Packing System Build

[Mad Manny]

Ian is an IT Guru, a Forum Admin Extrodenaire, a Overlander par Excellence, a Passionate Patroller, a Lover of Women & Beer, a Fixer of Things, a Defeater of Demons, a Guitarist, an Adventurous Outdoorsman & an All Round Nice Guy.

A Welder? Not so much...

[Paul#25]

Grips has very valid point when he talks about modifying a system down the line. As you needs change or you find that a slightly different configuration will work better for different types of outings, you can modify your design. Another way is to have a modular system that you can configure for a specific trip.
This type of design and build is what I enjoy building for customers.

[iandvl]

Ian is an IT Guru

Just fixing it. It messes with my OCD

[iandvl]

Also: extraordinaire

[iandvl]

Wired up charge controllers over the weekend - it is a little messy (I await Manny's disparaging comments) but I'll neaten it up when I remove the panels again for carpeting after this trip...

The packing system is done, but I am rebuilding my aux electrical system at the moment. I'll post more details on it when I finish it, as I do not have much time before I leave.

I've colour-coded the plugs so that it is idiot proof. Well, I presume it is idiot proof. I've still got to find an idiot to test this theory with though...

Yellow == PV input.
Red == Alternator input.
Blue = Fridge output.
Black == Output from charge controllers to aux battery.

[jakeslouw]

I've still got to find an idiot to test this theory with though...

Manny is a good idea then.

[iandvl]

Since I've now got the DC-DC charger, my NL battery box was redundant. It's also been annoying me. The plugs and everything are on the side, so it's always been a mission plugging things in etc. It's also massively big. So I acquired a Voetspore battery box - just the bare box with no internals... It's nice. It has lugs for bolts - so I've bolted it to the steel from of the packing system. And the place where the plugs come in fit on the ends. Even better - the side the plugs are are interchangeable. So you can decide which side you want the stuff on. It has space for a hella plug, a lighter plug and three brad harrisons.

I wired it up over the weekend. Naturally, I've got a strip fuse as close to the positive as possible, a positive bus and a negative bus. Two of the BH plugs are wired to provide input from the MPPT and DC-DC chargers. The other BH is output for the fridge. It's super basic currently - no controller bits so I will need to rely on the fridge settings to prevent it from discharging too much etc. Overall, I am happy.

When I get back from this trip though, I'll make some changes to the setup. I need something to prevent running down the aux battery too much. I'd also like to include a few USB charging ports and a voltmeter. And I must also neaten up the wiring on the side of the packing system.

I do need to get a new Aux battery though, as my current one is over 5 years old and is starting to give problems. I'll do that sometime this week.

Anyways, all is good to go for this trip. In a week I'll be somewhere between Kuruman and Augrabies.

[grips]

Lekker Ian. Looking good.

[Redman]

My grinder used to make me a good welder...

However I figured out that sikaflex or pratley steel does the job as well. Sikaflex even allows you to cover the weld with fish scale pattern

But looking good Ian

[Bugger]

Always fun doing the ongoing upgrades and changes as your power needs change