Originally I was planning to launch more often the growth of the Berlingo camper. Painfully to announce is that – during such a process – you are depended on the specialist technicians. Also the delivery of goods/ equipment.
My car is still in the garage, while the motor is travelling from company to company for revision. Already more than 2 weeks away, and the next one also, pffffffffff. But, every negative aspect has a positive too. When I get it back, my motor is ‘as new’ , and I can travel months throughout Europe (if I want). That idea feels so good!
Yesterday the solar panels arrived. Decided not to put them permanently on the imperial, afraid for the wind that can come underneath it. Maybe next time, but First I will install them inside the car and put them on. Therefor I bought the small ones; 70 x 70 cm 80 Watt each. That should be acceptable for my Anker 757.
Yesterday I spent time on designing a construction how I can get a high efficiency out of them. I made a design, see the photo’s. A simple one, but it Works and cost only a few euro’s and time to mount them, before the hike. During a photographic session I will spent a few hours in nature, nice time to get them active. By the way I will lock them on the imperial, so it will be very hard to get them loose for outsiders. Looking forwards to some advises. Thank you.
Sat down with some technicians around the table to discuss the possibility to build a ProPlus CEE connection box, underneath the bonnet. And so bringing in 230V electricity, but also 12 V energy form the solar panels. Beautiful to see how creative they were, and planning to make a small hole in the grill, to lead cables through it. There is plenty of free space oin the side of the passengers seat. While the dashboard have enough channels to run cables through it.
The solar panels will be placed in a parallel connection, meaning that I have two cables to run though the dashboard. The length of the wires are 5 meter. But, I also want the possibility to put the solar panels into nature/ on the ground. In that case 5 meters is enough for me. Multi functional, is the keyword here. The Anker powerhouse will stay inside the mini-camper, while the solar panels can be placed everywhere.
Proper research of correct placing the ProPus FEE connection box became a bit frustrating. I was holding onto the main idea that 'I did not want drilling holes in the metal, so that it sticks out'. With the outcome of this particular coffee moment with technicians, and the search for correct materials, seems to make it possible. Yes, the real fun of finding bright means, and technicians willing to experiment. I trust them, of course.
Ordering all the material , did cost me 50 euro's all together. An hour ago I bid on a second hands CEE cable (20 meter - 16 A) for 30 euro's, including a socket box multiple. Compare with new it saves me 50%. I m sure that, at the end, unseen costs will come to the surface. For now it is a kind of sport to keep as much as money in my pocket.
The moment my car is back and we are going to work it our functionally, I surely will make snapshots. Looking forward to some replies, the idea of a forum. Take care all.
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** Note: First I had problems using CEE at all. As an outsider I find it a strange step. But the technicians killed me almost talking about safety/ water/ staying with international standards..... etc. So I quickly draw that idea back, pfffffffff. I make frequently wrong suggestions because I am not a technician, but need to think along the official lines/ laws. I learned from that, although it makes things mostly a bit harder (and expensive) to realize.
Looking back to the process (so far) I must admit that it completely sucks (read: was wrong). Just realize that my target was; 5th of February staying in the southern area of Portugal-Algarve; 2400 km away. Now, ……. almost 2 months later, I am far from ready to start.
The motor revision is almost done, last bits and pieces. Seen photo’s and it’s truly beautiful. Yes, you van (almost) say a brand new motor. Actually, the quality is better because ingredients are updated in quality. Be honest, the motor is the heart of the system, and needs to be in perfectly condition. I was aware of that, the minute I bought the car for 10.000 euro. But, never thought it would take 3 weeks to finish it.
During those three weeks I could work on some side projects, such as ‘creating a box system’ for my solar power system. That project we finished today. These 2 boxes are portable, and can be used down on the ground as well as on the imperial. Not completely happy because in my mind I wished there was a way to drive slowly, with the panels in horizontal position. Maybe at a later stage we might succeed.
The cost for this little project was; 4 piano hinges = 12 euro’s (wood was all left overs).
One more small thing remains, and that is; finding a way to lock these solar panels while I am birdwatching. Love to receive some advises or suggestions hoe to secure these solar panels. The idea that they will be stolen, pfffffffffffffff
Motor revision has been realized in exactly three weeks. The amount of replacements was quite a lot. But I am pleased with the result. Every part of the motor, shown some damaging, is replaced with a new part. Right now the motor is in perfect condition. Ready to drive 200.000 km. I think that the final costs (3025 euro’s), is acceptable.
