I may need a grown up to help me with this - Electics

[Nogob]

Hi all

We have an unconverted AFT – rear seats removed.

Just got back from Seahouses in Northumbria. Great part of the world and a great site but what I've realised is that 12 months on, we've got the Bongo sorted for summer camping, but not for winter.

Two things I really want to get are an additional 12 volt socket in the middle of the van and mains outlet somewhere similar.

I'm assuming I can run cable from one of the existing 12 volt sockets and just put it somewhere sensible – but any polite suggestions as to where to stick it would be welcome!

As far a the mains feed goes – I'm even more stuck. I've go it in my head that I could site a camping type socket thingy somewhere on the bottom of the van and connect it to a domestic 3 pin socket somewhere inside the van. Again any polite suggestions as to where to stick it would be welcome!

But then I'm thinking fuses and consumer units and all sorts of stuff I don't understand.

Any thoughts or should I take it to a grown up who knows what he's doing?

[Nogob]

Sorry, meant electrics - can't even spell it let alone do it!

[francophile1947]

For 240v, just get one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U-RCD-TRIPLE- ... 4cfb14d460 and run it in through the bottom corner of the tailgate opening - there is enough gap to prevent the cable being damaged by the tailgate.

[dave_aber]

For the 12v, you would be better running a new, fused, 12v cable and 0v return from the leisure battery (or starter battery if you don't have a leisure battery).

The reason for this is that the wiring to the original sockets is pretty feeble, and is barely man enough. Adding an additional circuit on the same wiring is asking for trouble. Cable routes through from under the bonnet to the middle of the van are not too awkward.

[g8dhe]

If you haven't ever worked on vehicle power supplies, then going down the trail - take it to an auto electrician - sounds good!

For 12 volt supplies you are aware that there is a socket on the nearside cubbyhole between the rear seats ? Often has a blanking cap on it to prevent bits of crud or worse metal falling into the hole! If that isn't near enough the centre of the van then there aren't that many places left on the nearside, there maybe a few on the offside, but you need to be sure there is enough space behind and plastic to get a socket into place. Rather than wiring back to an existing socket, you really need to wire back to the fuse panel, with decent sized cable - the 12 volt socket wiring in the Bongo is already a bit on the thin side as it is and you get quite a lot of volts drop to the rear ones.

For mains sockets, assuming you don't have a conversion, then one of the trailing leads with switched sockets and RCD is the better idea see http://www.towsure.com/category/Mobile_Mains_Units for ideas.
If you have a conversion (or not) and don't mind cutting into the side of the van to fit the external socket, then something like the PMS3 units are a good way, use a Google search to find suppliers and information. Again you need to take care when installing mains wiring into a vehicle, there is a lot more vibration and wear on wiring than on domestic wiring, so make sure its adequately protected and tested.

If you use the Search function on the forum you will find plenty of ideas and ways of doing the wiring, but the one thing you need to bear in mind is that vehicle fires are fierce and short lived and that includes any occupants - no jesting !

[New Forest Terrier]

Absolutely agree with francophile. Get a a mains hook up lead with a circuit breaker for dodgy campsite electrics. I used one for three years and it was fine for fan heater, cool box and lighting.

Sockets in the van need to be properly protected with an installed RCD.

Unless you have a leisure battery the 12v system is very limited, due to starter battery drain. Even with one, I found lights and a long weekend's cool box were about the limit unless regularly charged by running the engine. As said before the 12v wireing is feeble anyway.

[wonkanoby]

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 73&t=52189

[Nogob]

Well first of all, thank you to everybody who took the time to answer my questions – it always amazes me how willing people are to help others out on this forum – I try when I can but I don't know much use to anyone else!

To fill in some of the gaps – I don't have a conversion but I do have a leisure battery fitted and a Willinton Kit.

I think the message is “don't try this at home” if it's going to be anything complicated which I'm sure is sound advice.

I think I'd still like to explore permanently (or semi-permanently) housing the business end of an RCD unit inside the van and routing the cable to an externally fixed blue round pin socket (i.e. avoiding having a hole cut in the side of the van). Has anybody done or seen anything similar?

As far as my 12v issue is concerned – I think I'll just buy an extension lead, does this alleviate the concerns expressed about the original 12v wiring system?

