What electrics did you manage to fit under the driver seat?

[MikeMc88]

I am about to make a start on some of my electrics and have ran the cables to the driver seat for installation of the leisure battery, ctek d250se and mains hook up.

I was told to put the consumer unit there too as to limit the distance from the hook up point. Ideally I would have liked to install the consumer unit and inverter in the rear cupboard but I now understand that may not be possible. I do not mind installing what I can under the driver seat but even fitting the ctek, leisure battery and consumer unit (RCD with 2 x double pole MCBs) seems like a tight fit.

Does anybody have some pics of there electrics installed under driver seat??

Just curious to see what others have managed to fit under there.

 

[Davidh]

I put my 12v under the passenger seat which included, ctek, battery, mains charger and battery monitor and then the 240v stuff under the drivers which included rcd, autoswitch, fuse box and inverter while still trying to leave room for the heater ducting. I couldn't see any way of fitting it all under the one seat but others who are more savvy or have a smaller battery probably can.

 

[MikeMc88]

I have the swivel passenger safe seat so cant install anything under there.

My idea was to put the leisure battery and ctek under the passenger seat then run the consumer unit to the rear cupboard with 230v auto switch, inverter, victron blue smart charger and a 12 way fuse box to power the 12v stuff.

Would it be possible to install leisure battery, ctek under driver seat with consumer unit on the back of the seat base, then run the 230v auto, inverter, victron charger etc to the rear cupboard. Or does the inverter/230v auto switch need to be close to the consumer unit?

 

[bootsam]

Im putting an IP65 rated consumer unit under my bonnet, next to starter battery as theres lots of room after seeing someone else did the same here.

Edit: My leisure battery ctek etc is under drivers seat. I'm reserving passanger seat for amp and hifi electrics. If it wasnt for the recess in the plastic trim that affixes to rear of seat base puhing battery forward, I'd have more room to put consumer in there too. Im now thinking can I just cut that recess out of plastic trim? All this is current, so I like these threads as Im in the midst of it right now for ideas.

 

[Davidh]

I have the swivel passenger safe seat so cant install anything under there.

My idea was to put the leisure battery and ctek under the passenger seat then run the consumer unit to the rear cupboard with 230v auto switch, inverter, victron blue smart charger and a 12 way fuse box to power the 12v stuff.

Would it be possible to install leisure battery, ctek under driver seat with consumer unit on the back of the seat base, then run the 230v auto, inverter, victron charger etc to the rear cupboard. Or does the inverter/230v auto switch need to be close to the consumer unit?

As far as I'm aware it doesn't have to be close to it, i just placed it there as I wantee to maximise storage space in the rear. I have seen people place the consumer unit inder the bonnet which I liked the look of but by that point I had already committed to under the seat.

 

[Andymc]

You can still fit the CU under the bonnet as you already have the cable laid, the CU just goes on the other end. That’s assuming you have the EHU point under the bonnet. Check out Deaky’s build thread.

 

[MikeMc88]

Yes my mains hook up is installed under the bonnet with cable running to the driver seat. If the best option is to put the CU under the bonnet then I will follow that route. Would the 230v auto switch need to go under the bonnet also?

I would prefer the CU to be inside the van. I dont mind it being under the driver seat as long as I could run the rest to the rear cupboard.

 

[Andymc]

I’m in the process of fitting my electrics now and have the hook up and CU (IP65) next to the starter battery and then two cables one for the charger (under drivers seat) and the other feeds my 240v sockets x3.

I’ve tried to leave room under the drivers to allow air circulation, I also have another fuse box mid way down the RHS for lights, usb, etc saves all cables going to the drivers seat.

 

[YellowHound]

 

[burendan]

In my T5 I got the RCD, shore charger and battery under the drivers seat and from memory the VSR and fuse box sat in the furniture just behind the seat.

In my T6 I have just installed a 140AH AGM, DC charger, battery protect, shunt & fuses under the drivers seat all shown here. I am not planning to add shore power / RCD to my new van as we hardly ever used it in the UK and there is a lot more solar generation capacity down here in Australia

 

[VanDamMan]

I am about to make a start on some of my electrics and have ran the cables to the driver seat for installation of the leisure battery, ctek d250se and mains hook up.

I was told to put the consumer unit there too as to limit the distance from the hook up point. Ideally I would have liked to install the consumer unit and inverter in the rear cupboard but I now understand that may not be possible. I do not mind installing what I can under the driver seat but even fitting the ctek, leisure battery and consumer unit (RCD with 2 x double pole MCBs) seems like a tight fit.

Does anybody have some pics of there electrics installed under driver seat??

Just curious to see what others have managed to fit under there.

Hi ...Not got a picture to share....You may not consider Solar at the moment but whilst your do the wiring ..put the solar cables on the Ctek ..will save lots of hassle later

 

[Andymc]

Didn't think of that, Solar.... possibly run the cables now to future proof and save the trouble of running cables when everything is in place..

Can you purchase the cables separately?

 

[bootsam]

I was just going to leave some tails and an Anderson connector for future connection of the PV. But connect the tails up to the ctek and ground.

 

[VanDamMan]

Didn't think of that, Solar.... possibly run the cables now to future proof and save the trouble of running cables when everything is in place..

Can you purchase the cables separately?

Hi ... Got my cable from 12voltsplanet 16mm battery cable and Anderson plug ( don’t forgot the little red cable needs to connect to ignition live when using smart alternator for Ctek and black to Neg for AGM battery ) mine ended up like this

 

[Skyliner33]

This is mine. Battery, Smart shunt, Battery monitor, BM2, RedArc DC-DC charger. and 12V fusebox as well as a few inline fuses. And a load of wiring for the heater.

 

[bootsam]

Tidy.

 

[jimc91]

+1 for under the bonnet

 

[Lmuk17]

I’m aiming to do 12v under drivers and 230v under passengers. Haven’t done the 230v properly yet but the 12v is looking pretty good . Got an isolation switch for each circuit and the fuses are all easily accessible. Still plan to replace the battery charger and try and fit a solar controller in there .

 

[Robot75]

I'm currently planning my electrics (think i must be on revision number #253 by now for my latest plan!), which will also going to split between 230v under passenger seat, and 12v under drivers seat ( as i thought maybe the driver seat being closer to the rear cabinets was better to allow for a shorter cable run and therefore minimise voltage drop). But, can anyone tell me the best cable route between the passenger and driver seats? Not sure whether directly straight across is the safest route and may leave a bump in the floor mat? as there is no obvious gully to run any cabling. Thanks.

 

[fidav]

There's a gully in my van to run cables between driver and passenger seat (T5 2015 plate)