Lenny's Modding the new Mini Gin Palace 2

[Lenny HB]

Mmm, when I put the upgraded cable in from the front to the back (for the Orion XS), I will have a 16mm one spare.....

I used 25mm sq for my XS, Carthago wiring for the 25 amp unit is 6mm sq it's only 3/4m to the terminals on the CBE unit but no fuses!

 

[AdrianChen]

And why not.

Yes we've got an echo on board, tell it to turn the lights and telly on and off in the house while we're away!

 

[AdrianChen]

I used 25mm sq for my XS, Carthago wiring for the 25 amp unit is 6mm sq it's only 3/4m to the terminals on the CBE unit but no fuses!

Hmm, Think I would have liked a fuse.
Ours is around 9m and 16mm² and had a 40amp fuse, no b2b just straight on to B1. Plan (for the last 2 years) to put in 35mm to a stud close to the XS, then the last little bit can be be 25mm to almost fit in the XS! I suppose the stud should be yet another fuse to "protect the smaller bit of cable......

 

[Lenny HB]

Have you commissioned your semi air yet? We used Rosmia in Bolney years ago and they were pretty good and local. Ops sorry you are probably doing it yourself.

Not had time, having driven the van for 5000 miles no sway when going past arctics the VB struts on the front work well so will be going for semi air on the rear. As we won't get the levelling with semi air may go for jacks as well.

 

[AdrianChen]

Agree Rosmia do a good job, and are nice folk - had the old van fitted with jacks there - Nice having the EP stuff, but wish they weighed the van as well......

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[Lenny HB]

Agree Rosmia do a good job, and are nice folk - had the old van fitted with jacks there - Nice having the EP stuff, but wish they weighed the van as well......

I'm looking at using Rosmia been to see them. I was looking at HPC levellers but the local people that fit them didn't seem to have much of a clue & I want the pump under the chassis.

 

[AdrianChen]

I'm looking at using Rosmia been to see them. I was looking at HPC levellers but the local people that fit them didn't seem to have much of a clue & I want the pump under the chassis.

Our old van had the pump installed under the chassis with a neat cover over it all. The only issue I guess is the main fuse may be under the cover as well, and of course the "emergency" manual thing that you use an allen key to turn if you have to raise the rams - best done with a cordless drill and a long fitting I suspect. Never checked the fitting, but I guess the (hinged IIRC?) cover would need to be unscrewed?

Didn't know the relevance of the main fuse until the new vans rams wouldn't come down on our first trip - spoke to SAP and they said to remove the main fuse so the system would reboot - which was easy since the pump has been fitted under the water pump between the floors, it worked so it might be worth getting the fuse extended to inside, or having a remote switch or something.

Would have had Rosmia do the new van, except they can't do vans over 3m tall and the vans dealer was closer to SAP anyhow.

 

[AdrianChen]

Had an electric waste on the last van as standard and cost me 10 quid to fit a camera, no problems in 7 years.
If you could see the crap arrangement Carthago use for the waste tap you would know why I want to change it.

Ours is a 2inch ball valve, and I would need to turn it on its side to get a solenoid jobby to fit. Would be nice to have though, and the outlet bracket is already drilled to secure an optional camera.

The black tank drain valve on ours is a cable operated Valterra 3inch slide valve, the electric version is a bit Heath Robinson and has to be imported from the US so not certain about those, but Carthago install the valve under the floor of the battery box so if there's a problem you have to take the batteries out and the floor. This aint a quick job in an emergency involving 120l of waste splashing round your feet while you short the batteries and blow the CBE distribution box and panel! Hence I am thinking about putting a battery box in the middle of the garage, and bringing the 35mm B2B cable through the bottom of it with a cable gland so it can all go up some trunking to the Victron kit.

Probably will get a grown up to do the work, since I'm capable of causing quite a bit of damage with a drill....

 

[Bandos]

Given the many years Cathargo have been making Motorhomes why are they still making rookie mistakes with the build? Is this the Elephant in the room?

