Stealth Mains Hook Up

[MattyBigNose]

Completed my own mains install at the weekend and took photos to post in the hope it may help others.

I was inspired by a T4 featured in VW Camper and Bus where the mains hook up was mounted behind the rear fog light as I am keen to keep my side panels free of holes/flaps etc. Mine is a Caravelle with 'minimalist' interior - i.e. a full width RnR bed and not much else.

Anyway, I will describe as best I can:

I used:
- A 20m pre-wired hook up / extension lead with integral RCB - available from caravan/camping shops £45
- A male plug end £2.50
- A female plug end £2.50

Hook Up 1.jpg

- Some extra 1.5mm twin and earth, approx 3m
- A polyurethane grommet to prevent cable chafing on single drilled hole

After some head scratching I decided to mount my sockets and RCB on the rear seat kick board. I'll be installing a new board soon so for now have left the extn lead box correctly wired but loose under the seat.

I then ran approx 3m of cable from this up behind the drivers side interior panel below the level of the rear seat (careful not to foul the RnR bed mechanism). There is then loads of room to run the cable up and along behind the boot side panel under the rear washer reservior.

Hook Up 2.jpg

From here I drilled through the most rearward vertical panel section (as low down as possible, avoiding welds) which leads through to the aperture behind the rear light cluster. By removing the rear light cluster I was able to pull the cable through and round to the engine bay.

Hook Up 3.jpg

I need to obtain a suitably sturdy clip/bracket to secure the (female) end socket within the engine bay so for now have stored this end behind the rear light. I was surprised how much space there is in this area and don't think I've fouled anything important by using it in this way (water cooled engine - does this make a difference?).

I then wired the new male plug to the end of the original extension cable in place of the sockets/RCB to give me 20m of reach when plugged in.

For what it's worth the extension lead that I used came pre-wired with 1.5mm twin and earth and I used the same for the wiring within the van.

[pocolow]

How do you propose to connect to the outside power hook up at campsites, since your connector is inside the van??

[gti mad man]

if i had to add one it would go on the oil water rear flaap

[3rustateers]

Glad to have given you the inspiration to do it. The dirrerence with the T4 is that the fog light just flicks out, but I'm sure you'll come up with your own solution to that

[MattyBigNose]

Sorry for the delayed response - we've been away for a while.

In answer to Pocolow - the plug end of the cable is accessible from the engine oil/water access flap which (almost) closes quite neatly when the cable is in use.

Rustateers - nice van and thanks for the post.

Matt

[Mocki]

From here I drilled through the most rearward vertical panel section (as low down as possible, avoiding welds) which leads through to the aperture behind the rear light cluster.

i hope you used grommets in those drilled holes, or vibration couldchafe through the insulation.

mine was mounted like this

[MattyBigNose]

Grommets yes.

Fancy mounting on the inspection door no. Not yet anyway...