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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 17, 2012 14:43:05 GMT
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 17, 2012 15:40:45 GMT
Thanks OH, much obliged. Am off out in a minute to go and have a quiet brew on the moors in the BWV in the dark and rain, and just chill. I may or may not stay away overnight :-) I'll have a look at the floor of the van etc and do some measuring up and decision making as to where to put the heater whilst I'm sipping my brew and warming my toes on the skillet
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 17, 2012 16:05:05 GMT
you will find that it will probaly only fit where he has fitted it as you have a lot of pipes and chassis membersand electric wire etc he has done a lot of vans so would think he know what he is on about
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Post by Firefox on Dec 17, 2012 16:39:25 GMT
Thanks for the link OH. I'd forgotten about that site. I have seen it before, that chap has some good details especially for fitting tanks, but I'd lost the link I've linked it now in on our self build info page freemotorhominguk.boards.net/index.cgi?action=display&board=selfbuild&thread=248&page=1It looks like the options for fitting are limited but I can't believe that is the only location. RTP will get toasted with it there I'm hoping there would be a place on the near side (sliding door side) 300mm in from side and missing a cross member. That chap couldn't use that side because he had a shower and bed/seat down there in his layout. No doubt WVW can check out her exact chassis situation.
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Post by n brown on Dec 17, 2012 17:13:36 GMT
as long as its all sealed properjob,i can see no reason why the heater can't be raised a bit to clear brake lines etc as long as the exhaust has a generally unobstructed drop
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 18, 2012 0:09:36 GMT
[/img] Attachments:
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 18, 2012 0:10:53 GMT
somewher else wher to fit it found this for you sorted Attachments:
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Post by vwT5surfbus on Dec 20, 2012 8:56:14 GMT
good pictures hippy. it looks like there is a fair ammount of fitting needed though - big hole in metal floor and where is gas supply is that a rubber hose in the first picture (the pink/red pipe)
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Post by n brown on Dec 20, 2012 12:55:34 GMT
assuming the position was decided and free from obstructions,i'd expect to fit and gas up one of these in underv2 hours,using copper pipe of course
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 15:19:00 GMT
When I have some time (ha bloody ha!!!) I'll sketch out a layout of my van so that you can have a look and see where you suggest.
I spent most of yesterday rewiring my Smartcom cos I've been having problems with my elecs for a while, main battery discharging to flat a few times, leisure battery not charging, blown fuse to Smartcom, strange things happening with coil light coming on whilst driving, all power failing when turning ignition on, but coming back on when wires to main battery were "wiggled" etc.
So yesterday I decided to investigate and sort it out once and for all. I had recharged the leisure and it was holding charge at 12.7 volts over a week in the house. My main battery was showing 12.8 volts before switching ignition on.
So I disconnected wires to leisure battery from the main battery and then traced everything. I discovered that several wires had come out of the Smartcom AGAIN! This is about the third time this has happened so I think I'm going to have to look for an alternative relay with a better design or look at wiring in a fusebox and securing all wires and the relay (at the moment they are all loose under a shelf next to the leisure battery, as the van is a work in progress and I don't want to fix anything down permanently until I have sorted out the heater and a sink, ideally with tap, so I need to keep options open until final locations of wiring etc is decided).
I've checked all other wires and connections to terminals etc (I have quick release catches for the leisure battery so all wires go to the metal housing of the catches), colour coded with insulation tape all the positive and negative wires, checked / resecured all connections, rewired the Smartcom as securely as possible and taped around it to help hold wires in place to stop them coming out again, replaced the fuse, reconnected both batteries and checked and double checked all connections secure, and after running the engine for 10 mins, the leisure battery was reading 13.5 v so it looks like everything is now ok.
It was too late when I got home to check the voltage of both batteries but I'm going to pop out in a minute and see what they are. Everything seemed to be working fine last night - the stereo, fridge and 12v sockets were all working ok.
I have also done a quick hand drawn sketch of my wiring which I'm going to redo more neatly and then laminate to keep in the van. I'll upload a photo of the diagram together with a photo of my van layout sketch later so you can have a look and suggest any improvements.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 15:29:25 GMT
That smartcom is more trouble than its worth. Did the one that I did with the blade terminal crimped on the wire and jammed in the socket, and then screwed down the socket on it, come out? If it did I'll eat my hat, that was well solid!
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 15:54:30 GMT
That smartcom is more trouble than its worth. Did the one that I did with the blade terminal crimped on the wire and jammed in the socket, and then screwed down the socket on it, come out? If it did I'll eat my hat, that was well solid! Yep, that was one of the ones that came out, not sure if it had come out of it's own accord or whether it came out whilst removing the leisure battery and fiddling around with the wiring. I've now cut the length of exposed copper at the end of that to about 3 mm and pushed it right in, screwed it tight, and taped it into place as best as possible too. The problem is because that's a double thick wire going into one small socket, it really needs a proper connector adding to the end of that wire to go into the socket but I was running out of patience to do that yesterday. To be honest, the whole Smartcom device could do with being just a little bit bigger, as working with it requires nimble fingers and good eyesight and light. Any electronics experts want to invent a split relay charger which is a little bit more user friendly than the Smartcom? I'd be happy to test trial any prototypes On the plus side, I know know and understand my 12v system as well as any expert!!
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 16:03:21 GMT
Oooops, having just reread Firefox's post, no it wasn't that one that came out, that one did hold (I think that was the earth out from the Smartcom), it was the other one, the positive double wire going in. I think. To be honest, I can't remember, I'll have to go and get the diagram out of the van and have a look. I think it was the wire that had a wire from the fridge and another wire (from the main battery?) going into the Smartcom, the 2 wires twisted together was too big for the Smartcom socket so I had to fiddle around twisting and trimming them to make the end of them thin enough to fit in but not too thin for it to pull loose.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 16:08:39 GMT
Must be the vibration that is bringing them out. I'd be much happier if there were screws and you could put a ring end on the wire and then put the screw through the ring. It's really a crappy design the way it is Edit: Maybe make them all similar to that one I did, if that has worked. I know it's a pain to do them but it's caused you a lot of hassle Pity you can't claim for the trouble off Ring Electronics!
