Install Solar Wire Entry Gland on a Camper Van
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- This is how I installed the solar wire entry glands on my Ford Transit camper van. I have the glands installed with the inlets pointed forward. How do you feel about that? Let me know in the comments!
Forward facing glands are fine... when everything is new... The magic with all those sorts of things is to check them all annually. The UV is devastating to anything plastic on the roof of anything... Also, you chose to use some very sticky tape to hold it down, but tape has a much shorter life in such conditions than butyl tape. If you are forced to redo this a number of years in the future, that is a choice that might age better... Thanks very much for sharing. Valuable info...
You're welcome and thanks for your insight. It's a good reminder to everyone for ALL components to be checked regularly. Make your build so everything is accessible, checkable, testable, and most importantly, fixable or replaceable!
1:40 much appreciate the voice over vs only text on screen… easier to passively follow along while doing other things (chrome cast to TV in kitchen)
Thanks! I'm trying to make these instructional/useful. Entertainment is secondary, haha!
Found my way here to see how the gland is installed. Thanks! BTW, there's no current going through the wires since they aren't connected. There is a voltage (potential) though. So you do not want to complete the circuit accidentally and get a shock.
You're welcome. I left everything disconnected until the core electric system was installed in the van. Up to this point it had not been installed. I'm a bit behind on new content having been on a few trips mid build. Once the core system, including the solar disconnect switch, was in place between the panels and the MPPTs, I made the M4 connections on the roof. If the M4 connections were plugged in on the roof, there was a potential for shock if the panels weren't fully covered blocking the sun. Once the internal wires were connected to the solar disconnect, this was no longer a worry.
You can also see I covered the ends of the wires inside the van as an additional level of safety to prevent the copper pos and neg wires from touching each other.
The only thing I'd be worried about when the glands are facing forward is more wind resistance/possible noise from the flatter edge facing forward, although I think you're right as to it being equally waterproof in either direction.
In my case they are below the plane of the top of all my solar panels. It doesn't mean wind doesn't get to them, but I don't hear them at all. I do hear a noise created by the dynamics of sound resonance with the rear wheels between 63-71 mph. Once I put Thinsulate and heavy mass vinyl over the rear wheel wells, and get my walls up, I'll have a relatively quiet ride.
personally i wouldnt face the glands forward.....I would be concerned about wind driven rain on a Motorway in the Uk lol....
I can understand that feeling. They are waterproof (for now) and several long drives in the rain agree. However over time, sun/UV wear will eventually get them either way and they will need to be replaced.
On a Ford transit you all ready have factory pre drilled holes on top of the van to run wires. Four in the front and four in the back. They are covered with little round painted thin rubbery stickers. No need to drill holes. I can see them in your video.
This is true, those holes are there, however, there is no flat surface on the roof around those holes to place the wire gland itself, not of this style anyway.
@@VanTransitions That's why you use Butyl Sealant Tape to even it out and level it.
Yes, that is an option. Please be mindful you are near the water channels on the roof and you don't want to disrupt that flow. Or, folks like Far Out Ride made a grommet special made for those holes, $50 last I checked so kind of expensive in my opinion.