LED's and trap door for Engel

[photogod]

Took my storage systen apart today to make room for the new Engel 45 and added some strengthining supports to hold the ply top and secure the fridge. added some more 3/4" square. Fortunately the fridge fit within 21/2" in the already fabed frame ad a couple out riggers to hold the weight on the outside of the frame. This was not needed before because of the width of the ply but as soon as I cut the trap door I noticed that the side flexed way to much.

 

[photogod]

I added some turnbuckles on each end, cut the ply top and replaced the top and the carpet. I cut the trap door so it would fit back in and attached the cut out carpet to that. You can barely tell where the trap door is when it is back in place

 

[photogod]

The fridge fits very nice down lower than it was when it sat on top of the storage unit. It was just to high to see in and I'm 6' 2". Looks great with the lower gate closed. I coated the hook ends of the turnbuckles with plastic dip (spray) so they wouldn't scratch the handles on the fridge. I toyed witth the idea of putting it on a slide but I think I will be fine with it the way it is. Unfortunately I lost a storage drawer but I will think of somthing else to take up the slack. Then..... I added some super cool high output LED's for a night time soft light and wired them into the switch on the side pannel. You can see them in the photo to the far right.

Fun day of upgrades on a sunny hot afternoon. Comments welcome, as usual.

 

[jzmq]

Sweet job. How much does the drawer steup weigh by itself?

 

[photogod]

The frame is super light, I'm thinking 25# tops but as soon as I added the 3/4" bottom and sides it went to 60#+. Still light enough I can lift it myself.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Truckasaurus]

Nice set up.

I'd like to know more about the LED lighting you used. I've read so much about LED or other light "engines" and such, and would like to enhance the "ambience" inside my truck.

Your input/insight and suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[photogod]

No problem... The LED's I put in were from West Marine. They are high intensity singles and they, are maybe, 3/16's wide and1 1/4 long. They throw a pretty good light in total darkness, that is enough to see what your doing but not enought to light up the entire interior. I also put a couple stick on tripple LED's on the rear speaker grills to light up the rest of the interior rear. They work pretty well. Lots of info on lighting here:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categoryg/10001/-1/10001/252/82/9/man/asc/0/grid

Some of the members have also done domelights in LED but I can't recall where they got them from. I like the Marine stuff because it is designed for harsh environments and a lot of vibration. More cost but better product, I think.

Hope this helped.

 

[spressomon]

No problem... The LED's I put in were from West Marine. They are high intensity singles and they, are maybe, 3/16's wide and1 1/4 long. They throw a pretty good light in total darkness, that is enough to see what your doing but not enought to light up the entire interior. I also put a couple stick on tripple LED's on the rear speaker grills to light up the rest of the interior rear. They work pretty well. Lots of info on lighting here:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categoryg/10001/-1/10001/252/82/9/man/asc/0/grid

Some of the members have also done domelights in LED but I can't recall where they got them from. I like the Marine stuff because it is designed for harsh environments and a lot of vibration. More cost but better product, I think.

Hope this helped.

You have given me an idea for my fridge/freez. I am going to run an LED off of the fridge/freez up to the driver's/dash area so that I know when it's on or off...at night I can see the reflection of the LED's on my Waeco in the rear window but in sun light I can't see them from the DS. Thanks!

 

[Truckasaurus]

No problem...

Some of the members have also done domelights in LED but I can't recall where they got them from. I like the Marine stuff because it is designed for harsh environments and a lot of vibration. More cost but better product, I think.

Hope this helped.

Thanks!

I have the TaskLEDs from George in the two domes, Superbrights in the doors, and just wanted to enhance the ambiance in some of the darker recesses of the interior somehow.

Great ideas!

 

[Corbet]

Tell me more about that "side panel" you installed.

 

[photogod]

Another boating item adapted to the land barge. Again West Marine comes through. The pannel is fused and switched with three connections, a 12 volt socket built in and a battery volt meter to see the rmaining voltage on the second battery. It fit perfect in the access door on the pass side. I ran #4 from the second batt back to the rear and added a fuse box behind the pannel and routed out the pannel to the size of the fused pannel. The other 12 volt outlet is wired direct to the fuse box behind and is for the Engel 45. I didn't want a switch for that.

Electrical:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/144063/10001/348/118/9

I still need to change out the lables on the pannel.

 

[Corbet]

I still need to change out the lables on the pannel.

No just exchange the hook on the end of you winch line for an anchor...

Seriously, very nice install and thanks for sharing.

 

[photogod]

Thanks. I have thought about carying a Danforth anchor to use for sand rescue. I don't know what the max weight is on them though.