Our camper build journey

[Jimbohorlicks]

It's looking good.

 

[Wildbill]

It's looking good.

It been a bit harder work than I expected
WB

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

It been a bit harder work than I expected
WB

You must be chuffed to mint balls with that very brave to cut a whopping great hole in a van roof

 

[Wildbill]

It's looking good.

Every thing on this forum seems to go without any problems i showing everything warts and all
Because things go wrong
WB

 

[Wildbill]

It’s working yippee

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[Wildbill]

You must be chuffed to mint balls with that very brave to cut a whopping great hole in a van roof

Tomorrow I have to get the balls to cut the hole in the roof I am only cutting 24”x24” hatch in the roof
Then I can start the wiring and insulation of the van
Still a long ways to go but hopefully will be sorted by the Christmas but if not the spring
WB

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Well done that man

 

[68c]

Tomorrow I have to get the balls to cut the hole in the roof I am only cutting 24”x24” hatch in the roof
Then I can start the wiring and insulation of the van
Still a long ways to go but hopefully will be sorted by the Christmas but if not the spring
WB

Know that nervous feeling well before cutting. I once had to cut a large hole in the bottom of an aircraft fuselage to fit a camera. As the supervisor I thought it polite for me to make the first incision, then let the younger more skilled lads finish the job so they would not get the blame if I was wrong.
I kept a part of the removed bit as a souvenir, you can see just how thin the skin is on a pressurised aircraft. BA Jetsream 41 modified for old Hong Kong Government Coastguard.
Sadly it is now retired in a museum in Kai Tak.

 

[Wildbill]

And just to Ade to a perfect day England won
WB

 

[Wildbill]

That’s the hatch in
No going back now
WB

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[Wildbill]

w

And the insulation begins two or three layers should do the job
WB

 

[CAB96]

View attachment 1093146
It’s working yippee

Is there anything to pull the canvas inwards when it closes?

You won't want to trap it under the roof.

 

[Wildbill]

Is there anything to pull the canvas inwards when it closes?

You won't want to trap it under the roof.

Yes it has hinged pole things but will be watching it like a hawk
Thinking about a small bungee but I think it will be ok
WB

 

[Wildbill]

Bit more insulation two layers another two or three to do
WB

 

[Wildbill]

Just ordered 10 m of soler wire for the soler panel
I have 420 watt panel charging 280 amp deep cycle battery
We will also have 3000w inverted she who cooks wants a microwave.
Will have lots of usb sockets all over the van
230/40 power for when were on EHU or sunny days
Really enjoying this build
WB

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[Wildbill]

So rather than run a lot of black negative wire could I use the body of the van as negative or am I better running a negative wire to each
Light 12v appliance?
Might be a stupid question looking forward to to some interesting answers
WB

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Just ordered 10 m of soler wire for the soler panel
I have 420 watt panel charging 280 amp deep cycle battery
We will also have 3000w inverted she who cooks wants a microwave.
Will have lots of usb sockets all over the van
230/40 power for when were on EHU or sunny days
Really enjoying this build
WB

Where is your panel located? On the new elevating roof?. Not much space left of the original roof plus a danger of shadowing etc with the pop up.?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

So rather than run a lot of black negative wire could I use the body of the van as negative or am I better running a negative wire to each
Light 12v appliance?
Might be a stupid question looking forward to to some interesting answers
WB

My van lights have a + ve and - ve.

 

[Wildbill]

Where is your panel located? On the new elevating roof?. Not much space left of the original roof plus a danger of shadowing etc with the pop up.?

It going on the pop up going to put additional gas struts to assist it
I have a spare set of the roof I buggerd up
Wb

 

[Wildbill]

My van lights have a + ve and - ve.

I have ordered a five gang fused usb and lightning switch Paniles
So each light is led but will have an independent fuse and switch.
I am also having usb in dinner aria boath sleeping arias and kitchen
But thinking I can use the body of the van as common earth?
WB

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[Jimbohorlicks]

I have ordered a five gang fused usb and lightning switch Paniles
So each light is led but will have an independent fuse and switch.
I am also having usb in dinner aria boath sleeping arias and kitchen
But thinking I can use the body of the van as common earth?
WB

You still have to connect the - ve light terminal to the body. It's easier surely to use 2 core wireing. It's not expensive.( and less prone to poor connections)?

 

[Wildbill]

You still have to connect the - ve light terminal to the body. It's easier surely to use 2 core wireing. It's not expensive.( and less prone to poor connections)?

Ok that will be the way to go I think.
230/40 is just a 5 gang with trips RCD
Nothing fancy
But I will earth the van it the hookup
And my brother in law is a electrician he’s going to sort that side and the gas is my eldest grandson job he’s gas qualified but I am insisting on a bubble gauge
WB

 

[Wildbill]

You still have to connect the - ve light terminal to the body. It's easier surely to use 2 core wireing. It's not expensive.( and less prone to poor connections)?

Yes was thinking that just after I posted it
WB

 

[Wildbill]

You still have to connect the - ve light terminal to the body. It's easier surely to use 2 core wireing. It's not expensive.( and less prone to poor connections)?

I have ordered 25m of 12v black and red
More than enough to do lights and usb sockets
As every thing is led 2a max nothing going to get over loaded
Wb

 

[jumartoo]

You're doing a good job there, Bill, for someone taking things easy .

What's happened to the boat?

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[Wildbill]

You're doing a good job there, Bill, for someone taking things easy .

What's happened to the boat?

I am doing a bit on the boat not much as I am putting it up for sale in the spring
But need the camper finished before December
And taking it easy going for a walk down the park and sitting about the rest of the day and then a weekly visit to cardio rehab I would be back on the fags and drinking ten pints a day with boardum better to do this I think

WB

 

[Wildbill]

That’s the roof and sides done down to top of windows with insulation.
It wasn’t the easiest of jobs cutting the insulation boards to size
It was a bit cut and patch but I covered it with a silver reflective bubble insulation as well
The big windows will get blanked out and insulated
To stop as much heat loss as possible and to keep the van cool in warmer conditions
Wb

 

[stevewagner]

Did you fit any sound deadening to the roof first?

 

[Wildbill]

Did you fit any sound deadening to the roof first?

No it got two inches of insulation
WB

 

[Wildbill]

230 watt of solar on the pop up roof is that enough
I was going to fit 420 watts but just not enough room with pop up and to heavy for motor so going to fit lightweight flexible Paniles
WB

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