Step one. Bought the van.
Hello Everybody, First post. I camp a lot in tents but after spending three days straight in a tent in the rain at Dolly Sods I swore I'd make a change. Here it is. Bought it Wednesday. Dro...
Forum Discussion
Sofa-bed continued:
Time to wire some things together. I'm using uninsulated push-on style terminal ends along with 18 gauge wire. Here I'm inserted two wires through the crimp end of the terminal, after having stripped the insulation off the wire ends..
Use a crimping tool to join the wires to the terminal.
Here's how it appears after crimping.
Since I'm using uninsulated terminals I have to insulate them. I'll be using shrink tubing. The tubing comes in different sizes so use one that's appropriate for what you're working on.
After sliding on the shrink tube you can use a heat gun.
After heating with the gun the tube will shrink to fit the terminal.
To connect the diodes I'm using butt connectors. That's them at the top of the picture.
Just slide the wire ends into one end of the butt connector and crimp it. Then slide whatever you're joining it too in the other end and crimp that end.
Here's what it looks like all joined together with a limit switch.
To mount the toggle switch to the side of the sofa-bed I used one of the left-over bracket rejects.
Then did a little cutting and drilling.
Screwed it to the side of the sofa-bed. This will not be the permanent switch. Just until the van is finished.
Here's how the switch appears from the back all wired up.
Now to attach the limit switches. Here is a diagram that shows where the two limited switches are mounted. Notice that limit switch #1 is closest to the Drive Actuator and #2 is closet to the Lift Actuator. It might be a little confusing that the switch closest to each actuator actually controls the opposite actuator.
Here is limit switch #1 mounted below the Drive Actuator. You can see that the drive rod from the actuator has the switch in the closed position. Since operation of the Lift Actuator is dependent on the position of the Drive Actuator this limit switch is wired to the Lift Actuator.
When the Drive Actuator is almost completely retracted, limit switch #1 is opened.
Here is limit switch #2 next to the fully extended Lift Actuator. The switch is opened and closed by the position of the Back Platform.
Luckily I bought 5 of the limit switches before I started. Lucky because I broke one switch and bent back the lever on another while trying to get the placement and adjustments just right.
Continued -
Time to wire some things together. I'm using uninsulated push-on style terminal ends along with 18 gauge wire. Here I'm inserted two wires through the crimp end of the terminal, after having stripped the insulation off the wire ends..
Use a crimping tool to join the wires to the terminal.
Here's how it appears after crimping.
Since I'm using uninsulated terminals I have to insulate them. I'll be using shrink tubing. The tubing comes in different sizes so use one that's appropriate for what you're working on.
After sliding on the shrink tube you can use a heat gun.
After heating with the gun the tube will shrink to fit the terminal.
To connect the diodes I'm using butt connectors. That's them at the top of the picture.
Just slide the wire ends into one end of the butt connector and crimp it. Then slide whatever you're joining it too in the other end and crimp that end.
Here's what it looks like all joined together with a limit switch.
To mount the toggle switch to the side of the sofa-bed I used one of the left-over bracket rejects.
Then did a little cutting and drilling.
Screwed it to the side of the sofa-bed. This will not be the permanent switch. Just until the van is finished.
Here's how the switch appears from the back all wired up.
Now to attach the limit switches. Here is a diagram that shows where the two limited switches are mounted. Notice that limit switch #1 is closest to the Drive Actuator and #2 is closet to the Lift Actuator. It might be a little confusing that the switch closest to each actuator actually controls the opposite actuator.
Here is limit switch #1 mounted below the Drive Actuator. You can see that the drive rod from the actuator has the switch in the closed position. Since operation of the Lift Actuator is dependent on the position of the Drive Actuator this limit switch is wired to the Lift Actuator.
When the Drive Actuator is almost completely retracted, limit switch #1 is opened.
Here is limit switch #2 next to the fully extended Lift Actuator. The switch is opened and closed by the position of the Back Platform.
Luckily I bought 5 of the limit switches before I started. Lucky because I broke one switch and bent back the lever on another while trying to get the placement and adjustments just right.
Continued -