The moment I drove the car again, it created a big smile on my face; the car fly likes an eagle, so nice!. Yes, now it is ready to tour for a 5000+ km journey. That if, another 100 details are be done. It seems for me ‘a never ending story’.
Last week I am going to work on a new theme; ‘ventilation’. In a way that will not damage anything. So cheap options, such as; wind deflectors and making a kind of a window vents, and see if this is (during the night) efficient enough.
Materials:
Material cost: (glue: 5 euro, ventilation roster: 10 euro, polystyrene plate: 100 x 50 cm = 25 euro). Labor: 6 hours of work, much longer than expected.
Sadly a firm sent me the wrong wind deflectors, so need to wait for some days to receive the correct ones. But I think it is easy to attach them to the windows.
Next week I hope we can connect cables from the cabin to the bonnet, and back. Both for 220V and solar panel cables. Take care all.
Never thought that the creation of a mini camper is that time consuming. But we finally made a little step towards the first trip to Spain-Extremadura, the 22nd of May.
Right now work on water circuit, electricity (220 Volt) circuit, and a new table for my work station, are in the list. The cold-water tap in the kitchen need to be installed and connected to the powerhouse, and the jerrycans.
Proces along with photo’s:
At the passenger side we drill a hole on the spot where the steering rack would have been in the UK. The suggestion came from the engineer who revised my motor. Easy job because the foundation is isolation material, a plastic shell to be precisely. This is standard made for vehicles being able to change the drivers seat.
Through that hole a 220 V cable could be run underneath the bonnet. Making it possible to keep that status of ‘stealth’. A possibility, on rainy days, and use the charging station of the camping site to fill my powerhouse and all the other equipment.
It all took 2 hours of work, and we found a safe way to fix the cable safely underneath the bonnet, on a spot where the temperature stay low. It is always dry underneath the car, so no change to get water connected. Very pleased with the result, no external box visible for the outside world, and still easy to connect with a 220 Volt source.
Development is going slower, although ‘positioning’ becomes much clearer, and yes (!) I thought I had much more space. Especially the Mobicool box is so much larger than I thought, although it used only 35 Watts, size does matters. So only one spot was available, and we secure it safely (with a strap) to the kitchen unit. Also the heavy Anker 757 (21 kg) will be locked (by the passenger seat)safely, when driving. As I showed (picture) it will be replaced behind the Workstation so that I have my legs free to me. This is the best option so far.
Wasn’t happy about the imperial in the back because it touched the tailgate slightly. Using rubbers to lift it was the best option, but it took 2 hours to full fill this job. Yeah, time is flying…
Sometimes I feel the adrenaline flowing because I get a glimpse of the end-result. Coming week the kitchen unit need to be organized completely with shelves at the correct high, depending on the baskets and boxes I have. Fun.
Parallel I work on a middle console which will hide my huge camera. It will be an amateur design, but again fun to do it yourself. It it doesn’t work well – after the First long journey – I will crash it and make a better design. Hopefully one day I can say that they were pragmatic steps, we made.
Next week I will share some snapshots and explain the problems I am faced with. Thank you for reading it and enjoy travelling, you’all.
If you are ready for irreversible modifications, cutting the floor carpet will reveal extra 3” vertical space. You can have a look by peeling the carpet at the rear legroom.
Thank you for the tip, I didn’t knew it. But now I realize that the same amount of isolation material is also found in front of the passengers seat. Remember that I was amazed by the thickness of isolation.
Currently heading towards filling in all the equipment and material. Truely an eye-opener, and a realization how much space I have to fill. And yes, 3 inch of layer is than quite a bit. Yes, pleased with your tip.
That said, I am pleased with my new organizer, which will give more structure in the chaos.
You should have seen my face, after watching your sharp photo. I am amazed, and yes those storage boxes are rather deep. Thanks for getting more options to do some with that extra space. Please keep on giving tips & tricks that can be added, although it is never to late to change designs after trips. My intention is to keep updating, again and again... Thank you Drummond!
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