Is it safe to drill a damn great hole?

acropolis22

acropolis22

Joined
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Pilote G650L
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Three years
I want to fit a Victron BMV 712 either below the window or to the left of the curtain in the photo. Not having done anything like this before I have no idea whether there is enough clearance in the wall of the van. The Victron specs say it needs 31mm depth. I know people cannot answer definitively, but in general terms would you expect there to be enough clearance? It's a Pilote A class. I've no idea how they build these things or what I will find. TIA.

IMG_20220116 tiny.jpg
 
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That is the sidewall of the vehicle, it is a composite panel which is a number of components bonded together to make a sheet, commonly an aluminium or polyester outer with an insulating rigid foam inner and an inner panel that is faced with various decorative coverings. Don't know the actual thickness of the finished panel on your Pilote but I'd guess it won't be much more than 30 or 40mm.
Be careful.
 
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If you want to fit it flush best to fit it to an internal panel ,IE the side of the box that you have put the picture up of. That way you can also accommodate the wiring inside the box with the Meter visible from the outside when the lid is closed.

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eurajohn said:
That is the sidewall of the vehicle, it is a composite panel which is a number of components bonded together to make a sheet, commonly an aluminium or polyester outer with an insulating rigid foam inner and an inner panel that is faced with various decorative coverings. Don't know the actual thickness of the finished panel on your Pilote but I'd guess it won't be much more than 30 or 40mm.
Be careful.
Click to expand...
So even if there is clearance, I will struggle to feed through the cable from the battery due to the foam insulation?
 
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Lenny HB said:
Another problem is how are you going to get the cable to it.
In my van I found it fitted a treat in place of a mains socket.
Click to expand...
Yup. Unfortunately, there is nothing like that I can use on that side of the van.
 
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If you have not bought it yet have you thought about the Smart Shunt, it's only Bluetooth no display. I have found with my BMV I rarely look at the dial as I get far more information on the app via Bluetooth. The Smart Shunt doesn't have the relay function so if you need the relay it has to be the BMV.
 
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acropolis22 said:
So even if there is clearance, I will struggle to feed through the cable from the battery due to the foam insulation?
Click to expand...
You will also need to put a conduit in to stop the cable from being in contact with the insulation.

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Jimbohorlicks said:
If you want to fit it flush best to fit it to an internal panel ,IE the side of the box that you have put the picture up of. That way you can also accommodate the wiring inside the box with the Meter visible from the outside when the lid is closed.
Click to expand...
Not sure if that will work. I had thought of it, but then realised that the battery box has a fabric facing to it. You can see it in the photo.
 
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Lenny HB said:
If you have not bought it yet have you thought about the Smart Shunt, it's only Bluetooth no display. I have found with my BMV I raely look at the dial as I get far more information on the app via Bluetooth. The Smart Shunt doesn't have the relay function so if you need the relay it has to be the BMV.
Click to expand...
Already bought.... With hindsight I might have been better off with the Smart Shunt. But I much prefer to just be able to glance up at the monitor screen. (About every 5 seconds if you're paranoid like me.....:giggle: )
 
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I'll have to re-assess next time I'm over at the van. Top of my head, I can't think of many other options. I suspect I may buy a lightweight enclosure that I can screw to the wall, and mount the monitor in that. Should work?
 
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Can you not measure the wall thickness by opening the window then measure from out to in 🤔😊
 
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acropolis22 said:
Not sure if that will work. I had thought of it, but then realised that the battery box has a fabric facing to it. You can see it in the photo.
Click to expand...
Appears to be space on the sidewall between the extinguisher and the edge of the fabric facing. Certainly wouldn't put anything on the van side walls..worst case cut through the section with the fabric on the side or better still put it in the panel to the right,IE inside the box but then you need to open the box to view it.

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Silver-Fox said:
Can you not measure the wall thickness by opening the window then measure from out to in 🤔😊
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can't get to the van immediately. I was planning to do that, but even if I have the clearance I'm still concerned about running the cable without making a right mess.
 
