AmboVan Restarted

[hobietony]

Working on the inside...

Gauges - The old ambulance switch cluster used to be here, made a new faceplate and loaded in the gauges. Scangauge, DP tuner, EGT, Boost, and Tranny Temp. Also the air guage for the bags in back, when the bags actually go in

All hooked up

Found out when I took it Phoenix a month ago, that I needed a LOT of work on managing heat:

Dash mat

Insulation on the doghouse

Carpet with the thickest padding I could find

Somehow I thought it was cleaner...

 

[hobietony]

Getting the battery banks hooked up

Getting that 4/0 wire in there is like wresteling a snake

Charging relay remote switch

More electrical work - wanted to get everything that went to the dash, or to the engine compartment under the carpet. Anything else that goes to the new doghouse switch panel can run through the big conduit under the seat. I'll cover the exposed wires with something, maybe just one big split loom...

Starting to get the electrical room in order, pretty much have the van functions separated from the ambulance wiring -all that will be repurposed for coach functions, lighting, etc.

Still, there is a lot of crap in there

Battery cables, wiring, air lines, control wires, heat, AC, and condensate lines all run out of the cab at this spot

Next step, get the rear HVAC moved and set in its final location, extend the hoses as required.

Rear controls to be relocated to the side panel on the doghouse, also got a new electronic heater control valve to replacing the non-functioning vacume unit currently taking up space under the hood

Once I am sure all that is working, I can finally get the AC charged and functioning - Now that summer is about over.

 

[hobietony]

I love everything you've done. That thing is awesome. I'd keep it somewhat "offical" looking. I like the black stripe idea. Maybe AMBOVAN reverse printed across the hood?

This is one of the best ideas that has come out of this thread yet!

 

[hobietony]

Any guess as to the brand? Anzo, KS, Spec-D, ???

I need to either get new lenses or retrofit to standard halogens (cibies). Mine are amber fog lamps right now.

The rig is looking sharp, BTW! :drool:

Seems silly, but I have no idea what the brand is. No name on the lense, and I cant see any name on the exposed portion of the back. Although, now that I look at the brands you have listed, Anzo rings a bell. Other that that, I cant help. Sorry...

 

[ujoint]

The new gage pod looks great! All of that info in one place, perfect.

 

[loren85022]

Very cool gaggle of gauges. Nothing worst than cluster-******k on one's dash.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Love this thing... very kool. Nice fab work too btw.

 

[scoutkid]

Still, there is a lot of crap in there

 

[r_w]

Seems silly, but I have no idea what the brand is. No name on the lense, and I cant see any name on the exposed portion of the back. Although, now that I look at the brands you have listed, Anzo rings a bell. Other that that, I cant help. Sorry...

Oh, I understand. Once they were bought and in you moved on to the next issue. I have to mentally flush solved problems or there is no room to solve the next one.

Heck, they may all be made by the same company and rebadged. But now I have a real picture of them and at least something to go by. Thanks.

 

[hobietony]

What is this, and what does it do?

Yes, I see it says 'doide'. It was run off a main power supply, and fed a 12 volt outlet. Why not just a fuse? (although it is a fused supply) Does this protect the battery from running down? Seems odd that it just fed a single outlet...

 

[sdski]

Is there any way a positive voltage could be applied to the red wire up top? My understanding of diodes is that they are essentially a check valve for electricity, allowing it to flow one directions but not backwards through the system if it could cause damage.

Is there any other type of power supply that could feed that 12 V outlet? Such as an exterior plug to connect to 120V or something?

 

[bobDog]

Dial the phone number on the label and see what happens.........:sombrero:

 

[hobietony]

Is there any way a positive voltage could be applied to the red wire up top? My understanding of diodes is that they are essentially a check valve for electricity, allowing it to flow one directions but not backwards through the system if it could cause damage.

Is there any other type of power supply that could feed that 12 V outlet? Such as an exterior plug to connect to 120V or something?

That is what I dont get. No way for current to flow the other way, that I could tell. Also, the van didn't have house batteries before, so it is not like it is a separator. I was thinking it stops the flow below a certain voltage the keep the batt from going dead, but just a theory

And no, I never did consider just calling the number listed. I suppose I could just ask them!

 

[Sheep Shagger]

Which way is it wired? To let electricity into the battery or out of the battery? Solar chargers use diodes (or equiv) to stop the solar panel taking a charge out of the batteries at night, maybe the outlet was for some kind-a charging circuit? I would say that it was to protect the batteries and internal electrics from what ever was plugged into that outlet, obviously the device in the outlet can both draw and create current so a fuse would not protect the van from the device so a diode was used, and a monster one at that.

 

[carcrafter22]

The rig is looking great! Seems like you like that DPTuner, I know I love mine and can't take it off that 80hp setting LOL, no way its going back to stock. About your a/c, the only thing I found that will cool that big ol' box in 100*+ temps is a roof top a/c or similar. I tried making the rear a/c work for weeks and it just can't keep up, even after basicly rebuilding the whole a/c and getting it to work perfectly, the front works great but the rear just doesnt have the capacity to handle all that space at those temps. I finally decided to copy the big rv's and installed the roof top 13,500but unit and let it run off generator cruising down the road just like the big rv's do. I installed an automatic switch so all we have to do is plug in shore power and it goes from generator to shore automaticly and charges my batteries driving down the road.