Control ANYTHING in a CAMPERVAN! | AUXBEAM Control panel

Please consider your local laws on running light bars and their uses
The second half of this video included 12v electrical and wiring diagrams, 12v electrics, the use of relays and more of the ways I'm using the control panel outside of its intended purposes.
This video shows how to wire in a auxiliary lightbar to a vehicle is high beam / main beam on a ford transit
@Auxbeam LED Lighting
Discount code 12% Off = 'MispAdvs"
Control panel - AR-800 Multifunction RGB Switch Panel with Bluetooth Controlled ( auxbeam.com/pr... )
Light bar - 52" 5D series ( auxbeam.com/co... )
Thermal Camera -
iOS - amzn.to/3IGYxID
USB-C - amzn.to/3KQLxBY
I was kindly given a 52-inch 5D double row LED light bar and a Auxbeam AB-800 RGB control panel with Bluetooth for free to install in my van.
Im using the Control panel for more than just AUX lights. So have I have found the control panel excellent, being able to access parts of my camper van whilst driving. This will be the end of my having to stop and putting the fan down.
from using the Secret ports ( RJ45 & RJ11 ) of a Maxxfan deluxe and a webasto hydraulic diesel heater / Engine preheater ( thermal top v )
Please consider your local laws on running light bars and their uses
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[@MispronouncedAdventures]

What would you control with the AUXBEAM control panel?

[@ProjectCamper]

Definitely use it for rock lights over the front of the cab when off road driving, nothing worse than not seeing what will get you a blowout, also roof lights in all directions, that’s my plan, thanks for the link to the 10 way junction box 👍👍

[@Filmedbyak]

Autovox dash cam! I have mine wired to my fusebox so it can run 24/7 and not drain the vans starter battery

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Good plan. I use a Autovox V5 dash cam and reverse camera

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Good plan @Projectcamper. I am hoping to ask AUXbeam for some more lights including rock lights

[@Filmedbyak]

@@MispronouncedAdventures that's what I have as well. Has been working good wired directly to mt fuse box. I cut the fuses off of the red and yellow wire and wired them both to the same positive terminal on the fuse box and added a fuse appropriate for it. I did it this way so I could still order the fuse piggy back adapters and wire it up the normal way again.

[@Dirt-Diggler]

That's pretty much a scaled down ambulance control system, the one in my ambulance is called the phoenix system by Ring automotive, i have 12 buttons on each of 2 control pads and 30 odd relays to control stuff. If i didn't already have it fitted I'd have one if those auxbeam kits in a heartbeat great bit if kit chap 👍 Really enjoyed that vid 😎 cheers 👍

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you, glad you liked the video and the unit. It’s a great bit of kit, I think there is a lot of use in industry with kit like this. I remember my old ex-AA van has a control panel left over from the AA, unfortunately they remove the main unit for it so it was never useable.

[@Dirt-Diggler]

@@MispronouncedAdventures that was probably the phoenix system 🤔 a lot if recovery firms used it as well was ambulance builders, nowhere near as compact as that auxbeam unit though 👍

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Ah that’s cool. I’m sure I’ve got the controller somewhere I might did it out to have a look

[@houseinavan194]

Very cleaver.....all of that in my van in the March meet up please...🤗😁

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Hopefully I can make it but I’m not sure at the minute with my current international plans

[@houseinavan194]

More travels....good for you...

[@ProjectCamper]

I was fortunate to also get the RGB controller, I also need to extend the controller wires so it’s in the cab and the main control box is in the rear, great idea using the max air fan on the Auxbeam panel.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Yep it appears there’s no issues with extending the cable being positive negative and then to data pins.

[@samhartfieldlewis5247]

That’s for the high beam relay setup, been trying too work it out in my VERY confused mind. It’s settled now. Thanks

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Glad you have it sorted now

[@SneezingEagle]

Another awsome video! Really enjoyed watching the installation /set up process, and seeing what you managed to hook up to it! One control panel to rule them all 😝

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

These control panels are absolutely brilliant!

[@ianspup]

Hi- awesome video again. One question- do your neighbours across the road get disturbed when you light there front room up with the light bar? 😀😀😀

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Haha, they were fine about it’s, they watch the videos!

[@samhartfieldlewis5247]

Ha also was wondering that 😂

[@landrover827]

Loved the video! Keep them coming please. 🥰

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you! Got more coming!

[@RustyRoseAdventures]

Nice work alex! Very good use of that!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you very much Max!

