During the last week, I completed the desk and storage in the rear, as I posted elsewhere, and today, I set about the front area.

I had fun, the CB and Scanner were mounted rather badly on a not too good mount system that rattled and looked terrible, so today I ripped everything out, and started again from scratch - Now the radios are mounted firmly, on powder coated rails, that hold steady, and look good. I also got rid of the haphazard wiring that powered the arrangement, and did some permanent wiring to the cct that used to power the ashtray cigar lighter. (As I no longer have an ashtray - the CB has been there for the life of the truck, I had nothing attached to the power line) This arrangement is much better. I moved from the passenger side to the driver's side, and went crazy with the tangle of wires under the dash - Why is it that every time you take a vehicle to get worked on, they mess with wires, and add things that hang loose? Crazy. I tidied it all up, and finally got round to mounting a 4 position switch panel to the dash, instead of it hanging loosely from the CB mount. It looks much better. I took out the lower dash trim, and started trying to work out the tangle from higher ground, and managed to at least figure that some of it was not connected to anything - amazing, I have owned the truck from new, and there are loose wires in there.

I ran a fused lead from the battery, to power the switch panel, and intend to have the power in the back attached to a 30 amp breaker on that panel. I think I am safe with 30 amps and 10 gauge wire... ( hope so) Wolfie, how do I work out wire to amperage)

When I get it all finished and the trim back on again, I will take a few snaps and put 'em on webshots, and maybe one or two here. It is starting to be fun - I have been under the dash, upside down, right ways up, and sideways. Before I could never fit under there, so being thinner is great. I can do more.

I am trying to find a way of switching the courtesy light cct, but cannot figure it out - I often use the truck in my 'other' work, and displaying my whereabouts with the lights and ding ding ding is hazardous to my health. I shall manage it someday - I have been wanting it since I bought the truck, in '96.

I need to update my mod list I suppose..

Theo

 

Somewhere on disc I have the US NAVY TECHNICIANS HANDBOOK.

-You won't leave San Diego without a copy if I can help it.

In there are wire size guides, formulea for converting volts, amps, resistance, and power (watts), conversion charts, and a lot of stuff you may never need.

Fun book - and CD ROMs are stackable...


For now, check this out...

Chart

It looks like for a 30 amp draw, you can run as far as 18 feet if you use 10 guage wire on a twelve volt system.

 

That will be a useful thing to have, Wolf - I need to get many things, now that I am thinner - I have energy to use, brain power to increase, strength to build and a new lifestyle to follow..

Theo

 

Ok...now that you got your ding ding ding under control, how are you gonna rig the diesel for silent running

 

My truck is very quiet, when undercover....

Theo

 

Greywolf: Am I reading the chart wrong, I came up with 9' on the 12 volt chart?? I'm going to print a copy out and want to be sure I am reading it correctly.

Thanks in advance,
Lenny

 

That is what I came up with too. Wolfus got it wrong...

Theo

 

Okay - you got me!

I was looking at the 24 volt chart.

Oops...

*Raises paws palms up, and smiles cheesily*