Cuppa's Camper

[Shaunous]

Nice Rig you got there Cuppa, just a tip with the wiring for the Redarc BCDC, we use circuit breakers instead of the recomended 30A fuse, we have had a few come back where they have actually melted the fuse and fuse holder, ie crank battery to 40A circuit breaker then run 6mm positive wiring to the BCDC and from that we use a 30A circuit breaker to the house battery. hope this makes sense, its harder to explain a circuit than what it is to draw it

Hey Inkbandit,
I've used the 'MEGA bolt in' type fuses and although I havnt had a chance to use the solar panels to charge yet (was to lazy to wire it in on my offshift), charging with the crank battery while driving hasn't cause me any problems, I did however check the modules temperature with a infrared heat gun, and it was around 55degree's while parked after a long drive and engine still running, which Redarc says anything over 50degree's will cause a less efficiant charge, but thats about it, damn glad I spent the extra money and bought a good product... If anything happens though I will look to seek the breaker option.

What battery monitoring systems are you wiring into the vehicles you install the bcdc on. I have yet to install one, and to be honest, probably wont...

Cheers,
Shaun

[pjwooly]

Had ideas of getting one of these myself sometime back...then the bloody missus went and got up the duff...so looks like i'm keepin' the wagon.
They are a top rig with all the basics there.Ive always liked those canopies with the dual wheel holders.

Looking forward to the changes.

[Inkbandit]

Sorry for the hijack Cuppa

Hey Inkbandit,
I've used the 'MEGA bolt in' type fuses and although I havnt had a chance to use the solar panels to charge yet (was to lazy to wire it in on my offshift), charging with the crank battery while driving hasn't cause me any problems, I did however check the modules temperature with a infrared heat gun, and it was around 55degree's while parked after a long drive and engine still running, which Redarc says anything over 50degree's will cause a less efficiant charge, but thats about it, damn glad I spent the extra money and bought a good product... If anything happens though I will look to seek the breaker option.

What battery monitoring systems are you wiring into the vehicles you install the bcdc on. I have yet to install one, and to be honest, probably wont...

Cheers,
Shaun

We usually only fit the BCDC chargers to utes that have battery boxes in the rear, it is not reconmennded to have them in the engine bay due to the temps, we also usually stock the baintech gear for monitoring charge/voltage

[Shaunous]

Yeh Sorry Cuppa

Sorry for the hijack Cuppa


We usually only fit the BCDC chargers to utes that have battery boxes in the rear, it is not reconmennded to have them in the engine bay due to the temps, we also usually stock the baintech gear for monitoring charge/voltage

I see some worried people had asked questions about that on the Redarc site, and all the Redarc tec guys said no worries its designed to be installed into the engine bay, mines only ever been clocked as high as 55degrees, this temperature obviously is lower when the vehicle is driving with air flow, or once sat rested for a while, I measured it straight after a long drive and the engine still running on a hot day, and mine is mounted on the firewall, turbo side near the bonnet hinge...

Sorry again for the hijack Cuppa...

Shaun...

[Cuppa]

Hi Inkbandit, Shaun & pjwooly.welcome the thread. All welcome contributions.
Regarding the fuses vs Contact breakers - For fitting the BCDC I've already bought some fuses (50A as per what Redarc recommend), but they are not your usual type fuses. They seem to be a cross between a Maxi Fuse & a circuit breaker - a self resetting fuse. I have been told by others that they are ok, but that it's wise to put some heat shrink around the body of the fuse , as they have been known to loosen the metal body when they get warm, with the potential for the body to short across the contacts. Any thoughts?

