Electrical
Probably the first thing to be mentioned here should be the dual battery system but it wasn't the first thing added to the vehicle. The first things to be added in the way of aftermarket electricals were the Lightforce Blitz 170 Spotlights, the Uniden UH7760NB UHF Radio, and the Command Cruise Control. Later on I added two 6" LED light bars to the Bullbar angled outwards for better trackside illumination and a 22" light bar on the roof. These are cheap light bars and will be replaced with higher quality units as funds allow.
The dual battery system was added later and had to be done in conjunction with the drawer project as there was no room under the bonnet for a second battery. The auxilliary battery had to be built into the drawer set up in the back of the vehicle. The original set up I opted for was just the simple solenoid set up with a press button switch on the dash to parallel the batteries if I had a flat starter battery.
Later on it became evident that this would not charge the AGM battery adequately due to my driving habits so it now remains only as an internal jumpstart system should I need it. On the advise of Shane from JTS, I simply removed the brain box off the solenoid. The system in place now is Redarc a 20amp DC to DC charger which seems to do the job nicely. This charger is mounted to the side of the drawer compartment in the rear of the car and just outside the battery compartment.
Incorporated in the drawer set up is an anderson plug for the Engel Fridge and also two 12V accessory sockets near the rear of the car for easy access. Either side of these sockets are two marine, pull on-push off, switches. One of these is for an LED work light mounted on the left rear roof rack bar and the other is a manual override for my reversing light. (another 6" LED light bar). In the battery compartment there is a fusebox and also a relay for the reversing light. This light can also be switched from the dash but only when in reverse gear. I assumed it had the same legal requirement as spotlights do, so I wired it accordingly.
Also running off the auxiliary battery is a pair of accessory sockets mounted to the left side of the centre console in the front of the car. The factory fitted accessory/cig ltr socket is only active with the keys in the ignition. I use the additional two sockets for my iPad and phone charger as a rule but they can be used for anything really. I guess the only other thing I have to mention now would be the addition of a switched camera mounted to the bullbar which plugs into my Hema Navigator HN6.
This idea was stolen from a friend who said he planned to do it himself. With the flick of a switch on the dash, I can see what's in front of the car from directly below the bullbar to about 2 metres in front of the car. This is great for negotiating rocky, bolder covered areas or for just checking out what's over that hump before driving blindly over it and it saves getting in & out of the car as often. This is a good thing for me as I have dodgy hips and getting in & out is usually painful. It is only a cheap camera from Hong Kong via eBay for $20 incl postage but, this makes me worry less about trashing it. For the rear, the car comes with a factory fitted reversing camera which works just fine.
June 17th 2014.
Some time ago I purchased a slimline LED light to mount on the inside of the tailgate to illuminate the kitchen draw/cooking area. I finally got around to mounting it. Although it is a touch lamp, I have installed a small rocker switch inside the tailgate's pull down handle in case "Murphy's Law" comes into play and the touch light won't turn off. Yes, yes, I know, I could just pull the fuse but, if the car is loaded for a trip away, the fuse box will be difficult to get to so, a small, discretely mounted rocker switch was my solution. It also means that if it becomes necessary to change the light to something that requires a switch, the work is already done. I should also mention that the interior light nearest the tailgate has also been replaced with an LED insert which gives off way more light that the standard globe.
The dual battery system was added later and had to be done in conjunction with the drawer project as there was no room under the bonnet for a second battery. The auxilliary battery had to be built into the drawer set up in the back of the vehicle. The original set up I opted for was just the simple solenoid set up with a press button switch on the dash to parallel the batteries if I had a flat starter battery.
Later on it became evident that this would not charge the AGM battery adequately due to my driving habits so it now remains only as an internal jumpstart system should I need it. On the advise of Shane from JTS, I simply removed the brain box off the solenoid. The system in place now is Redarc a 20amp DC to DC charger which seems to do the job nicely. This charger is mounted to the side of the drawer compartment in the rear of the car and just outside the battery compartment.
Incorporated in the drawer set up is an anderson plug for the Engel Fridge and also two 12V accessory sockets near the rear of the car for easy access. Either side of these sockets are two marine, pull on-push off, switches. One of these is for an LED work light mounted on the left rear roof rack bar and the other is a manual override for my reversing light. (another 6" LED light bar). In the battery compartment there is a fusebox and also a relay for the reversing light. This light can also be switched from the dash but only when in reverse gear. I assumed it had the same legal requirement as spotlights do, so I wired it accordingly.
Also running off the auxiliary battery is a pair of accessory sockets mounted to the left side of the centre console in the front of the car. The factory fitted accessory/cig ltr socket is only active with the keys in the ignition. I use the additional two sockets for my iPad and phone charger as a rule but they can be used for anything really. I guess the only other thing I have to mention now would be the addition of a switched camera mounted to the bullbar which plugs into my Hema Navigator HN6.
This idea was stolen from a friend who said he planned to do it himself. With the flick of a switch on the dash, I can see what's in front of the car from directly below the bullbar to about 2 metres in front of the car. This is great for negotiating rocky, bolder covered areas or for just checking out what's over that hump before driving blindly over it and it saves getting in & out of the car as often. This is a good thing for me as I have dodgy hips and getting in & out is usually painful. It is only a cheap camera from Hong Kong via eBay for $20 incl postage but, this makes me worry less about trashing it. For the rear, the car comes with a factory fitted reversing camera which works just fine.
June 17th 2014.
Some time ago I purchased a slimline LED light to mount on the inside of the tailgate to illuminate the kitchen draw/cooking area. I finally got around to mounting it. Although it is a touch lamp, I have installed a small rocker switch inside the tailgate's pull down handle in case "Murphy's Law" comes into play and the touch light won't turn off. Yes, yes, I know, I could just pull the fuse but, if the car is loaded for a trip away, the fuse box will be difficult to get to so, a small, discretely mounted rocker switch was my solution. It also means that if it becomes necessary to change the light to something that requires a switch, the work is already done. I should also mention that the interior light nearest the tailgate has also been replaced with an LED insert which gives off way more light that the standard globe.
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All content ©Copyright Stuart Whitehouse 2014 - Unless otherwise stated.
Images on this site may be purchase by using the form on another site here. Simply take note of the image I.D number.
HOME | ABOUT/CONTACT | MY CAR | MODIFICATIONS | TRIPS | GALLERY | BLOG | LINKS
Updates | Mistakes & Regrets | Electrical | Rocksliders | Roof Accessories | The Drawers
All content ©Copyright Stuart Whitehouse 2014 - Unless otherwise stated.
Images on this site may be purchase by using the form on another site here. Simply take note of the image I.D number.