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Peter Td4



Member Since: 23 Oct 2010
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Posts: 228

Belgium 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Santorini Black
Micro Camper build on Puma 110 HCPU
Hi all,

Thought it might be of interest to see how I converted my 10 year old (MY07) 110 High Cap to a small "Micro Camper"

After many months of planning and gathering ideas and 6 months of building in my spare time, this is the end result:


Click image to enlarge


Everything is homemade, except for the 30mm sandwich panels. I got these made to my specifications by a local company.
It took me a couple of days to build the hardtop, with a bit of help from my wife Thumbs Up .

As pictures speak for themselves (don't mind the mess):

Daytime layout:

Click image to enlarge


Nighttime it looks like this:

Click image to enlarge


Notice the doors on the kitchen cupboards, these open vertically.
The doors double as tables.


Click image to enlarge


I kept the rear latch of the tub, and added a second one on the hard top.

Click image to enlarge


Heating is by means of the small 2kW diesel heater

Click image to enlarge


Electrics is rather elaborate Laughing

Click image to enlarge

On top you see two 25A chargers, used when connected to the grid (e.g. at a campsite) but also to charge while driving.
The big grey unit is a 60A solar charger, needed because I have approx 600Wp of solar panels on the roof.

Click image to enlarge

Charging current from both solar panel goes up to 45 Amps.

Batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) with an available capacity of 360 Ah, weight is only about 70 kg.

Click image to enlarge


As I didn't want to have any open flames for cooking, I opted to go full electric; using induction.
And this works great Wink


Click image to enlarge
 Peter,

Defender 110 StaWa - Td5
Defender 110 HCPU - Puma
Defender 90 Soft Top - Td5


Last edited by Peter Td4 on 6th May 2017 10:34pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #621855 5th May 2017 8:55am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Very nice!
Post #621866 5th May 2017 9:25am
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Mr Fox



Member Since: 10 Sep 2011
Location: green & pleasant land
Posts: 1037

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Keswick Green
Hats off to you Peter, you've done an excellent job. Thumbs Up
Post #621868 5th May 2017 9:33am
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Enid_Puceflange



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: edinburgh
Posts: 1172

Scotland 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Baltic Blue
That's tremendous Thumbs Up My confidence has been writing cheques that my abilities can't cash for years.
Post #621922 5th May 2017 2:20pm
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Procta



Member Since: 03 Dec 2016
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 5172

United Kingdom 
that's fantastic!! just think if it was a 6x6! Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back

Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it!
Post #621934 5th May 2017 3:15pm
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NormanD



Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: Bristol
Posts: 286

England 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Do you have a circuit diagram together with details of the equipment used, as I am considering something like this for a Trailer conversion to an Incident Support Unit for a Response organisation NormanD WE191

2015 110 XS Utility
2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive
Post #621942 5th May 2017 4:01pm
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GSLRO



Member Since: 13 May 2012
Location: Tyne and Wear
Posts: 499

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Chawton White
Bow down Bow down

Very well done, now enjoy your time! Adventure isn't paved!
Post #621964 5th May 2017 5:53pm
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mk1collector



Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6769

England 2004 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Bonatti Grey
That looks surprisingly big when your stood in it. Looks great Thumbs Up Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
Post #621968 5th May 2017 6:05pm
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Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3499

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
Nicely done, Peter Thumbs Up
Post #622021 5th May 2017 8:45pm
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Ellisboy



Member Since: 13 Oct 2013
Location: Deep South
Posts: 539

1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green
Excellent job Peter Cool

Stephen.
Post #622023 5th May 2017 8:46pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10756

England 
Great conversion there Peter Bow down 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.
Post #622243 6th May 2017 9:22pm
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Peter Td4



Member Since: 23 Oct 2010
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Posts: 228

Belgium 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Santorini Black
Thanks all for the positive comments Bow down .
It is indeed surprising how much room we have on the inside Laughing
We just made a 450km round trip from Antwerp (B) to Aachen (D) with a stop at Baraque Michel, the 2nd highest point of Belgium (674m), while the odometer just hit 40.000 km Thumbs Up .
Fuel consumption was 26.6 MPG, which is not too bad I think.