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 20, 2012 16:11:34 GMT
well all ican suggest is putting in a smaller wire using loctite on the threads and the smaller wirew attach a bullet crimp lug to it so u just plug them in to the bullet crimps
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Post by Oldish Hippy on Dec 20, 2012 16:12:36 GMT
do you have charge wire coming from alternator
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 16:32:42 GMT
do you have charge wire coming from alternator Dunno. Possibly. Don't even know where the alternator is on this. Give me back my 2CV any day, that was so straightforward. I could change the alternator and fan on that, in fact, I did!
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 16:37:14 GMT
well all ican suggest is putting in a smaller wire using loctite on the threads and the smaller wirew attach a bullet crimp lug to it so u just plug them in to the bullet crimps Not a bad idea to superglue them in. Thanks OH. I presume that wouldn't do any harm. At some point, unless I change the relay, I will put some crimped connectors on each wire going into the Smartcom, but that will have to wait until I am away on my travels and somewhere close to a Maplins. I know I could order them online but I'd rather have a look at the real thing and make sure that whatever I get fits inside the Smartcom sockets as I already have a few connectors but they are too big to fit inside the Smartcom sockets.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 16:51:50 GMT
@ WVW The one I used didn't fit inside the smartcom sockets but I cut it down and bent it with pliers till it did.
@ OH The charge wire comes from the engine battery +ve It's at the same potential as the one from the alternator. It's two times 4mm2 wires joined in parallel.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 16:54:14 GMT
@ OH The charge wire comes from the engine battery +ve It's at the same potential as the one from the alternator. It's two times 4mm 2 wires joined in parallel. Wow, I'm impressed, that sounds very technical, it's just 2 thick red wires with the ends twisted together to me
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 17:10:25 GMT
What you need is a retired electrician, near to you and has time on his hands during the day, who has a shed load of crimps and never had any problem with his smartcom split charge relay, Hmm now who do i know, let me think!!!!!!! Oh yes ME!!!!!!!! if you need a hand i can help, as long as i get a brew and chocolate hobnobs as payment.
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 17:36:36 GMT
What you need is a retired electrician, near to you and has time on his hands during the day, who has a shed load of crimps and never had any problem with his smartcom split charge relay, Hmm now who do i know, let me think!!!!!!! Oh yes ME!!!!!!!! if you need a hand i can help, as long as i get a brew and chocolate hobnobs as payment. I take back anything disrespectful I might have said about your van I can do coffee (I don't drink tea and never know what colour it should be and how long to leave the teabag in for) and Morrisons Value choc digestives. Next time I go shopping I'll stock up on Choc Hobnobs. I might ask you to have a look at it over NY if you're going to be around but probably easiest to arrange to visit you at BLS next time you're there. I can't believe you only have one wire going in and two wires going out of your Smartcom, how the hell have you done that?!!! PS. You get this hours rep point for that :-D
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 18:01:55 GMT
Wow, I'm impressed, that sounds very technical, it's just 2 thick red wires with the ends twisted together to me That's what A level physics did for me - can't remember too much else I have used it for since ;D You've got a fridge on your smartcom too, so an extra couple of wires for that and I think Andrew took the earth via that bolt you can see in the background.
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 18:13:08 GMT
you dont need any bigger, its only charging your leisure battery, it goes from the smartcom to this. which is next to it, then it goes from battery to this which in turn runs this coolbox oly when engine is running, and also this and this and finally this small but compact,
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 18:23:01 GMT
sorry WVW i have hijacked your thread, I need a heater in my beast before i go out in her in this weather, Saving up for a eberspacher night heater at the moment, Good luck with your heater. I dont do gas, dont like it.
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Post by Firefox on Dec 20, 2012 18:32:59 GMT
I just bought a Propex - £395 on a deal. I've got 2x6kg bottles of gas onboard so it makes sense for me. I wouldn't mind a Eber, but they are expensive to buy new If you wanna earn some extra hobnobs you can hep WVW fit her Carver - I think I am bringing up a 2nd hand one Mr NBrown kindly donated that OH is going to relay to Avebury or is Mr NBrown going to bring direct?
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 18:33:52 GMT
Wow, that is so neat and tidy, just how I'd like mine to look, that's why I've been wondering about a fusebox. I'd like to have switches like yours, it would make life so much easier. I'll look out for the hardware on ebay.
Shame not to see you at RH at NY, hope to catch up with you soon x
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 18:50:33 GMT
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Post by whitevanwoman on Dec 20, 2012 19:49:37 GMT
Thanks Big B, I'll have a look at them.
Here's my wiring diagram - I know I need to put a fuse in between the leisure battery and the stereo so that I don't blow up the stereo, but not sure what size fuse to put in.
The gas heater kindly donated by n brown will need a connection I presume.
I was going to put a tap in but I think I'm going to just have a manual pump action tap. I'd be happy with that, and just one less thing to do or to go wrong.
Apart from the wires coming out of the Smartcom, the set up works quite well. I've got quite a few 12v gadgets, why is why I want the usb and cig sockets. I have a good supply of 5amp fuses since i discovered that the fan heater blows the fuse in the adaptor which is why I've wired a single 12v unfused socket direct to the battery but I guess that also should really have an inline fuse too, but what size?
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Post by bigboack on Dec 20, 2012 19:58:05 GMT
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