Anderson plug in blank air vent?!?

[huffhuff]

Evening all,

I've been thinking about where to fit my Anderson plug as I don't really want it in the typical battery box location. I'd rather it was external and not needing doors/windows open for use.

I've been thinking about using the blanked air vent on the wing to house something already, so what are people's opinions on mounting the Anderson plug in there too?

I'm going to fit the flap with a hinge and filing cabinet-esque lock. I'll run the positive to the back of the starter motor and the negative to ground somewhere close on the chassis.

Anything obvious I'm missing?!?

 

[lynall]

Why not just mount it behind the grill then all you have to do is slide the plug though the grill slats to plug it in, I think I read on the D3 forum where a guy had made the land rover grill badge removable and the anderson plug was behind the badge.
Front of the vehicle is probably the most user friendly, just nose the car up to where you want it and you are sorted.
Prob with outside mounting is corrosion, Im sure is vaselined up it will be fine, on trucks over the years Ive seen badly rotted out anderson plugs.

 

[lynall]

Very neat solution, just for ideas really.

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic120504.html?highlight=Anderson+grill

 

[huffhuff]

Very neat solution, just for ideas really.

http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic120504.html?highlight=Anderson+grill

Idea pinched, nice job

 

[JohnM70]

Damn good idea! Will add to the list on the re-build!

 

[FlyingPete]

I've seen this before which looks like a good (if expensive!) solution: http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/gmb-fender-locker.html

I daresay that with some sheet metal, tin snips and a bit of ingenuity you could make up something very similar. I'd be tempted to glue the original plastic cover to the top of the lid too to disguise it.

If you're not bothered too much about the appearance, we have a defender tow truck at work that has an anderson connector simply bolted to the cover plate, with the wires going through a pair of holes in it to the battery.

 

[huffhuff]

Slowly gathering the bits and bobs for the above. Where's best for 35mm battery cable? No cheaper than good old eBay? I'm in two minds now, do I just get a couple of meters and to fit and then chop the ends off my 'ok' jump leads of buy a proper heavy duty set?!?

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

welding suppliers are good source for 35mm cable, and its nice and flexible too.

 

[huffhuff]

I've just seen that Halfords (of all places) actually have a decent set of 35mm 4.5m jump leads for just £35! Shocking I know; http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/jump-leads/halfords-35mm-booster-cables

 

[ratty]

Bolted Straight onto the front bumper.

 

[huffhuff]

welding suppliers are good source for 35mm cable, and its nice and flexible too.

Super thanks, what do they use it for? Torch extension? Just so I know what to ask for when I call, there are 2 semi-local

Thanks

 

[ratty]

Super thanks, what do they use it for? Torch extension? Just so I know what to ask for when I call, there are 2 semi-local

Thanks

Earth cable

 

[huffhuff]

Simple yet effective ratty. I do like the idea of concealing it behind the badge though - it's a bit more James Bond!

 

[huffhuff]

Earth cable

Excellent, cheers

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

earth lead replacements mainly, just mark the ends so you know which is +ve, I use a bit of heat shrink, but a red tie wrap is just as good, or at a stretch red tape (tho it does come off) for jump leads just get the ones with red and black insulation on the clamps.

 

[huffhuff]

Will, red heat shrink it is

Thanks all, I will update with progress.

 

[lynall]

If it can be seen from outside the car a mega fuse is also a good idea just in case someone comes along with a chunk of steel and shorts it out.
Remember the stories a few years ago where people were pulling the winch cable over the car and hooking it on the rear and then shorting the winch solenoid out!

 

[bankz5152]

I fitted mine to the passenger side footwell, short amount of cable, inside and It can reach near enough anywhere I need it to. Bad point passenger door has to be open.. Though I suppose that will stop me driving away before disconnecting! haha

If it makes any odds I used 175amp battery cable from Maplin, did the trick nicely, also used spiral wrap to make one cable black.

 

[huffhuff]

I just got some cable from the local welding supply place, £2.50 a meter for the 35mm stuff! Billy bargain!

 

[bankz5152]

Nice job!