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JohnL99
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2012
Posts: 76
Location: Wash DC
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 Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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| Anyone found these spring release hinges recently? Amazon has been out of stock for a long while now. |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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The jack point table mount is a VW trick that is documented here and a few other places... and GoWesty sells a kit for it if you can't find a welder to fab one up. It's handy! Thanks for noticing.
kourt |
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boroko
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2012
Posts: 326
Location: S.W. Michigan
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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I have been watching with interest. I'm not an active DX'r, but I enjoy having the radio when I need it. Like the panel, the hinges, and the inverter. All nice. What I just noticed was the way you used your jack point to mount your table. Pretty clever.
Bo
_________________
'87 SyncroWesty: Smokey the Turtle, '85 SubiWesty: Chappie, '84 GTI, '86 GTI in full Rally trim,
previous: 2 Syncro tin tops, 2 Vanagons, 3 busses, 3 Ghias, 2 Jettas, a 411, a gas and a diesel Bunny and about 25 Beetles, one that only drove left. |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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This was Memorial Day 2015, Mustang Island State Park, on the Texas Gulf Coast.
The panel is tilted up, with a small support rod behind it. The rod happens to be the same aluminum rod that comes with the GoWesty poptop rainfly--it's perfect for supporting the panel.
You can tilt it either direction, or take it completely off.
Regarding the running of the wires: coming from the panel on the roof, there are two 12GA wires ending in MC4 connectors. I ran a 20' set of 12GA wire with MC4 connectors on one end through the roof (two small, grommeted holes drilled underneath the panel), hugging the underside of the roof on the poptop ceiling, making a 90 degree turn and going directly to the edge of the poptop where the tent attaches, then turning again, and fastened by 3/8" plastic wire clamps along that edge, running back to the driver side rear corner of the poptop near the hinge, then again fastened with plastic wire clamps, then turning 90 degrees and down through two small, rubber grommeted holes drilled in the sheet metal next to the hinge, entering the main cabin above the rear D pillar, and then running the usual chaseways to the solar charge controller/inverter/charger under the refrigerator. I hope that helps explain it.
I've checked these wire runs for enough play to open the poptop, and have checked them for vibration damage after nearly two years of driving. Everything looks great. I have also checked for leaks at the holes following rain, or driving in rain... no leaks.
Also, at no time has any upstairs occupant accidentally caught a foot on the wires--they are neatly snugged up to the ceiling where they enter, and immediately travel to the edge, where they are out of the way.
kourt |
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rmcd
Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2010
Posts: 1350
Location: PNW - its a dry rain.
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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Tritto on the hinges.
Got any pictures of the hinges setup when it is tilted? Does it tilt in two directions?
Thanks.
_________________
VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight= |
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jimimeg
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 11:49 am Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build report |
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Kourt,
You've inspired me to mount mine that way. I just ordered this.
http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocryst...ge_o00_s00
I have two of the sla1161(?) batteries already as an aux setup.
I love the use of those hinges!
Where did you run the wires?
Thanks
Jimi
_________________
Buy a Westy, become a mechanic! |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 5:38 am Post subject: |
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I'm using three Werker 55 AH SLA batteries, wired in parallel, providing 165 AH, stored under the rear seat.
The Samlex device is a nice, complete unit, and I would do it the same way again.
I've had no trouble powering small things like laptop chargers, or more demanding things like waffle irons.
kourt |
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Aerosport
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2014
Posts: 67
Location: LV,NV
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:11 pm Post subject: Batteries |
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The Samelx inverter looks like just what I have been looking for, but I notice it specs only lead acid type batteries, and says it needs minimum 120 amp hour for inverter. What house batteries are you using with your system
_________________
Stan L
'87 Westy GL - "Stanagon", 2wd WBX 4 speed
15" Rhein alloys, GW 1.5" lift springs & Fox shocks |
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Ellectronico
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2002
Posts: 529
Location: porterville
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| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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Looks Great!
