My phone has gone into dial-up mode trying to upload the pictures !!
Dellmassive`s Camper Van Adventure
- Thread starter Dellmassive
- Start date
Moving On. . . .
started having a problem with the POP-TOP bedboard.
the Left hinge had come loose. . . . so the board was flopping about all over the place.
a quick message to the installers had us a new set of hinges and some new wood screws.
these screws come loose.
so i replaced all the iffy screws,
trhen added a second two hinges to the existing three.
now we have five . . . .
.
started having a problem with the POP-TOP bedboard.
the Left hinge had come loose. . . . so the board was flopping about all over the place.
a quick message to the installers had us a new set of hinges and some new wood screws.
these screws come loose.
so i replaced all the iffy screws,
trhen added a second two hinges to the existing three.
now we have five . . . .
.
A quick break from the norm and a impromptu Overnight with Friends. .
#HaveVanWillTravel
How cool is this . . .
we had Pizza,
Dog watch.
Beers & Food.
with some Chilled Tunes & Vibes.
with a cracking Fire Pit.
.
.
#HaveVanWillTravel
How cool is this . . .
we had Pizza,
Dog watch.
Beers & Food.
with some Chilled Tunes & Vibes.
with a cracking Fire Pit.
.
.
Yeah, the extraction algorithm can't handle so much fun being compressed into such a short time frame.
Next up was some Prep work for the Next Event.
BUSFEST !!
Trying out a new car alarm . . . .
but back to work first . . .
.
Then Busfest Trials . . .
and
Not Sure if Charlie is Impressed.
.
BUSFEST !!
Trying out a new car alarm . . . .
but back to work first . . .
.
Then Busfest Trials . . .
and
Not Sure if Charlie is Impressed.
.
Right - Starter Battery !!
i think this van has its original battery from 2017?
the Staop-Start hasnt worked for like - ever?
The AMT2-12 does a grand job keeping it from going flat.
but after changing the SB on the VAN, and seeing what a massive difference it made - i just had to change the BUS battery as well.
not sure on the date code - but this battery is Original 2017 I'm sure.
plugging in the VCDS, we can see the battery is shot..
37% - 45% state of health - charge.
only 8ah available, resting around 12.2v.
its on its last legs.
of to Halfords we go for a new shiney.
AGM 115 - 80Ah own brand which is Yuasa, and comes with a 5Yr warranty.
a quick swap out and refit.
then a recode with VCDS to tell the ECU that a new battery has been installed.
new capacity - 80Ah
and new SOH @ 100%
the new coding now shows the battery SOH @ 100%
but the battery SOC is around 79% - so a charge is needed.
.
running the engine for a few mines, shows 22A odd going into the battery and start to rise of the SOC.
.
so i hooked up a 25A Victron BSC over night to fully charge the new battery to 100%
the following morning. . .
a newe VCDS session now shows the battery SOH @ 100%
and the SOC now @ 98%
.
and guess what. . .
the very first test drive - the Stop/Start kicked in straight away !!!!
so that proves that the van was trying to do its best keeping that old knackerd battery going.
now all good.
I've also had to adjust the dc-dc charger as the new battery now rests at 12.6V versus the old one at 12.1v.
.
sweet.
i think this van has its original battery from 2017?
the Staop-Start hasnt worked for like - ever?
The AMT2-12 does a grand job keeping it from going flat.
but after changing the SB on the VAN, and seeing what a massive difference it made - i just had to change the BUS battery as well.
not sure on the date code - but this battery is Original 2017 I'm sure.
plugging in the VCDS, we can see the battery is shot..
37% - 45% state of health - charge.
only 8ah available, resting around 12.2v.
its on its last legs.
of to Halfords we go for a new shiney.
AGM 115 - 80Ah own brand which is Yuasa, and comes with a 5Yr warranty.
a quick swap out and refit.
then a recode with VCDS to tell the ECU that a new battery has been installed.
new capacity - 80Ah
and new SOH @ 100%
the new coding now shows the battery SOH @ 100%
but the battery SOC is around 79% - so a charge is needed.
.
running the engine for a few mines, shows 22A odd going into the battery and start to rise of the SOC.
.
so i hooked up a 25A Victron BSC over night to fully charge the new battery to 100%
the following morning. . .
a newe VCDS session now shows the battery SOH @ 100%
and the SOC now @ 98%
.
and guess what. . .
the very first test drive - the Stop/Start kicked in straight away !!!!
so that proves that the van was trying to do its best keeping that old knackerd battery going.
now all good.
I've also had to adjust the dc-dc charger as the new battery now rests at 12.6V versus the old one at 12.1v.
.
sweet.
Paulb_
Member
Tnx Dell, much appreciated.
I just got the 3M wrap foil in so I'm ready for the next step. To give back to the forum I'm happy to make some pictures and post back. There are a couple of solar threads so I'll find one to add it to I guess, don't want to highjack this thread.
