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2017-06-21: Shopping
This shouldn’t warrant an entry in the build diary, but we’ve spent so long researching equipment to fit out the van that I need to get it off my chest. We’ve been focusing on the electrical systems, so we can get all these installed before we do any more insulation, or start on cladding or…
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2017-06-17: Fitting the leisure battery
We’ve put a hold on installing insulation because we’re concerned about how complex it’s going to be to run wires for the electrical systems. So we’re trying to get some of that in place so we know where we stand. First step, installing the battery. It needs to be somewhere safe, accessible, but not ‘everyday-accessible’,…
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175W 12V Monocrystalline Used Solar Panels
We bought 2 of these used 175w panels from Bimble. They seem to be in good nick, and a lot cheaper than the new alternative. Given the frequency with which we get scraped by low-hanging branches, I’m also not so keen to invest in something super-pricey on the roof. We also bough various extras including…
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30A MPPT Solar charge controller
We’re relying heavily on our solar panels for power, and I wanted the most efficient controller possible – so MPPT wins out over the cheaper PWM option. This is the MPPT controller that Bimble sell, and it seems to be OK, from what I can find online. We got the 30A Tracer3215BN version, with the…
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110Ah 12V Leoch Gel Battery
I’ve spent more time than I care to remember researching battery technology. In summary, we decided to go for a sealed battery (not a cheaper wet lead acid design), and of the two options (gel or AGM), we went for gel, which is more compact – we want to mount this in a small space…
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Floor underlay foam
This is 5mm rigid foam in sheets. We used it underneath our plywood floor. It’s designed for laying laminated flooring in houses, and we’re solving a very similar problem. We taped across the seams with Duck tape. It’s easy to work with, cheap, and the result seems to be good so far: the floor is…
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Window Fitting Kit
This is the kit they recommend for fitting this window. It does the job, but the kit has two flaws: The adhseive is only just enough to go round. We could have squeezed maybe another inch or two out of the tube, and we weren’t being overly generous. Since you need a continuous bead to…
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Side window (privacy tint)
This is an 80% tint. We umm-ed and ahh-ed for ages about whether to go for the privacy tint, which we were worried wouldn’t let in enough light. But it’s fine, and great on hot sunny days. It’s easy enough to fit, but give yourself plenty of uninterrupted time, and we found a window suction…
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2017-06-11: Research, planning and insulation
Something of a slow grind since we got back from our first trip. We’ve both been very busy with work, so not much time to spend on the van. Amy has been insulating the rear and side doors. Since these cavities hold loose wires that connect to the central locking and door catches, we don’t want…
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Disconnecting the starter battery from the chassis on a RHD Sprinter
There are some good videos that show you how the standard electrics work on a Sprinter. Here’s one that opens up the distribution box on the house/starter battery. However, many videos and blog posts assume you have a left hand drive model. Even the manual – written in UK English – assumes you have a LHD…
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Andrew Sleigh 