Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 20:42:56 +0100
Reply-To: Justin Pentecost <justin@KRASS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Justin Pentecost <justin@KRASS.COM>
Subject: Ac/Dc van Electric
In-Reply-To: <003b01beaebc$008a4960$3302ebd0@p166>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The has been some talk here about Invertors and their use in Transporters.
I use my T3 for work and have done some substancial conversion for this.
Here is a repost from another Mailing list describing what I did. Btw The
coffee machine is a 24V unit made for trucks and the wireing is aranged in
such a way that two of the batteries can be isolated and push out 24V.
The 4pin and 5pin sockets refered to are Cannon type ones.
>Hello CML :)
>
> Jim ... I know your problem. I sort of have had the same problem ever
since I started in the camera department. If you have some sort of
vehicle then it's easy (in fact easier for you than for me). For various
reasons I have done conversions to both of my vehicles to overcome this
problem. Basically because I am a geek and because I want to show off I
will give you the run down on the mod's done to both of them :)
>
>VW Transporter bus (T3) (I think this is called a Vanagon in North America)
>
> 240AH leisure battery (4x60ah units) charged from a split charge relay
and via the alternator (note this does not do the regular 35Amp alternator
any good at all it has to work far too hard eventually it will pass out
what you need is the 110Amp one for ambulances, I hold one in the bus but
I will not get rid of the old one till it's dead I've been abusing it for a
year so far and it hasn't failed yet).
> This battery powers everything in the bus not used for starting the
motor. Hence you can leave the lights on, the radio etc etc (also filter
coffee machine :) There are two invertors in the back of the bus one for
110V and one for 240V each a very modest 300W. These are independently
switched so as not to drain the battery. Also there are 4pin 12V sockets
and 5pin 12V sockets for any electronic equipment you wish to run. The
bus also has a 240V (blue) Cform inlet so it can be hooked up to a genny
(the 240V and 110V sockets then become direct and not via the invertors)
also the batteries charge at 10AH from the mains. Also there is a 2KW fan
heater that heats the interior of the bus from the generator. I really
like this system because it means you never have to hassle the electricians
for a feed. Also it means I get proper coffee whereever I am.
>
> There are however problems. One is that people book me because I have a
bus as opposed to because I am me. I am a focus puller not a lorry driver
so I have got a wonderfull guy called Ru to take it out for me he doesn't
mind being booked because he has the bus (he is also a very good clapper
loader as well but the bus helps him out).
>
>The other is that it really hovers up the petrol knocking about 3-5 MPG
off what you would normally get. Which makes this kind of electricity
very expensive given the price of petrol in Europe.
>
> As a long term solution to remote power problems it's great. But
requires a little investment and alot of time.
>
>The other solution we use in our 4WD camera truck. We have a 60AH
leisure battery in a battery box with a 4PIN plug and socket on it. A
lead which goes to the Cigar lighter terminated in a 4pin plug and an
invertor with a four pin plug.
>while the engine is running you plug the 60AH battery into the cigar
lighter. You can then take this battery anywhere with the invertor and
charge your nicads there.
>
>Justin "Kill Toshiba" Pentecost
>
Email:-jpentecost@easynet.co.uk Tel:- +44 (0)20 78-37-84-70
Fax:- +44 (0)20 72-78-78-38 Mobile:- +44 (0)7973 317 241
Snail Mail:- The Red Door, The Old Motorail Terminal, Cheney Rd, Kings
Cross, London, NW1 2TF,United Kingdom
| 