[@bntambridge]

Fantastic video, love it!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you very much

[@TheROBSKI7777]

Excellent video mate, I'm doing a similar install on a roof rack. Just wanted to know if the relay you used is "normally closed" as I have wired up mine with a relay that has two 87 pins and not a 87a pin. Cheers Rob Edit: I worked it out by buying a "changeover relay", now I have the same option as in this video. I'm going to do another relay setup to trigger reverse lights.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Glad you got it sorted! I do have another video coming where I added reverse lights and other lights to it as well.

[@ant_hart]

That looks such a handy bit of kit!, top marks on installation too…are you a sparky too Alex? You seem to know your stuff..I’m a spark looking to get in to van build electrics maybe a new lil business in the future 👍🏼atb

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

It’s brilliant and so useful. I’m not a sparky by trade, but I love working with the DC electrics and van / off grid electrics. I’ve installed a few electrical systems now on vans. It’s definitely a area with a lot of demand at the moment

[@wecklt]

Did you find a way or a source to custom label? They would supply 200 icon and I'm sure we would still miss one lol.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

At the moment no, but I was with my friend Greg Virgoe last week and he just had his panel arrive and he had a larger sticker pack than I. I went for modifying a few of the original stickers as I now have the panel fully populated

[@RDVanConversions]

Great Video, really enjoy watching you just get stuff done! Is Auxbeam the only real option for switching lights? I see you have to import from US? Assume you could just put 8 switches in a panel and use them to switch 8 relays? Really want to get some lights on the side of my van! And inspired to make a trip to the Arctic next year!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

You could definitely create your own switch panel with a relays behind it. I guess in this case, this would cost more, but would probably come in a nicer premade package. There are now a few companies which do similar stars of products

[@kevingalloway9338]

Nice one . Great video

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you

[@aljotock]

Brilliant, you’re soooo clever!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you, I do love this type of stuff

[@davidchristensen1967]

Awesome video mate. Doing the MaxxAir fan control myself but having an impossible time getting the RJ45 connector to fit properly so I can reinstall the fan panel. Did you have to trim the backside of the RJ45 plug?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I know what you mean. I had a spare with a tiny RJ45 plug on it. Way smaller than your normal ones

[@Rhysowen5418]

What is the reason for you wiring the panel to your leisure system and not to your van battery? Or both via a 5pin relay - with leisure NC, and van NO with an ignition switched signal?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I want all of my equipment running off the leisure battery and not the vans starter . Since I’ve got multiple huge lights, engine of preheaters and More.

[@Witteringtrucker]

Alex, another bombardment of questions. The cat 5 cable for the fan. What colour cables did you end up using from the several ones available?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

The pin out is available on the internet ( I’ll have to look for it again ) but the pin out on it uses different colours than the cable I used.

[@Witteringtrucker]

@Mispronounced Adventures I think I've found it bud. Cheers for the info. Definitely owe you a beer.

[@samhartfieldlewis5247]

Really smart Did you extend the control switch wire the the fuse box then & how did that go ? Thanks nice one

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Yes no issues with extending the control switch wire it’s just 4 core wire they do actually sell extension cables as well

[@samhartfieldlewis5247]

@@MispronouncedAdventures Ok brilliant thanks very much that’s cool

[@ArcticNorthAdventures]

Hello there, sorry to bother you again🙈. I wonder why you use extra relays for the Auxbeam Switch Panel when they have it covered built-in? I'm not sure if you mentioned it in the Video. Is it for getting a potential free contact from a different 12 Volt System and/or just for having an additi you can run it another switch?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Couple of reasons. Either because I wanted to control a component from a different electrical systems, so it’s just using the circuit from the auxbeam controller as a signal for a relay. Or I want to run a device rated higher than output of that particular circuit on the auxbeam and just use the auxbeam signal for a relay

[@ArcticNorthAdventures]

@@MispronouncedAdventures thanks for Letting me know. That’s what I thought, probably have to do the same as I like to run my extra high beams on the starter battery and not on my lithium battery 🙏

[@lukejay]

This is pretty cool. Do you know if it's possible to have two controllers connected? For example to have one on the dash and one in the camper. this would make it an incredibly useful system for things like aux lights, cameras, heaters, etc.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Actually something I would really like to know myself as I would like to control panel for this next to my bed. I’m going to get in touch with AUXBEAM about it

[@lukejay]

@@MispronouncedAdventures nice one! I actually started making my own version of this which used a touch screen for control and would allow multiple control panels but I got bored and stopped development 😂

[@bntambridge]

interested in this too

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I have spoken to AUXBEAM, multiple controllers for this unit is not possible however a new product out in the middle of this year will support that

[@sheepherlol]

@@MispronouncedAdventures any further update about the new product that will allow multiple panels?

