Making Haste Slowly . . .

While waiting for Sich to complete my cupboards for the interior fit-out I have been doing a few things at my place.
Both solar panels are now fitted and awaiting connection.
















I also discovered (the expensive way) that is a good idea to have a checklist of all the things to do before driving off . . .
No. 1 on the list is "Close the roof vents"!!!

Finally the rest of my electrical components have arrived from Victron in Holland and I can begin to install the electrical system. I am still waiting for the circuit diagrams from the local supplier for the system so I don't put things which belong together on different sides of the truck but there are a few major things whose position has been determined.

The main component of the whole system is the 24Vdc 5kW inverter / 120 amp charger called a Quattro ( I refer you to the Victron site for full details if you are interested).
This is mounted in a central position for all the wiring and switching but was a real bastard to actually fit into the space allocated for it. I just hope I don't need to take it out ever again.
As all the wiring goes in from the bottom and the air circulates via a fan in the bottom it has been raised up on a stand.





















Similarly on the opposite side of the truck an isolation transformer for the 240vAC has been fitted so that the required RCDs will function properly when connected to shore power.





















And because someone commented he other day that "all work and no play makes Silama a dull fellow" I decided to address that issue . . .

So the Prado I hated (purely prejudice I prefer Patrols ) was traded (before the new model is released and the second hand prices go down) and a new Commodore sedan ordered (prejudice again) and for the first time in my life I got some cash back.
So I just couldn't resist . . .
















Honda ST1100 (second hand but great condition).
The first 2000km has proved what a great bike it is . . . should have had one years ago.
Only pity is I won't be able to take it with me . . .

Home Furnishing . . .

I think some little time ago I mentioned that he air brakes leaked somewhat and that the truck needed to run for about 5 mins. each morning before it could be moved. There is certainly enough air for the brakes during normal driving but it's mildly annoying if you want a quick start after an overnight stop. A really easy thing to do was to replace some bleed valves in the tanks which showed some minor leaks when sprayed with soapy water.
















Easy, but not inexpensive at about $50 each . . . but it seems to have diminished the problem a bit (and every bit helps).
Some time ago I came across some very cheap mini-step ladders at about $30 each.





















I bought one which has turned out to be quite useful for that little extra bit of height on occasion. But lurking in the back of my mind was the problem of access stairs because of the significant height of the "house".
The construction was pretty basic but the actual treads were pressed and would be much lighter than I could fabricate.
So I bought another couple of sets and pulled them apart for the treads. A couple of side rails were drilled and the treads mounted at a slightly wider spacing to allow for the decreased angle at which I intended to use them.





















A couple of detachable support tubes were positioned off the mudguard support frame without too much trouble and the steps offered up.





















Not too bad. The angle works out about right and they are quite comfortable to walk up and down. They have been left overlong at the moment until I have worked out just how long they need to be to connect them comfortably.
















Next problem is the landing platform between the steps and the door entrance. This is needed as I want to run the steps alongside the truck rather than at right angles. This is so they can be used in tighter places and the truck can be used as a steadying hand hold while going up and down.
This has been bugging me for a couple of days. I can make "something" easily but it would be quite awkward to mount and then store while travelling and I don't want to to waste effort making stuff I will inevitably alter later.
Fortunately a friend dropping past to see how I was going has come up with what looks to be a great solution so that will be implemented ASAP.

In the mean time the truck is back from the upholsterer ...
How is it that in 24 hours from instruction to execution that so much information gets lost??
Never the less - after a few small issues were tidied up the overall result is quite satisfactory.




































Some cushions of a style (but not colour) which I think will work were temporarily purloined and placed in position.
A few minor size adjustments and I think they will do the trick!!
















I have delivered the wrought iron I am doing as a "contra" and can't wait to see the cupboards take shape.

I Pick the Worst Days !!

The start of the week was quit "balmy" in the mid 20's and with the air conditioner on it was quite pleasant in the "house".
The other side from the kitchen needed some squaring up and finishing off.
So the first piece of laminate was then "soudal"-ed in position with the appropriate cutout for the switch panel.





















The panel next to it was also fitted and cut out. The lower opening will have the "return air" grille for the air conditioner and the opening above will be a cupboard (use at this time not determined - but you can never have too much storage).





















That's it for the laminate except for the kitchen splash back which will be fitted over the sink/stove bench after that is installed.

So I decided to start on the "contra" for Sich while he organises the cupboards.

I'm doing some "wrought iron" work which is more in my line of metalwork but does require a lot of welding - so what happens - a string of 37deg. days with thunderstorms meaning 99% humidity. Just the thing while you're welding!!

So nothing much will happen for a week or so now while the cupboards are built elsewhere - but then (hopefully) dramatic advances!!

Dirty Diesel Done My Week . . .

"What a stupid place to breakdown!"

How many times have you heard that said about some poor individual stuck out in the middle of the road at rush hour?

Well that was me stuck in that stupid place .... (but it wasn't my choice!!).

