Electrical Add Ons - What Order?

[MTBApple]

Ok, for all the auto electricians out there....

I plan to fit a Cat 1 Toad Alarm, a Haydn Coolant/temp Tm4 and a leisure battery (removing 2nd starter battery and a Japanese auto starter).

Question is....which order is best? From an uneducated view I was thinking of getting alarm done last (thinking it would maybe be 'upset' if other items we're add after it's installation.

However, ideally I'd like to get the leisure battery done next spring/summer when I'll actually need it.

Thanks for any input.

Pierre

[wonkanoby]

well both alarms could save you money

but haydens is cheaper and a new lumps expensive

[MTBApple]

Thanks. Maybe I wasn't clear. I will get them all done, it was more from a stand point of which order is it best to fit them in. From a 'working on electrics' ease point of view. Compatibility etc. if that makes sense?

Pierre

[bongojoe]

I don't think it matters a great deal which order you do things in, but I'd certainly get the coolant alarm done sooner rather than later. That little red light gives good peace of mind, and cheaper than the other two things on your list.

If you're not going to use the L/B before next year, no point putting it through a cold winter I suppose.

[MTBApple]

Thanks Bongojoe. That was kind of what I was looking for in a response.

I thought that the alarm may have to be done last. As I thought fitting electrical items after an alarm/immobiliser may mess up its operation etc

Pierre

[lancyman]

Definitely coolant alarm before anything else. Everything
Else can wait.

[MTBApple]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm not concerned about the order of importance from a individual item level.

I'm was concerned about it from an electrical conformity/compatibility ease order of things.

I'm aware how importantly people rate having a coolant alarm.

Pierre

[Tony x]

I'd fit the leisure battery first.
That way, you know what circuits you'll be running off it and can wire the alarms accordingly.
Be careful when wiring in the Toad that you don't inadvertently connect the positives of the leisure and starter battery together. If you do, you'll run the starter flat with the leisure.

When we got our Bongo, the bloke had fitted a leisure battery and coolant alarm just before selling it. It already had an alarm.
This caused us a few problems. The previously fitted parking sensors were taking their power off the leisure battery so were always on as was the coolant alarm and the alarm took power from both starter and leisure circuits so their was some crossover. This set up ran both batteries flat and took some sorting

You want the coolant alarm powered by the Acc circuit. Ours runs fine from the power supply for the indicators. There are two Acc circuits, one turns off when you use the starter motor but that doesn't really matter - you just get another beep from it as it self tests again.
Likewise, run the Toad off an always on starter battery circuit (such as the one the horn is on)
Possible points of cross over between the leisure and starter circuits are the door open switches and the central locking trigger, both usually powered by the leisure battery. However, you should be ok unless the alarm sources its power from other places apart from its 12v power wire.
Check for zero continuity between the two positive battery terminals when both are disconnected from the battery.
With the batteries connected, you'll get some continuity as batteries themselves conduct electricity between positive and negative terminals and both the batteries are connected to earth.

[g8dhe]

If you fit anything before putting the L/B in bear in mind, or warn the electrician, that you will be swapping the Top left 10Amp fuse (X03-1) and the Top right 15 Amp fuse (X03-8) over to a permanent connection to the L/B later.
The LCA needs a switched supply from the Ignition switch rather than a permanent supply, also car alarms that work on the principle of watching the voltage drop on the interior lights can be confused when there on the L/B rather than the S/B!

[Simon Jones]

I wired the LCA to the power (IG and E) on the rear of the instrument panel: the two wires going off to the left. On my first Bongo, I fitted the LED between temp and fuel gauges, but on the current van I've fitted it to a switch blanking plate. The other thing is speedo chip which has since been removed.



As Tony says, start with the battery changes first and work outwards from that.

[MTBApple]

Now that's exactly the sort of info I wanted.

Thanks guys

Pierre

[briwy]

Definitely coolant alarm before anything else. Everything
Else can wait.

I agree, you won't need a second battery or alarm if you don't have an engine that runs.

[Simon Jones]

Chicken and egg. What happens if the the van gets stolen first due to lack of alarm? Why not get a warm jumper on and make a day of it and fit the lot ? However long you think it will take, double it and double it again. I thought a few quick jobs on my Volvo including changing the intercooler could be done in a morning but it actually took all weekend

[MTBApple]

Oh my good god! I don't mind attempting and learning little jobs. This is something I'll leave to a specialist!!

I'm sure I could get a vehicle into that state, but not so confident returning it to its original configuration!

Pierre

[Simon Jones]

I've still got two bolts left over