Cuppa

[Inkbandit]

They look the goods Cuppa, from what I can tell from the small description listed they are in fact a circuit breaker, they look like they have been designed to replace a maxi fuse in an existing circuit, I can see what you mean about the heat shrink that may be an issue, these are the type that we use, you will have to scroll down the page a bit till you get to the heading "Water Resistant Breakers, Manual & Auto Reset" https://www.12volt.com.au/redirect.h.../breakers.html Hope this helps

[Cuppa]

Well it's starting to look more like a camper now. I still haven't done any of the wiring, but have been spending my time putting in the frameworks for storage etc, as well as building in a couple more cupboards, fitting the Blueseas Circuit breaker panel & battery monitor, & installing the custom built water tank I got made.
The steel framework has been very slow, all bolted together with brackets. If I still had my Oxy set I could've welded them, but I'm hopeless with arc, hence the bracket & bolt approach. All brackets cut & drilled from angle I had sitting around, it's too far into town just for brackets.
This shows the Blueseas circuit breaker panel, the switch panels will all have labels on them which are illuminated at night. The single LED below the panel will indicate that the Redarc charger is doing it's job, & the battery monitor below that will tell me all I want to know about the state of my charging system.

This shows the 'pre-wired rear of the Bluseas panel. The white board to the right of the panel will house a double mains power point (for battery charging & powered kitchen implements when camped at places with 240v available (not often - but the battery charger will be used when vehicle is in shed). The same panel will also house another double power point connected to an inverter, which will be used to power the laptop, camera battery chargers etc.

Showing the basic steel framework bolted together to house plastic tubs for storage. Mostly attached to the floor by brackets & bolts into RivNuts as it's impossible to bolt through as the under tray storage area prevent any access, except along the edges (in line with the wheels). To attach the upper full length steel tubes, rather than drill a heap of holes through the canopy front & rear walls I came up with what is probably a unique 'CuppaSolution'. The steel is recessed into, & bracketed to pieces of hardwood which are sikaflexed onto the canopy wall. They're not going to go anywhere! There will be a full length overhead shelf to take chairs etc, & up the back behind the fridge & freezer there is space for the ladder required to access the rooftop tent.

This is the custom made freshwater tank, held in place by angle on all sides (again RivNutted to the floor, using hi tensile bolts & some threadlock for extra peace of mind) & a single bar bolted across it's top. After getting several quotes & being gobsmacked by some of the prices I finally had this one made by Mick at Award Tanks. He was great to deal with & his prices very reasonable. Some places wanted close to $1000 for a tank exactly the same (to my drawings) as Mick made for me for $400 delivered. That's only about 40 bucks more than a standard size one of the same capacity. It holds around 160 litres, has two outlets, two fillers (one for 'click on, one for a bare hose or funnel) & a breather, & has a single central baffle. It is light but strong, I can sit on it without it deforming.
The space in front of it will have the 12v pump & pipes to & from the hot water service, & in front of that will be the stove. A fold out work surface to the left of the stove & a clip on table with sink (bowl) will be to the right of the fridge. This will be served by a hot & cold water via hoses (with trigger spray guns) that attach to exterior click- on fittings that are controlled by a couple of small lever ball valves close to the stove.

A couple of pics from the drivers side. This will give access to most of the plastic boxes, which at this point I'm thinking will be suspended on, & slide in & out on aluminium channel. The box sizes will mean that the front of the boxes (tubs) will sit just behind the fillers in the water tank. The space that this leaves in front of the tank will be handy for my occasional forays into town to buy a bag of goat feed or similar, without needing to remove the plastic boxes.

One thing I decide that was important to me, which has dictated part of the layout, is the ability to be able to look back from the drivers seat through the canopy side window. I found that with this window blocked off on some occasions when turning right iw as completely 'blind' & had to get out of the driver seat (either across the passenger set or actually getting out of the vehicle to see if any traffic was coming. Retaining the ability to see out through the canopy window & positioning the vehicle at a junction helps a lot.

It is a slow & evolving process best described as 'making it up as I go along'. But I am starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere,

Cheers
Cuppa

[frenzy]

Coming together mate. Top stuff.

[Woof]

Looking good Cuppa, well done mate

[BLKWDW]

Luv the car mate. sumfin different to the norm. Do you live near melb i swear i passed this truck heading south on the freeway just past broadford wighbridge today.