Routing cables

[paddymcc]

I want to fit a USB socket to the right of the driver's seat (RHD). I have a cupboard over the gas locker with top sliding doors and a bit behind it which takes the curtain for the drop-down bed. I have loosened the screws for the latter but I think that it may be attached to the cupboard. How easy is it to remove the whole unit? Or is there a way to just remove the bit that stops the curtain from getting in the way? Picture below.
The second pic shows what I thought were covers for screws but when I removed the little plastic covers there is just a small hole behind as shown but no screw. Are they to do with the fixing or just part of the manufacturing process?
Thanks as always
Paddy

 

[autorouter]

Where are you thinking of putting the USB socket? There is plenty of room to run hidden wires without removing any of the cupboard. Is the EBL located in a compartment under the sliding tops?

 

[Stealaway]

Be sure there is enough room behind the proposed socket position, some sockets are about two inches deep

 

[paddymcc]

The gas compartment is under the cupboard (and I would rather not go through that as it should be sealed from the inside of the van) but there is a small gap between the two that I was going to route it through but I wanted, if possible, to go behind the bit where the curtain goes. I can see a wire there (part of the alarm system) but wasn't sure how to get it there without making unsightly holes or taking the whole unit off.
I plan to mount the USB socket on a board that will have plenty of room behind it

 

[autorouter]

Where are you taking the supply for the USB socket from? You could use a spare circuit from the Elektroblock (EBL) which is usually located within one of those cupboards. There may be no need to route a wire past that bit where the curtain goes. Which model of EBL do you have?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MisterB]

When routing cables I use a set of 'fishing rods', you can get them cheap enough from ebay, saves time not having to remove every cable cover/panel.

 

[paddymcc]

Already considered that autorouter , my EBL 101 is located under the passenger seat and I would rather not run wires across the floor or under the van. I plan to join up to circuit 1 (kreis1) behind the control panel over the door and drop the wire down to the left of the door behind the curtain.

 

[Manic]

Could you not tee off the power socket in the dash.

 

[paddymcc]

Hi Manic -I could but I would rather run it of the habitation battery as I want to use it for the satnav and to be able to run this with the engine off and not worry about running down the starter battery (I have lots of solar).

 

[Stealaway]

Are the solars not also charging your starter battery?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[autorouter]

my EBL 101 is located under the passenger seat

Yes I can see the problem. On my Hymer there is a wide channel right across the floor just behind the seats - where the old cab meets the coachbuilt section. There's a plastic trim covering the join, and underneath there's a wide aluminium plate held by screws. Under that is a wide channel, with wires inside flexible conduit. Maybe the EBL goes through that.

Probably more trouble than what you said you are going to do, but may be useful for future mods.

 

[Manic]

Satnav wouldn’t take much power and your solar, if you have solar, would be trickle charging the batteries.
Why would you need to use the Satnav much anyway.

 

[paddymcc]

That's interesting autorouter . I will have a look to see if I have the same conduit.
Yes I do get trickle charge from the solar of the starter battery but I will also be using it for fast charge of my phone (2.4A socket). I also get confused when I look under the dash! Too many wires!

 

[paddymcc]

Update on routing the cables: my Merc based A class doesn't have the conduit autorouter but it has left me puzzled as to where the cable to the control panel above the door goes! I've crawled under the van and cables from the EBL go to the starter and hab batteries but not across to the UK offside.
Anyway I managed to loosen up the cupboard -5 screws into the wall and one into the floor and move it out about an inch so that I could drill a hole down in the corner by the door.
Photos below including the slot for maps I incorporated in the design:

 

[Ian Bosman]

I want to fit a USB socket to the right of the driver's seat (RHD). I have a cupboard over the gas locker with top sliding doors and a bit behind it which takes the curtain for the drop-down bed. I have loosened the screws for the latter but I think that it may be attached to the cupboard. How easy is it to remove the whole unit? Or is there a way to just remove the bit that stops the curtain from getting in the way? Picture below.
The second pic shows what I thought were covers for screws but when I removed the little plastic covers there is just a small hole behind as shown but no screw. Are they to do with the fixing or just part of the manufacturing process?
Thanks as always
Paddy

If possible buy a plumbers/electricians wire thingy which allows you to pull through cables in confined places. I found this when installing cabling in a car and have used it in my motorhome for installing said cables for rear view cameras etc.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ambulancekidd]

Have a look at the USBs which I've installed here & there.
They are flush fit, no great bulk behind the scenes, one small drilled hole for the wires, job done.

Continuation of modernising of our elderly Kon-Tiki, extra USB in cab.

I've been adding USB ports to the hab area of our elderly Swift Kon-Tiki, some on the hab battery for wild camping & some on 240v to make sure that we're sorted wherever we are. Today I installed a new USB port to the cab area. There are already two USB points on the radio, but only one is a...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[steve69]

Do you not have a 12v socket on your dashboard? Much easier to plug an adaptor in there surely?

 

[paddymcc]

Hi steve69 -I do have a central socket but I wanted the satnav to the right of the steering wheel. I'm happy with what I have done - just varnished the panel and it looks good