VW Crafter Self Built Camper Conversion UK. EP7: Electrics.

A van self build series for anyone interested in converting a VW Crafter, Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit or any other large van to be honest. Subscribe to the channel and watch us make the mistakes so you don't have to.
If you love vanlife, Campers, VWs, self built, van conversions, CHPT3s, Airedale Terriers or general toil and sweat, this series may be for you. Join us whilst we build our dream and have a few adventures along the way. Some tips and advice may help you on your journey and some of our adventures may appeal to you. Come and join us, there may even be a Brompton cycle ride or two.

[@blindhowlingdrunk]

Drilling holes in that van with metallic paint job is elevating my stress levels no end😅

[@CampervanHabitude]

I know exactly what you mean. It never gets easy!! 😆

[@Dirt-Diggler]

Shame on you for the face paint Kudos for the excellent musical taste Well done for the electrical instal Respect for sticking at it 👍😎👍

[@CampervanHabitude]

😆 Yes, face paint wasn't my finest moment!! Many thanks for the comments and welcome aboard.

[@Professionalmoochers]

Sounds like you have a great system working with Ruth!! Cheers 😁

[@CampervanHabitude]

It works... as long as I remember my place! 😆

[@Witteringtrucker]

Hey buddy. New to your content and enjoying so far.

[@CampervanHabitude]

Hey, cheers mate. That's great to hear and good to have you aboard. I've just got in from work and contemplating doing a bit in the van but, sod it. Night in front of the TV instead! 😆

[@Witteringtrucker]

You'll never get it built with that attitude. Lol. I worked pretty much every spare minute on my Relay and 9mth in its almost there.

[@CampervanHabitude]

Ahh, I've just subscribed so will hopefully see what you been up to. 👍

[@exploresandtosummit]

Need to see your face painted now you’ve said it! That’s a lot of cabling you must of made a list of what you wanted, would you recommend putting all the cables in a flexible conduit? Good work well done.👍

[@CampervanHabitude]

I'm afraid there was more face paint on my pillow than my face by the time I got to see it! 😆 Yes, most of it was in conduit. You'll see more of that on the next episode TBH. I'm sure it'll become clear as I move forward but, it is very daunting with the amount of cables I've pulled in. Cheers. thanks for watching.

[@mathieujonneaux2690]

Hello, first of all thank you for all these videos you share with us.I’m French and I plan to develop a Crafter like yours so your videos give me a lot of useful information! And about electricity, have you called on a professional who provided you with all the labelled cables and at the right length according to the electrical installation plan? If so, could you give me the name of the company? Because it greatly simplifies the electrical installation. I continue to look at each stage of development;) Maybe we will meet on the road, long VanLife in Crafter

[@CampervanHabitude]

Ahh, Bonsoir Mathieu, ca va? Many thanks for your kind words. It’s great to have a French follower on board, we love your Country and certainly plan on spending more time exploring it once the Crafter is complete. I must say, a large proportion of our family are French, they live in Quebec, Canada. But, I am ashamed to say, I am a non French speaker and I have to rely on Google translate to converse. I am working on that though! With regard to the electrics, yes, we use a UK company called Rayne Automotive. We have used them before, when we converted the VW T6. They are so helpful. On both occasions, I spoke with James, explained what I needed and he did the rest. If you look up Rayne Automotive on KZbin, you’ll see they have released a couple of vlogs and they feature in others, such as Combe Valley Campers too. Yes, it’d be great if our paths cross at some point. Don’t hesitate to contact me again for any other help/guidance and, in return, I will rely upon you as my French correspondent! Good luck with the build. 😆 Mal, Ruth and Raffy.

[@mathieujonneaux2690]

Thank you for this feedback and for this information, so far I have not found an equivalent in France for the manufacture of customised electrical cables. So I will contact this company. Good luck with the Crafter's work! Greetings from France 🇫🇷 👋🏻

[@mathieujonneaux2690]

@@CampervanHabitude 😉

[@garethwatts_]

ok where do i start ........................................how did you figure what where and when . would you be willing to share an inventory of what you bought thanks

[@CampervanHabitude]

