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Build DNA and Discover Builds

Build DNA turns Project details into structured, searchable information. Discover Builds helps you find public Projects with similar platforms, systems, capabilities, and build goals.

What Is Build DNA?

Build DNA is the structured description of a Project. It supplements the Project Summary with searchable details about the platform, configuration, power system, water system, climate, intended use, and other build characteristics.

Vehicle and Platform Details

Document the platform, vehicle make, model, year, configuration, drive type, length, and sleeping capacity when applicable.

Power and Water

Record solar capacity, battery capacity, fresh water, gray water, and black water information when relevant.

Climate and Intended Use

Describe heating, cooling, off-grid capability, and the intended use of the build or system.

Custom Build DNA

Some Projects may include additional custom fields created by NPPSC administrators for specialized build documentation and discovery.

Add or Update Build DNA

Open your Project and select Edit Build DNA from the Build DNA card on the Project Overview.

1
Open the Project Go to My Projects and open the Project you want to document.
2
Select Edit Build DNA Use the action in the Build DNA card on the Project Overview.
3
Document applicable details Complete the fields that are relevant to your Vehicle Build or System Build. Leave unrelated fields undocumented.
4
Save and review Saved Build DNA may appear on the Project Overview and can improve discovery and similar-build matching.
System Builds can document the information that applies to the system. A standalone water or electrical system does not need to include vehicle-specific information if it is not relevant.

Discover Public Builds

Discover Builds searches public NPPSC Projects. Use filters to narrow results to Projects that match your research needs.

Open Discover Builds

Available search filters

Example search:
Find public Projects with at least 400 watts of solar, at least 200 amp-hours of battery capacity, off-grid capability, and a completed or active build record.

Use Sorting to Find Relevant Projects

Find Vehicle Builds and System Builds

Use the Project Kind filter in Discover Builds to focus your research on complete conversions or standalone conversion systems.

Vehicle Build

Find complete vehicle, trailer, boat, or RV conversion Projects, such as Transit campers, cargo trailer campers, bus conversions, and truck campers.

System Build

Find standalone systems such as wheel-well water systems, electrical cabinets, heating packages, modular galleys, storage systems, and other build subsystems.

Example search:
Select System Build, then add a keyword such as water, electrical, heating, or galley to find standalone systems documented by other builders.

After applying filters, choose a sort option that supports your research task.

Recently Updated

Use this to find active builds and recent Project documentation.

Newest Projects

Use this to find recently created Projects and emerging build ideas.

Highest Build Progress

Use this to locate mature Projects with more documented build progress.

Most Components

Use this to locate Projects with more detailed Parts and Component documentation.

Completed Builds First

Use this to research Projects that have reached completion and may include final summaries and lessons learned.

Save a Search

After applying filters in Discover Builds, select Save This Search to preserve the current search criteria for later use.

Saved searches retain core filters, including Project Kind, and supported custom Build DNA filters. This allows you to return to the same research criteria without rebuilding the search.

Open My Saved Searches

Find Similar Builds from a Project

Open a Project and use Similar Builds in the Build DNA card to find public Projects with related characteristics.

Similar Builds are useful when researching how other builders approached a comparable platform, system, power capacity, or intended use.

Similarity depends on the Build DNA that Project owners have documented. More complete Build DNA generally creates more useful comparison results.

Explore Completed Builds

Completed Builds highlights public Projects whose owners chose to share their final build record and completion experience.

Explore Completed Builds

Completed Projects may include a Final Build Summary, Lessons Learned, and future improvements documented by the builder.

Next chapter: Learn how Project visibility, following, and notification preferences control sharing and access.
Continue to Visibility and Following →