jgra1 blog

[jgra1]

thanks Chris.have had 2 of his books for 8 years

but times may moved on.. will add up wattage later..

[CitroJim]

There is, I think a rather good Haynes manual - yes, really - (by John Wickersham?) covering vans, which includes fitting them out, improvements, regulations, etc. Recommend it.

That's the man! I have two older editions of his excellent book. I saw the latest edition on sale in Halfrauds the other day...

A copy will be money well spent...

[elma]

I don't think 240v is out of your reach. I'm qualified with 17th edition and have a copy of the regs pertaining to motor homes. If you just list the items you want I'll draw a schematic, list the materials and give you any necessary advice about fitting. Vans are so small you'll mostly be using offcuts and not a lot of money. It's just putting the right thing in the right place with the appropriate protection is really important. Don't distress about it, the regs are written in code and confusing as hell, just get a list of what you want and leave it to me.

[jgra1]

thanks James ..will try and do tonight

[CitroJim]

James, that's fantastic What and excellent fellow you are!

[jgra1]

meanwhile at farm just discovering the white van has bleached.. the bits under trim are almost cream... a whole exterior paint ..at this time of year...

[CitroJim]

Get a couple of tins of Brilliant White Dulux and a big roller John

Seriously, unless the paint is really gone just give it a good polish and all should be good... Perhaps using one of those 'restoring' polishes...

[jgra1]

will get back to you on that Jim ...

from part of a regulation point of view, I guess what I want and would use bears no resemblance to a that of a successive owner or someone next to me on site... i.e. the electrics need to be safe, fit for purpose etc etc.

I haven't read the latest rules yet

for me - my 240V system ideally (I am writing this for my benefit too, so apologies if it's a bit simple)
Hook up, enters offside -above floor level- and feeds under false floor across to centre off van, and then forwards into a large, low, enclosed area behind the cab seating, which is a strong housing with plenty of room.

cables from this would return rearwards under the false van floor and branch sideways and behind/up the walls.

240V should feed :
12V / 10Amp smart charger
800-1350 watt Microwave (1350 for blown air or grill)
3 way fridge- around 100w
panel heater - 750W
probably 1 double socket, possibly 2 (although I have little I would use them for myself - maybe a low wattage kettle)
possibly some immersion device, but the jury is out on this at moment)

I think that's all...
I have all of the above except water heating, plus I have the con unit (below) which sounds like it wont be big enough, plus plenty of suitable cable and plastic outer cable sheath and so on..
As said earlier, the two items on the left of the Consumer unit are not suitable and I will bin them (following some research)... but is the unit suitable for what I need...





J

[jgra1]

re the paint. spoken to Natalie, SWIMBO, and she works with plastics, pigment, chemicals..
she said a possible reason I found a different colour under the lower outer trim panels may not be because all of the remaining paint (99.5%) has bleached, but because the dark grey plastic may have caused issues with the paint underneath it! simples

I may be ok with the full cut and polish after all

[jgra1]

the main problem no pun is that this empty old van needs to be done my mid march..I have done a lot in last 3 weeks but the infrastructure is going to slow me down.. I may have to face facts that I just can't build it all as I wanted .. and that lots will need to be left in place and unconnected for the time being.. the wires pipes and main fittings really need to make their way in asap.. I may try to fit plenty of extras especially under floor as once that's down it won't come back up..
the gap between ribbed floor and false floor will be 15mm but there will be pathways for everything ..insulation wise not sure..celotex doesn't go that thin..old camping mats are a possuble..sheeps will is..old recycling plastic too..

weather has been tough but back to Atlantic lows for a week now..

[xantia_v6]

the gap between ribbed floor and false floor will be 15mm but there will be pathways for everything ..insulation wise not sure..celotex doesn't go that thin..

http://www.insulationexpress.co.uk/Floo ... -Board.htm

[jgra1]

good work ...

[RichardW]

Something like this: space blanket

My dad said the company that built his van used something like that.

[elma]

I'll sort out your wiring scheme this eve. Had a late one last night and I've a very small house to wire today.

[jgra1]

ni rush James got plenty on