Distribution panel

chealy74

Hi
I had a check around the internet and the forum but having trouble finding the info I need.
Basically I have purchased the relay and second battery, I understand the concept of how this setup works but not to sure what the next stage should be ie cabling from the relay to my internal lights.
I do not require anything fancy just want to run a 12v strip light and maybe wire in an inverter for charging phones and a laptop occassionally.

Do I have to buy a distribution panel or is there a simpler cheaper option.

Sorry if this has been discussed somewhere else.


cheers
Craig

niloc1951

chealy74 wrote: »

Hi
I had a check around the internet and the forum but having trouble finding the info I need.
Basically I have purchased the relay and second battery, I understand the concept of how this setup works but not to sure what the next stage should be ie cabling from the relay to my internal lights.
I do not require anything fancy just want to run a 12v strip light and maybe wire in an inverter for charging phones and a laptop occassionally.

Do I have to buy a distribution panel or is there a simpler cheaper option.

Sorry if this has been discussed somewhere else.


cheers
Craig

The relay goes between the starter battery (vehicle battery) and the second battery (habitation battery). Its purpose is to only connect the two when the alternator is charging to enable the habitation battery receive a charge, when the alternator stops charging the relay should 'drop out' thereby isolating the habitation battery from the vehicle battery so that the habitation stuff will not run down the vehicle battery and leave you stranded.
All habitation equipment (lights, phone chargers, water pump, radio, tv, etc. etc.) should be connected directly to the habitation battery.
A voltmeter should be connected into the habitation circuit so you can see the battery condition.
AND, don't forget about the fuses.

In a nutshell it can be as basic as that.

chealy74

Thanks for replying, so all I need to do for my lights is connect my + and - directly to the + - of the battery with a couple of fuses for safety?
If so cheers for the info..

Buford T Justice

chealy74 wrote: »

Thanks for replying, so all I need to do for my lights is connect my + and - directly to the + - of the battery with a couple of fuses for safety?
If so cheers for the info..

Basically yes, but depending on how you want to control them etc.... will depend on how elaborate the wiring will be. Make sure you use fuses everywhere and use a split charge relay between the two batteries, controlled by the alternator.

chealy74

Thats great so I only have to but a couple of mtrs of cable and a few fuses..

cheers

spaceHopper

chealy74 wrote: »

Thats great so I only have to but a couple of mtrs of cable and a few fuses..

cheers

Make sure you use good heavy cable with low resistance, if the resistance is to high you will losse voltage and power in the cable. Over spec it

I would invest on a small fuse box. They are about fiver from your local auto factor. Then just run bunch of small cables from + pole of your leisure battery to the fuse box or one beefier one that branches close to the fuse box.

Kind of like this but not so messy :

Click

Just make sure there's a master fuse near the battery.

chealy74

Thanks for the info on this will give it a try once I get everything together for the final push to finish the van.
Would anybody know where I could get a cheap camping gaz container, one of the smaller ones I think their 2.5kg.

chealy74

Also I will be rebuilding the kitchen cupboards so I can incorporate the cooker and sink, is it legally required that you can only access the gas canister externally? I was thinking to build a sealed unit with an external floor vent that could be accessed internally as don't really want to cut a small access door in the outer van.

cheers

spaceHopper

chealy74 wrote: »

Thanks for the info on this will give it a try once I get everything together for the final push to finish the van.
Would anybody know where I could get a cheap camping gaz container, one of the smaller ones I think their 2.5kg.

I've gotten three of the 2.75 kg ones from the bring center at ballyboden in dublin but any big bring center will probably get them from time to time. Then refils are 20 euros, I always carry two one in use and one full