Tam, Jade and Franky's European Adventure

Rob and Val said:
Did you and Jade sleep in the van last night, Tam?
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No by the time we got home it was after 9pm so it was just some tea and chill out for a couple of hours before bed
It's easier to give it a good clean while empty and then hopefully move into it in a couple of days. Also need to sort the power and the pump so I have lights and working water pressure etc.

But if I get it cleaned today i may go back to sleeping in it at least because jade doesn't like this not getting in the same room as me.
And i can't risk her doing more damage in here I don't want fallouts with mum when she gets home.
 
Tam, you haven't hung around the van looks like it has the makings of a good van for you, look forward to following you on your journey with Toby.
 
Carol said:
Tam, you haven't hung around the van looks like it has the makings of a good van for you, look forward to following you on your journey with Toby.
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I had a good idea of the layout I wanted next carol mainly with the French bed and the rear corner shower so I had been keeping an eye out for ones with that layout. The little franky I viewed had the same layout as this as did the burstner 625 etc but weren't suitable.
I had spotted this one when it was first listed on eBay about 3 weeks ago but I was still in France. I made an offer of 17k for it back then which he had refused.

I had then decided I didn't want to buy one till I sold franky so I just left it ...and it was still for sale after franky went so maybe it was fate ha ha

I was still very nervous about it after viewing it but since picking it up yesterday and being able to have a good mooch around it without the previous owner looking over my shoulder under neath the dirt there's a good van I think

Looking through the receipts last night it's had about 4 owners I think who have looked after it ...It's just the last one who hasn t bothered so hopefully not done too much harm to it in the 2.5 years he's owned it.
I'll soon get it looking good :)

I'll take some pics of inside this morning before I start pulling everything out to give it a good deep clean.
 
I'm really pleased for you Tam and for Jade too as once you get your personal belongings in the van Jade will once again be a happy and relaxed, well behaved little dog. :D
 
Compared to a lot of vans that roof is very clean it's not covered in green algae like you on a lot.

That small square vent, the top unclips, a sod to get off needs doing on a warm day. I know not much chance in Scotland.:ROFLMAO:

Let us know how the panels are wired and what regulators. Maybe best to parallel the panels and fit one decent MPPT regulator.
Need to get the batteries sorted first.

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Lenny HB said:
Compared to a lot of vans that roof is very clean it's not covered in green algae like you on a lot.

That small square vent, the top unclips, a sod to get off needs doing on a warm day. I know not much chance in Scotland.:ROFLMAO:

Let us know how the panels are wired and what regulators. Maybe best to parallel the panels and fit one decent MPPT regulator.
Need to get the batteries sorted first.
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Don't worry lenny you are going to be my go to for the electrical advice lol
I'll post pics up shortly for your attention of the regulators...I think the older one is into a shaudt regulator the other is a sunstore one I think as there's a receipt for the kit bought last March.

Because franky had built in cable reels I don't have a bloody hook up cable so I need to go get one of those so I can plug the van in and see if maybe the batteries just need a good mains charge. I don't think he's used the van much going by the mileage.

If it stops raining long enough I can get a good look at the batteries as I think one of them is ancient and the other is 2016 I think.
But I'm prepared to require two new ones.
I also need an inverter
 
The plate on the roof above rear brake light may have been where someone put a reversing camera!
It does look a mess tho.
We use our ladder on the back as a washing line. When you fold it down put a strap on it so it sticks out at 90° then make a line or 2 with string-a washing line to dry your towel!
 
Can't understand why someone would try to sell a van in a filthy condition.
Surely anyone with a modicum of common sense would try and make it as sparkly as possible.
Sounds like the last owner was just a lazy so and so.
A bit of elbow grease and a damp cloth or two will have Toby back in the land of the living and you will get loads of satisfaction when the jobs are complete.
Enjoy your new van. (y):D

Richard.
 
