Roof lights and Solar sorted

Been a busy week, had a few days of dodging he rain but managed to fit in getting the 2 roof lights in and got the rails bolted down for the 2x 80w solar panel ordered from Germany. They arrived just as I was packing away, so popped them on and wired in parralel to an IP67 box on the roof ready to wire back to the MPPT controller when that arrives from China.

Managed to get 2 (yes 2!) 12v compressor fridges, but had to collect from Norfolk, with a detour for 2 water tanks in Milton Keynes it was a 420 mile trip!

Dodgey donor...

Went to get donor for £280, but was a bit too tatty. Ended up getting for free, so pretty happy. I'll use (probably) the sink/hob, fridge and water heater, the rest is trash.

Propane or Pro-pain?

I'm keen to keep the LPG/Propane kit outside the van, the problem is that I have a refillable LPG bottle but not a chassis mount tank. I've been given a tiny 4 litre kit off a moped that is vapour take off (need this as most cars etc are liquid with a tube to the bottom of the tank like a trigger spray disinfectant bottle). 

The moped had done 4 miles from new factory fit LPG and was sold for £100 as it never worked properly, having found it's got a vapour multiport I'm not surprised!

Safety and risk assessment aside (you must satisfy yourself that any LPG work carried out is safe, certified and inspected by a qualified person), I plan to swap this multiport onto a larger tank, the issue is that I will be removing the plunger from the solenoid valve as it wants to draw an amp at 12v all the time the gas is on. I'll be sticking to the manual valve used on calor bottles etc, for decades.

Again all this must be safe, I'm very lucky as I have the help of a friend who is LPG certified and have a VERY good LPG parts shop locally.

Multi-valve...

Tank...

I should be able to get a vapour system for very little cost, I will need to get a frame made to bolt through the floor and this needs to be sorted with the waste and water tanks.

Getting stuck in...

Got some of the lining out, space to put stuff is going to be fun but I have a donor caravan coming so not too bad....YET!

Battens were screwed in with stainless self drilling screws (APEX fasteners in Slough trading estate to be highly recommended, no minimum order you could ask for 3x 1" screws!). I think I need to wean myself off B&Q as it's going to get expensive unless I use a decent (cheap) supplier. I'm avoiding Wickes as all their stuff is tat, wood that is twisted, bent and full of knots.

Not exciting but it's a start!

The rear step was removed so I can tow a trailer (I can have a 7 ton gross train weight!), found a new BRINK tow bar for £60 delivered on eBay and it was heavy but not too bad to fit, though air tools were handy.

Design and kit is still in a state of flux until I get the donor and know what I'm working with but.

Starting out....

Having picked up our Jumbo a while ago it got coerced into being a collection vehicle for a Biodiesel collective, but that had a finite limit as that was never the idea. Another delay was letting a friend use it for his Solar work in late 2011 as he tried to get all his installs done before the government cut-off date.

Still now the sticky/smelly tanks are out I'm cracking on, the bulkhead came out and now I find I'm looking around like I can see through the back doors to reverse (I've had enough vans to know better...DOH!).

I've got a decent amount of room to play with...