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Topic: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery (Read 781 times) previous topic - next topic

99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

 the same diameterI was just visiting Bay Marine Supply yesterday to pick up some 4-0 cable and connectors etc. for the Chassis battery/Sterling Alt-to-Batt Charger/Battery Isolator/Boost switch/Chassis Battery maintainer etc. project. While there, I decided to go ahead and get a Victron battery monitor for the Chassis battery. While examining options of where to put it, I thought it would be nice if I could put it in the dash since the VDO voltage gauge is always about a volt and a half low... of course that can't work because I can't go boring holes in the electro luminescent dash. But then I thought "it could almost fit in that space where the useless voltage gauge goes...". Turns out, it can! Kind of a pain to work on the gauge mounting panel, but by removing the topmost nuts, grounding straps etc. (also at the top)  and loosening all the other that hold the mounting panel to the ELM dash, it was possible to pull the aluminum (has nothing to do with the dash illumination except the grounds) and insert the Victron BMV-700. The basic gauge is exactly the same diameter as the old VDO gauge. In fact, the mounting method is exactly the same for both. The threads for the plastic collar are even the same. The Victron goes in much easier because it is about half as deep as the old gauge. Of course, I was already in the habit of using the VMSPC for monitoring the chassis battery voltage, but the Victron will give me much more info than just voltage. I will finish the installation when I re-cable the chassis batter and install the shunt and run the cable. Anyway, for those think about replacing the VDO voltage gauge, here is an option that looks right at home! They do have a black version of the BMV-702 that can show the voltage of a second battery, but I don't need that feature and $40 for a color coordinated battery monitor strikes as a bit too persnickety. On the other hand... ::)
Don

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #1 –
Don, get the blue tooth link and you can read all of the Victron data, even more than is easy to get from the monitor itself, on your phone.  Very nice!  See picture in today's what I did to my coach. I have a Sterling Alt to Battery Charger as as well that will go in when I add a second set of batteries dedicated to the refrigerator.  John H had a writeup on a cover for his.  I will do something similar.  Let us know how yours goes. 

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #2 –
That does look interesting! Did you get the 400 Amp Alt-to-Batt charger? I have the 210 Amp one... I don't think that the 240 Amp one would likely be a problem with a 220 or 240 Amp Alternator, but I suppose the potential for overload issues would exist with that combo.
Don
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
Don, get the blue tooth link and you can read all of the Victron data, even more than is easy to get from the monitor itself, on your phone.  Very nice!  See picture in today's what I did to my coach. I have a Sterling Alt to Battery Charger as as well that will go in when I add a second set of batteries dedicated to the refrigerator.  John H had a writeup on a cover for his.  I will do something similar.  Let us know how yours goes. 

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #3 –
After checking with Alan the 240 amp alternator will work fine with the 210 amp A2B charger.  The alternator is only going to put out 240 amps occasionally and likely for only a short while.  Alan says the A2B Charger is very conservatively rated and should have no problem with 15% over amperage.  The Delco is a brushless alternator.  Wiring is a but different, not much but enough that you need to pay attention. I used 4/0 wire from the alt to the isolator and 4/0 from the isolator to the boost relay.  OEM 3/0 wire to the start and house batteries from there.  I am making enough cables that I got a proper crimper from Bay Marine as well as lugs.  And heavy wall adhesive lined shrink tube.  I have enough 4/0 left to go from the start batteries to the + and - sides of the starter leaving the OEM 3/0 cables to the + and - distribution posts.  When I add the third set of batteries and the A2B charger one leg will go to the Sterling Isolator and then split to the house batteries and the refrigerator batteries.  The Sterling Charger has one leg going to the start batteries and the other two combined to go to the refrigerator battery bank.  I will also add in a "boost" solonoid (or a combiner) between the house and refrigerator battery banks so that if they need to be linked they can be.  Then I have a 1000 watt pure sine wave Magnum inverter for the refrigerator battery bank to drive the refrigerator and a couple LR outlets that have USB charger ports built in for mobile devices. I am thinking about adding a 400-600 watt pure sine wave inverter in parallel to the big inverter with appropriate switching to power the front overhead 120v circuit that drives the TV, Bose, DirecTV, Sat Dish, my dedicated coach PC (an Intel I7, 64 bit, 500 GB SSD, 4K video NUC powerhouse in a very small package), the internal coach network wired/wireless router, the Verizon MiFi device and some more mobile device chargers.  All on at max draw is about 400 watts, with some overhead room probably a 600 watt. Then I can power critical systems and shut off the big inverter with it's significant static no output load.

