My President

[PhilMorrison]

Hi . I have some Electrical supply/tech questions, so I guess here's a good oppertunity for me to introduce myself. Appologies if it's not the right place to post.
My name is Phil Morrison. I've owned a Nissan President with 4 pump system for the past 8 months or so (previously Topi's for a short while) and I also owned the Gold Datsun 260c last known to be owned by username M@rk on this forum.

I'm currently taking on a bit of a rebuild on the President. It's never been finished, and it really does deserve a bit of love, as it's such a nice car.

I've just started redoing the entire hydraulic lines using stainless pipework, and new braided flexies. Then I'll complete a few suspension pickup point changes so it can belly up better. Then bodywork, then a full respray, then full leather re-trim blah etc blah.

Somewhere in all that (sooner rather than later) I want to re wire the pumps (as it's currently done in household earth wire  ) and fit a pre-wired switchbox. I think I'm set on the CCE 16 switch box. Does anyone deal with CCE in the UK? or am I better off trying to order direct?

Batteries are also something I want to sort out as there's a bit of a mish mash. It's a 4 pump system, and each pump has a battery. The trunk is set to carry 8 batteries though, and I was wondering if it's possible to double up batteries to make each pump run at 24v? I think the solonoids say 12v on them, so I pressume they would need changing?

Buying batteries: From this very thread: I'm best to go for normal 663's and 664's. Anyone know of a place to bulk buy 8? Or is local still the best way to go?

Charging: This is a big one. I'd love to be able to have a split charge system, that means I just plug the car into the mains, and it charges all batteries as currently it takes 2 days for just 4 batteries..
I've read on this forum that Curtis maybe able to supply something like this: Do they build stuff to customers requirements? Or is there something off the shelf that I should look at using?

Thanks guys. I've got to say it's been a pleasure reading the forum for the past hour and finding you actually welcome new people. 

[ant]

off topic but i gotta say it.............. that president rocks!!!!!

0h and welcome Phil

[PhilMorrison]

Thanks Ant. I've clocked your sig earlier, and will be in touch for some small whitewalls. I'm currently struggling to find some 185/45/15 tyres to let you get stuck into. I may have to buy new Nankangs, but you need to have a 1000 miles on new tyres to do them, so I may not be able to have them this summer

[fatdaddy]

wont have time to answer till wed................

welcome

[fatdaddy]

what pumps does it have ?

[PhilMorrison]

It's a Rayvern system, but I'm not sure what make the pumps are. I'll check in the light tomorrow

[PhilMorrison]

Okay I  can't see much in the way of branding on the pumps, but here's some photo's that I hope will help.

[fatdaddy]

let me think about this for a bit........................
(wedding aniversary tomorrow so it may be Friday!)

can you put up a pic of the rams that are leaking showing the mounts?

[PhilMorrison]

Actually the cars on the ramp at the moment, so here's a shoddy phone picture I've just taken.



as you can see the fitting stands very proud, so hearing I can use a banjo connection is good

[fatdaddy]

you will need replacment rams with the same external diameter........................ which is ?

[PhilMorrison]

External diameter of the ram is 38mm. The length of the external section is 360mm

Diameter of the piston or shaft is 20mm and at full height it protrudes 180mm., so that's more like 7" of travel which is weak. I'm guessing I'm kind of limited by the leaf springs though, and if I want serious height I need to 4 link the axle?

[fatdaddy]

[thought it was time to move it now!]

Leafs will limit travel.

[PhilMorrison]

Yeah I want to do to much to the car to be limited to one thread about electrics thanks for splitting it 

Well our main cars haven't needed to be on the ramps for the past couple of days, so I've had one of my guys working on the President getting a load of little problems sorted. I'm also daily driving it at the moment which always brings a big smile to my face.. I really need to pull my finger out if I want to get all the mechanicals, hydraulics, bodywork and interior sorted for summer though.

[fatdaddy]

so we know what setup you are working in  Phil............

Well our main cars haven't needed to be on the ramps for the past couple of days, so I've had one of my guys working on the President

What do you do and where ?

Hi . Somewhere in all that (sooner rather than later) I want to re wire the pumps (as it's currently done in household earth wire  ) and fit a pre-wired switchbox. I think I'm set on the CCE 16 switch box. Does anyone deal with CCE in the UK? or am I better off trying to order direct?

CCE switch box is fine. Direct would wortk as its a light part [postage] unless it could be added to Tony's US shipment

Batteries are also something I want to sort out as there's a bit of a mish mash. It's a 4 pump system, and each pump has a battery. The trunk is set to carry 8 batteries though, and I was wondering if it's possible to double up batteries to make each pump run at 24v? I think the solonoids say 12v on them, so I pressume they would need changing?

Running at 24v would be the norm/min for a car that size. TBH I dont know much about the Rayvern pumps but I am pretty sure I recognise the make and source.
All "lowrider" solenoids and valves are rated at 12v. In practise we use them for such very short burs of time that they will cope with higher............ Full on US Hoppers still use the same sols at 60+volts.
You are stuck with the ones that come with your pumps rather than being abaale to choose what is best BUT I remember Colin Ware's car [name escapes me but it was the one that cought fire in the end] ran 6 pumps and high volts to start with, in the end I think it went down to 4 pupms but still ran 36 or 48v. Certainly "Sweet and Sour" ran Rayvern pumps and 36v.
So your should handle 24v easily enough.
You would run the pumps and switch circuit at 24v. To get the best out of your batteries you will connect them as four banks of two, so giving 24v per bank, then join the banks in parrallel  so everything is drawing 24 v from the same source. That equalises the draw form ALL 8 batteries so they all reach recharge point at the same time.

Buying batteries: From this very thread: I'm best to go for normal 663's and 664's. Anyone know of a place to bulk buy 8? Or is local still the best way to go?

Freight will always be more than any bulk discount unless you are buying  24+

Charging: This is a big one. I'd love to be able to have a split charge system, that means I just plug the car into the mains, and it charges all batteries as currently it takes 2 days for just 4 batteries..
I've read on this forum that Curtis maybe able to supply something like this: Do they build stuff to customers requirements? Or is there something off the shelf that I should look at using?

If you go for 24v you just need a 24v charger [truck or tractor], the bigger the better as you want to charge 8 batts at the same time. I did a few with one of the Motorsport type disconnects so you had a plug in point. However you do it you MUST have a main earth disconnect that is easy to get at and is in the circuit so you can charge whith it disconnected.
 

Thanks guys. I've got to say it's been a pleasure reading the forum for the past hour and finding you actually welcome new people. 

just ask away 

we're mostly a bunch of slappers  who will go with anyone   

the rep we have for not welcoming peeps is down to me being completely unbending on flamers and for lo-rdz always saying that no one gets into the club unless all existing members agree to them.

[fatdaddy]

ram mountings.................

I looks as if your top mount is a cross pin with no artuculation ?
I wouldnt fancy that for a long life even with leaves as the bottom will move through an arc front to back. With a 4 bar it would definatly need to be a ball joint of some sort.



oh, and ask if you need to know cable spec to replace the house wiring      that has to be one of the wworst things I've ever seen