NormanD wrote:
Do you have a circuit diagram together with details of the equipment used, as I am considering something like this for a Trailer conversion to an Incident Support Unit for a Response organisation
I do, will post more details tomorrow Wink Peter,

Defender 110 StaWa - Td5
Defender 110 HCPU - Puma
Defender 90 Soft Top - Td5
Post #622273 6th May 2017 10:33pm
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Peter Td4



Member Since: 23 Oct 2010
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Posts: 228

Belgium 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Santorini Black
With a little bit of delay, some more details on the electrical system that I've designed and built into my camper:

Charging of the Lithium batteries, also when driving, is done through the mains chargers. This way, the lithium batteries are always ensured of optimum charge conditions.
For this purpose, I've connected a Victron 1200VA inverter, over a Cyrix voltage sensing relay, to the starter battery, which is located under the driver seat (LHD Defender).


This inverter produces a pure sinewave at 230V AC.

Using 2 x 1mm˛ cable, this power feed is combined with the mains connection through a priority switch. The priority switch prevents accidental connection of the inverter output to the mains, e.g. in case the engine would be started while still connected to the grid at e.g. a camp site).

Mains connection is through a compact and waterproof connector:


The actual battery chargers are each rated at 25 amps, resulting in a total charge current of 50 amps, either from the alternator or from the grid.


In addition, I also installed two solar panels of 275Wp each (Kyocera, made in Japan Laughing ). These are wired in series (minimum copper losses) and feed into a 60A MPPT solar controller.

A couple of days ago, when we finally enjoyed some sunshine here in Belgium, I measured a charging current of 45 amps from the MPPT. Not bad at all ! A few amps more than expected, but Kyocera is conservative in its specifications and the outside temperatures are still rather cool, which also helps.
Since the solar panels will also function while driving, total charge current with the engine running can amount to around 95 amps, under ideal conditions. In reality is will rather be between 50 and 70 amps, all depending on whether conditions.

Both the mains chargers and MPPT solar charger are combined in a high current fuse box:

Since all parts in this installation are connected via CANbus, also the fuses are individually monitored.
On the control panel I will get a warning in case one of these fuses might fail.

The common connection on this fuse box goes to a second fuse box, which holds the individual fuses to protect the Lithium batteries and their wiring.
The Lithium batteries are amazing. Light, very compact and store a huge amount of energy.
Unfortunately they are also pretty expensive Embarassed
As this is a very compact camper, like most Defender conversions, lead-acid batteries of this capacity simple were no option. Far too big and too heavy.
If all goes well, these lithium batteries should outlast the lifetime of this camper ... time will tell.


Click image to enlarge

Each battery is fitted with a special protection relay which is controlled by the battery but also through the CANbus. In case of a hard failure, deep discharge or potential overcharge, the battery will be disconnected to prevent further harm.
These relays are supplied by BlueSea and have a continuous 500A rating (like the batteries themselves).

Click image to enlarge


Except for the induction cookers, all other equipment is powered directly from 12 Volts.
There are no switches, as everything is connected to this digital switching module which in turn is controlled from the touch screen control panel.

Every connection on this switching module has a 10 amp rating - fused with 15 amp. Current protection can be programmed also at a lower value, from as low as 2 amps. When an output is used for controlling lights (LED or halogen), a dimming mode is also possible, which is nice to save energy.

The control panel allows access to virtually all functions that are possible on this system, although programming via a laptop is more convenient.

.

All in all it's a nice piece of kit, quite elaborate but also rather unique I think Laughing Peter,

Defender 110 StaWa - Td5
Defender 110 HCPU - Puma
Defender 90 Soft Top - Td5
Post #623121 10th May 2017 11:51am
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Sphere



Member Since: 26 Apr 2013
Location: Midlands
Posts: 725

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Keswick Green
All I can say is wow.

Makes my weekend project of adding in a second battery look a little Heath Robinson
Post #623698 12th May 2017 6:48pm
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williamthedog



Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Tamar Blue
Excellent set up Thumbs Up
Post #623705 12th May 2017 6:55pm
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