Week 58 - Electrics 5

I have finally completed and tested the electrics successfully and the van is now very much inhabitable! The 230v side is all fixed in place and wired up with the power selector switch now finished and installed. The batteries are also strapped down again after the effort of constantly moving them in and out of their space under the seats. They are charged by the engine when it's running and by the battery charger when on hook up.

One modification I did make was to move the Smartcom unit onto the top shelf where I could alter the voltage cut off point for charging the batteries without blindly fiddling with a screwdriver through a tiny gap.

It is a relief to have finally nailed (what has been for me) the most complex part of the project and although it has taken over a month, by doing it myself I will at least have more of an idea of how to fix any problems in the future. It also makes it easier to add more appliances and I decided to buy and fix a 200w fan heater to the interior to try and give a bit of extra warmth without breaking the bank or draining the batteries. How much difference this will make I don’t know (actually it is better than I expected) but it is now fitted and installed. It can also act as a fan when the weather is hot.

I ordered some seat covers for the front seats as they are still a little grubby in places despite being scrubbed with carpet cleaner. The covers were not a very good fit though so I will have to return them and make do without. The van had a good clean and mop out before the final push to get it finished – fitting an awning above the side door.