Fiat Ducato camper build

05-12-2020 1:55am

Thru bolting? Wherever possible I fit roof bars and bolt the panel to standard PV rail with standard clamps bolted to the roof-bars.

60 Cell! Noice. What controller are you running it on dare I ask?

Sorry I've been buying all the bargain MorningStar MPPTs that turned up over the last few weeks.

05-12-2020 2:01am

If yer open skylights cast shadows on the panel it'll stop it from working. Park awning side towards the sun and I generally fit the fridge the opposite side to take advantage of the cooler air intake.

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 2:05am

Roof rails aren’t an option for us because of the awning. The curve of the roof limited our options a bit too. It’s solid as frig and held down by 8 separate brackets though so no worries there.

You won’t like the controller

05-12-2020 2:06am

Buford T Justice wrote: »

What kelvin is the LED strip you used?

Here decent quality high density very bright 2700°K. Get some cheap trunking for it with a milky diffuser.

05-12-2020 2:11am

colm_mcm wrote: »

Roof rails aren’t an option for us because of the awning. The curve of the roof limited our options a bit too. It’s solid as frig and held down by 8 separate brackets though so no worries there.

It's the leaks I worry about more.
I knew you'd say that. I mount the awning to the rails/rack too.

{EDIT} looks like there's no other option, yer roof doesn't seem to have any friendly clamping facility...

colm_mcm wrote: »

You won’t like the controller

I figured it'd be the same colour as the rest.

Well if the hydrometer reads 1.28 after 2 weeks on float then it's a good one. If not what it does read is the disparity between that and a high end one.
Rubber meets the road and all that...
I never trust a charger until it's proven. You'd be surprised how bad some are...

05-12-2020 2:15am

Actually, watch the awning doesn't give you a longitudinal shadow too or it'll derate the panel 50%. It'd be better to have the panel flush with the top of the awning. You'd be amazed how a tiny shadow can decimate the output. I'd recommend fitting a decent battery monitor too, one with Ah counting and instantaneous power readings. Invaluable tool.

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 2:45am

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

It's the leaks I worry about more.
I knew you'd say that. I mount the awning to the rails/rack too.

{EDIT} looks like there's no other option, yer roof doesn't seem to have any friendly clamping facility...

I figured it'd be the same colour as the rest.

Well if the hydrometer reads 1.28 after 2 weeks on float then it's a good one. If not what it does read is the disparity between that and a high end one.
Rubber meets the road and all that...
I never trust a charger until it's proven. You'd be surprised how bad some are...

The brackets are all sealed up so I can’t see there being issues with leaks. We used Wurth K&D which is brilliant stuff.

Ref the controller, it’s a Victron, think it’s a Smart Solar. The one with Bluetooth anyway.

We didn’t strictly need solar in the first place but the panel came in pretty reasonable, so the setup will definitely exceed what we need it to do.

05-12-2020 10:27am

You can always fiberglass over the brackets if there is. I just habitually hate drilling rooves.

Them blue boxes are very popular for the Bluetooth alright. Not very many of their customers have hydrometers, or open-cell batteries for that matter. At least they have BT temperature sensors these days. They must work better than the internally stifled ticky box ones that they used to sport.
I've had a few of their products...could do worse could do better...

ratracer · 05-12-2020 11:30am

You must be nearly finished now colm?

This has been a great thread, the standard of work ye have put in is superb! Hope the Covid f**k’s off soon, and that ye get many happy miles/ events/ festivals in it!!

Some day I’m gonna try something similar, so will be book marking this for reference!!

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 2:05pm

I’d say we are around 80% finished.
Still got all the plumbing to do, toilet/shower room is missing a wall, water heater not installed

There’s still a bit left, but it’s really just fitting parts rather than head scratching and planning.

The weather and short days rather than COVID are the biggest problems.

05-12-2020 5:38pm

Don't forget the battery monitor.

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 8:14pm

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Don't forget the battery monitor.

I think the CBE control panel does all that?

