Last week at our stop at Art Center in Pasadena, we met a great guy named Matt Schneider who works for RayTracker, a company that installs large scale commercial solar module systems. RayTracker’s set-up is a single-axis tracking system that adjusts its angle to capture the most rays throughout the day. While the company’s installations are intended for large commercial arrays (one of their projects an installation at The North Face’s California distribution center), Matt did mention that he had several smaller modules leftover from related projects.
At the time, we had been using the Weza foot-treadle pump to power a battery (we asked exhibition visitors to help us power our lights for the night by giving the Weza a few pumps- see video here), but really wanted to go solar. The next day during our stop at the Design High School in downtown LA, Matt dropped by with a used 90-watt photovoltaic module for us to rig up.
For now, we have the module hooked up to a 12-volt deep cycle marine battery, which charges during the day, then powers our lights at night. When we get to Bertie County in North Carolina, where we have some space and shop access, we will build out a frame to hold the panel in the back of the truck, so that we can charge the battery as we drive.
For electrical geeks, here’s how it works- the 90-watt solar module harvests energy through a solar controller that charges the 12-volt deep cycle battery. The battery is then connected to an 800-watt inverter that turns the power into a 110-volt AC charge, which plugs into the Airstream to power our lights.
Once we have a full setup in the back of the truck, we’ll post some updates. In the meantime, thanks to RayTracker for making our trek more efficient and green!
For the past six months, we have been “squatting” on the property of C2, a brand strategy and graphic design firm in Half Moon Bay, California. The three partners may or may not have known what they were getting into when they offered us their paved “front yard,” but there we have sat for the duration of the Airstream’s build-out. We used their water, shower, kitchen, and wifi, and are forever indebted to them.
Yesterday, we said our final goodbyes and towed the Airstream off their property (after a brief cake and champagne thank you ceremony, of course). Thank you to C2 and we’ll send you postcards from the road!!
We’re counting down to hitting the road, and installed all the products, with labels, as they will be shown at each of our stops. Watch the video to get a sneak peak, or check out our Flickr feed.
Today we completed the structural build-out of the interior exhibition space. The final touch was a swinging door that will separate the exhibition space from our living space (which consists of a bed and two tiny “closets” that each hold two milk crates worth of clothes).
As our departure date approaches (February 1!), we began laying out the locations of each of the 40 products within the Airstream’s exhibition space. Check out our first attempt to get it all to fit! More info on the exhibition here.
If you live in San Francisco and want to catch a glimpse of the Design Revolution Road Show’s exhibition before we hit the road (and before anyone else sees it!), join us on January 30th, from 3-7pm at Stable cafe for a sneak peak! We’ll be serving masterfully prepared culinary treats and organic wine, and giving away free gifts including the book Design Revolution and other great items. Tickets are $75 per person.
Yesterday, we went to pick up the Airstream trailer from Signworks in San Carlos, the company who printed and applied her exterior decals. The vinyl decals include a pink and black racing stripe (the design of which was conceived by C2, one of our sponsors), along with “Design Revolution Road Show” text on both sides and inside the exhibition space, and a presenter/sponsor section by the door. Watch the video to see how they were applied and the final product, check out the whole photo album on our Flickr page here, and look for the pink stripe when we roll into town!
Over the past few months, we have been working diligently on the conversion of our 1972 Airstream trailer. The vintage trailer will be the mobile exhibition for the Design Revolution Road Show, highlighting the 40 humanitarian products and products. We have gutted the entire interior and built it out into a more open, flexible exhibition space. Watch the video to hear project manager Matt Miller explain how we’ve renovated the space, and how the exhibition will be laid out!
As we get closer to our February 1 “launch date,” we’re also getting ready to outfit the Airstream trailer with vinyl decals, including a big pink and black racing stripe, website, and of course, “Design Revolution Road Show” front and center. Before we can take the trailer to get her decals applied, we have to ensure that the exterior aluminum paneling is polished as thoroughly as possible. Because we’re close to the beach, we’re having some problems with salt water corrosion, which makes our polishing process even more important in the long-term weatherproofing of our rig. Project H-er Matt Miller has been working for weeks now, finding the right rubbing compound and recipe for a chrome-like finish on this 37-year old Airstream. Watch the video to see how he does it!
We’re currently in the midst of renovating the interior of the Airstream to accommodate 3 spaces: an open exhibition space, an exhibition/lab space, and our living quarters. In order to fit all 40 products in the Airstream, we’ve divided up the exhibition space into 2 rooms: the front entry room, which will include shelved fixtures for products that aren’t meant to be touched, and a secondary “lab” room in the middle of the Airstream which will have counter and bench-level surfaces where visitors can pick up products, use them, play with them, etc.
To build the walls (the Airstream has already been taken down to a capsule form with interior aluminum paneling), Matt is building 2 sets of walls using steel studs and plywood facing, which will be painted white for the exhibition walls.