[@leelendon1482]

Hi Alex , a question if I may. What amps will the tr8gger wire need to be operate the relay so I can account for voltage drop over 4 mtrs please . 🙏

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

The current needed trigger the signal pin on a relay is almost 0. You can use very thin wires to do that.

[@leelendon1482]

Thanks Alex for your answer. I'm going to do what you have done . Use the leisure battery for the power . Could I use the trigger wire from the relay to another relay to do the same with another set of spotlights to the same switch panel but use another fused slot 😅. Then use the accessory wire to the switchpanel with an inline switch to turn off the entire switch panel to save on a parasitic power draw ?

[@leelendon1482]

Also have the led lightbar 52 inch , would probably need to up the wiring to get it to the back , 300w over 4 mtrs with I think the supplied 14awg wire or was it 16awg lol

[@MikeNend]

Hi Alex, I’m really busy trying to configure the outside lighting of my to build campervan. I would like to put a led bar with position light on my roofrack. And I want to switch it with the auxbeam control panel. But I’m affraid that won’t work, as the ledbar comes with a 3-way switch. Do you know if this is possible? Thank for your absolute knowlidge about campervan electrics.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Depends what the switch it comes with does. My current light bar came with the switch with a number of buttons but I just cut it off as I could figure out what ever did. What does the 3 way switch do?

[@MikeNend]

It switches the positionlighting (daylights) on and then the big beam. Off turns everything off.

[@Witteringtrucker]

Alex. Quick one. What are the handheld cb radios you use? I've got cheap walkie talkies but range is pants.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I switched from a expensive CB ( Midland Alan 42 DS ) with external antenna as we could hardly talk at 50-100 meters plus. to way cheaper walkie-talkie Uv-5r and we get Almost 2km range with no external antenna

[@Witteringtrucker]

@Mispronounced Adventures cheers bud.

[@stevebrown6665]

Brilliant, no pun intended

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you very much

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I love a good pun anyway

[@David_11111]

Engine pre heater scrap yard find ??? was it expensive ???

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I have two of them ( Webasto Thermo Top V ) , both from eBay from scraped discovery 3 & discovery 4. I paid 99p and £27

[@toxicfury11]

Coming to the party late! I want to do this scenario except only use one switch for it to come on only when high beams are turned on if possible? I don't need to operate it separately. The laws in australia can be a bit funny...

[@davidchristensen1967]

You would still wire it up the same but without the need to wire up the 87A part of the relay. Instead you would have power for the light bar from the AR-800 going to a normally open (NO) contact 87 on a relay so when the high beams energised the relay, it would provide power to the light bar.

[@drewhodge3820]

What sort of engine pre-heater are you thinking about, electric or diesel? I'v got a 220-240v pre-heater and they are very power hungry, even if you have a massive Lifepo4 battery bank. My electric pre-heater is a 3000W that I plug into the mains at home when the temperature drops to freezing. It still takes 25-35 minutes to warm the top of the engine block, depending on the outside temperature and wind speed. If the wind is blowing its cooling the water in the radiator almost as fast as your heating up the water in the engine block. Covering the front of the van with a plastic sheet or blanket reduces the air flow to the vans radiator reducing the cooling effect a lot. Which speeds up the heating almost twice as fast.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I’m installing a Webasto Thermal Top V, which is a diesel powered unit. That is a hydronic diesel heater which will heat the engine coolant at 80° and circulate it. I will also be covering the front grill on a planned trip. This engine preheater isn’t planned for UK use. I have a extremely cold weather trip planned. Whilst apparently the transit to rated to start down to -22c ( i’ll believe it when I see it ) that’s still extremely stressful on the engine I would imagine. would rather have a engine preheater which is normally factory installed on transit based in the Nordic countries.

[@drewhodge3820]

@@MispronouncedAdventures That the way to go. I'v got a Webasto water heater sitting in the box in my living room, ready to go into my van build this year. It will be nice to turn it on remotely via your phone.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Which model? of webasto? Depending which one it might be very easy to turn on remotely using MQTT and some sort of relay

[@drewhodge3820]

@@MispronouncedAdventures Its a refurbished/rebuilt Wabasto thermo top C.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

@@drewhodge3820 I have played with the Top C as well. it’s your a version with a controller ( w-bus ) to start or just a simple switch

[@Wardy75]

Are there any UK based distributors? I'm keen to get one.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I’m unsure I’m afraid, I didn’t find the shipping too long after auxbeam contacted.

