Calvin & Hobbes - Life after the Red Wagon leads to a T4R?

[Salahhudin]

Shower Update Part 2

Some may have seen my other thread but this is just a copy/cleanup with some updates I recently made.

The tank. Approx 25 gallons.​

The tank is built from aluminum with various fittings place throughout - clean out, mounting area, inlets, outlets, and fittings for a electric heater. Missing are the gussets which were welded on later after dry fitting the tank.

After welding the gussets I mocked up a plate that would hold the pump and relay for the electric heaters. The relay was needed as the heaters are rated at 12v 500Watts each and I used two of them so I could bring water from 75F to 115F within 20 minutes.

Relay and pump mounted

Dual heaters wired with MIL-W-22759/16 wire

Pump, relay, power wires, delphi weatherproof plug

Temperature Probe​

I picked up a digital thermostat from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019I3YCFS The thermostat will be wired to control the temperature of the water by triggering the relay that controls the two heating elements. The probe is attached to a stainless steel washer so that it can measure the temp at the bottom of the tank.

Water pickup w/ slight bend to pick up water at the bottom of the tank

All wired and hoses mounted

Tank mounted to frame using stock threaded holes

Part 3 - 1 year update

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HTWP59S
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B7OYCBK
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y831RM0
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0737LDS4L
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-1841-electrical/dp/B0753J7S1W
https://www.mcmaster.com/#9349k33/=1dswdo4

After living with this thing for a year I noticed there was a few things needing some improvement which were:

1) No water level gauge which caused Flint Michigan water crisis like anxiety
2) The $15 thermostat failed every 2-3 months causing readouts over 250F which makes my 4runner a certified steam engine.

To fix the water level issue I ordered CPWR Guage along with a KUS water level sensor (links above). The thermostat I went with the Blue Seas 1841 unit as well as a tiny temp sensor module so I could monitor water temperature from the rear of the 4runner.

Water level sensor installed and two holes drilled for the Blue Seas temp sensors. The black foam is insulation.

Left shitty sensor vs Blue Seas sensor

Hacked up the trim where the 12v power and USB input goes. Looks ugly but the Blue Seas thermostat is huge!

Drew up and 3D printed a new facia to house the thermostat, dual battery switch, and a new USB high power plug

New center stack layout

Blue Seas smaller temp display. Had to essentially tear apart to rear just to install this

New rear power/info display

Still clean inside after a year with minimal mineral buildup​

With these items addressed the tank setup is pretty much perfect barring any issues with the Blue Seas systems. The thermostat is much nicer than my previous one and the display is great. It's capable of having 3 additional temperature readouts but I'm unsure what else I would want to monitor. The rear temp readout will likely be my favorite upgrade for this setup since it'll allow me to monitor temps whenever I hang out in the rear of the 4runner.

This is AH-mazing! What are using for controlling heating temps? You said the inkbird failed? I so want to eventually get something like this under the rig. Keep up the great work!

 

[LOLSNOW]

This is AH-mazing! What are using for controlling heating temps? You said the inkbird failed? I so want to eventually get something like this under the rig. Keep up the great work!

I use a blue seas temp monitor found here: M2 OLED Temperature Monitor - Blue Sea Systems

It's been there for almost a year without any issues where as the inkbird would fail every 6 or so months. Here's a view of it in located on the bottom of the center console

 

[Big Daddy K]

So maybe I missed it, but, did you relocate the air tank or just ditch it when you installed the inverter? How is the performance difference when airing up with vs without the tank?
Also, did you remove the factory inverter or keep both?

Your install is super clean! I am researching for an on-board air set up now.

 

[geoalesolo]

I am looking to do something similar to your electrical set up and was wondering if you bought a kit form CE Auto or did you just assemble the parts yourself? How long was the 0/1 cable from the right passenger battery to the back? Thanks,

Geo