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Thread: New 12v setup

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    New 12v setup

    G'day brainstrust,

    I've decided to tackle my first 12v setup and for the purposes of this exercise you can assume that I'm relatively handy, not overly stupid and have a desire for a professional result. This setup will include an auxiliary battery charged by a redarc manager 30 mainly to run a fridge, lighting and mobile device/charging. There will also be other devices I want to install including light bar, CB, compressor, e-locker. Some searching has answered a few questions, but still have a few questions around best practise that I hope will safe me from any rookie mistakes:

    - What are the best earth points to be found in the back of a 90, or would you recommend grounding everything back to the starting battery negative (a lot of extra copper)

    - Should I use the same grounding point for all devices?

    - What tools would you say are necessary to make good quality connections with large and small gauge wires? i.e. type of crimpers, connectors, heat shrink insulation?

    - Would you recommend a distribution box for ease of access connecting new devices and if so is there a location to tap into the factory fusebox with an appropriate capacity?

    - Where would you mount the distribution box?

    - What is the best way to route wiring out from under the drivers seat? I try to avoid damaging grommets wherever possible, would you bother drilling a new hole and grommet that?

    - I plan to create a panel in the car that will house the redarc display as well as things like switches, fuse block(s) and circuit breakers. What components in your experience are necessary to be easily accessible, and what is fine to be hidden? (I'm not interested in mounting components just for show)

    Many thanks!
    Last edited by Graekynn; 10th October 2019 at 11:42 AM. Reason: adding some accessories

  2. #2
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    Hi,

    I may not be as handy as you so I chose to go with a Traxide kit(also upgraded the wiring loom for headlights) for my Puma Defender. Works a treat and being isolated no need worry about aux draining main!
    I also installed the cubby box underneath the centre storage box, this enabled the fitting of an additional distribution box for all accessories.
    Earthwise I went back to Starting battery. I also ran a lead(with Anderson plug) to rear of vehicle enabling battery charger to be connected without having to go through the malarky of removing pax seat and accessing battery compartment.

    Hope this helps.

    Rolly
    Defender MY 2015 110

    Adventures so far!!
    Cape York 2016 Bloomfield,OTT(Gunshot), Frenchmans,Border Ranges, Fraser Isl,Moreton Isl, Tassie(pyengana Jeep track & Montezuma falls).1770

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rolly View Post
    Hi,


    I also installed the cubby box underneath the centre storage box, this enabled the fitting of an additional distribution box for all accessories.


    Hope this helps.

    Rolly
    Hi Rolly

    Did you make cubby box yourself or was it an aftermarket item? If you made it can you share dimensions, materials etc? I have a sheet of marine ply sitting in the shed for this purpose just haven’t got around to it yet ;-)

    Cheers - Simon
    Cheers
    Travelrover

    Adventure before Dementia

    2012 Puma 90 - Black
    1999 Td5 110 Ute - White
    1996 Tdi 300 Wagon - White

  4. #4
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    I second the box under the centre console idea. I went for an Ex-Box, but there are a few alternatives out there.

    I have a single power feed from the aux battery into the Ex-Box, running through a circuit breaker. From there power is distributed to the back for the fridge, an Anderson plug out the back and to the front as well. Everything is then earthed back via the box and down to the same earth point as the batteries. There is also room for switches on the front of the Ex-Box. It's quite a simple set-up and easily removeable if I need to work on it or access the transmission underneath it. No standard wiring was harmed during its construction.

    Some photos and more info in my build thread:
    Alasdair, the MY16 Keswick 110

    Cheers,
    Jon

  5. #5
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    Thanks Jon

    Appreciate this..
    Cheers
    Travelrover

    Adventure before Dementia

    2012 Puma 90 - Black
    1999 Td5 110 Ute - White
    1996 Tdi 300 Wagon - White

  6. #6
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    Cubby box

    Yes,mine is also the Ex-box.
    Defender MY 2015 110

    Adventures so far!!
    Cape York 2016 Bloomfield,OTT(Gunshot), Frenchmans,Border Ranges, Fraser Isl,Moreton Isl, Tassie(pyengana Jeep track & Montezuma falls).1770

  7. #7
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    My 130 setup is based on Jon’s with the ex box and works great.

  8. #8
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    Thanks for the feedback re: cubby box. I wont be doing that particular mod though, so for my intended setup the brains of my car will stay under the drivers seat. Which means a distribution box would be fitted in there as well.

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Whilst the brains under the pax seat appears fairly water resistant there is in fact a hole at the very rear. Any water crossing that touches the underside of the pax seat area enables the ingress of water, that’s why many of us have put the ‘Brains’ on top of the drive tunnel within the Ex-box.
    Defender MY 2015 110

    Adventures so far!!
    Cape York 2016 Bloomfield,OTT(Gunshot), Frenchmans,Border Ranges, Fraser Isl,Moreton Isl, Tassie(pyengana Jeep track & Montezuma falls).1770

  10. #10
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    Hi Graekynn, could you post up what you actually have, or what you think you will be purchasing.


    Also, can you post up how you intend to use your setup. EG, weekends away, or a long trip around Australia and so on?


    Are you planning on stopping in one place at a time for long periods of free camping or moving camp every day or so?


    These different uses can be addressed with different setups.


    I am pretty sure I can give you some options that are much cheaper to setup and will give you far, FAR better results.

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