Progress Update

[Mrbolly]

The last week or two have been productive on several fronts. Internally I have finished putting in the woodwork which will carry the ceiling material. The 240volt cables were dragged through from the control cupboard, this was done some time ago but I finished securing the canbles to ensure there cannot be any vibration or chaffing etc. once we are on the road. I finished dragging all the low voltage cabling and control circuits also today to ensureI have everything I need at the rear and just for shuts and giggles, I added 5 extra wires in case.

I plan to run the vehicle outside during the coming week so I can hose lots of water onto the roof and then check for water leaks before theinsulation goes in and the ceiling material is installed.

The air conditioner system was plumbed, vacuumed down and the gas released etc. leak testing showed it was all tight so we ran the system on shore power for the test. The piping and control wiring from the bin to the ceiling were built in and secured to minimise any vibration once on the road. I was very impressed with how quiet the whole Fujitsu equipment is, in fact while running the system, I had to open a window so I could hear the condenser unit running down in the bin area. I think this was further helped as I have rubber mounted the condenser unit to ensure that any vibration is not transferred to the chassis.

I acquired rolls of the air cell insulation during the week ready to install. I also ordered the multipanel for the ceiling and walls etc.

You may have noticed in previous photos I have posted, the bus is painted plain white. The plan is to have some minimal colour on the big unbroken areas on either side and on the rear. I had the scissor lift parked at the rear of the vehicle this week and decided to do a Michaelangelo painting to break up the mass of white. Of course my friend the signwriter might be more than a little miffed at me claiming the credit for his work though

IMG_1307.JPG

By far the most exciting achievement this week was the commissioning of the battery and control system, inverter and solar charge controller etc. I have used Victron equipment in terms of charge controller and inverter, both of which needed configuration to work with the Lithium battery. The batteries were installed in their carrier long ago and the solar was all connected weeks ago and was delivering power, albeit small amounts because the vehicle was inside the factory. I had kept the solar input isolated until the charge controller was configured for the LIFEP04 battery. All the configuration done, cabling checked for the umpteenth time, take a breath and start turning things on. Turn on the solar isolator switches and power flows into the controller and through to the battery. Turn on the 12 v system and ditto. Turn on the inverter and surprise surprise, no smoke!! Time for a 240volt test, turn on the main switch and the Isolator for the A/C system and the evaporator in the main area starts up and quickly starts pumping out cold air. This is hardly a challenge for the inverter so I decide to turn on the A/C for the driver's compartment to load it up further, still no challenge but it allows me to consume some power from the battery so we can test the charging circuits from the inverter and input from the solar array. Once I have connected some shore power, the whole system has now been commissioned and tested, time for a whiskey to celebrate!,

So, a productive week, it was nice to see everything work as intended and no sparks or smoke.

Cheers, Alan

[BernieQ2]

Good stuff Alan , makes you feel good when it all comes together A mate.
Bernie .

[Mrbolly]

Good stuff Alan , makes you feel good when it all comes together A mate.
Bernie .

Sure does Bernie, and the whiskey went down well too

[BruceS]

Well done Alan!!
Won't be long now you can get out there and enjoy your work!
Is that spotlight up on the rear / top legal?
Might get away with it now days but it used to be a cop magnet years ago.

[Mrbolly]

Well done Alan!!
Won't be long now you can get out there and enjoy your work!
Is that spotlight up on the rear / top legal?
Might get away with it now days but it used to be a cop magnet years ago.

It is a reversing light and can only be turned on when the vehicle is in reverse, o I think it is good Bruce

[Busman]

We ran 3 x 13 core cables to the rear, very quickly found they were not enough, so I doubt you have enough spares. We have now added 3 x 7 core trailer cable as well.

[Dot]

Nice work Alan

[Mrbolly]

We ran 3 x 13 core cables to the rear, very quickly found they were not enough, so I doubt you have enough spares. We have now added 3 x 7 core trailer cable as well.

Those spares were just in the ceiling after I had allowed for everything I could think of that I needed to control on the roof or in the ceiling for now. The main bunch of cables to the rear run through the old aisle and there are plenty there with a bunch of spares there also. I have also installed a string pull system from the front tothe rear of the aisle for future need, and I don't doubt it will be used! As you know, there will always be a need for something else.

[Mrbolly]

Nice work Alan

Thanks Dot

[bagmaker]

Great work Alan, looks fine!
Is the artwork brushed on or a sticker?