 

[MichaelT]

Had an electric waste on the last van as standard and cost me 10 quid to fit a camera, no problems in 7 years.
If you could see the crap arrangement Carthago use for the waste tap you would know why I want to change it.

On ours the waste valve carthago fit is inside next to the tank so no chance of replacing it as it looks like they fit the valve, then the tank then build the rest of the van, where you going to fit the electric valve?

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[Lenny HB]

On ours the waste valve carthago fit is inside next to the tank so no chance of replacing it as it looks like they fit the valve, then the tank then build the rest of the van, where you going to fit the electric valve?

If there is enough room, I'll fit just the motor part of the valve to the rod that goes down to the valve above the tank. If not it will be external in the waste pipe.

 

[Rick Axon]

Don’t worry, nothing fishy about it…

Thank you.
Nice pics.

 

[WESTY66]

If there is enough room, I'll fit just the motor part of the valve to the rod that goes down to the valve above the tank. If not it will be external in the waste pipe.

Do you wanna practice on mine??

 

[Lenny HB]

Fitted the LED headlamp bulbs.

 

[WESTY66]

Fitted the LED headlamp bulbs.

View attachment 993906

Oh bloody hell

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[MichaelT]

Fitted the LED headlamp bulbs.

View attachment 993906

I've got the ones out of last van but not fitted yet, I've not driven in dark to see if I need them.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've got the ones out of last van but not fitted yet, I've not driven in dark to see if I need them.

You will.

If they are the same as the ones I had in the last van I don't think they will fit.

 

[MichaelT]

You will.

If they are the same as the ones I had in the last van I don't think they will fit.

What have you fitted?

 

[Lenny HB]

What have you fitted?

Katur 16000 Lm, same make as last time but they have totally changed the design and they now just fit straight in place of the halogen.

 

[MichaelT]

Katur 16000 Lm, same make as last time but they have totally changed the design and they now just fit straight in place of the halogen.

These?

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[Lenny HB]

These?
View attachment 994058

No those won't fit.

These.

 

[DJT]

I've got the ones out of last van but not fitted yet, I've not driven in dark to see if I need them.

Have used this company for quite a few years.
Saves a bit of guesswork and the service from them has always been great
DJT

 

[daimlermg]

I like the look of them
Looks like a flat beam patten so I take it you don’t have to make any adjustments when you go into Europe and drive on the right.?
Are your dip lights a separate unit to the main beam and do you use the same bulb in them?

 

[Lenny HB]

I like the look of them
Looks like a flat beam patten so I take it you don’t have to make any adjustments when you go into Europe and drive on the right.?
Are your dip lights a separate unit to the main beam and do you use the same bulb in them?

They are flat dipping, only one lamp with single H7 bulb & electric shutter for dip.

Like when I fitted LED's to the last van had to adjust them down a lot. I set these ones to the same as the halogen to start with, drove down the road and thought main beam not doing much then noticed it was lighting up the roof tops.

 

[MichaelT]

Have used this company for quite a few years.
Saves a bit of guesswork and the service from them has always been great
DJTView attachment 994075

Don't recognise my number plus the lights are Hella not fiat.

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[MichaelT]

They are flat dipping, only one lamp with single H7 bulb & electric shutter for dip.

Like when I fitted LED's to the last van had to adjust them down a lot. I set these ones to the same as the halogen to start with, drove down the road and thought main beam not doing much then noticed it was lighting up the roof tops.

So they not plug and play, did you adjust using the screws on the back?

 

[Lenny HB]

So they not plug and play, did you adjust using the screws on the back?

Yes very easy to adjust.

 

[WESTY66]

Will they fit mine?

 

[Lenny HB]

Will they fit mine?

Should do need to check what bulbs you I think you have seperate dip & main beam lights so one might be H7 the other H1.

 

[WESTY66]

Should do need to check what bulbs you I think you have seperate dip & main beam lights so one might be H7 the other H1.

You cost me a bl@@dy fortune you do

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