05-12-2020 8:28pm

Nah that's just a voltmeter and tank level sensor display.

Hard to find a decent battery monitor besides. I've chucked €300 meters in the bin beside €25 meters.
The one I linked to is exceptionally good for the price. You'd be looking at €250 for a better one.

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 8:36pm

What is that going to do for me though?

Not too up on these things.

05-12-2020 9:12pm

Battery fuel gauge.

Tells you if you chargers are working & how hard, or you left an appliance on or there's bird poo on the solar panel or that blue boxes aren't meeting specification etc..

colm_mcm · 05-12-2020 11:03pm

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Battery fuel gauge.

Tells you if you chargers are working & how hard, or you left an appliance on or there's bird poo on the solar panel or that blue boxes aren't meeting specification etc..

Won’t the Victron app show all that though?

06-12-2020 1:50am

Nope that's just going to show you the solar aspect. Solar input and LVD loads if it has any..beside I always find it a good idea to have independent metering that can't produce favourable results of the product it's metering. Of course, the victron charger will say it's charged the battery, a hydrometer won't though.
I don't know much about the app, I tried their chargers, meters and inverters and you can't fix those with an app. so I stopped buying their stuff. If it is giving battery SOC info then it'll be contrived/inferred based on voltage because it's not a shunted system so rather inaccurate and whimsical.

The battery monitor measures everything in and out of the battery and expresses it as a percentage. You can see running load and charge as well as the actual calculated reserve level.

06-12-2020 10:03pm

I had a look at that blue box manual, there's a lottov features alright.

The tail current one is of the most interest. If you set that to the minimum non-zero value possible then it ought to charge pretty well.
The internal temperature sensor doesn't work, the BT one is not that expensive. I would hope it's real-time feedback instead of a once a day reference it's a pretty important feature.

colm_mcm · 07-12-2020 1:53pm

The main idea of using the app on the Victron was to minimise the amount of dials and panels in the van, trying to keep it as clean as possible.
We will see how we get on with that and whatever info the CBE panel gives for now.

07-12-2020 2:05pm

I never got this app thing nor these digital light bulbs. Can't lose a switch that's wired to the wall and it not moving is a good thing imo.

I'm a bittova luddite sometimes. New doesn't impress me as much as proven reliability.

colm_mcm · 07-12-2020 2:12pm

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

I never got this app thing nor these digital light bulbs. Can't lose a switch that's wired to the wall and it not moving is a good thing imo.

I'm a bittova luddite sometimes. New doesn't impress me as much as proven reliability.

I’d agree with you about the light bulbs anyway!

07-12-2020 2:19pm

colm_mcm · 07-12-2020 6:59pm

Rowley Birkin QC · 11-12-2020 7:28pm

Looks a great build Colm. Re: lights, are they LED strips that allow you to adjust the colour of the light?

I went all in on Philips Hue stuff a while back and it really makes a difference in a small space like that to be able to change the light. My sister got a cheaper version on Amazon recently that seems a good, budget, alternative as the Hue stuff is pricey. Well wear though, looks class!

colm_mcm · 11-12-2020 8:44pm

They’re just standard LEDs.

The main ones dim, so that’s enough for us!

colm_mcm · 12-12-2020 12:40pm

Got this magnetic button for the service door.

Keeps the door open

Still a good bit to do here

Buford T Justice · 15-12-2020 3:05am

Have you a solution for privacy from the cab windows?

colm_mcm · 15-12-2020 8:06pm

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Have you a solution for privacy from the cab windows?

Thermal blinds that stuck in with sucker yokes. They do them for the Transit too.

colm_mcm · 21-02-2021 6:21pm

Little bit more progress today

Still a bit of adjustment to do here and there on the kitchen drawers - but happy overall.

colm_mcm · 21-02-2021 6:22pm

These arrived a while ago too. Kilometre-only dials with white background. A nice upgrade from the standard ones.

colm_mcm · 28-02-2021 7:25pm

Bit more messing with the kitchen, fixed the gaps, fitted the latches
Also did the curved ply bit under the false floor

Made a start on the wall behind the kitchen too

Buford T Justice · 05-03-2021 12:10am

colm_mcm wrote: »

Finally got the drawers for the kitchen

Are those drawers standard sizes or did you cut them down. Are they like ikea drawers?

colm_mcm · 05-03-2021 12:45pm

They’re standard IKEA drawers, called Maximera 37cm deep.
They’re rebranded Blum parts.

