Mercedes vario 814 self build bus to FLT palace

[Lenny HB]

Controller close to the batteries. Voltage from the panels is higher with less current flowing so less volt drop.

 

[Northernraider]

Controller close to the batteries. Voltage from the panels is higher with less current flowing so less volt drop.

That's what i thought but thought best to ask and make sure

Still no gable gland and raining again today but i can run the cables from where im drilling down to controller and batteries at least.

Am i best connecting one wire to one battery and the other to the second or just connect direct to one battery

 

[tonyidle]

I removed that compressor as it was purely for airhorns and they didnt work anyway ... The space will be filled by an inverter instead

I've a use for that if you want shot .

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

The space will be filled by an inverter instead

Worrying about the hair straighteners again

 

[Northernraider]

Worrying about the hair straighteners again

Drone batteries and my beard trimmer ...thats all i run off one to be honest

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[Northernraider]

I've a use for that if you want shot .

Im trying to see if i can use it as a tyre inflator ....if so i might fit it on the vario somewhere

 

[Raul]

Two 10mm cable glands from toolstation or screwfix. Cut the mc4, feed the cable through the gland and you’re done. Under the roof, you can re crimp the cables with but joint ferrule and continue the cable to the controller. Or at this point you could put the solar fuse or a disconnect, then run the cable to your controller.

 

[Northernraider]

Two 10mm cable glands from toolstation or screwfix. Cut the mc4, feed the cable through the gland and you’re done. Under the roof, you can re crimp the cables with but joint ferrule and continue the cable to the controller. Or at this point you could put the solar fuse or a disconnect, then run the cable to your controller.

Ive got one of these on route ....it should be here today

The kit only came with 1 metre of cable but I have spare mc4 connectors anyway so im just going to buy a 3 metre length of cable and fit new connectors to that and ill put the controller down near the batteries so will only have a 600mm run from controller to batteries.

 

[Raul]

I have not used a flat cable entry, just drilled two(4 for 2 panels)10mm holes, a bit of ct1 sealant on the gland and that straight in. The gland is pretty good to get a strong mechanical water tight seal. A rubber washer under the nut helps to. At any time I can fish a cable through the gland by loosening top nut.

 

[Guigsy]

Ive got one of these on route ....it should be here today
View attachment 545571
The kit only came with 1 metre of cable but I have spare mc4 connectors anyway so im just going to buy a 3 metre length of cable and fit new connectors to that and ill put the controller down near the batteries so will only have a 600mm run from controller to batteries.

I fitted one of those to the previous van. Cable routing is fun. It puts the cables through a fairly tight bend, so make sure you've got a good grommet on the opening when it passes through the roof. For me, due to access, there was no chance that I'd get the cables through after I'd fitted it, so I had them loosely threaded through when I was trying to Sikaflex it to the roof... which made it interesting. Once in place though, I never had any issues with it.

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[Northernraider]

I have not used a flat cable entry, just drilled two(4 for 2 panels)10mm holes, a bit of ct1 sealant on the gland and that straight in. The gland is pretty good to get a strong mechanical water tight seal. A rubber washer under the nut helps to. At any time I can fish a cable through the gland by loosening top nut.

Yeah but this van is insulated and panelled already so I couldn't get near the back of a gland to put a nut etc on it ... with this one i just drill a 10 mm hole in the centre and its sealed all around it

 

[Northernraider]

I fitted one of those to the previous van. Cable routing is fun. It puts the cables through a fairly tight bend, so make sure you've got a good grommet on the opening when it passes through the roof. For me, due to access, there was no chance that I'd get the cables through after I'd fitted it, so I had them loosely threaded through when I was trying to Sikaflex it to the roof... which made it interesting. Once in place though, I never had any issues with it.

Yeah i had that issue with the frankia ...but im only running the one cable through on this one so hopefully a bit more room for it to bend in . Trying to bring it in inside a cupboard is the hard part as the van guttering is where the high cupboards end ....all except the one under the flue for the gas fire ...so i have to bring cable in there and then run it over the top of the hab door and down to the batteries.

 

[tonyidle]

Im trying to see if i can use it as a tyre inflator ....if so i might fit it on the vario somewhere

Good idea - wish I'd thought of that .

Actually my main use would be for horns. I have a few sets of wagon and/or train horns. And for inflating tyres.

 

[Northernraider]

Good idea - wish I'd thought of that .

Actually my main use would be for horns. I have a few sets of wagon and/or train horns. And for inflating tyres.

