Connecting 12v sockets and power supply for MiFi box to Sargent EC500 PSU

[Sammers]

Hi,

I'm a complete newbie so apologies in advance. I have a Fiat Ducato conversion which uses a Sargent EC500 PSU for 230v and 12v electrics (taken from a Lunar Caravan). The conversion was all carried out by the guy I bought the motorhome from a couple of years ago and so far I haven't attempted any modifications other than installing a new stereo/sat nav system.

The van doesn't have any 12v power or USB sockets, so I'd like to install one and also I'm also installing a Motorhomewifi 4G booster and need 12v power for the router. The 12v fuseboard looks so confusing from the back, I can't tell what goes into where; I've searched YouTube for guidance and most have a simple set up to connect to a seperate fuseboard but I don't really know where to start with this one.

Any help and guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Duncan

 

[autorouter]

There is very limited scope for adding circuits to the EC500. There is one circuit, fuse 14, designed for future expansion, and reading the manuals that is on pin 9 of one of the connectors. I tend to agree that it's best to wire a separate fusebox from the leisure battery.

One that I use is a 6-way box. The 6 positives are split into two lots of three, but usually they are just joined together. The box incorporates a 6-way negative busbar so you can run pos and neg together from the same box. This is useful in motorhomes, where a return negative through the bodywork is difficult to find - the bodywork is mostly plywood/foam/metal skin.

6 way Heavy duty blade type fusebox with twin input positive busbar 1 x negative busbar. ALT/FH5025B

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www.altecautomotive.co.uk

I'd run a 6mm2 supply wire from the leisure battery, with a large fuse near the battery, 30 or 50A. Connect to both positive input studs. Also run a 6mm2 negative wire back to the leisure battery as well, unless there is a really super-convenient chassis point. I'd choose 6mm2 wire because that's the thickest that the yellow insulated crimp connectors will take, and they are crimped with the standard red/blue/yellow crimp pliers. Thicker wire will need uninsulated crimp connectors, a different crimp tool, and heat shrink tubing to insulate the exposed metal.

You could just run a wire from the leisure battery with an in-line fuse, but this box will make future additions much easier

 

[Sammers]

Thank you so much for your response autorouter. I would feel much more comfortable installing the 6-way box rather than messing around with the EC500. Many thanks for the explanation.