How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

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skjsolutions
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How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by skjsolutions » Fri Mar 20, 2020 6:49 pm

Hi, I have fitted a leisure battery and split charger to our Bongo and have bought a Victron battery charger which runs off the hook up at the rear of the bongo. What is the best way of getting the two cables from the charger to the leisure battery at the front ?

Thanks in advance

Steven
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g8dhe
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by g8dhe » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:28 pm

Do you have a side conversion with 12 volt control panel in it ?
If the charger is an "Intelligent" or multi-stage charger then your best fitting the charger as close to the battery as possible with its own wiring, but to be honest they are not the ideal sort of device as they don't expect to be supplying other loads at the same time as charging a battery. In most cases the battery will already be charged after a run so it only needs topping up at the "float" level. For this purpose a simple standard 12 volt PSU set for 13.6-13.8 volts this then supplies all the 12 volts via the control panel at the rear and keeps the battery topped up using the existing wiring to the front of the van. The standard device ideal for a Bongo is this style on eBay at present there are 10 Amp and 12 Amp versions https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caravan-Main ... Sw5~ld595E

My own setup has a Zig Marque 1 using the above type of supply;
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Geoff
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
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skjsolutions
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by skjsolutions » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:32 pm

Unfortunately it is a rear conversion and no control panel. Thanks
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by g8dhe » Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:57 pm

In that case easiest route is down the offside, behind the plastic trim, then into the engine compartment and back out again at the front (existing unused holes just need rubber grommets), then up and thru the existing rubber grommets thru the firewall to under the bonnet.
Geoff
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skjsolutions
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by skjsolutions » Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:07 pm

Ok thanks a lot - Steven
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by Rickster » Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:58 am

Running new wires through the engine bay is one way to do things, I resorted to doing that to feed power from the front fuse box to the back.
If the fan assembly happens to be removed, as in my case, the wires feeding it can be used for the charger, after tracing it back to the bonnet fuse box, this removes the need to run more through the engine bay.
The other way would be to go up the driver's pillar, along the roof and straight down, this is easier said than done!
skjsolutions
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by skjsolutions » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:28 am

Ok thanks for that I will try the engine bay route - don’t fancy going along the roof 😀
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by Rickster » Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:28 am

Good call, the roof requires all the plastics to be removed, plastic breaking in the process, unclipping the roof panel and a ball ache getting it through the hatch.
Been there, done that.
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by Rickster » Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:36 am

On second thoughts, what you're doing is relatively straightforward, a few wires is nothing compared to making new looms for rear fag sockets, reverse camera switching, extra wiring for lights and all the rest.
If you have the heater box fitted in the rear, that will make routing hard, if not, it's relatively straightforward, the drivers door switch has a giant rubber grommet, accessible from the engine bay, this is the easier route through the bay, just make sure all wiring in there is protected by either sleeving or electrical tape, it is a hostile environment.
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by g8dhe » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:46 am

Make a suggestion work out the number of wires you need and the gauge of each,
include your own earth wire as well again as large as the thickest gauge,
then add two or three single wires, consider an audio/video co-ax cable, even a long USB cable - all as spares for the future!
Then find some tubing convoluted is a good idea, to run the wires in and which will go thru the various holes,
thread the tubing with a looped pull rope, then put all the wires in and thread the whole lot thru from rear to bonnet.
Then your cables will be protected, concerns over vibration damaging the sheaths will be minimised, and with the draw rope in place you can always pull in more if needed at a later stage.
Geoff
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by Rickster » Fri Mar 27, 2020 1:00 am

While we're at it, why not thread some fibre strands too, might as well have broadband at the same time!
The video leads were sent through the roof on the driver's side, a spare was provided, just in case, these are for the reverse camera.
Another wire was run along the floor area to the door step for deck lights, don't ask!
Luckily, Steven is trying to achieve something simple, I like making things complex.
skjsolutions
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Re: How to get cables from rear to front of Bongo

Post by skjsolutions » Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:26 am

Thanks for all your help. I managed to get the cables through yesterday afternoon under the vehicle. All connected and working now. Steven
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