.

NOTE: The set screw used in the Kee Klamps is not Metric or SAE...but plumbing pipe size & thread!

Wind Turbine

This evening (11/21) we assembled and erected the wind turbine! The ...

Updated: Jan 07, 2008 10:12am PST

Solar Panel Tilting : Today we tilted the solar panels to accommodate the lower winter sun angle

Solar Panel Tilting

Today we tilted the solar panels to accommodate the lower winter sun a ...

Updated: Nov 24, 2006 4:41pm PST

Battery Relocation and Towing : I need to be able to tow the motorcycle trailer with the bus, so it's time to relocate the batteries and install a hitch.

Battery Relocation and Towing

I need to be able to tow the motorcycle trailer with the bus, so it's ...

Updated: Jul 06, 2008 5:50pm PST

Bathroom Update :

Bathroom Update

Updated: Sep 02, 2008 3:59pm PST

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