You get them in various heights too, get the highest type you can to fill a particular gap. The top bars are adjustable too so if your front is slightly off square you can correct it.

Here is our parts list, we got a few dividers and side panels that weren’t essential.

Buford T Justice · 05-03-2021 3:28pm

Thanks for that. Seems ikea is a no go for a while, even at that they want 75 squid for delivery. Ouch

colm_mcm · 05-03-2021 4:17pm

www.fff.ie/tandembox

This is the Blum branded version. Not sure what the price difference would be.

This stuff is universal anyway, I know B&Q and Woodies and I guess anybody who does flatpack kitchens can sell you similar.

colm_mcm · 06-03-2021 10:18pm

Added in the shower mixer and outlet.
Trickier than you’d think because the outlet needs to go on after the plastic board which covers the plywood.
I wanted the angle on the outlet to be perfectly vertical which led to some challenges but I got there eventually.

I made so many holes in the original panel that I just cut a new one altogether.

Still a lot to do here.

07-03-2021 12:21am

Put two drain holes in the shower tray so when you park at an angle it'll still drain.

colm_mcm · 07-03-2021 12:51am

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Put two drain holes in the shower tray so when you park at an angle it'll still drain.

Good thinking

Might be a problem doing that because of where the tank sits, but if it can be done then it makes total sense.

colm_mcm · 07-03-2021 5:26pm

More done on the toilet/shower

colm_mcm · 14-03-2021 8:18pm

Boring tricky stuff today.

First job is to figure out the hole in the side of the van for the Truma water heater. There are a lot of things to take into account, like the angle of the van wall vs the angle of the heater manifold.
I made a small frame taking the contour of the van into account. Thankfully the sliding door made a handy template for this

The red line shows where the metal plate for the heater will sit.

Frame in. Thank god it’s actually lining up with the heater

Heater will sit like this

colm_mcm · 14-03-2021 8:20pm

I also fitted one of the tambour doors and a support for the bed frame.
The support is an IKEA kitchen cabinet hanger I’ve been keeping for about 9 years..
This will be faced with the same laminated birch ply as is on the cabinet doors.

This is kind of a test fit. I’ll use this as a template to make it nicer.

eu671907 · 15-03-2021 12:49am

Great, professional work!!! Thank you for this post. Can't wait for a short video when is finish.

colm_mcm · 21-03-2021 8:26pm

As planned, I tidied up the tambour door, made a new stronger frame

Had these furniture grub-screws left over from various IKEA packages. Very handy as I can’t go all the way through the board, and they’re very strong.

Ran the gas line to the kitchen as well, and have clips ready for the hot/cold pipes.

colm_mcm · 22-03-2021 4:07pm

Some more progress made today,

not by me thank god. I’m not afraid of a lot of things, but making holes in the sides of vans is one.

colm_mcm · 27-03-2021 8:10pm

Added a door under the fridge

Also added the finisher piece over the tambour door. There’s an aluminium trim to go on the top of that which I haven’t got yet.

We’re getting there..

Quazzie · 29-03-2021 11:36am

I've no idea if that's a mirror on the "fridge" or if the fridge isn't there at all

colm_mcm · 29-03-2021 11:42am

It looks like that alright

Can assure you it’s there!

Old photo

BonnieSituation · 29-03-2021 3:54pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

It looks like that alright

Can assure you it’s there!

Old photo

Best check for raptors

colm_mcm · 02-04-2021 7:34pm

Did a bit more on the bed

Still need to edge that panel.

More to come.

Fiat Ducato camper build

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