Installing rear power to the Prado

[Big Fella Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Big Fella]

Now to answer your cable lug dilemma, the types of lugs that big fella has used are what I would use, to correctly attach these lugs you need a professional hydraulic crimping tool which are great but for the DIY bloke/girl you can use a good quality flux cored solder and a butane torch with a pencil flame directed at the lug base so that the heat dissipates into the copper wire and lug then apply the solder until it has run well into the copper wire and do not allow the flame to impinge on the solder let it cool a Walla there you have it.

To finish the job correctly I then use colour coded heat shrink and seal the lug and wire insulation interface. One must remember to thread the heat shrink on the wire cable before attaching lugs ops: .

Hi Clifton,

Yeah I know I sould have used solder and a pencil flame torch, but seeing as I have solder and no torch I thought I would give the crimper a crack. I tried pulling it out when I bolted it to a vice and it didn't budge so I was happy. As you say put the heat shrink on first and then it looks like a top notch job. I have done wiring on my old 90 series and it was crap to say the least.

After spending time looking at all the top jobs you guys did out there, I had to lift my game. So I would like to thank everyone who has done similar jobs with pics and posted them. This is truly a great resource forum.

[steve120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close steve120]

Agree with all that Clifton said...

In addition - if you plan on running a fridge, the instructions that came with my Engel suggested that you run a dedicated earth wire along with the power wire and to twist the two together. It's supposed to suppress RF interference from the fridge motor. So I ran a dedicated 8 B&S power and earth as a twisted pair.

(Me supplying a random number of twists is probably dubious science though. Someone with more RF knowledge than me might be able to help with the theory behind twisted pairs - but I imagine that the number of twists should have somehow related to the frequency of the interference :?: )

So the benefit in terms of interference reduction is a bit of an unknown, since I didn't try it without the earth return to compare. But at least I know I have a good earth direct from the 2nd battery.

P.S.
The lugs are also available at Repco (Navara part # 57120 suits 8 B&S wire with 6mm stud hole, or 57121 for 8 B&S with 8mm stud hole)
http://www.narva.com.au/Terminals_11.html

Happy and safe Christmas and New Year to all.

Cheers...Steve

[Big Fella Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Big Fella]

Steve,

I remember reading about the twisted wires after I installed the wiring in the 90 series, then I bought the Engel. I had no RF interference that could be heard in my car or the other cars. So I felt that I did not need to worry about twisting the cables on this car. I also remember having interference with my old AM CB in my first Hilux. I am thinking of running a 'large' dedicated earth to the battery. I will have to see what wire I can get to do this.

Also on my Engel harness there is an earth on the power line (expected) but there is also one on the earth line. Is there a technical reason for this?

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Here is a link to some good articles written by Val Rigoli.

HERE

[Ian Rogers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Rogers]

Hi Guys

I was inspired by BigFella's post - it gave me the courage to do things like lift the door sills, poke around behind interior trim and push cable through the firewall. It was all too easy in the end. I ran 2 x 10 square mm cables (dedicated earth) and installed a 60 amp circuit breaker next to the aux battery in the engine bay. I used a Merit plug and socket for my Waeco 40 litre fridge. I measured the voltage drop to be 0.01 volts!

Ian R

[clifton Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close clifton]

All good Ian, Merry Christmas

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Hi Ian,
Did you measure the voltage drop under load?
If not, when the fridge is cycling, test the voltage at the plug then.
You wont get an accurate figure if you dont have it under load.
cheers
Les

[Ian Rogers Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Rogers]

Les,

You are right of course and the real answer is a voltage drop of 0.19 volts when the fridge is at its maximum setting. Is this acceptable in your experience? Fridge seems to be running well and the cables all the way from the battery to the fridge are cool to touch.

Ian R

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Hi Ian, mate that sounds pretty spot on to me, in fact couldnt be better.
Well done old son.

[Big Fella Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Big Fella]

Well some more time has passed and some more mods have now been done the ORS Drawers are in. I have mostly finished off the distribution box and have now installed the inverter. Here are some pics:

Distribution box in its hiddy hole


Close up of distribution box


Inverter bolted to side of ORS Drawers

[Addy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Addy]

All this makes me want to attempt this and a dual battery setup myself but i would only be following what you guys have done and not understand what everthing is doing.

So my point is where can i get information be it a book or on the web that explains 12volt systems in laymans terms, or as always i will end up paying someone to do it.

[Crammy Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crammy]

Re: Installing rear power to the Prado

Nice work Big Fella. That stud does look rather crowded... You can always put them in one lug if you need more room. A 35mm2 lug should do it.

Also if you're after crimpers for a one off, electrical wholesalers sometimes hire them out.

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

All this makes me want to attempt this and a dual battery setup myself but i would only be following what you guys have done and not understand what everthing is doing.

So my point is where can i get information be it a book or on the web that explains 12volt systems in laymans terms, or as always i will end up paying someone to do it.

Hi addy, here is a sheetload of articles you can bury yaself in. Read them and when you are finished, you will understand 12 volts mate.
Clicky Here

[Addy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Addy]

All this makes me want to attempt this and a dual battery setup myself but i would only be following what you guys have done and not understand what everthing is doing.

So my point is where can i get information be it a book or on the web that explains 12volt systems in laymans terms, or as always i will end up paying someone to do it.

Hi addy, here is a sheetload of articles you can bury yaself in. Read them and when you are finished, you will understand 12 volts mate.
Clicky Here

Thanks Les

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

Re: Installing rear power to the Prado

Nice work Big Fella. That stud does look rather crowded... You can always put them in one lug if you need more room. A 35mm2 lug should do it.

Also if you're after crimpers for a one off, electrical wholesalers sometimes hire them out.

What about one of these (the one on the left), it gives you several positions to attach extras too. They are available from ABR

http://www.sidewinder.com.au/index.html