Rear power panel for GU

[TI_CRD_125]

Yet another variation on a theme.....

I ran power from the second battery to the rear yesterday for a fridge and whatever else. By spending an hour or so making the panel blank and sourcing the voltmeter and Merit sockets, I saved around $120 compared with commercial equivalents.

Panel is a piece of plastic around 2-3mm thick. I recycled an old document tray but anything you can get your hands on will be fine. Needs to be thin enough that the clips on the meter, switch and original clip will go all the way though.

Cable is two runs of automotive 6mm back to a fuse panel under the passenger kick plate. I also have a totally separate run along the chassis of 6 B&S for the Anderson plug to the camper.

Voltmeter is a two wire unit off ebay for about $7 delivered. Jaycar sell the same one for $25. When buying, it's easiest if it is a 2 wire, self powered meter rather than having to have a separate power supply. Switch is momentary action. I bought a 2-way thinking the existing lighter socket was easily accessible so I could measure the main battery voltage but it isn't.

Adrian

Edited May 7, 2012 by TI_CRD_125

[Oldmate]

Very tidy mate.

[admin]

Nice job - I prefer anderson plugs myself - They are big and bulky I know, but they never come out or get damaged when knocked. I have one anderson and one cig output at the back of mine, but will need a second anderson plug for the second small fridge soon.

[TI_CRD_125]

Nice job - I prefer anderson plugs myself - They are big and bulky I know, but they never come out or get damaged when knocked. I have one anderson and one cig output at the back of mine, but will need a second anderson plug for the second small fridge soon.

The Merit/Hella plugs are a click-fit and I haven't had any problems over many years of use. Anderson are certainly better and I use the outside one for the camper connection or compressor or solar panels (to feed power back to the second battery).

Cig sockets/plugs are hopeless for anything other than a lighter. I made up a short Hella plug to two cig sockets lead for plugging in phone chargers etc but have otherwise changed the plugs on the fluoro and other low/medium draw gadgets to Hellas.

Adrian

[TI_CRD_125]

Very tidy mate.

Thanks for that. It looks like it should have been made like that in the first place:) (but OTOH, having seen the size of wires that Nissan run to the cig plugs that supposedly carry 10A then perhaps it's better to do it yourself.)

Adrian