Auto-Electrician

[Oh Danny Boy]

Hi,
Has anyone used the services of an Auto-Electrician to work on the electrical side of their camper conversion? and if so, how much did it cost? or does anyone have a rough idea? (install and connect leisure battery, 240v & 12V sockets, interior lights, hook up, etc)
We will be doing our own interior conversion when our van arrives in 2 weeks, but will be leaving the electrical side of things to the pros. Would be grateful if anyone could give me a heads up on what we'd be looking at.
Many thanks,

[kevtherev]

You can buy a ready made hook up kit from tow sure...
As far as the split charge system goes it is very simple and the instructions are in the wiki ^^^^

routing the wires should be done before the interior goes in, so choose your lights and run the wires to the passenger seat first
I should imagine £40 per hour would be around the going rate for an auto electrician.. and the same for a domestic electrician for the 230V hook up

[Oh Danny Boy]

Thanks very much Kev. I have had a look in the wiki which was a good read, and it's given me a bit of an idea of whats involved. However, as for the actual installation i'd still be looking at getting a auto electrician to wire it all up - it's just too far out of my scope to attempt. If anyone can recommend anyone within a fair radius of Milton Keynes suitable for the job then please let me know.

Cheers

[el_kel1]

Auto sparks also have a DIY kit

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/product_inf ... ts_id=5013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't know how good it is but thinking of getting it myself.

[kevtherev]

Nice to see it all together
You could halve the cost if you sourced the 230 stuff yourself from an electrical factors and the hooky plug cfrom the caravan shop.


Towsure do this unit for £29

[lloydy]

could alway speak to discodave on here, he fits this sort of stuff. But it is relatively easy to do, sometimes you just have to have a go (then you go "bloody hell that was easy!"). Plenty of people on here to help with query's as your doing it.

[skint-van-man]

Im near MK and ive done van wiring before. Have emailed you with contact details!

Henry

[billybigspud]

just go for it. once you get going i think you might surprise yourself. it is easier than you think.

[Oh Danny Boy]

I did consider in giving it a go myself, or at least do part of the work myself, but i just have no idea where to start, and am very much nervous at the idea of doing more harm then good. I just have no experience unfortunately. I have taken a look in the wiki at the split charger schematic diagrams etc, have spent ages looking through the forum discussions - it's all really helpful - but i am really looking for a complete idiot/newbie guidline - a complete step by step breakdown of what is needed, what those things needed actually do (zig unit . inverter etc), and where they should/need to be situated in the van. Slightly clutching at straws, but does anyone know of a book thats been published that is relevant ? I'm mindful of not wanting to be a nuiscance coming on forums every 5 minutes asking people what might be stupid questions, thats why i really am happy and prepared to pay for the help/service of someone in the know. Thanks for the encourament anyway, appreciated.

[The Mikey]

I've recently finished a 240 and 12v split charge retro fit to my van. The 240 stuff is easy, if you can wire a plug you can do the 240, it's all 3 wires just on different sockets/connectors. I ran my 240 through an RCD then off to various sockets, I had the 240 connector behind the flap (thanks to advice from jamesc76). I also ran in 240 lighting which was a bit more difficult but only because I was show boating with the switching arrangement. The 12v stuff actually took me a bit longer just because I had so much more individual wires to run and various bits all over the van and decipher where the existing lighting wiring was coming from. I was going to put my leisure battery under the passenger seat but decided with what and where I was wiring it, it would be easier to put in under the rear seat which also runs under my cupboards. I hooked up a voltimeter to both batteries with all the in line fuses, fuse board and kill switches. I took it away for a week in Scotland recently and everything was working fine. I sourced all the bits myself and we have a good local auto-electrical retailer here which I spent a lot of time at.

I'm only in Northampton if you ever want to have a nose about and get your head round it?