Shrimp said:
The plate on the roof above rear brake light may have been where someone put a reversing camera!
It does look a mess tho.
We use our ladder on the back as a washing line. When you fold it down put a strap on it so it sticks out at 90° then make a line or 2 with string-a washing line to dry your towel!
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Yes that's my thinking as it's that kind of size I think may be one has been there and it's got knocked of damaging the bit above brake light. There's now a camera under the bike rack but don't think it's connected.
I can repair the bit above the light hopefully and make sure it's sealed up.

Good tip on the ladder :)

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Clarky said:
Can't understand why someone would try to sell a van in a filthy condition.
Surely anyone with a modicum of common sense would try and make it as sparkly as possible.
Sounds like the last owner was just a lazy so and so.
A bit of elbow grease and a damp cloth or two will have Toby back in the land of the living and you will get loads of satisfaction when the jobs are complete.
Enjoy your new van. (y):D

Richard.
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Yep I get the impression he just didn't care about it as it is minging inside.lol
Seemed active enough and in good health as did his wife so think they were just lazy I'd been living in franky fulltime for a year and even though I didn't get the chance to give her a right going over before the guy took her away she was 10 times cleaner than this is.
But it will clean up

Gotta go over all the cobwebs and hair out of it first then a good easy with warm soapy water :)
 
Toby looks like a good buy (y)
You should find the bench seat covers zip off and can be put on a 40c cycle, mine came out looking like new. Same for the curtains
Looking forward to seeing it looking shining in no time
 
Fao @Lenny HB this is the two solar controllers. The shaudt one is for the smaller panel feeds leisure only apparently

The other one is for the new panel and feeds both engine and leisure.

Battery gauge shows 99% this morning and 13.4v must have got a bit of charge on the drive home.

Water pressure is still pathetic and lots of air in it again.

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Few pics of inside at the minute and of the inside of the back cupboard that's been tampered with

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The first photo of the regulator, the wire on the right looks a bit burnt around the terminal, it also looks like an old regulator, you would be better of with a MPPT type and connect panels together bear the roof.
It’s a shame they have put the regulators in that cupboard, it’s looks like you lost some depth.
I fitted my Votronic 250 duo under the EBL.
 
Van looks nice Tam.
The regulators are both PWM the Schaudt one not bad for a PWM one but only really suitable for Gel batteries as once the batteries are charged it holds at 14.2v not good for flooded cells.
I would parallel the panels and fit a Votronic MPP regulator. I think your display panel will show solar charge it you buy the Votronic optional connecting lead.

Can't tell without measuring but you either have 80 + 100 panels or 100 + 150. A 250 watt regulator will do but you might want to future proof and fit a 350 or 430 if keeping the van for the long haul.

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Northernraider said:
Because franky had built in cable reels I don't have a bloody hook up cable so I need to go get one of those so I can plug the van in and see if maybe the batteries just need a good mains charge. I don't think he's used the van much going by the mileage.
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Toolstation do artic grade mains cables cheap.
With the solar the batteries should not have been flat. What batteries are they?
 
Manic said:
The first photo of the regulator, the wire on the right looks a bit burnt around the terminal, it also looks like an old regulator, you would be better of with a MPPT type and connect panels together bear the roof.
It’s a shame they have put the regulators in that cupboard, it’s looks like you lost some depth.
I fitted my Votronic 250 duo under the EBL.
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Yeah I spotted that myself not sure if burnt or rusty.
Lenny HB said:
Van looks nice Tam.
The regulators are both PWM the Schaudt one not bad for a PWM one but only really suitable for Gel batteries as once the batteries are charged it holds at 14.2v not good for flooded cells.
I would parallel the panels and fit a Votronic MPP regulator. I think your display panel will show solar charge it you buy the Votronic optional connecting lead.

Can't tell without measuring but you either have 80 + 100 panels or 100 + 150. A 250 watt regulator will do but you might want to future proof and fit a 350 or 430 if keeping the van for the long haul.
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What's pwm?
As far as the panels go the bigger one according to the receipt is a 120w no idea on the other one but I'm not entirely sure that one is connected or working as I never notices the wires for it and it has a strange crazed type finish to it
When I get up on roof I'll take a pic and check for wires.
No idea on the batteries yet either when it stops raining I'll pull them out check dates and makes etc. Still showing 13.2v at the minute though so you never know they must have needed a good charge although like you say if solar is working that shouk D keep them going.