Hi Gareth, you’re not the only person to ask that question. 😆TBH, it is just lots of research and head scratching. We have owned a 1964 splitty, T5 and a T6 before so, we knew what we wanted to improve upon and what was going to make our travels more comfortable. We also watched KZbin vlogs, not only of builds but of people using the larger campers - Crafters, Sprinters, Transits etc, to see how they used them. I then sat down and drew plan after plan so I knew where cables, pipes and other feeds needed running. No point putting the floor down if I have not put pipes down from boiler to kitchen example. Material is largely sourced online. We keep an eye on cost and try to get the best deals but, we try to stick to brands we know or trust. We use B&Q a lot for general build material, paint and the Diall insulation (far cheaper than most places and is good insulation, made from recycled bottles - ideal for campers), sound deadening and other thermo mat came from Dodo, 4 way stretch carpet from Harrison Trim Supplies, windows from Kiravans (I think - if not, Vanpimps), aluminium box section from eBay, Maxxair fans from Jackson Leisure, electrics from Rayne Automotive (great company, tell them what you want and they supply it - used them when building the T6) units from Evo Design (again, used them for the T6, they are brilliant). If I have missed anything and you wanna know where we got it, drop me a line and I’ll try and find out. If I could offer advice, I would say, set a realistic time frame so you don’t feel overwhelmed. I have set 12 months for it to look like a camper but 18 months for everything to be fitted and working. Try and look ahead so there are fewer surprises. Things will always be subject to change because it is a self build but, don’t be afraid to take something out and redo it is you don’t like the look of it. My wife asks why I do this. I explain, I’d rather take four hours replacing something than starring at it for five years and hating what I have done. Other than that, I think that is self build in a nutshell. Good luck and drop a line if you need any advice. Cheers. Mal.

[@garethwatts_]

@@CampervanHabitude wow great reply thanks . alot of what you have said i have moved through with the natural reserch done via YT which is how i come across your channel , i tend to binge watch if i like something . what appealed to me in your videos was the fact you are using the van while unfinished and unstarted . this is my approach mainly so i can allow the van to evolve as i use it and see what i want/need. i based alot of early draughts on a time line of use example , bed 8 hours use = very important got to contruct this well, shower 10 mins use = last on the list. this is subject to change constantly of coarse , standard with me . the big money for me is the electrical would you share the cost at raynes and do you have a list of electrical that they supplied my van is a transit same size as yours . thanks . regards gareth

[@CampervanHabitude]

Well, I have had a very poor response to many queries I have asked so, I do try and answer what I can. I will need to check the cost of electrics as Ruth would have sorted that side of things but, I know I spent far too much on this installation. I may have a list of what was supplied but, I'll have to see if I can find it. We are in the process of moving house so, lots packed in boxes! I will get back to you as we're in work at the moment and, as it is a particularly pants day at work, we intend to be in the pub two minutes after leaving!! 😆 Cheers. Mal.

[@garethwatts_]

@@CampervanHabitude the outlook is magnanimous

[@CampervanHabitude]

Right, sorry for delay, Gareth. I have been trying to root out invoices, with little or no luck. I have found the order layout form though so, I can tell you the following kit was supplied: 100ah Roamer lithium battery 2000w Pure sine wave inverter 2 x 12v fuse boxes Dual bus bar and isolator Victron smart solar MPPT Victron Orion B2B Victron battery monitor Blue smart battery charger 2 x solar panels (don’t ask what size, they’re packed away) Consumer unit 240 hook up socket Hook up lead 4 x double 240 sockets 1 x single 240 socket 5 x LED roof lights 7 x secondary LED down lights - touch control for under units etc 1 x third LED download - for under plinth on kitchen unit - floor level low lighting for when I need the toilet at night!! Dimmer switch Garage lighting (not sure how many, three I think) External awning lighting 5 x Flexi stem reading lights 4 x USB ports 1 x 12v socket - in the garage for plugging in air compressors or cool boxes etc. Wiring looms for all the above listed: lighting, water pump, diesel heater, 12v fan, 12v TV, projector, hob ignition, WC power, 2 x Maxxair fans… I’m sure I’ve missed something but, you get the picture. As I say, I can’t find the invoice but, I think it was a little around £2,200.00 ish. It sounds a lot but, we ordered a lot. The Roamer battery alone can be around £1,000 from some places. It can be done an awful lot cheaper too. I shopped around a bit and Rayne Automotive worked out the cheapest and you get a personal service and help when you speak with James. He is a top guy. I hope that helps.