Im hoping if it works i then just need to carry a coiled inflator i can plug in . The small ones i have struggle to do high psi

 

[Northernraider]

Have wired in controller and ran wire inside ducting up to where im hoping to bring the solar in inside this cabinet

Its a bit wider than the others so i might just make it ....nice short cable to the batteries which are under that seat


The keen eyed among you will also notice ive retrimmed around the door as it was minging around there ....mostly due to there being a small leak on the top of the door but also oily hand prints etc all over the material.

Looks a bit tidier

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[mitzimad]

looks much cleaner in there i wish you luck with those roof glands i tried one and couldnt find enough foot print on the corrugations i used an 1p rated box from poofix with a couple of glands in the side
also saw this

 

[mitzimad]

Broken Link Removed

 

[Northernraider]

Broken Link Removed

Yes i saw that ... interior is quite nice but im not keen on the matt black or the windows

 

[Northernraider]

looks much cleaner in there i wish you luck with those roof glands i tried one and couldnt find enough foot print on the corrugations i used an 1p rated box from poofix with a couple of glands in the side
also saw this

Theres a flat bit roof near the fire flue that im hoping will be good for the gland....the roof on this is a bit of a pain ...im glad the one on the vario is so much better

 

[Guigsy]

looks much cleaner in there i wish you luck with those roof glands i tried one and couldnt find enough foot print on the corrugations i used an 1p rated box from poofix with a couple of glands in the side
also saw this

I went in like this:

The corners of the Ducato are like box sections with regular cut-outs, so it was good for routing the cabling. The battery was under the bed at the back, so I didn't have to go far.

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[Northernraider]

The inverter i bought from Pausim just arrived too so ill get that wired in tomorrow with a socket for charging my drone etc

 

[Dutch 68]

So how’s things , is the other side welded up now on the vario ? Today it is pissing it down again in Scotland if the weather forecast is to believed? Here it is a balmy 21 degree dry day , in not so sunny Cheltenham today

 

[Northernraider]

So how’s things , is the other side welded up now on the vario ? Today it is pissing it down again in Scotland if the weather forecast is to believed? Here it is a balmy 21 degree dry day , in not so sunny Cheltenham today

Behave yourself ....its been raining here since Wednesday ...nothing getting done outside .weather forecast shows a bit dryer on sunday and mid week but i need at least 2 but preferably 3 full dry days to put panels on vario as bare metal and rain is not a good mix .

 

[nomadic]

For the shower Ty it might be worth looking at Speedcoat
When utilising the SPEEDLINER EURO HC® product to repair cracked shower trays the spray coating will on average be applied up to 1.5 – 2mm. thickness and has the finally cured strength and flexibility not to crack, warp or prevent the shower tray to deteriorate again beneath the coated surface.

I looked at it once but didn’t use them in the end, maybe someone else has experience?

Yes, I've used Speed Coat on our first conversion, worked well, still good when we sold it about three years later.

 

[Badknee]

its been raining here since Wednesday ...nothing getting done outside

Rains great for welding Tam, it helps the wire flow better. The only slight downside is the leccy has a chance to flow through you too

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[Northernraider]

Yes, I've used Speed Coat on our first conversion, worked well, still good when we sold it about three years later.

At £400 and odd quid i would expect it to outlast the van

 

[Al-Di]

road paint with handfull of sand thrown in, sticks like the proverbial colours are a bit limited ,

 

[Minxy]

Hey Tam, another forlorn project for you ...

Ebay ... Anyone after a challenging restoration or want to get shot of the other half???

https://www-mirror-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/man-shares-advert-campervan-thats-25173562.amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#aoh=16337509763615&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Northernraider]

Hey Tam, another forlorn project for you ...

Ebay ... Anyone after a challenging restoration or want to get shot of the other half???

https://www-mirror-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/man-shares-advert-campervan-thats-25173562.amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#aoh=16337509763615&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

That doesn't look to bad

 

[Northernraider]

Well i have the roof gland now but its not stopped raining so i cant fit that . I have however fitted the inverter where that compressor was and ive fitted a plug socket next to the solar controller with a cable plugged in to the inverter for easier use. Inverter seems to work well ...ive been using my drill on it to drill pilot holes and fit socket and tv bracket etc .

Also drove out to Kirkcaldy to pick up a set of snow chains i won on ebay ...just incase as im not fitting winter tyres on this for the few months im going to have it. ....took the iveco so i could give it a bit of a run as ive not really driven it much and im a bit nervous about taking a vehicle i hardly know on a 3000 mile trip to greece

Im hoping for a dry day tomorrow to fit the roof gland and i want to take wheels off iveco and check brakes etc ..see if i need to take spare pads or that with me .

Hopefully get the Cambelt and waterpump changed next week.

Should be able to order my gas it bottle tomorrow as they will be back off holiday.

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