Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:02:32 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Internal 115V power
In-Reply-To: <4773588E.6030406@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Well john, with a breakaway feature, and a 'power on' indicator light I sure
think you have the 'safety bases' covered on that issue. I heartily
approve. But you really should get a real 'remove before flight' streamer
to attached to the power cord, just to make it triple unlikely to drive off
plugged in.
And a walk around pre-flight, I'm very impressed.
Do you also check warning light function ? I occasionally see vans with oil
lights not working, and the people have no idea as they just fire it up,
never checking that the warning lights cone on, then go off after lighting
it off.
Just made me think if that aerospace engineer type dude that put an actual
jet engine sticking out the back of a New Beetle. You've probably seen it
online. What a trip.
Now I'll bet that guy has some safety checks before firing that thing up !
Impressed with your preventative thinking. Rather rare I'd say
in the general automotive public. That's why tire pressure monitors are
required now in new cars. And even then people will drive with the warning
lights on I bet !!! ..............lol. oh well. Just so they don't loose
control and hit vanagons !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
John Rodgers
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 11:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Internal 115V power
Thanks Volks, for all the input.
I think I will stick to my original idea -
1) Cut an opening in the kick board under the edge of the rear seat.
2) Mount a steel receptacle box on the back side of the kick board.
3) String a long heavy duty cable from the box through the firewall
under the seat and through the engine compartment, clearing hot spots
and moving components, and securing the thing with ties.
4) Install grounding receptacles in the steel box, and fit a cover plate
over it to cover the box.
5) Wire in the cable to the receptacles.
6) Attach a three prong plug to the cable end by the rear hatch,
7) Secure the cable end to something at the rear service hatch using a tie.
All that would need doing then would be to open the oil service hatch a
bit, plug in the extension, and voila - power available inside the van.
Yes, there is a possibility of a drive off with extension attached, but
it should pull free from the plug on the end og the cable attached to
the van.
But for myself, I'm an old pilot who has done untold hundreds of
preflight checklists before beginning a flight. And I alway do one on my
van before driving anywhere. It is not likely - but is possible - to
miss disconnecting and driving off, so ease of breakaway is sort of
built in on this one.
The tail end of the cable can be long enough to hang out the hatch when
parked, yet tucked in when on the road. That should make breakaway
easy.But I just might install a red "Power On" light just to alert me
that the extension cord is still connected.
Thanks again for all the input.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
> I have periodic need to have internal 115/120 Volt power available
> inside my van, and I always wind up have to string an extension cord,
> leave a door or window cacked open for the cord access, etc. I'm
> thinking of installing a 4 gang receptacle under the rear seat, with a
> metal box under the seat and the receptacles themselves faceing out from
> under the seat. It would be mounted on that board that makes for the
> storage space under the seat. For wiring, a heavy cord would be wired
> into the receptacle and strung through a hole in the slanted firewall
> under the seat into the engine bay and strung across the top of the
> engine and the plug end would be tied off right at the rear service
> hatch opening. This would allow for simply plugging in an extension
> cable at the rear of the vehicle, eliminating all that other hassle.
>
> Just wondering if there are opinions as to better arrangements, or
> things to watch out for, cautions, etc.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
>
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