What did you do to your van today?

Thought I would add a couple of extra solar panels. The roof has 4 x 50w panels so worked out I could add another 2 x 80w giving us 360w total. Need to rewire the originals as they are in parrallel and need to be in series for it to work correctly. So 2 x 50w in series.+ 2 x 50w in series + 2 x 80w in series and then connect the 3 sets in parallel should give something like 40v at 9a. The panels that are on are pop riveted to aluminum square tubes that are stuck to the roof with Sikaflex. Plenty of area for the glue. Just raised them off the roof to give about 2mm of Sikaflex. The first 4 have been on for 2.5 years and no sign of them coming off. I used semi flexible panels as they are not as heavy as the framed version. Keeping them off the roof allows ventilation and makes it easier to remove one. Just the plastic trunking to add.

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QFour said:
Thought I would add a couple of extra solar panels. The roof has 4 x 50w panels so worked out I could add another 2 x 80w giving us 360w total. Need to rewire the originals as they are in parrallel and need to be in series for it to work correctly. So 2 x 50w in series.+ 2 x 50w in series + 2 x 80w in series and then connect the 3 sets in parallel should give something like 40v at 9a. The panels that are on are pop riveted to aluminum square tubes that are stuck to the roof with Sikaflex. Plenty of area for the glue. Just raised them off the roof to give about 2mm of Sikaflex. The first 4 have been on for 2.5 years and no sign of them coming off. I used semi flexible panels as they are not as heavy as the framed version. Keeping them off the roof allows ventilation and makes it easier to remove one. Just the plastic trunking to add.

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I have clean roof envy .......... 🤣
 
QFour said:
Thought I would add a couple of extra solar panels. The roof has 4 x 50w panels so worked out I could add another 2 x 80w giving us 360w total. Need to rewire the originals as they are in parrallel and need to be in series for it to work correctly. So 2 x 50w in series.+ 2 x 50w in series + 2 x 80w in series and then connect the 3 sets in parallel should give something like 40v at 9a. The panels that are on are pop riveted to aluminum square tubes that are stuck to the roof with Sikaflex. Plenty of area for the glue. Just raised them off the roof to give about 2mm of Sikaflex. The first 4 have been on for 2.5 years and no sign of them coming off. I used semi flexible panels as they are not as heavy as the framed version. Keeping them off the roof allows ventilation and makes it easier to remove one. Just the plastic trunking to add.

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You carnt have to much i say.
 
Motorhome returned today, MOT done, no advisories. New CV joints fitted, ABS light now off. I went down to garage to check underside of MH while gearbox oil was drained and replaced. Happy to say, really good nic underneath, due to previous owner doing a thorough protection job some years back.

Gearbox oil; 75W90, 2 litre's @ at a total price for 2 litre = £41.00. OUCH. Anyhooooo, all done motor running sweet (y)

I was soooooooooo happy, I booked the tunnel for next month!!
 
runnach said:
Motorhome returned today, MOT done, no advisories. New CV joints fitted, ABS light now off. I went down to garage to check underside of MH while gearbox oil was drained and replaced. Happy to say, really good nic underneath, due to previous owner doing a thorough protection job some years back.

Gearbox oil; 75W90, 2 litre's @ at a total price for 2 litre = £41.00. OUCH. Anyhooooo, all done motor running sweet (y)

I was soooooooooo happy, I booked the tunnel for next month!!
Click to expand...
Well done Terry.
 
Dropped van back to dealer for some warranty work ..

Took 3 months to get bits from autotrail. Needed a new oven window splash back ..
And rear high level rear brake light .
 
Finally got round to mounting the rear box on the load carrier.

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I think these are designed to fit on fiamma cycle racks so had to offset it a bit to make use of the bottom tube support the best way and also used different fixing bolts as the original ones protruded into the box much too far and I thought could potentially damage things inside (such as ripping seat material)
1676227305642.png

Still need to fit the number plate mount. In the standard place the door fouls on it so need to adapt that a little bit but should be easy enough to do.

I want to keep the Cycle Carrier for ..... cycles :) So this is why using the Thule Rack. With the cycle carrier down there is around 2" clearance between it and the top of the box, so very tight, but at the same time probably good for security!

But using the rack means I should probably move the Garmin reversing camera as that is on the number plate which will be totally obsured of course. Still have the original Autotrail high-mounted camera connected to the drop-down TV as a backup ( ;) ) so depends how much use the box I suppose.
 
Check eng levels ,cleaned van and tarted tyres up🥵removed chain and padlock from spare wheel,cleaned solar panel ,made up a new lead 12v plugs into wall and a 12v cigar end.tags for tolls fitted,,U.K. stickers on.put extending brush into garage ,sorted out various cupboards for clothes etc swmbo wanted swapped around ffs.topped up gin cupboard😀🥃.cleaned windows inside.added water tap adaptors and checked lpg adaptors 👍secured a few loose screws 😃checked spare bulbs ,triangle,hi viz /jackory charged,and a few other bits n bobs
Hope my licences come in time for departure 🤞if not we will have to cancel 😩
 
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