For those of you interested in the progress of my various electrical upgrades…
Switches
- The solar switch interrupts the connection from the solar panel to the MPPT boost charge controler. The solar charger is powered from the panel, not the battery. (12ga)
- The inverter switch is just a relay extension wire I spliced in from the inverter which is buried in the box under the seat. (18ga)
- Heater is, again, just a relay switch and existing wiring was right there.
- The rest control the LED zones.
I also swapped the 12v cigarette lighter plug because I am a non-smoker. It has quick charge USB ports and a handy volt meter so I can monitor the 12v supply.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F84VVB4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
120v Outlets
In cab with USB:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DD5YKFZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Inside MaxBox, front of truck bed:
External recessed In-use box on rear of truck: I put it on the back just in case I might forget something was plugged in and drive off. In that event the plug would just be plucked out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K1G0PE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This required relocation of the license plate holder… extra little upgrade.
Trailer Hitch
I cleaned and re-painted the trailer hitch with Rust-Oleum enamel and spliced in flat 4 trailer wiring. I found a nice forged aluminum hitch piece and a nylon capped ball made by Anderson with my favorite stainless hitch pin I always recommend. I really don’t like rust.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GGI6MM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GC67AS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000COX0MY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Solar Panel Installed on the roof rack
I added a piece of aluminum angle front & back because the panel was just a little short of making the full span. Lots of extra work for less than two inches but it has the added benefit of adding rigidity. I kept all hardware aluminum or stainless, of course.
Solar junction… you can see other wiring for lights, etc behind it.
The rest of the Addressable LED pixel lighting
Finished the LED lighting except I have not yet installed the frosted covers for the LED channel.
There is one controller in the back of the box which places it as close as possible to where most of the pixels originate. The controller has a direct power feed and the whole 5v DC converter supply can be switched off and on with a switch I added under the e-brake (afterthought). It is a 40a supply at 5v so you might say, @Gemrix isn’t that too much for that little switch? I thought that too but then I remembered that I am actually switching the input side which is less than 3A peak @ 70-80 volts factoring in the efficiency of the converter.
These strips can be a bit sensitive to voltage drop because they run at only 5v. Every single pixel has it’s own IC chip. This is why I over-sized the 5v PSU and wiring.
PS: Wago lever nuts as seen in that box are way more fun to work with vs old-school wire nuts. You can mix wire guage and type securely. I added a weep hole in the box just in case the cable glands through the roof would ever leak. I did shrink wrap the little bundle of wires to the LED strips.
CAB, 48 pixels (14ga power & data wire return because of the longer run)
BOX, 93 pixels (14ga power & direct splice for data)
TOP, 205 left + 205 right = 410 (12ga power, and 2x direct splice data)
20190608_140516|690x388
!
551 pixels total
I still plan to post a video of the pixels in action when I get the chance.