Ta Ben. I have dropped it in today and will start the clamp tonight. it's not going to need much, it fits really well. I'll post it to you. If you can have it plated and bring it back in July that'd be great. Ha ha
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Project 80: Codename Grey Ghost
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
Been a bit of a wiring frenzy today in between the downpours. Just about there.
Started with a chunk of steel plate and got going with some milling Action. More on this later.
But this groove
fits into this cut out
like this.
Quite a bit of milling later .....
OK, it was dry for a bit so I headed outside. Got the main feed from the fuse to the CTEK laid in.
Got most of the main cables in, with just a bit of tying back to do against the tray.
Had to retreat again, so busied myself with fitting outlets. I wired in some cigar lighter sockets and USB charging points. Plus a little LED voltmeter. Which if nothing else lets me know the power is on.
All these go through the Blue Sea switch panel.
At this point I remembered how much I hate cigar lighter sockets. OK in about 1970 they were a revolution but in 2014, come on. So I cut the plug off the fridge and hard wired it straight into the switch. Ahh, before you say something, I have a spare lead. I raided VWP the other day and bought little sleeved grommets and all sorts of bits. Nice tidy finish and it can't be yanked through.
Next job was to start at the other end and get ready for the battery going in.
Fixed the shunt to this handy strut and connected the chassis earth.
Now this bit I am pleased with. There must be 34 ways to fasten the battery down. But this came to me. The first plate is bolted to the drawer carcass and the second top plate hooks underneath. The end of the plate has a hole with the bolt running down to a turnbuckle hooked through a big stainless ring (actually a staple from a hasp and staple) bolted through the floor pan. The tension I can get on that is so much, I actually backed it off a little in case I cracked the battery case! That battery is going nowhere. It was pretty captive to start with but now. It's fixed.
Off road tomorrow, but on Monday I should get the power on. It's progress. Need to fasten the inverter in, but at least the cabling is in for that over on the other side.
Started with a chunk of steel plate and got going with some milling Action. More on this later.
But this groove
fits into this cut out
like this.
Quite a bit of milling later .....
OK, it was dry for a bit so I headed outside. Got the main feed from the fuse to the CTEK laid in.
Got most of the main cables in, with just a bit of tying back to do against the tray.
Had to retreat again, so busied myself with fitting outlets. I wired in some cigar lighter sockets and USB charging points. Plus a little LED voltmeter. Which if nothing else lets me know the power is on.
All these go through the Blue Sea switch panel.
At this point I remembered how much I hate cigar lighter sockets. OK in about 1970 they were a revolution but in 2014, come on. So I cut the plug off the fridge and hard wired it straight into the switch. Ahh, before you say something, I have a spare lead. I raided VWP the other day and bought little sleeved grommets and all sorts of bits. Nice tidy finish and it can't be yanked through.
Next job was to start at the other end and get ready for the battery going in.
Fixed the shunt to this handy strut and connected the chassis earth.
Now this bit I am pleased with. There must be 34 ways to fasten the battery down. But this came to me. The first plate is bolted to the drawer carcass and the second top plate hooks underneath. The end of the plate has a hole with the bolt running down to a turnbuckle hooked through a big stainless ring (actually a staple from a hasp and staple) bolted through the floor pan. The tension I can get on that is so much, I actually backed it off a little in case I cracked the battery case! That battery is going nowhere. It was pretty captive to start with but now. It's fixed.
Off road tomorrow, but on Monday I should get the power on. It's progress. Need to fasten the inverter in, but at least the cabling is in for that over on the other side.
Whoo hoo look at the pwetty lights.
Last cable in and fixed. Found some really grippy reusable cable clamps in Maplin. Very good for this sort of thing.
Unit lights up
Switches powered
Victron..Victron.. Christ knows but it's doing something.
I put a small LED voltmeter in the cabin too, just as a simple reference when looking at the units from the back seats. It's powered from the unit and not from the battery - read 14.5 immediately I fired up. After a minute or so, the other split charge came in and it dropped, within a couple of seconds, the units boosted that back to 14.5.
Right, well as long as it doesn't catch fire ......
Last cable in and fixed. Found some really grippy reusable cable clamps in Maplin. Very good for this sort of thing.
Unit lights up
Switches powered
Victron..Victron.. Christ knows but it's doing something.
I put a small LED voltmeter in the cabin too, just as a simple reference when looking at the units from the back seats. It's powered from the unit and not from the battery - read 14.5 immediately I fired up. After a minute or so, the other split charge came in and it dropped, within a couple of seconds, the units boosted that back to 14.5.
Right, well as long as it doesn't catch fire ......
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Thanks Andy. None of the lights are flashing which seems to be a good thing. Not that I quite know that the lights (that aren't flashing) actually mean. Some I get, but actually having to read the manual just now.
I know I know, sorry. But it's not obvious. I promise not to read it very thoroughly.
I know I know, sorry. But it's not obvious. I promise not to read it very thoroughly.
Good work, as always.
PETE BELL
Well-Known Member
hi Chris have you spotted this one on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321410158580?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT like the roof box 
Thanks Chaps.
