I was asked to post about my 12V wire problem here so,
While I was away recently I found that the 12V wire system provided in the Avan Camper was far from suitable to cope with good sized Solar Panels. I am wanting to set up 120watt Portable Solar Power Panels so I can do more free/alternative camping unfortunately the wire in the Avan Camper is like 3mm and really needs 6-8 mm wire to carry the current to charge the battery system properly. I am about to have all the wiring changed to suitable size wire and install a DC-DC Ctek Smart charger as well. My Prado needs to have suitable wire and a Anderson plug set up as well. Thanks to a couple of mates of mine qualified to do the work for me this will be done first week of January 2013. When finished I will be able to charge the Battery via 240V, Car or Solar Panels. I will also be able to have the fridge run on 12V properly via the car when Travelling, something that can't be done successfully now. Goodness when all this is finished I will be able to hook into a grid somehwere and sell the power to a power company
I have aslo installed a fan to the rear of the top fridge air vent to extract hot air on a hot day and that has improved the operation of the fridge now, thanks to a fellow GN for that.
I don't blame the manufacturer really as it is wired for all above but just not suitable for what or how I want, so the change is my choice I spose.
I will keep you updated as work progresses and the finished results, for those interested.
Have a great festive season all, and,
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
I was asked to post about my 12V wire problem here so,
While I was away recently I found that the 12V wire system provided in the Avan Camper was far from suitable to cope with good sized Solar Panels. I am wanting to set up 120watt Portable Solar Power Panels so I can do more free/alternative camping unfortunately the wire in the Avan Camper is like 3mm and really needs 6-8 mm wire to carry the current to charge the battery system properly. I am about to have all the wiring changed to suitable size wire and install a DC-DC Ctek Smart charger as well. My Prado needs to have suitable wire and a Anderson plug set up as well. Thanks to a couple of mates of mine qualified to do the work for me this will be done first week of January 2013. When finished I will be able to charge the Battery via 240V, Car or Solar Panels. I will also be able to have the fridge run on 12V properly via the car when Travelling, something that can't be done successfully now. Goodness when all this is finished I will be able to hook into a grid somehwere and sell the power to a power company
I have aslo installed a fan to the rear of the top fridge air vent to extract hot air on a hot day and that has improved the operation of the fridge now, thanks to a fellow GN for that.
I don't blame the manufacturer really as it is wired for all above but just not suitable for what or how I want, so the change is my choice I spose.
I will keep you updated as work progresses and the finished results, for those interested.
Have a great festive season all, and,
Hi Doug, thanks for the post on your Avan wiring upgrade.
Like you I am looking to instal a portable solar panel of sufficient size to provide as much charge as possible. My Avan has a Projecta 4300 regulator but I need some advice from forum members as I wonder if it is really going to handle an upgrade & like you my wiring within van is going to require upgrade. With the tug I run 6B&S (duel battery with Redarc isolator) & 2 Anderson plugs to towbar.
Will you run Anderson plug on caravan to solar panel to charge Avan battery?
G'Day Doug, I've done virtually the same as you propose on our Avan Cruiser - 100W folding solar panel connected via Anderson plug to house battery, fridge connected via Anderson plug to car with a relay in car which only supplies 12V when ignition is on to prevent draining car battery. I used pretty thick cable...don't know exact size but it is thick!. I noticed that with original cables to the fridge, voltage drop was such that 14.3Vdc at the car end finished up at about 11Vdc at the fridge end and cables were always warm. Haven't done the fan mod yet but that is next. Also noticed that for the rear stoplight and also other running lights that they've used those cheap clip-on connectors to connect another cable resulting in intermittent operation....will be replacing all those as well. Good Luck. Denis
