1Coolbanana's Grande Build Up

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Time to install the Thumper power charger for the cargo area duties.
I chose this unit because its small, its light, its good for 50 amps and it means I dont have to carry the weight of a dual battery setup in the engine bay for the other 11 months of the year that I dont need it.
This unit seems like it should be plenty sufficient for the charging and camping duties.

This is the engine bay unit, but Ive made up a new harness and included and inline 60 amp glass fuse.



Were to mount it and what to trigger it off was the next step.
The trigger point needs to be an ignition on power trigger and thanks to Rusty 62's suggestion, in the fuse box, where there should be a relay marked IGN I found the one.
Threading the trigger wire through the holes and out the bottom.



I wasnt happy with the area around the extra fuse box so that all came out and redid some of it.



Wasnt keen on where all the earth leads joined so made a small bus bar for all the negs

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Tidied up the rear fuse panel and decided to mount the Thumper isolator.

Mounting the box itself was easy, double sided tape and cable ties and it fits perfectly on the side of the charcoal cannister.





Get the back started by running the cable from the engine bay to the rear and come out in the left rear quarter storage compartment



And through the tray

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Left the extra cable in the tray so it could be used as an extension to the Anderson plug if ever needed.
All tests good.....Sweet!



Finished product, 50 Amp Anderson plug in the back

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

Nice neat install Marc

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Very tidy wiring job there Marc... Nice...

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Epic Fail

Now for the epic fail

Bought this on ebay with the though of using it for the fridge and camp lights and what I was fitting the thumper charger for.

It has buggered batteries but thats cool, can replace them for a couple hundred bucks and its even got a 600 W inverter built in.





I had no idea it was going to be SO BIG!!!!!!



Its not going to work for me, it just wont fit in with what Im planning to do with the cargo area.
Suit a bigger vehicle or camper trailer or according to the sticker on it, jump start up to an 8 litre diesel!!

So its got to go and I will come up with something else, most likely a battery in a box with an Anderson plug for charging and a couple of cigarette lighter socket to power the fridge etc.

Anyway, anybody want it, its in the For Sale section!

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

After all the work you put in that sucks mate But you should be able to get a battery in a box that will do what you want.

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After all the work you put in that sucks mate But you should be able to get a battery in a box that will do what you want.

Eh.....You win some, you lose some!
Seemed like a good idea at the time but I just had no idea it was that big.

No huge deal, it only cost $71 for big Bertha.

A generic small battery box will do the trick, Ill just have to fit it with and Anderson for charging and a couple of cigi sockets for everything else.

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I like this idea...

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

The transfer and auto breather proved to be a royal pain to get to so while it was up on a hoist I got the guy to extend the tubes into the engine bay so I could finish them off properly.

Hey Marc, What size tubing did they use for the transfer and auto breathers?

Plus, do you know how long the tubes are for the transfer, auto and front diff extension (so that I can go and buy it)?

Cheers mate

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Hi Barry
For the auto and transfer it looks like they used 3/16 which is really too small, it really looks a couple sizes too small for the barbs at the top (filter end) and it should be at least 1/4 or even 5/16 by the looks.
I dont know what the fittings are at the auto and transfer case end so maybe thats why they used 3/16".
I would not have done it like that but its done so.............
Im guessing 2-3 m will be plenty.

The front diff breather is already up by the fuse box so used a 5/16 elbow and 5/16 fuel line, about 75cm worth I think and took it to the far rear, top left corner behind the strut.

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Thanks Marc, I read your install for the front one so knew what you used for that. Noting your comment on the others I think I will get the 5/16 for the front diff and try it for size on the others - you may be right on why they used thinner hose.

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Just re-found the diff breather thread and that says 1/4" for the gearbox and 1/8" for the transfer. I think I will still remove it and check though. I was just trying to get out of crawling underneath twice

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I got started on the cargo area and rear battery setup this week
Heres the false floor I made up to tie everything down to.

Learning new skills everyday!



Been looking for a suitable "container" for my rear batteries.
Ive been looking everywhere and the generic battery boxes are just the wrong shape and just too big, especially with those silly lids.
It needed to fit neatly behind the fridge and I dont want it rubbing on the back of the back seat.
So, Ive been looking around and finally came up with this.



A $12 Bunnings toolbox which is exactly the right dimensions for what I want to do.

This is how it went.

Fitted up and wired the 2 x 40 Ah deep cycle batteries, Anderson plug for charging, 2 x 12 volt cigi sockets for the fridge and other camp duties and the Ctek charging plug in the top.
Using some cardboard packing temporarily to work out the sizes for the foam so theres no rattles and everything is tight and secure in the box.



Left 12 volt Baitech socket for the fridge and Anderson for charging

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Very neat padding