Battery and Solar Disconnect Install Questions

[dewdev]

@Tony and Rhonda

 

I would suggest before drilling to put some (blue) tape on the area to be drilled and start drilling slowly so you do not chip the jelcoat.

 

[Tony and Rhonda]

@Snackchaser, not sure how this would work since the marine hatch rotates over 360 degrees.

[Tony and Rhonda]

21 hours ago, dewdev said:

@Tony and Rhonda

 

I would suggest before drilling to put some (blue) tape on the area to be drilled and start drilling slowly so you do not chip the jelcoat.

 

I'll put tape on both sides of the fiberglass and drill slowly. I have some carbide hole saws so hopefully it will slowly grind thru the fiberglass without other damage. At least in the pantry it won't be very visable.

It will be good practice for drilling a hole for the BMV-712 display.

Thanks, Tony

[dewdev]

@Tony and Rhonda

I drilled out the fiberglass  in the pantry yesterday to install the switch. The fiberglass was only 1/8" thick.

[Tony and Rhonda]

@dewdev I know to tape the fiberglass and drill slowly. I plan to drill the pilot hole first and then follow with the hole saw. Did you use a toothed hole saw or an diamond or carbide edged saw? I have both a diamond and a carbide edge saw but the diamond saw (Amazon) is larger than advertised and the carbide saw (Harbor Freight) seems very course.

I haven't been working on our Ollie since late June due to the weather here. Highs in the mid-90's with heat index in the 100's. Very frustrating! May be able to get something done by the end of next week, highs 'supposed' to drop to the low to mid-80's. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Tony and Rhonda said:

@dewdev I know to tape the fiberglass and drill slowly. I plan to drill the pilot hole first and then follow with the hole saw. Did you use a toothed hole saw or an diamond or carbide edged saw? I have both a diamond and a carbide edge saw but the diamond saw (Amazon) is larger than advertised and the carbide saw (Harbor Freight) seems very course.

I haven't been working on our Ollie since late June due to the weather here. Highs in the mid-90's with heat index in the 100's. Very frustrating! May be able to get something done by the end of next week, highs 'supposed' to drop to the low to mid-80's. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I drilled one 4" hole and five 3" holes for closet/bathroom vents and to vent an oven that replaced our microwave. I just used a new high-quality standard hole saw, likely it was carbide steel, not diamond. I did not bother to tape using a hole-saw. It really doesn't help anything. I do tape when using a jigsaw since the base can cause surface marring.

In some places the fiberglass is thin, like the 1/8" stated at the pantry. In some places it's double-layered and a plug about 3/4" could be removed. Use a low-speed and a clutch setting on your drill since large hole saws will catch when very slightly off angle. The clutch will save your wrist and the work surface since it will slip when catching vs. jumping.

It's late July, so summer is here another 6 weeks and it's hot everywhere. Our weather has been a little cooler for a few days now, but I'm working a brake job this weekend regardless with my son on his '97 T100. We don't have the choice to wait for cooler weather! Two weeks ago, it was my truck and my garage was 105F in the afternoons, fortunately without your humidity. A floor fan helped, lot's of water and electrolytes!

Working in the Oliver? NP, just turn on the A/C! I installed my new inverter/charger and moved all the wiring that was under the streetside bed to under the rear dinette seat during July 2024. It was 100+ in my garage and a cool 75F inside the Oliver! 🤣

Edited Saturday at 04:21 PM by jd1923

[Galway Girl]

On 6/17/2025 at 3:01 PM, Geronimo John said:

 

Some of our older Olivers don't had a solar cutoff but instead have as a safety from shorts a 30A self resetting circuit breaker.  I suppose one could wire in a 30Amp solar cutoff right after that and mount it in the under bed area where that circuit breaker is located.

Saw this demo video showing how that breaker works....about half way into the video.  Didn't realize that the ones in some of our Olivers don't have a button to push, but reset automatically after the spring circuit inside cools down.

Cheers,

Craig

 

[dewdev]

On 7/26/2025 at 11:08 AM, Tony and Rhonda said:

@dewdev I know to tape the fiberglass and drill slowly. I plan to drill the pilot hole first and then follow with the hole saw. Did you use a toothed hole saw or an diamond or carbide edged saw? I have both a diamond and a carbide edge saw but the diamond saw (Amazon) is larger than advertised and the carbide saw (Harbor Freight) seems very course.

I haven't been working on our Ollie since late June due to the weather here. Highs in the mid-90's with heat index in the 100's. Very frustrating! May be able to get something done by the end of next week, highs 'supposed' to drop to the low to mid-80's. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Tony:

It has been hot in Maine but not as bad as  your weather. I started the AC about 1/2 hour before starting the work.

I used a brand new plain metal toothed hole saw with the center arbor (drill bit) attached to a battery operated drill. I drilled slowly until the bit made the hole. I then drilled in reverse to get the hole saw started into the jellcoat. After the hole saw was started into the fiberglass, I completed the hole by  drilling in forward. The hole came out perfect with not chips of the jellcoat. Be sure to keep both hands on the drill so the hole saw does not bounce around.

Edited Sunday at 04:46 PM by dewdev

[dewdev]

21 hours ago, Galway Girl said:

Some of our older Olivers don't had a solar cutoff but instead have as a safety from shorts a 30A self resetting circuit breaker.  I suppose one could wire in a 30Amp solar cutoff right after that and mount it in the under bed area where that circuit breaker is located.

Saw this demo video showing how that breaker works....about half way into the video.  Didn't realize that the ones in some of our Olivers don't have a button to push, but reset automatically after the spring circuit inside cools down.

Cheers,

Craig

 

My 2018 does not have the solar 30A breaker that you show in your picture. 

Edited Sunday at 05:04 PM by dewdev