Yes...or start your own vans build thread if you like.
See here...
.
Victron GX IO-Extender 150
.
almost forgot about this. . .
which gives us some extra switches and outputs. . .
but NOT AS I THOUGHT !!!
this is what i had . . .
i wired up my water pump to an output, but i didnt work.
i quickly found out that these 5+5 outputs are digital and cant drive a load directly - oh pants !!
...
but you can use the three onboard relay outputs . . so i used one of those for my water pump.
so while the fridge was out, i had the opportunity to swap out the MPPT connection over to a BUSBAR.
we now have this setup. . .
its starting to look messy. . . . but what can you do?
its behind the fridge so not visible as such.
.
almost forgot about this. . .
which gives us some extra switches and outputs. . .
but NOT AS I THOUGHT !!!
this is what i had . . .
i wired up my water pump to an output, but i didnt work.
i quickly found out that these 5+5 outputs are digital and cant drive a load directly - oh pants !!
...
but you can use the three onboard relay outputs . . so i used one of those for my water pump.
so while the fridge was out, i had the opportunity to swap out the MPPT connection over to a BUSBAR.
we now have this setup. . .
its starting to look messy. . . . but what can you do?
its behind the fridge so not visible as such.
@Dellmassive , do you have info on this table please? Looks interesting but a search on the forum seems to be coming up blank for me. Look to be from the top of the door, perhaps with added magnets?
@garyp1969 had one I noticed recently at Camper Calling. Very useful, just remember not to slam the slider when its attached!
I want one too!
It's from Dub Designs.
They sells them at the festivals like bus fest and camper jam.
Not sure if they have them listed on their website? I think it's
It just hooks onto the top
f tyebdoor, and has rubber bit where it sits on the side.... Us full..
.
If you put a couple of drops of superglue into each screw hole just before fitting the screw it firms up the ply.
Campervan Hanging Table | eBay UK
Hanging tables for campervans, cars, overlanders. Unlike others available, these have fully adjustable straps to suit all vehicles, rubber coated hooks, and rubber T-trimmed edges to eliminate scratching/damage to vehicle. Great for cookers, holding drinks, picnics, games etc. Made from 15mm...
ebay.us
An example of one on ebay
Probably get one from temu for 57p
Well this is annoying..
Since replacing the starter battery.
I've had an orange MIL engine light.
A quick Carista scan says it relates to the Glow plug.
Annoying as we are now out of the ALL-IN cover.
So I'll have to get this sorted myself.
Anyone done the job or had it done recently? - 150 CXHA engine.
.
Since replacing the starter battery.
I've had an orange MIL engine light.
A quick Carista scan says it relates to the Glow plug.
Annoying as we are now out of the ALL-IN cover.
So I'll have to get this sorted myself.
Anyone done the job or had it done recently? - 150 CXHA engine.
.
I had it done at my local garage was only about £50 as access was ok wothout removing the gubbins on the top of the engine. Will depend if its the sensor one though as one of the plugs has a sensor which is more £££
Oh, I need to have a look see how to do this with VCDS.
I havent sorted the Glowplug issue yet.. . . - I've decided to let a garage do it, because they are prone to snapping, so if the van is in a garage environment already. etc.
Im sorting out a date with @Planar Pete to get the heater duct modification sorted.
now we have the kitchen fitted the vents are blocked, so Pete is going to fit a new floor duct and pipe into my box section to a air vent that will be flush with the front of the fridge.
hes also going to fit the @Nutexa Frictions pads & disk set
.
.
Im sorting out a date with @Planar Pete to get the heater duct modification sorted.
now we have the kitchen fitted the vents are blocked, so Pete is going to fit a new floor duct and pipe into my box section to a air vent that will be flush with the front of the fridge.
hes also going to fit the @Nutexa Frictions pads & disk set
.
.
Victron 50A EHU Main Charger IP43 (12/50/1+1)
i didn't really pay much attention to the size of this unit when i bought it.
i just knew i had two 230ah lithium batterys, and needed at least a 50A charger to have any hope in recharging them if flat in under 10hours.
460ah battery / 50A/50Ah charger will be 9hours (ish) max rate.
i looked at twin 25A chargers and all that.
but as i have the Victron Cerbo-GX i wanted the charger data, and the only charger that connected to the VRM platform was the IP43 Pheonic charger.
The do a 30A and 50A version - but the case size was the same.
this thing is a beast . . . . .
there was no chance of it fitting in the seat base next to the battery.
nor would it fit behind the frisge - without pushing the fridge forwards.
and it wouldn't fit in the cupboard by the microwave...
so taking 5 and thinking about it. . . . i realised that i didn't actually need the charger fitted as such.
we very rarely get EHU when camping,
so this charger is for winter months and emergency charging when the sun isnt enough or i cant run the engine for long.
its use case is plug it into EHU from wherever.
or
plug it into a charge PPP like the EF Delta2 and dump that power into the vans battery bank.
