What did you do to your van today?

[marchie]

Took the electric bikes to West Calder for the 6 weeks free service and waited in the Van whilst the work was done [45 minutes for the pair!]. Chance to use the new inverter for its maiden voyage to boil electric kettle for 2 mugs of coffee. Leisure Battery started at 14.19v but then fell off a cliff, dropping to 12.5v in a minute or so. Lithium Battery decided to wake up from its 'Float Slumber' and began producing leccy from the Solar to achieve a 'soft landing' descent at 12.32v when the kettle boiled. Lithium immediately returned to 13.05v when t
the kettle stopped, and, despite the very grey sky, began chucking in 30w from the Solar. Lithium Battery was around 13.39v when we left the bike shop 25minutes later and the 29 miles return trip was enough to return the battery to 14.19v

Useful exercise to get the squeaky bum settled, knowing what the inverter will take out of the battery and how quickly the recharge is, even on a grey old day. And nice not to be delving in the Gas Cupboard [or forgetting to do so ...]

Steve

 

[Deleted member 7298]

I wish I was doing something in the van. Currently trying to conquer the effects of covid booster Jag. Was supposed to be in Wales enjoying the rain there instead of home but unable to drive as shoulder incapacitated. I do wonder if it was worth it. However, glad you are all busy. Is anyone going to New Forest folk festival in July?

 

[trevskoda]

Took the electric bikes to West Calder for the 6 weeks free service and waited in the Van whilst the work was done [45 minutes for the pair!]. Chance to use the new inverter for its maiden voyage to boil electric kettle for 2 mugs of coffee. Leisure Battery started at 14.19v but then fell off a cliff, dropping to 12.5v in a minute or so. Lithium Battery decided to wake up from its 'Float Slumber' and began producing leccy from the Solar to achieve a 'soft landing' descent at 12.32v when the kettle boiled. Lithium immediately returned to 13.05v when t
the kettle stopped, and, despite the very grey sky, began chucking in 30w from the Solar. Lithium Battery was around 13.39v when we left the bike shop 25minutes later and the 29 miles return trip was enough to return the battery to 14.19v

Useful exercise to get the squeaky bum settled, knowing what the inverter will take out of the battery and how quickly the recharge is, even on a grey old day. And nice not to be delving in the Gas Cupboard [or forgetting to do so ...]

Steve

There is no need to gas yourself over battery problems.

 

[Scotia]

My wheel carrier arrived today so down tools and went to fit it, bored out the chassis keeping it a nice and tight hole to take the Avdel / riv nuts hoping the serrated shoulder on the nut would bite allowing me to draw the avdel up but it kept on spinning. Have ordered M10 x 1.25 nuts to use as a jam nut and hopefully get the rivet to draw. I have an Avdel gun but no mandrels that size nor with the fine thread. Hopefully the nuts will arrive by the weekend. I'll also replace the M8 stainless bolts with high tensile bolts.

 

[Exwindsurfer]

Replace the old cigarette socket in the dash with a twin usb socket I was suprized it was a easy job to do.

 

[marchie]

2 small Vango Tables [replacement for the over sized Burstner Dining Table arrived today. One table will be enough in the Habitation area for informal eating [wee bit low, but fine as a coffee table]. Second table will be used for outdoor eating and as a worktop for Induction Hob, powered from the Ski Cupboard socket. The tables fold in half, so can be slipped into the Ski Cupboard either front to back or across the width when travelling

Steve

 

[Exwindsurfer]

2 small Vango Tables [replacement for the over sized Burstner Dining Table arrived today. One table will be enough in the Habitation area for informal eating [wee bit low, but fine as a coffee table]. Second table will be used for outdoor eating and as a worktop for Induction Hob, powered from the Ski Cupboard socket. The tables fold in half, so can be slipped into the Ski Cupboard either front to back or across the width when travelling

SteveView attachment 64680View attachment 64681View attachment 64682

Nice bit of kit Steve.