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Jimbohorlicks said:
Appears to be space on the sidewall between the extinguisher and the edge of the fabric facing. Certainly wouldn't put anything on the van side walls..worst case cut through the section with the fabric on the side or better still put it in the panel to the right,IE inside the box but then you need to open the box to view it.
Click to expand...
Yup. Bit of a nightmare. None of those is really going to work for me. But your comments are appreciated. :giggle:
 
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I decided against mounting the display on a wall and bought a bluetooth dongle. The display is in the battery compartment if I need it but I can get the info anytime I want on my phone or pad.
 
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acropolis22 said:
But I much prefer to just be able to glance up at the monitor screen. (About every 5 seconds if you're paranoid like me.
Click to expand...
I'm like that but you soon get fed up with it, such a small display and a pain pressing the buttons to get the different readings.

The 712 has Bluetooth built in why not just mount it in the box with the electrics for now and see how you get on.
 
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acropolis22 said:
Yeah, I can't get to the van immediately. I was planning to do that, but even if I have the clearance I'm still concerned about running the cable without making a right mess.
Click to expand...

Can you post a picture up of the item you want to fit

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Upvote 0
Lenny HB said:
The 712 has Bluetooth built in why not just mount it in the box with the electrics for now and see how you get on.
Click to expand...
That is precisely what i did. Also tried mounting behind the dummy wall used for mounting seat cushions, need to move cushion to see it . Previous cheap Chinese one (same size) is still nicely mounted in a dummy wall in the wardrobe , but cant be ar*8*d to run the different/extra wires, too easy to read info on phone.
Dont cut holes in the sidewalls.
 
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I assume you have a Pilote G650L so have had a shuftie and can't find anywhere 'suitable' within easy reach of your electric gubbings where you can 'embed' it into the wall/a panel etc.

www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

2016 (16) PILOTE Sensation G650L For Sale in Kendal, Used Motorhome Dealer Cumbria - E S Hartley Limited

PILOTE Sensation G650L and more available for sale in Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, E S Hartley Motorhome Centres
www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

The only thing I can think of is to get a small square box, eg an electrical surface mounting box with cover which you can attach to the little shelf above the extinguisher and put the display in that.
 
Upvote 0
Minxy said:
I assume you have a Pilote G650L so have had a shuftie and can't find anywhere 'suitable' within easy reach of your electric gubbings where you can 'embed' it into the wall/a panel etc.

www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

2016 (16) PILOTE Sensation G650L For Sale in Kendal, Used Motorhome Dealer Cumbria - E S Hartley Limited

PILOTE Sensation G650L and more available for sale in Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, E S Hartley Motorhome Centres
www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

The only thing I can think of is to get a small square box, eg an electrical surface mounting box with cover which you can attach to the little shelf above the extinguisher and put the display in that.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I am planning to do. Already ordered the box! (y):giggle:

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Upvote 0
Suggest you buy the Victron smartshunt, the Bluetooth set up with your phone works very well and you have no ‘work’ like drilling needed. Mines works great.
bad idea drilling into an external wall, don’t do it.
 
Upvote 0
Minxy said:
I assume you have a Pilote G650L so have had a shuftie and can't find anywhere 'suitable' within easy reach of your electric gubbings where you can 'embed' it into the wall/a panel etc.

www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

2016 (16) PILOTE Sensation G650L For Sale in Kendal, Used Motorhome Dealer Cumbria - E S Hartley Limited

PILOTE Sensation G650L and more available for sale in Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, E S Hartley Motorhome Centres
www.eshartleygroup.co.uk

The only thing I can think of is to get a small square box, eg an electrical surface mounting box with cover which you can attach to the little shelf above the extinguisher and put the display in that.
Click to expand...

Just picked this up again.

As you suggested would be my route 👍
 
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Scotch mist said:
I use double sided tape for all things like that as I hate even putting screw holes in any wall / surface
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's a thought. For something like this, where I'll be pressing buttons regularly, will it not work loose eventually?
 
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