Yes Pete, see that, been around for some time. Not quite sure what you mean though. Not suggesting I buy it are you?
Yes the roof box is great. Really good storage and it's the perfect width for everything I have tried in it! Bonus.
Yes Pete, see that, been around for some time. Not quite sure what you mean though. Not suggesting I buy it are you?
Yes the roof box is great. Really good storage and it's the perfect width for everything I have tried in it! Bonus.
Bank holiday update. Well there's nothing on the telly so someone has to provide the entertainment.
Didn't get everything done today that I wanted. Eldest decided to have a birthday today which took time. That eat into more important time. Sheesh. 19? Not like it was a special birthday.
OK. First job was to erect the M*A*S*H shelter. Mobile Awning Sheltering Hindquarters as it kept pissing down.
Next I moved the little wing (prize for spotting the song in there) on the passenger side in by 30 mm.
The nearside cavity is useful but not sure what for exactly. So I shoved the inverter in there. Now just what the hell do you want an inverter for? Many people fit them and probably never use them. But my vehicle is very multi functional and believe it or not, things like an angle grinder for me are really useful things. Yes I could buy a cordless one. Not sure how I'd charge it though. Oh yes, with an inverter. Hmm. I need to cut through padlocks, wire fences and gate hinges and whatnot. So I put it in. It's my truck so there.
At Donnington this year I picked up some LED lamps. One to go on a pole on the wheel carrier and one to go under the awning for sitting out and smoking cool healthy cigars. They are kinda neat as they come with a remote control. I decided that here was quite a tidy place to put the units. They have manual control on the box so from the kitchen area, working them will be easy.
OK short build break here....
If you do this sort of stuff you will inevitably be cutting cable. Lots of it. Not wire, but cable. 25, 35, 40 and 50 mm. You can hacksaw it or cut it with a disc like I do. But yesterday I bought these in Maplin. Zut Alors. They are utterly megatasic. If you don't have a pair then get some. They are so good you can actually trim 1/2 mm of the end of a cable. It leaves it square and un crushed. Where have they been all my life?
OK back on message.
Oh, that's it. All day to do that? You can't rush quality you know. I wanted to get the cable through the roof today, but in this weather it just wasn't on. Hit a few snags on the way today which as many of you know really sap time. If it went right first time every time then I'd have been done by second breakfast.
Time for a lie down and a dry out.
Didn't get everything done today that I wanted. Eldest decided to have a birthday today which took time. That eat into more important time. Sheesh. 19? Not like it was a special birthday.
OK. First job was to erect the M*A*S*H shelter. Mobile Awning Sheltering Hindquarters as it kept pissing down.
Next I moved the little wing (prize for spotting the song in there) on the passenger side in by 30 mm.
The nearside cavity is useful but not sure what for exactly. So I shoved the inverter in there. Now just what the hell do you want an inverter for? Many people fit them and probably never use them. But my vehicle is very multi functional and believe it or not, things like an angle grinder for me are really useful things. Yes I could buy a cordless one. Not sure how I'd charge it though. Oh yes, with an inverter. Hmm. I need to cut through padlocks, wire fences and gate hinges and whatnot. So I put it in. It's my truck so there.
At Donnington this year I picked up some LED lamps. One to go on a pole on the wheel carrier and one to go under the awning for sitting out and smoking cool healthy cigars. They are kinda neat as they come with a remote control. I decided that here was quite a tidy place to put the units. They have manual control on the box so from the kitchen area, working them will be easy.
OK short build break here....
If you do this sort of stuff you will inevitably be cutting cable. Lots of it. Not wire, but cable. 25, 35, 40 and 50 mm. You can hacksaw it or cut it with a disc like I do. But yesterday I bought these in Maplin. Zut Alors. They are utterly megatasic. If you don't have a pair then get some. They are so good you can actually trim 1/2 mm of the end of a cable. It leaves it square and un crushed. Where have they been all my life?
OK back on message.
Oh, that's it. All day to do that? You can't rush quality you know. I wanted to get the cable through the roof today, but in this weather it just wasn't on. Hit a few snags on the way today which as many of you know really sap time. If it went right first time every time then I'd have been done by second breakfast.
Time for a lie down and a dry out.
Richard Jackaman
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2010
- Messages
- 246
These'll do the trick.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0090XX0I2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They take a while to arrive but very effective hex crimps on large mm cable.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0090XX0I2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They take a while to arrive but very effective hex crimps on large mm cable.
I have a set of small hydraulic crimpers with several sets of different sized jaws. They were bought for a one off job really but have been going for years. I buy lugs in bulk right across the size range, but this project has really depleted stocks so I shall have to pay a visit to VWP soon.
It's like this and has been perfect every single time. I paid about £22 IIRC.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HYDRAULIC...ls_Supplies_Electrical_ET&hash=item45ff95eef0
It's like this and has been perfect every single time. I paid about £22 IIRC.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HYDRAULIC...ls_Supplies_Electrical_ET&hash=item45ff95eef0
