Prevoiusly telstra T4

[vannin]

My newly acuired T4 was previously a telstra van (grab handles on the tailgate plus rta told me)
Anyway how could I find out what they do to there vehicles?
It has a black box in the whell step that says soldering and water pump. It has heavy duty cigarette lighter plugs (cant think of the name) but there is a 15amp one and a 40 amp one plus and anderson plug. Also running to just underneath it is two (I think) water lines that are blocked off.
Just wanting to find out what it all is and how it works so I can use it.
Yeah I know I could ring telstra but not sure how much sense I,ll get out of the phone operators.
Nik

[Transporter]

The water lines could be hoses from the heater to warm up water in their sink (for washig the hands), used to be on the right when you open the sliding door.

[Peter Jones]

The Black box is a battery power outlet.

Linesmen would use the small socket for low powered devices like soldering irons and for charging gas detectors.

The Anderson connector would typically be used for pit pumps or 12 -240v inverters for test gear.

The water lines are for the heat exchanger in the hand wash station which would provide hot water for hand washing. Not the luxury you might think it is, some of the grease in the cables is a bugger to get off your hands without hot water.

Other things you might find.

Daytime running lights.
Rear step.
Tow points under car may have been removed.

Roof racks and perhaps wiring for a work lamp on the roof.

Gas safe or holes from it's removal.

Some of the vans got LSDs

I used to drive them once upon a time.

Pete

[vannin]

Wow thanks for the quick very descriptive replies!
It does have some big holes through the floor and ugly roof racks (which leak, so Im taking off. Do they sell more stylish low profile ones?)
So did the hot water have a heat exchanger through the radiator pipes, how does it get pumped around? Or is it just and extension of the engine cooling lines using the engine water pump?
Would I be able to find wiring/water diagrams so I can get it running again (or atleast make sure its safe) would be nice to keep and use.
Mine is a syncro not sure bout the lsd tho.
At some stage its been a motorbike van, lowered carpeted with tie downs, 17" wheels (comiong off as soon as I get an adapter for wheel nuts) two silly cannon exhuasts one out each side!
And supposedly 63000km on a 96 model??
Nik

[Peter Jones]

Here's one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ex-Telstra-Van-shelving-includes-Hand-washing-unit-_W0QQitemZ220544667147QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100122?IMSfp=TL100122208001r17451

The blue bowl folds down to wash your hands. When you fold it back up the water gets tipped out through a drain in the floor.

They are filled with fresh water through the blue cap on the top and there's a sight gauge to see how much water is in it.

Plumbing only required they don't use any power to work.

There's a small 'heater core' inside the box which heats the fresh water while the van is driving around. It's just plumbed up the same as the van's heater core and the engine pushes the water around.

It's not a great camping solution though, if that's what you're thinking, the water's only hot after the van's been driving around. First thing in the morning it's all cold.

The heaters pop up on e-bay all the time, keep an eye out.

Pete

[Peter Jones]

Here's a better example with hot and cold running water.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Van-shelving-ex-Telstra_W0QQitemZ290406547533QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item439d94404d

Or this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/hot-water-ser...item27afa86eab

[vannin]

Was thinking of using the lines to run a hot water unit for showers (cant think of the name but sealed unit with wound copper pipe) and Id really like to use the power outlet.Maybe just rewire to run thru 2nd battery?
And the sink explains the LARGE hole in the rear left corner!
Nik

[Peter Jones]

Power unit might still be wired. There should be a big red isolation key in the box to turn it on.

Pete

[4wheels]

Was thinking of using the lines to run a hot water unit for showers (cant think of the name but sealed unit with wound copper pipe) and Id really like to use the power outlet.Maybe just rewire to run thru 2nd battery?

I had an ex Telstra T3 syncro, before my current Trakkadu. I used the hot water lines to make my own hot water service, which worked extremely well. I just made a tank from 2 lengths (about a metre, and in retrospect, I think one would have been enough, and much simpler) of 150mm brass pipe (from a building wrecker). The tank needs to be able to withstand the pressure of the heating water, which can potentially get to boiling point, so needs to be stronger than just a fabricated sheetmetal tank. A pressure relief valve is also a good idea. I fitted a single loop of copper pipe within this (make sure you support it at both ends), connected to the hot water lines. The water seemed to circulate fine on its own. Then you need an inlet (low) and outlet (high) pipe for the fresh water supply, pumped from your main tank. I used a pump with a pressure switch, so when you opened a tap (hot or cold) the pump would trigger and the water flow, just like at home. If you insulate the tank you'll probably find it is still at least luke-warm after an overnight stop, and it heats up quite quickly when you are running. Be aware that your coolant temp might run up to 110 degrees, so the hot water is sometimes scalding hot.
This set up had the advantage of providing about 20 litres of hot water, without having to run the engine, unlike my current system which has no reservoir, so you need to run the engine to get more than about a cupful of hot water.

And I also used the 12 volt outlet wiring for my 2nd battery. Nice heavy wiring.

Brian

[vannin]

No that I think of it the extra plug is probly the on/off key!!
Yes thats similar to what I was thinking for the hot water Id rather use it the take it all out. Do you have a pic of your set up?
Cant do a great deal yet waiting to get the r&r bed fitted 1st.
Nik

[4wheels]

No, no pics, sorry. It was 15 years ago I built it, and the van's been sold (to WA) nearly 3 years ago now. I got my friendly local plumber to help with sealing the ends of the large pipe, and mounting the 1/2" copper loop and the inlet & outlet pipes. Fortunately, he saw it as an interesting project. I then connected it up myself with a bit of extra heater hose, and some caravan hose (not garden hose, it taints the water). Standard 1/2" copper pipe is the right size to mate up to both the heater hose (at least what was used on the T3), and the 1/2" caravan hose. Get the plumber to put some crimps on the ends of the copper pipe to help hold the hoses. They have a special name (which I've forgotten) and tool for these, but they are just a little bulge of 1-2mm near the end. I found standard hose clamps were then adequate, but need to be checked for tightness occasionally, although it was not the heater circuit that seemed to leak, fortunately, just the fresh water side.

Brian

[rob64981]

Here is a heater already made for you!

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250453971993&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

I know its quite expensive but its made for you.

Rob

[vannin]

Yes thats the unit I was thinking of!! Is that similar to what ur describing? My partners dad is a plumber so hopefully get some help there..
Would be nice to have hot water.
I cant believe this is up to 2 pages already I didnt think Id get a reply! Thanks guys.
Nik

[4wheels]

The main downside to that unit is there is very little reserve capacity (maybe 0.5 litre, just looking at it). It may also be difficult to regulate the temp. depending on how you set it up. I expect my T5 Trakkadu has something similar installed, but it is plumbed up to mixing taps for temp. control.
The one I built for the T3 follows exactly the same concept, but in a bigger tank so you have that reserve. It's a small thing I guess, but I find it annoying to have to run the motor for a shower, or even to fill the sink, after having that reserve in the T3.
A positive for that unit might be the ability to use a bucket of water gathered from a nearby source (creek etc), without worrying about contaminating your main drinking water tank. That's important, depending on how you plan to use it, and when you can replenish with good drinking water, as you'll only get a couple of showers out of a normal on board tank. But if you're going that way, one of those cheap little 'drop in the bucket' shower pumps is quite effective. A couple of litres of water boiled up and added to your bucket gives about the right temp. and amount for a quick shower.

Brian

[MultiplexMan]

Vannin,

Try the following:

http://www.helton.com.au/

http://www.twine4wdshowers.com.au/

http://www.glind.com.au/

All popular with the 4WD crowd but need the engine running...