Creative & resourceful. A sink with a history.Lots of updates. I'll try to update to current status in the coming days. As usual, I'm stoked on the progress!
Kitchen is CRUISING along. I found an old Corian/solid surface counter top with a nasty looking sink. It was actually pulled out of an old Starbucks. We really wanted a nice countertop—it's something that we'll interact with on a daily basis, and we felt a nice counter would class the place up. So I used a router (and brand new bit/blade!) to VERY carefully cut out the old sink so we could put in a new drop in sink.
View attachment 159431
The new sink is huge! It's going to be so freaking nice to have a large sink. It makes it that much easier to eat fresh, make good food, and do dishes.
Nice! Shoot me your address and Ill send a new set of pliers ;-)OK, this is crazy how similar our builds are. Look where I put my batteries:
Yours are 280Ah cells? That's a pretty big improvement in energy density from when I bought mine 4 years ago. Mine are CALB 100Ah cells, 3x4 for 300Ah@12V.
Ha! Wow, nice. It's a great spot for batteries!!! Yep, 280ah. I have a build thread for the batteries going on over at DIY Solar, but it's actually a bit slower going than I had though. Hoping to make the final moves for install in the next week or so.OK, this is crazy how similar our builds are. Look where I put my batteries:
Yours are 280Ah cells? That's a pretty big improvement in energy density from when I bought mine 4 years ago. Mine are CALB 100Ah cells, 3x4 for 300Ah@12V.
Thanks for the suggestion! I was very interested in that, but my wife didn't like the texture of it. I was also a bit worried about what ever happens if you want to repaint someday. It seems like quite a permanent solution (which may be a value add for some!). We ended up going with standard automotive paint. Once I get my pictures organized I'll post the resultsQuite understanding that you don't want to repeat this process any time soon, like never.
Truck bedliner is for you.
Besides, it hides and evens out a lot of imperfections.
Besides, it lasts forever. Relatively, compared to paint.
Besides, it protects against bumps and scratches better than any paint and is easy to hose off when dirty.
Besides, no waxing ever again.
Besides, it noticeably helps quiet down the road noise. I could go on.
Are there any relays or controllers for the power windows? I am thinking about doing this, but don't know if there is anything the stops the window motor when the window is all the way up/down. The alternative is to just keep the voltage applied to the motor as long as the button is held in the up or down position. However, that seems like it could damage the motor if the button is held too long.Next was power windows and power locks. Our van didn't even have a FOB, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to make my own. So after harvesting the lock actuators from a donor van, I set on my way to run some new wires and replace the door lock mechanisms with one that have the build-in OEM lock actuators.
View attachment 126088
I used a cheap 2 channel remote relay to control them, and also a 2 way toggle switch on the dash. Dash switch not yet installed.
Remote I used: https://usa.banggood.com/12V-10A-2-...d=19996135&sc_lid=105229698&sc_uid=TzFO9P8zB7
Also harvested some rubber boots for the wires going to the door. While I had everything apart and was running wires, I ran a 16 gauge, 4 wire cable in there too. There was plenty of space, and now if I ever want to add speakers, lights, switches, etc to the door I easily can.
View attachment 126089
The relays (1 to lock, 1 to unlock) live under the drivers seat, along with the OEM ones. I dont want to have random fuses and relays to track down if I ever need to troubleshoot, and want to do a favor to whoever owns this van after me. Not really much to look at but there it is. Most of this part was just hours of staring at the service manual and figuring out wiring diagrams
View attachment 126090
Similar story with the power windows, not much to look at but lots hours in front of wiring diagrams. If you want to see a picture of hopelessness, this is probably one of lowest points:
View attachment 126091
But hey! I got it, and now they work great, exactly as they should.
Were there no relays or controllers for the power window motors?Next was power windows and power locks. Our van didn't even have a FOB, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to make my own. So after harvesting the lock actuators from a donor van, I set on my way to run some new wires and replace the door lock mechanisms with one that have the build-in OEM lock actuators.
View attachment 126088
I used a cheap 2 channel remote relay to control them, and also a 2 way toggle switch on the dash. Dash switch not yet installed.
Remote I used: https://usa.banggood.com/12V-10A-2-...d=19996135&sc_lid=105229698&sc_uid=TzFO9P8zB7
Also harvested some rubber boots for the wires going to the door. While I had everything apart and was running wires, I ran a 16 gauge, 4 wire cable in there too. There was plenty of space, and now if I ever want to add speakers, lights, switches, etc to the door I easily can.
View attachment 126089
The relays (1 to lock, 1 to unlock) live under the drivers seat, along with the OEM ones. I dont want to have random fuses and relays to track down if I ever need to troubleshoot, and want to do a favor to whoever owns this van after me. Not really much to look at but there it is. Most of this part was just hours of staring at the service manual and figuring out wiring diagrams
View attachment 126090
Similar story with the power windows, not much to look at but lots hours in front of wiring diagrams. If you want to see a picture of hopelessness, this is probably one of lowest points:
View attachment 126091
But hey! I got it, and now they work great, exactly as they should.
Nope. I had to put them all in.Were there no relays or controllers for the power window motors?
What I was asking was if you put in any controllers or relays for the power windows, or if you just wired the motors directly to the switches. Please share what relays/controllers you used if any, and how you connected them.Nope. I had to put them all in.
Oh! Nope, directly to the window switches. IIRC, the Mercedes wiring diagram didn’t have relays, so I figured the switches could handle the amperage.What I was asking was if you put in any controllers or relays for the power windows, or if you just wired the motors directly to the switches. Please share what relays/controllers you used if any, and how you connected them.
Ok, that makes sense. I assume that means that Sprinters that came with powers windows from the factory do not have the ability to just depress the button briefly and have the window automatically lower all the way. I hope somebody watching this thread with factory installed power windows can confirm that.Oh! Nope, directly to the window switches. IIRC, the Mercedes wiring diagram didn’t have relays, so I figured the switches could handle the amperage.
I believe I can confirm that they do not have that feature. The buttons and wiring I used was lifted from a junkyard van with OEM power windows.Ok, that makes sense. I assume that means that Sprinters that came with powers windows from the factory do not have the ability to just depress the button briefly and have the window automatically lower all the way. I hope somebody watching this thread with factory installed power windows can confirm that.