+++++
Thats what i decided to do.
wire the charger up so it can be PLUG & PLAY.
I made up a short loom, using 16mm2 flexable cable,
with a keyed RED SB50 Anderson conector.
with a 5mm crimp end to connect to the MIDI fusebox under the passenger seat.
and a 10mm crimp for the Chassis seat bolt.
i then done the same on the charger. . .
16mm2 cable to RED SB50.
i also run in a 5m Victron VE-direct data cable from the Cerbo-GX to the seatbase.
The connection to the van was into the MIDI fusebus - passenger side.
and the NEG/Chassis went to the seatbase Stud, - id alread cleaned all the paint off att the bolt holes prevoiusly, so it just bolted on.
that all gave us this neat little 50A fused feed direct to the Battery bank,
that will tuck away when not needed.
this is the charger connected . . . it will sit here in the passenger footwell,
out the way when the seat is swivled as well.
we have the 12v side connedted and the VE-Direct data cable.
next up is the mains.
I've got a EHU inlet under the bonnet,
that runs to under the seatbase - so ill fit a single/double socket and plug the charge into that.
but for now a PPP can be used.
an Anker C300 in this case.
charge data:
the battery was already full.
I've set the charger to 30A for now.
i left the charger connected over night,
looking at the VRM data the PPP lasted till about midnight before going flat and shutting off.
at that point the charger was giving around 2A to run the loads, after the sun went down and the solar dropped out.
.
*
Job Done.
my plan now it to leave this charger in the garage section or at home.
then get it out only when needed,
ill have a EHU cable with me to plug into a EHU somewhere.
ot just take a Delta2 PPP with us that can be charged anywhere - ie someone else's EHU, then bought over to the van and plugged in for a mobile EHU charge up.
the 240v rubber sockets are on order.
.
i didn't really pay much attention to the size of this unit when i bought it.
i just knew i had two 230ah lithium batterys, and needed at least a 50A charger to have any hope in recharging them if flat in under 10hours.
460ah battery / 50A/50Ah charger will be 9hours (ish) max rate.
i looked at twin 25A chargers and all that.
but as i have the Victron Cerbo-GX i wanted the charger data, and the only charger that connected to the VRM platform was the IP43 Pheonic charger.
The do a 30A and 50A version - but the case size was the same.
this thing is a beast . . . . .
there was no chance of it fitting in the seat base next to the battery.
nor would it fit behind the frisge - without pushing the fridge forwards.
and it wouldn't fit in the cupboard by the microwave...
so taking 5 and thinking about it. . . . i realised that i didn't actually need the charger fitted as such.
we very rarely get EHU when camping,
so this charger is for winter months and emergency charging when the sun isnt enough or i cant run the engine for long.
its use case is plug it into EHU from wherever.
or
plug it into a charge PPP like the EF Delta2 and dump that power into the vans battery bank.
+++++
Thats what i decided to do.
wire the charger up so it can be PLUG & PLAY.
I made up a short loom, using 16mm2 flexable cable,
with a keyed RED SB50 Anderson conector.
with a 5mm crimp end to connect to the MIDI fusebox under the passenger seat.
and a 10mm crimp for the Chassis seat bolt.
i then done the same on the charger. . .
16mm2 cable to RED SB50.
i also run in a 5m Victron VE-direct data cable from the Cerbo-GX to the seatbase.
The connection to the van was into the MIDI fusebus - passenger side.
and the NEG/Chassis went to the seatbase Stud, - id alread cleaned all the paint off att the bolt holes prevoiusly, so it just bolted on.
that all gave us this neat little 50A fused feed direct to the Battery bank,
that will tuck away when not needed.
this is the charger connected . . . it will sit here in the passenger footwell,
out the way when the seat is swivled as well.
we have the 12v side connedted and the VE-Direct data cable.
next up is the mains.
I've got a EHU inlet under the bonnet,
that runs to under the seatbase - so ill fit a single/double socket and plug the charge into that.
but for now a PPP can be used.
an Anker C300 in this case.
charge data:
the battery was already full.
I've set the charger to 30A for now.
i left the charger connected over night,
looking at the VRM data the PPP lasted till about midnight before going flat and shutting off.
at that point the charger was giving around 2A to run the loads, after the sun went down and the solar dropped out.
.
*
Job Done.
my plan now it to leave this charger in the garage section or at home.
then get it out only when needed,
ill have a EHU cable with me to plug into a EHU somewhere.
ot just take a Delta2 PPP with us that can be charged anywhere - ie someone else's EHU, then bought over to the van and plugged in for a mobile EHU charge up.
the 240v rubber sockets are on order.
.
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