dc fridge conversion - isolde part 3

There was a lot of inertia for me to start tearing into Isolde, to begin the conversion to a DC refrigerator. The project actually involves three systems, which are all my planned modernization for her. The refrigerator is the most desirable update that drives all three.

Because the refrigerator will always powered by 12Vdc, it is time to also increase the amp-hour capacity of the auxiliary battery system. I have lived with only one circa 50 A-hr aux battery all this time. It was a self-help add on under the driver seat compartment I did right from the beginning as Westfalia didn't provide one.

What I plan this time is to free up space under the bench seat by removing the heating radiator. This removal has become quite popular amongst Vanagon owners as a lot of people had experience failure of the radiator. Mine is in perfect working condition but I seldom find the need to use it except during extreme cold in winter trips. Still I rarely use it to save the ware and tear of the blower fan. Removing the entire assembly will free up enough room for 2 full size batteries. In my case I will also remove an Alpine stereo amplifier which I set up to power the rear speaker system.

i remove the instrument Custer to make routing of the audio wiring easier

this is worth as much as gold; i took extreme care when handling the instrument caster as it is irreplaceable - the flexible circuit foil breaks very easily due to age

 i really like how all the switches pop out of the instrument caster for easy service

i was very nervous removing the white main connector to the instrument caster as it mates with the contacts that are part of the flexible circuit foil

i paid with an arm and leg for this Alpine system nearly 18 years ago - it was a top end series with digital interface to a remote 6-disc CD changer

it only has amplifiers for the front speakers - the rear speakers require a separate amplifier

i ate the Korean kimchi flavored tuna - it is delicious but i can taste the MSG; fortunately it is not sweet as I afraid it would be

the Formica that i order arrived

seeing it in a big sheet is a shock as it looks so different from my visualization based on a tiny sample chip

 i hit 14 mph dashing towards the radar bare feet

the back side of the Alpine head unit I removed

the round connector is the interface to the remote CD changer - the audio is carried back as digital as opposed to common analog line level signal via RCA connectors

these are the custom wiring for the audio which will mostly get revamped - they were well routed cleanly out of sight until i pulled them out

you never have too many photo when you need to refer to them

the camper has nice provision for custom wiring routing

in this photo the heater radiator is the white box the audio amplifier sits on; both will be removed; the removal of the audio amplifier will conserve battery power consumption; my new Alpine head unit has built in rear channel amplifiers

 more accidental wiring cable chase

this CD changer will be removed as it is not compatible with all late model Alpine systems

i starting to remove the old refrigerator

westfalia done a bang up job in integrating the refrigerator into the cabinetry design so you don't live with an ugly Dometic refrigerator