Thanks again for all your help

Christopher.

[g8dhe]

As far as my 12v issue is concerned – I think I'll just buy an extension lead, does this alleviate the concerns expressed about the original 12v wiring system?

Well to be honest no The extra wiring in the extension lead will cause more voltage drop - BUT what is it your looking to use on this extension ? The voltage drop only really comes into play when your drawing larger currents, if your just plugging in a phone charger or games charger not a problem, if your looking to run say a Laptop or TV then it will be much more critical.

[dave_aber]

I think I'd still like to explore permanently (or semi-permanently) housing the business end of an RCD unit inside the van and routing the cable to an externally fixed blue round pin socket (i.e. avoiding having a hole cut in the side of the van). Has anybody done or seen anything similar?

As far as my 12v issue is concerned – I think I'll just buy an extension lead, does this alleviate the concerns expressed about the original 12v wiring system?

I mounted a blue fixed inlet (It's a plug, not a socket BTW, otherwise the live end would be a plug, which wouldn't be safe - but I know what you mean, I'm just being picky ) on the end of my towbar, under the bumper. It is in the firing line from the back wheel, but doesn't seem to have suffered too much in 2 years. My theory was that it was only about a tenner, so if it corrodes I can just replace it. The wire is fed up through the rear crossmember box-section through an existing hole (with a grommet fitted, of course!) and then through a new hole in the floor just in front of the rear plastic strip which covers the back end of the carpet - added grommet here too. Once the cable's inside, you could mount the RCD & Sockets anywhere you fancy - rear panel armrest / cubby area would be a likely target. Just use common sense routing the cable with regards to crossing under the carpet or over sharp edges etc, and tywrap it in place to stop it vibrating / chafing.

For the 12v, if you mean plugging a 12v plug into an existing socket with a long wire on it and a free 12v socket on the other end, then you are still using the existing wiring, so no better.

The good news is that you have a Willinton and a leisure battery. Are your existing sockets patched across to the Willinton kit? Usually the circuits patched over are Cabin, Blinds (L), Blinds (R) and Radio / 12v Sockets. The next thing to establish is what you are planning on running on the 12v socket(s) ?

Edit : There's an echo in here! My typing's too slow today.

[Nogob]

Thanks again for your help.

Dave, your set sounds exactly what I had in mind - although it still sounds like I'd be as well getting someone who knows what they're doing to sort it for me.

As far as my 12 volt sockets are concerned, yes they are patched to the leisure battery via the Willinton kit. I use the rear one to power a electric cool box and the front one for sat nav and phone. Occasionally I'll power / charge one of those small DVD players. Is this safe - I'm concious that with the Willinton kit the sockets are permanently live?

Thanks

Christopher

[dave_aber]

The sockets are live, but they are fused at the Willinton kit, so that will protect the wiring if you overload them.

Recharging DVD players should not pose any issues - a coolbox draws a fair whack, and will flatten your leisure battery in a day. It's the sort of application you should consider a dedicated socket for with heavier wiring - mind you it will still only last a day on a leisure battery.

[tallbongo]

An easy (and as far as I can see safe) way of getting 240V hookup installed is to buy one of the RCD protected extension sockets (there's a thread regarding them in the bargains section). You can then cut the cable and fit a plug and socket (the blue hook up ones) to the cut ends. Mount the plug under the van in a similar way to dave_aber's and the other bits leaves you with an extension cable to connect to the campsite power supply.

So if you can wire a plug and mount it onto the underside of your van, you can do this.

[dave_aber]

Good point - doing that gives you the long cable as a 'left-over' from the job. You can get the wee inlet plugs I have used from caravan suppliers, and the matching socket.

I've had a look today, and it's the one bit of my conversion I don't seem to have a photo of.

However, it's one of these I've used

[tallbongo]

I've not done mine yet, but I'm planning on putting the inlet plug on the offside plate used to mount rear bull bars to. It's nice and near the back of the van for easy access for both fitting and plugging in, but doesn't protrude for parking mishaps. Also there's a nice wee grommet at just the right point to feed the cable through. In the pic below it's where my sink drain was originally fitted.



and from the inside you can see the grommet alongside the rear of the rear offside wheel arch.