Finally, it’s done. The last bits aren’t as neat as I had hoped, but hey, it works. The console port for the heated air outlet really doesn’t look great. Problem was the console itself is made from such cheap material that it couldn’t stand up to my hacking.
Now the thermostat, where to mount it? Constraints be two. First is I couldn’t be arsed to find some replacement 5 wire cable so I reused the original but with the fire damaged section cut out and the the cable spliced. So the shorter cable limits the range of thermostat placement. Secondly, the cable enters the thermostat from the rear, to make a clean surface mount. That means a hole drilled somewhere and the cable routed through God knows what. Instead of a surface mount I made up a very crude swing away mounting plate from some stainless and added crash bars. Mounted this on the forward face of the kitchen unit, right behind the driver’s seat.
It’s held back by a magnet. Swung out its pretty accessible .
So is this a good spot to monitor cabin temperature?
I’m pants at running wires neatly. Start out with the best intentions but it ends up looking slapdash.
The heater really throws out the hot air. Without a diffuser on the outlet it’s an air stream like a hairdryer. And it’s not whisper quiet. But it will heat the van and that’s the important thing
shooftie 
#1 by mariusstrom on July 1, 2016 - 12:40 pm
I think that’s going to be a colder spot than most in the car unless you have really good door seals. it’s going to be drafty and colder if your van is like most others I’ve seen. 🙂
#2 by albell on July 1, 2016 - 1:48 pm
True enough Marius. Most of the installs I’ve seen have the thermostat up on the rear side cabinet wall. Maybe one day I’ll get some cable and move it up there.
As is, if the region I have it on now is a colder representative of the cabin temps, then it means the setting will be lower than it would be elsewhere. I don’t see this as a big deal, but time will tell.
Cheers
Ab
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#3 by mariusstrom on July 1, 2016 - 1:53 pm
Luckily the propex thermostat just has “hotter and not as hot” as it’s gradient scale, so it probably doesn’t matter that much. 🙂
#4 by albell on July 1, 2016 - 2:00 pm
Exactly. Just like life, it’s all relative 🙂
Ab
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#5 by Chris August on July 1, 2016 - 2:24 pm
Look to mount the t stat to the height/level and spot you wish to keep at set temp ie . I always sleep in top bunk , in winter position thermostat higher and rear area
#6 by albell on July 1, 2016 - 3:13 pm
I’ll see how it works out in the current spot Chris. It might end up back there on the wardrobe. Thanks for the tips though, good to get real life feedback.
Cheers
Alistair
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