I sort of carried on here but I know you think about this stuff in much the same way I do.  Peter Fleming has been a great sounding board and resource thinking this whole thing through. John Haygarth has helped out with some great practical ideas too. 

I think about adding some solar at some point too.  But many of the places we go have forest cover so it is lower on my priorities. Just don't think we are interested in an endless no generator boondocking thing.  Maybe if we lived in the SW.

Keep thinking, keep doing. 

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #4 –
Roger,
I am looking forward to when can park next to each other and do the dog and pony show and tell! ^.^d  I will keep the long run of 3-0 cable that runs to the breaker panel near the inverter from the distribution point, but I think I have enough 4-0 cable to run from the chassis battery (I have one 8d AGM start battery), to a bus bar set up behind the chassis battery, and then to the 210 Amp version Sterling Alt-to-Battery charger and the ProSplit-R (using just the boosted regulated output of the A2B), and a Blue Sea ML-RBS 7713 to cross connect the house and chassis batteries replacing the boost switch (ours works most of the time...). Ultimately, I will want to upgrade the alternator from the LN 160 Amp. The brushless Delco sounds like an excellent candidate. Did you find a good price on it? Eventually, I will replace the two ignition solenoids with one Blue Sea latching relay and probably the starter solenoid as well.
I am sure the project will evolve like most do when I start it, but that is the basic idea, and will likely be done in stages as I find the time.
Don

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #5 –
I found (with Peter's help) the Delco on EBay.  Brand new in the original box and foam packing.  The 240's are out there but I saw the 270's and 300's more often.  Much better performance than the LN.  It probably needs to get rebuilt and kept as a spare.  I think the 240 amp Delco was just shy of $600.  $900 is a common price.  You just have to keep looking and go for it when they show up.

The J180 long hinge is an exact fit.

Alternators by Model Family | Delco Remy

Part number 8600390
http://www.delcoremy.com/getmedia/f651dcc3-60db-4186-80eb-154b8111fdf0/Delco-40SI-Single-Page-Brochure-3-16.pdf.aspx

8600390 40SI - Alternator Service
$617

$900+ at NAPA

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #6 –
Good info Roger! It seems to me that with a little calculation, even a 320 Amp version (just supposing one was found for an attractive price of course), a larger alternator pulley could be chosen to reduce RPM's and thus the potential output of the alternator to acceptable levels and perhaps thereby reduce parasitic load. Pure speculation, just because it is fun... :))
Don
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
The J180 long hinge is an exact fit.

Alternators by Model Family | Delco Remy

Part number 8600390
http://www.delcoremy.com/getmedia/f651dcc3-60db-4186-80eb-154b8111fdf0/Delco-40SI-Single-Page-Brochure-3-16.pdf.aspx

8600390 40SI - Alternator Service
$617

$900+ at NAPA

 

Re: 99' Dash Gauge interesting discovery

Reply #7 –
I suppose you could get a larger diameter pulley. The pulley on the LN came off easily once the nut was loose and fit right on the Delco.  Shaft sizes must be standardized.  I wondered if it would line up properly with the main pulley when the Delco was installed and it did. So alternator pulleys must be standardize for offset as well.  My ISM11 has a bigger pulley in the front of engine that turns a ribbed belt to the alternator pulley, no other idlers or other devices.  If you have a serpentine belt in yours with idlers and so on, a larger pulley might mean a longer belt.  That may be the tough part.  It appears that the J180 long hinge is common across many FTs but it is good to verify.  It looks like mounts are standardized too and there are perhaps only three types.  Delco has cross reference sheets for LN to Delco.