A gradual loss of power meant that I could actually manoeuvre to the side of the road so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. But of course I wasn't carrying the usual breakdown tools - drills, glue and screws don't help that much. The essential ones however I did have - the mobile phone and a friend willing to bring me the correct ones.
I have never seen such a clogged fuel filter. An on the spot clean only managed to get me a further 500m down the road before it stopped again. So off to the truck dealer for a new one (and a couple of spares). The new one got me home again and didn't seem to collect any more "gunk" but I wasn't prepared to risk it again so both of the long range tanks were drained and inspected but not a drop more contamination was found.
"Ain't that always the way?"
So a couple of days wasted, a workshop covered in diesel fuel and a lesson learned.
Back to something more agreeable.

The bathroom handbasin mounting being prepared for laminating
















and all laminated - held on with contact, Soudal and masking tape.
















While waiting for all that to set and some ordered drawer slides to arrive I took the opportunity to make one of the under floor storage areas a little more accessible by adding some "handles" to get the lid up.
Details, details, details .....

































Still no draw slides so start in the kitchen area.
Add a few strengthening batons into the wall and secure the plumbing with a few extra brackets etc.





















Fit the wall panel and make some cutouts in case the plumbing needs attention at a later date - these will have panels covering them later.





















Test fit the melamine and make the corresponding cutouts





















and "glue" and fix it all in place.





















Sich and I are doing a number of swaps including I am doing some metalwork for him and he is making cupboards for me.
Hopefully some major progress in the near future !!

So What Happened to Last Week ???

I remember now.

Buying and selling real estate took up most of the week.

Not that I actually managed to accomplish it - most of the week was spent trying to prevent the Government criminals taking all they can lay their hands on!

I'm not getting into it here but I distinctly remember Stamp Duty as one of the taxes that was supposed to be reduced with the introduction of GST. The bureaucratic robbery that is taking place now because of poorly worded legislation is almost beyond belief. What I can't understand is how the politicians convince the public servants to become quite so predatory in their approach to assessment.

OK. OK. I know I said I wouldn't . . . .

So what did get done . . .

A little bit of preparatory work in the electrical department.
This motley collection of switches and dials is adjacent to the bathroom/toilet area - it seemed an appropriate place and was convenient to most of the things controlled or monitored. The problem lies in that each manufacturer supplies a completely different type of dial or switch.
Top Left - air conditioning
Top Right - light/fan in bathroom
Bottom Left - Water Tanks
Bottom Right - Hot Water System
(the toilet tank monitor is on the other side of the wall next to the toilet - I'm not sure what you are supposed to do if you forget to look at the monitor before you go - but it's going to be quite a dilemma sitting there looking at the red light that says the toilet tank is full and the system wont flush :) )
















On the other side of the wall however is integrated luxury.
Supposed to be the best that money can buy.
If there is one thing you need when deprived of all other luxuries is good toilet and bathing facilities.





















The camera is having a hard time focusing on all he white and chrome but hopefully you can make out the "el swisho" hardware. . .

From the other side it looks like this . . .





















The flexible plumbing pipe and push in fittings makes installation fairly easy without having to solder in all sorts of elbows etc..
This wall gets covered in when the kitchen is built (with the appropriate access holes cut in the back of the cupboards in case anything ever springs a leak).

A start has also been made on the handbasin which will be mounted in a drawer at the back of the toilet so it won't get in the way while sitting but can then be pulled out and used to wash one's hands. A bit esoteric I know but it makes best use of the room available.
In order to go back into place and not get in the way while being used the spigot can be raised and lowered for use and storage.
So UP
















and DOWN . . .
















I wasn't going to mount them until required but the solar panels started to get in the way while being stored (read "tucked in a corner") so I decided to mount them to get them out of the way.
















The mounting system seems a little bit primitive but I am assured that this is the way to do it.
An aluminium angle is riveted all along each side.
Apparently the panels need air circulation underneath so they have to be raised a bit.
It seems a little strange as the panel itself is maybe 15mm thick mounted in a special frame which is about 70mm high with mounting holes punched into the bottom edge???
If these mounting holes are meant to be used why not cut slots into the frame to allow air to circulate freely and also to allow access to the mounting holes which currently are on the "inside" of the frame and not accessible when the frame is mounted on a solid surface.
To obvious? I don't know! It's all beyond me . . .
































The whole thing is then lifted onto the roof and "Soudaled" in place and screwed down about every 100m. Unfortunately there were only about 3 or 4 places each side where the screws actually went into the steel frame but better than none at all.
I'm told that this will be plenty strong enough - but nobody is giving written guarantees . . .
















The suppliers of the electrical system will make the actual connections through the junction box previously mounted.

I couldn't resist putting meter across the connections while the panel was sitting on the bench about 10m from the open door.
27.9 Vdc quite impressive.
I'm not sure I understand it but by my calculations my fridges use about 1500watt.hr/day and the panels are rated 175watts. If they are out in reasonable sun for about 8hr/day that should be about 2800watt.hr max. from the two panels. But the experts tell me they won't keep the batteries fully charged - I know there are losses etc. and the Engels may be a bit "hungrier" than I expect but that 's quite a difference.
I guess I can only wait and see . . .