[@Wardy75]

@@MispronouncedAdventures did you have to pay any sort of import fees? I've seen conflicting info online.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

No not myself, the Auxbeam do also sell direct via Amazon as well. I can’t imagine you would get import fees on there

[@Pit8800]

@@Wardy75 Hi, just curious if you have ordered anything yet. I’m looking to get 52” light bar and the switch box but I was put off a bit by $116 shipping costs + waiting time. There isn’t much on Amazon atm either.

[@Wardy75]

@@Pit8800 no I haven't. I know you can order from Auxbeam directly, but wasn't to sure on the customs aspect, whereas Amazon give you a guaranteed maximum cost which does seem more appealing.

[@kevjr_kev7218]

Acc wire what is that connected too in the leissure system ..?? This part has me well confused.. as if i connect to the battery in the back of the vehicle ive to get out and get in the back in the vehicle to switch off when parked camping or can i connect it direct to the leisure battery through a fuse a and on/off switch in the cab for example.. and would i have to use thicker gauge wite due to volt drop..??

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Acc it just needs to be a voltage to turn on a signal. as long as the acc is getting a voltage for a battery / power source is shared a ground connection it will turn on. In my case the leisure system and the start battery are isolated. And since the unit is powered by the leisure system its needed the acc connected there, that’s where I added my switch

[@kevjr_kev7218]

@MispronouncedAdventures first of all thank you fir reply .. so am I right in saying you connected the acc via switch to the leisure battery ..?? Sorry for sounding stupid but first time connecting 12v setup on leisure battery.. head is 🤯🤯🤯 and acc is the only confusing part as if I was to put it on a switch the wire has to run about 10meters into the cab so a easy on and off when parked up for a few days when not in use.. its only a pickup truck..

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

@kevjr_kev7218 yes, you can connect the ACC to a the leisure battery And have a switch on the ACC.

[@kevjr_kev7218]

@MispronouncedAdventures perfect that just making it simple for me just needed someone to tell me the solution.. so thank you.. and I'll be watching more of your videos for ideas especially these 5 pin relays.. there interesting on how they work on your other videos..

[@David_11111]

yay

[@debspaul6635]

Just purchased the auxbeam for the van conversion im doing , do you know if i can link the auxbeam Fuseboard from the existing Fuseboard ? I.e link the + and - power cables to power both ? Was hoping i could still keep some appliances on existing Fuseboard. Thanks

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

You should be able power the unit off a wires going to a fuse board. The Aux beam needs a total of 60A. So just make sure your wiring going to and coming off. But anything you want to control has to be on the aux beam fuse board

[@debspaul6635]

@@MispronouncedAdventures brill , thank you

[@ScottieRojo89]

Is there any way to program the switch panel to remember what accessories are left turned on so when you turn on your vehicle the light you had left on turns on? Hope that’s not confusing lol

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Unfortunately I don’t think there is a memory option as such if you turn the unit off and then on again it resets all circuits to the off position

[@JonathanVuillemin]

Would you use it at the back of your van to control all your 12 volts equiprment (fridge, fans, water heater etc) ? or you qould recommand another product for it?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Definitely could do. I know one or two people who how have done this.

[@Espinal_424]

Did you put one switch panel in the rear of the van and also in the front of the vehicle?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I checked with the manufacturer, you can only have one control panel with this system. potential future version may allow multiple controls However I did add localised switches for many of the extra bits of lighting in the back of the van. mainly side and rear lighting. Everything else I wanted access via the cab anyway when driving. They feature in a future video

[@Espinal_424]

@@MispronouncedAdventures wow thanks for getting back to me so soon. You’re awesome!!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

No problem. It’s a good question and one I had been wondering about myself.

[@SuperClotted]

I’m a bit confused why you need the relay for the MaxxAir on/off via CAT5. If you can program the Auxbeam button and panel as a momentary switch, why do you need the relay?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Ah apologies if I didn’t explain it well . The maxxfan isn’t looking for a particular signal on a individual wire in the CAT5. It’s looking for to two particular wires on the CAT5 to be interacted with each other.