I found a remote control panel for an inverter too but as yet ive not found the inverter.
Quite a bit of wiring under the seat that's above the batteries which doesn't look original so someone's been fitting things but not sure they are still there.
 
Northernraider said:
Yeah I spotted that myself not sure if burnt or rusty.
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No that is burnt. over heated .you can tell by the discolouration of the blue shroud & also the white sleeve of the controller compared to the rest. Looks like the solar panel neutral ?
 
Northernraider said:
What's pwm?
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Pulse Width Modulation speed control works by driving the motor with a series of “ON-OFF” pulses and varying the duty cycle (the fraction of time that the output voltage is “ON” compared to when it is “OFF”) of the pulses while keeping the frequency constant. It sounds as though I really know what I’m talking about, doesn’t it? I haven’t a clue. I just googled it!
 
Clarky said:
Can't understand why someone would try to sell a van in a filthy condition.
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My father-in-law died suddenly & unexpectedly, just after he & my mother-in-law had come back from 6 very wet weeks in Ireland in their caravan with their 2 dogs. The van was in storage but hadn't been cleaned since the trip - they'd only been back a few days - mother-in-law obviously very upset and didn't want to see the van again at the house. It was due to be part-exchanged at a dealer and that deal was going ahead (long story) so I rang them up, explained the circumstances and that it wasn't clean - "don't worry, bring it in" said the dealers.

Well, we turned up, dealer went with me to inspect it - and it really did need a good clean inside - as soon as they saw inside "Oh crikey, this is nothing, you want to see the state some vans turn up in. Thanks for warning us."

Apparently it was not unknown for vans to come in for part-ex in a truly disgusting state. I can't understand why anyone would do that either!
 
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Rob and Val said:
Pulse Width Modulation speed control works by driving the motor with a series of “ON-OFF” pulses and varying the duty cycle (the fraction of time that the output voltage is “ON” compared to when it is “OFF”) of the pulses while keeping the frequency constant. It sounds as though I really know what I’m talking about, doesn’t it? I haven’t a clue. I just googled it!
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I did not understand a word of it...Will it work on GAS,,,BUSBY:):)
 
Manic said:
Looking at the photos, the wires don’t look big enough, if they have used blue connectors. Just my thoughts.
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Yeah very true

That's the one that's been on a while too
I'll check it out when I can get on the roof

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Rob and Val said:
Pulse Width Modulation speed control works by driving the motor with a series of “ON-OFF” pulses and varying the duty cycle (the fraction of time that the output voltage is “ON” compared to when it is “OFF”) of the pulses while keeping the frequency constant. It sounds as though I really know what I’m talking about, doesn’t it? I haven’t a clue. I just googled it!
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Whoooosh


That's the sound of that going over my head

Mechanic yes

Electrical haven't a clue lol
 
That black lining in the high level cupboard looks really odd. I'd be keen to know what is behind that
 
Right so after a good clean inside Toby now looks respectable ....I've also repaired the broken striplight above the cooker:)

He comes up rather well I must say and I can't believe all the original bits are still present like the waste bins and the drain plugs etc

I would like to ask which owner that fitted all the cheap crappy coat hooks everywhere why they thought they needed them as theres already several original ones but hey ho I'll take them off and put something more useful in place.


Had I been selling it this is how id have presented it :)

Outside will be more of a challenge I think
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I stripped out the material covering inside of rear cupboards and it's the original Styrofoam stuff behind them it's just the cloth that's been changed. But it's definately been to gain access to the rear brake light and possibly a camera as the wires are right there behind it.
But at least there's no water in there and no sign of there ever being water so I'll just refix the lining and I'll sort the light etc from outside on a dry day so it doesn't give future problems
 
Northernraider said:
Whoooosh


That's the sound of that going over my head

Mechanic yes

Electrical haven't a clue lol
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Take no notice PWM means 'Panel works by Magic.

Figaro said:
That black lining in the high level cupboard looks really odd. I'd be keen to know what is behind that
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& me , very odd o_O:unsure:

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