Happy New Year to one and all - hope it's starting off well.
Mine did, with the cheap purchase of a Dorema Daytona awning.
The nice chap who sold it to me said it would be advisable to fit external elextrics to the van so I wouldn't have to trail any cables through windows or the door.
Is this easy to do?
Any tips and/or instructions greatly appreciated - I imagine it's no different to household wiring, it's just the drilling into the van, its placement/waterproofness and if any specialist sockets are required thatI'd like advice on.
I believe the complete units are available, recessed socket with waterproof sprung flap that fits flush with the exterior wall. However, if you are loathe to start carving holes in the side of the van there are cheap and cheerful alternatives. See if there is space in the battery box, if not, A trick I have used in the past: fit under the floor close to the edge of the van so it's easily reached. Don't use the flush fitting type but one with a back box. Between the socket unit and the underside of the floor use the lid of a large plastic (Tupperware) food storage box. When not in use, all you do is snap the body of the box onto the lid and this keeps the whole thing weather proof. Using this method you only have to drill one hole in the floor to take the cable. Couple of ideas for you that might help.....Mick
or just use a surface mount exterior socket, no heath robinson tupperwares then either :)
Get one thats IP66 if you go this route its more waterproof than an IP44 unit, just make sure its snapped shut before you drive, and its fine.
personally, I have a 16A ceeform socket(the out version of the inlet on the caravan) mounts under the van, and is at a suitable angle for getting to (A normal 13A socket would be facing down)
a 13A fused 4 gang block with a 16A ceeform on the end and jobs a good one.
Nice ideas, particularly the under van one - my battery box is on the opposite side to the awning, but I could trail a cable under the van, I suppose.
at timtheenchanter
Thanks, I'll remember to get an IP66 over an IP44 (now I know the difference )
I have a camping RCD extension, so I'm thinking if I could split the hook up power, just before the van I could trail a cable under the van and into the awning. Would that cause any problems with the electric, are you allowed to do that?
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Topic: Whirlwind XL - fitting external electrics
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