[@SuperClotted]

@@MispronouncedAdventures But isn't that what the Auxbeam panel is capable of providing via the momentary switch capability? Sorry if I'm not understanding how the Auxbeam AR-800 relay works.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

The Auxbeam AR800 relay board will just turn the on and off a circuit. I’m using the ar800 to close a relay ( momentary ). I’m pretty much using a relay incorrectly to tap the contacts together on the relays 30 and 87. The on / off max fan trigger is the combining of two wires in the CAT5. Some of the other commands only require one wire, if it was one wire I wouldn’t of needed the relay

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Sorry I made a mistake On/Off was was a combo of 3 wire from the Cat5 ( two of which can already be combined and when the third wire touches that does the on/off command

[@SuperClotted]

@@MispronouncedAdventures Gotcha, understood. My misunderstanding occurred to me in the shower :) Thanks for the detail. Really great setup. and great use of the product 👍

[@pifle9471]

I read that people have had that issue that if you are multiple users in the same area, anybody can log into your system and (while joking or not) could possibly drain your batteries out. Anybody knows if that problem has been adressed? Not much litterature about those products... 😶

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I have a button on my dash to turn the system off when not in use which is what I normally do mainly as the control panels lights up at night . But you are right, the Bluetooth doesn’t need a code as far as I can tell. So you can mess with other units. I had this issue the other weekend with my friends. We turned all our rock lights on using the same app.

[@nutsandy7183]

A button to drain the grey tank?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Whilst I just have a manual tap on my grey tap. A electric ball valve switch on the unit would be a pretty good idea!

[@Alivefrom45]

looking sweet

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

It’s a great product!

[@dsteck5888]

If I want to connect this to my Bluetti power source...do you think I need to use the 60 amp Inline fuse?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

What is the maximum DC amp out on your Bluetti?

[@abettermankind9761]

My Auxbeam AR-800 (Australia) arrived today and I'm excited. What I don't understand is why you used a relay for your Maxxfan control? Why not just hook the Maxxfan power wires straight to the Auxbeam instead of using the cat5/RJ45 like you did?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

It’s a good point and I don’t think I pointed it out well enough in the video why. just hooking the power wires of the maxxfan wouldn’t achieve anything unfortunately. It’s not a “dumb” unit. Some roof fans would just be a fan motor turned on and off via a switch which would work in the way do you have visioned. Whilst the maxxfans PCB needs to be interacted with after the unit is powered. Via the physical buttons, the Remote control or the RJ45 port I’ve used. For example. If you just cut power to the unit. Yes the fan blades would stop moving but the cowling would remain up, and once you reconnect power the fan wouldn’t start again. My system with the relay fakes the power on/off sequence which would normally be done via the rj45 port if you used the maxxfan wall mounted controller.

[@abettermankind9761]

@@MispronouncedAdventures Thank you so much for replying and I now understand what you mean (I think!) I'm asshuming you want to just hit 1 button and the fan starts working where it last left off whereas I don't mind hitting the remote control or the buttons on the unit to make the fan work. All I wanted to do is have the Auxbeam control the power to the Maxxfan power as an added safety. This should work in this application shouldn't it? I do appreciate your videos Alex, thank you.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Ah that’s no problem then. If you just want to just cut power to the unit for safety then just connecting the units power wire to the Auxbeam would work.

[@mikefranks4528]

Subbed!

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Thank you

[@flapper111uk]

So its just a switch box ?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

More of a programmable control panel over just a simple switch box

[@craigheron9961]

I bet you’re popular with the neighbours opposite! 😂😂

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Haha I did actually thinking about putting a comment on about that! Fortunately they’re actually quite interested in what I get up to and watch my videos!

[@wanderingzythophile9083]

Clean that fan! :D

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

I did! 😂, I run it 24/7 at least on low so need a cleaning every few weeks

[@someguy4476]

Only downside to wiring your heater into the unit, your key needs to be on for the heater to run…

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

No, it doesn’t. The engine running or key in the ignition has nothing to do with the control panel being on or off or the engine preheater being on. Now with updated version which has two control panels ( same as this unit just a second Controller ) i can now turn the engine heater on for my bed in the back of the van

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

Some people might choose to wire the control panel to an ignition live, but it’s not necessary at all to do so. I have a manual switch.

[@davidsharp6392]

Why not use Alexa or Google with wifi switching. A fraction of the cost.

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

That’s not how Alex or Google work. needed an internet enabled switches are not convenient or easy. they are Also not that cheap. I’m not sure 8 WiFi switches would work out much less. Don’t get me wrong I love and use Alexa for other parts of the van a lot. But my auxiliary lighting I want to fit a button

[@davidsharp6392]

@@MispronouncedAdventures But my auxiliary lighting I want to fit a button. Is that a momentary Button?

[@MispronouncedAdventures]

@davidsharp6392 they can be set to on / off, momentary or pulse