Extra Lights......

[Pilch]

Guys - Ive got a big van which i use for racing and other work related mischief.

Now this year im upping the game in racing, going to do a few british rounds all being good (Money being the big thing!) whilst doing this with some of the meetings are better to arrive the day before, sleep then get up the next day.

At the moment I would camp but after racing dont fancy packing a tent up especially with the great british weather! So i have decided im going to modify my van slightly to put a large removal double bed in the back above the quad. That part I have planted the seed with my old man (Chippy of many years and can do the job a damn site quicker than me!)

Now i dont want to fit windows to the van, obvious security reasons and also leaking!

What I am going to do is fit extra lights in the back.

Firstly im going to install a leisure battery with a split charge relay system. So as to save me flattening the main van battery. This will lead to a small fuse box.

Now what I want to do is to run extra lights in the van, mainly so I can see when its dark and also for getting changed etc!

So if i want certain lights to come on when I open the door, I would use a courtesy switch. But when the doors are shut I would need to have a switch.

Looking at courtesy switches they have 1 connection which is live and then the switch earthes onto the body work.

So would i be right in thinking this is how the van should be wired?

............................Battery
.............................. \/
...........................Fuse Box
.............................. \/
............................Light
............................. \/
........................3 Way Switch
....(Light on/Light activated by courtesy switch/Off)
...............................|
.....-------------------------------------------------------
....|......................................................|
..Light on via switch............. Light on via Courtesy switch
... |....................................................... \/
.....----------------------- Earth----------------------------


Taken me a while to work out but I think that is right?

Going to do a couple of these, one on side door and one on the rear,

add in another one where the bed area will be but that will just be a simple on off switch....

[lozz]

ithink your wiring method shouid work,


Why not put windows in mate, ? if you seal them right they dont leak,

ive done a couple of van- to camper coversions in the past, didnt have problems with the windows leaking,
best thing to use is caravan double glazed ones,

atleast one window in a van is handy for when your having a early morning fry up

[Pilch]

Most times the quad is kept in the van and lots of tools too! Metal can't be broken into as easy.

The big proportion of times when I'll use the van will be at meets when everyone looks out for eachothers kit and the side door would be open too.

Just occasionally it gets left on a main road at my parents. Over the years have had many cars damaged by twats randomly. Having glass so the could see through even tinted worries me.

[lozz]

Ah rite isee,

yeah isee your point, nowts safe these day unless its nailed down or wired too the mains,

[steve_earwig]

I think you've sussed it but to make sure...

Looking at courtesy switches they have 1 connection which is live and then the switch earthes onto the body work.

Not exactly, the switch isn't really live, one side goes off to the light, the other side of which is live, so all the switch does is provide it with an earth when the door is opened.

..Light on via switch............. Light on via Courtesy switch

This had me wondering for a moment (I've not been up long ) but this is just explaining what the wiring does, one side is wired straight to the earth, the other is earthed through the courtesy light switch - they are not more bulbs

Depending how many lights there are there might be a bit too much current for the courtesy switch, so you might have to use a relay. (piece of cake).

[Pilch]

The Lights that where going to fit where LED strip lights, so they only draw minimal current, they are reasonably bright and should do the job.

Unfortunately the way the diagram posted it seems to destroy the diagram, i should of done an image, would of been easier!

The courtesy switch has 1 connection tab. When the door is opened then it turns on the circuit making it live and earths via body work is what I meant.