 

[Exwindsurfer]

Just blown up the tyres one at57psi one at 58psi one at 59psi and one at 61psi now all at 60psi ready for the run down to Hereford.oops looks like one has lost a pound but its close enough.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I took the van down to have the back bumper removed (swift shite) what a mess mounted onto two pieces of wood one screw each side.

It's in much worse condition than I thought, it had a bit missing when I bought it but found it in the van under the passenger seat in the jack box

£230 to remove repair repaint and re-fix, he spent two hours taking the thing off.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Replace the old cigarette socket in the dash with a twin usb socket I was suprized it was a easy job to do.

View attachment 64679

I did that on my self build piece of cake.




I tried to do the same thing to this Fiat same year but I could not get the panel out.

 

[Exwindsurfer]

I did that on my self build piece of cake.

View attachment 64698


I tried to do the same thing to this Fiat same year but I could not get the panel out.

Mine it wire to the lithium batteries not the engine.

 

[marchie]

Mine it wire to the lithium batteries not the engine.

I have to have the cigarette lighter socket for the Garmin Satnav, but David [Wildebus] fitted 2 high speed USBs in the Battery Box in the Habitation Area seating, so that we can charge phones. We bought 2 x long USB cables at a French hypermarket in late July so each cable will reach anywhere in the seating area or the cab, avoiding the need to scramble around the Battery Box to disconnect/reconnect the phone cables when on the move

Steve

 

[wildebus]

I tried to do the same thing to this Fiat same year but I could not get the panel out.

It can be a right pain trying to access the back of that panel. I took the approach to removing the sockets from the top! Tends to be a little destructive to what you are removing and that is a bin job, but you can fit a new socket and drop it into place ok. To help it grip it if it is a little loose, could use a few wraps of insulating tape or maybe hot glue?

I found different models actually have different connectors (easily changed) and a slightly different sized hole. Not sure if it is a brand difference (Peugeot vs Fiat) or an age difference, but I would suspect age.
Left the 12V socket in there in case need to use it sometime and just removed the lighter socket.

 

[oppy]

I have stuck a whole load of junk in it plus some useful stuff too ready for a few days up country

 

[Scotia]

Replaced the micro switch on the tap which had started to play up. Running out of things to fix, now where can I go?

 

[Vanterrier]

Spent all morning polishing off the scrapes along the van from badly fitted hedges this summer. Most were just scuffs but some were scratches. Just got finished before the rain started.
K

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Spent all morning polishing off the scrapes along the van from badly fitted hedges this summer. Most were just scuffs but some were scratches. Just got finished before the rain started.
K

I used to do that after every trip, but the places we like to go it happens a lot so I stopped and only do it when it's up for sale.

 

[Vanterrier]

Its funny, I was thinking the same about your bumper repairs my old xtrail got bumped by a BMW driver reversing and damaged the bumper. I was still considering having it fixed when I reversed into a low wall in a builders yard and destroyed the other side. If I had repaired the first damage I would have been really pi55ed. So I dont do repairs until just before a sale.
Anyway I ended up trading the car in with the knackered bumper.
Duh!
K

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Its funny, I was thinking the same about your bumper repairs my old xtrail got bumped by a BMW driver reversing and damaged the bumper. I was still considering having it fixed when I reversed into a low wall in a builders yard and destroyed the other side. If I had repaired the first damage I would have been really pi55ed. So I dont do repairs until just before a sale.
Anyway I ended up trading the car in with the knackered bumper.
Duh!
K

I was of the same mind the problem is Swift had them made so badly that they were getting more and more cracked as they became weaker, and at over £1k new unpainted I thought I'd get them repaired and reinforced at the same time.

 

[Mr and Mrs Tupcox]

Well it's like Christmas . All my box's of stuff from alpha arrived 4 panels b2b mppt 30amp regulator wire cables ebay stuff to ..
Just waiting on me 460ah lithium. Which now in stock and up delivery next few days.

Then the fun begins if I can get van back from dealers waiting for bits from autotrail there so slow..