73's
KK6QPT
_________________
www.56panel.com
www.killerjunk.com
"you need to lower it", "it would look better lowered", "Slam that bitch!", "That would be a slutty bitch if it was lowered", "That bitch would be a bitchin bitch of a bitch bitch bus if it was on its nuts, bitch" |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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There is no outright theft prevention in this setup. It assumes that the average thief will not even bother to study how the hinges work and release the panel.
kourt |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1526
Location: Houston, TX
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woggs1
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2007
Posts: 531
Location: South Pacifica California
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| Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Maggie's First Trip, mobile amateur radio, with build re |
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| kourt wrote: |
Detail of solar panel mounting hardware--spring loaded cabinet hinges. This lets the panel be dismounted from the roof and relocated in the sun (with a DC cord extension) while the van sits in the shade. No rattles, and they work great.
kourt
Austin, TX |
I found and ordered the Sugatsune HG-OTB100 on Amazon. thanks for the tip:
http://tinyurl.com/lqtoqkq
What are you doing to secure the panel from theft?
_________________
4 speed 88 Westy |
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Dampcamper
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013
Posts: 789
Location: Rainy Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| onemat wrote: |
Your breakfast looked great. You might consider installing a defribulator  |
Oh, he can just grab onto the HF antenna and have somebody key up the transmitter. |
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onemat
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2011
Posts: 418
Location: Ashland City, TN
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| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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Your breakfast looked great. You might consider installing a defribulator
_________________
'82 Vanagon GL with 2.0 4-speed. Long term plan is to turn it into a camper. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17254
Location: Brookeville, MD
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| woggs1 wrote: |
| Wow, just wow. You bought the van in November and you did all that stuff by January? Most people take years to get all that stuff done, good work! |
Yes, it has been a labor of love. Lots of time spent on this project. I just finished all new front carpet (from SewFine) along with padding and a radiant barrier underneath, in hopes of heading off some of the hotfoot. I also put in the GoWesty transmission cooler on Monday.
I am a Volvo 240 guy, so I have a great appreciation for build quality and aftermarket support. The Volvo 240 is great--supported on Brickboard.com and the aftermarket parts are pretty good. Vanagons are in the same vein, and I really enjoy reading Samba posts and learning about this unique vehicle.
With the Volvo, I am a bit of a purist, trying to keep the car as close to the original design intent as possible. I have an old air cooled BMW motorcycle (85 BMW R80) that's kept the same way. With the Vanagon, I am letting loose and modifying with no restraints, building to my specific uses and intents. It's very liberating.
kourt |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17254
Location: Brookeville, MD
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2367
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Dampcamper wrote: |
| Great, I've been trying to figure out a mounting for a dual-band VHF/UHF...I like your rear-vent mount. Got my old trusty Kenwood TM V-7 ready to go in as I rebuild the front end. |
I wanted something that was discreet and allowed for a protected entrance for the antenna feedline. The engine vents were the obvious location. I used the Laird Tech SBTB3400:
https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-tech-sbtb3400-3858.html
These are mounted with machine screws and nylon insert nuts to the sheet metal at the top opening of the engine vent lumen. This is an NMO mount platform. It will take a small antenna, but I wouldn't put anything with a lot of height or mass on it--I'm sure the mount would not withstand the wind force of a really tall antenna combined with wind resistance while driving.
The feedlines are passed through the rubber grommeted connections in the upper vent space wall, entering the cab at the tops of the D pillars. From there, they simply pass over to the driver side, down the wall into the clothes closet, and from there, through drilled cable passages in the cabinets to the small cabinet next to the factory AC outlets in the camper. Everything goes to that little cabinet, and from there, routed further as needed.
kourt |
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woggs1
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2007
Posts: 531
Location: South Pacifica California
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| Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, just wow. You bought the van in November and you did all that stuff by January? Most people take years to get all that stuff done, good work!
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4 speed 88 Westy |
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