Freelander 1 Freelander EV

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My main printer is an ancient (made in 2006) HP4250 laser printer. I relieved it from going to the scrap yard around 5 years ago along with a couple of spare cartridges. This printer gives great quality, prints double sided, is really fast and even though I have a few spares I have never needed to change the cartridge. The drivers install in a couple of minutes and take up very little space.
I use this printer every day printing off ebay address labels and all it costs me is the paper, I even get two labels to a page.
I guess I'm lucky to have it.
 
The HP printer had a sticker over the USB port saying DO NOT USE. 🤯
They also have a PIN number on the printer so when you install the software you enter the PIN and tie the printer to your email address. My friends Dorothy and Gordon had spent hours trying to get it to work and apparently had used Dorothy's email address. I didn't know this so when I tried to install it on Gordon's laptop I entered his email address and the printer refused to connect because it was tied to Dorothy. Even when we eventually realised this we had no option to change it.
You couldn't make this cr@p up!
lol.

The writing was on the wall when you didn't need a parallel printer cable any more :confused:
 
bit like running out of petrol and turning up at your friends with a petrol can... and staying for a cuppa and cake while it fills :D
…or going to your friends house for a cuppa, and having your car refill itself all on its own whilst it waits :)
 
My main printer is an ancient (made in 2006) HP4250 laser printer. I relieved it from going to the scrap yard around 5 years ago along with a couple of spare cartridges. This printer gives great quality, prints double sided, is really fast and even though I have a few spares I have never needed to change the cartridge. The drivers install in a couple of minutes and take up very little space.
I use this printer every day printing off ebay address labels and all it costs me is the paper, I even get two labels to a page.
I guess I'm lucky to have it.
My dad ‘borrowed’ an old laser printer when he retired, along with a couple of cartridges, from his works. Same story… it was only black and white but printed perfectly and at speed. Think he might have used one spare - I’m sure they are good for thousands of copies - unlike the minuscule couple of ml’s of ink you get in the ‘modern’ types.
I actually found it cheaper at one point to replace the printer rather than buy more ink - nuts!

I have an Epsom in my home office - crap on ink, but my Mac, iPad and iPhone will all air-print straight to it with no special apps or drivers.
 
While waiting for a few angry pixies to make their way back into my battery pack I had a look at installing their new HP printer.
OMG WHAT A B0LL0CKS OF A JOB!!! 😲 :mad:
I haven't had to install a printer for several years and had no clue things had gotten so bad.
The crazy thing is I had to give up on the laptop installation as we ended up going around in circles on one laptop and the other crashed but they were both able to print from their phones! 🤯 Albeit the print was so small on the page it was unreadable. 🤬
It seems all HP want is for you to install an app on your phone so they can take money out of your account every month for cartridges. They don't give a damn about the user experience.
Lessen learnt, I will never ever buy an HP printer.
Epson Ecotank all the way. Use whatever ink you want then.
 
+1 on Epson. I only use the Windows & Macbook drivers & Epson Scan, but not the full package.

On the battery front, don't you have a charging cable in the car that can use a 13A socket ?
 
+1 on Epson. I only use the Windows & Macbook drivers & Epson Scan, but not the full package.

On the battery front, don't you have a charging cable in the car that can use a 13A socket ?
Yes, it's commonly called a granny charger but is 2kW max. That's how I charged it at my friends house
 
Yesterday and today I replaced the drivers side rear door lock and door card. One was tatty and the other refused to unlock with the remote.
I also cut slots in the boot side panels to allow for the cables and refitted them for the first time since starting the conversion.
I also made this to cover the battery box in the boot.

IMG_20231220_095335259.jpg

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I couldn't get it to fit while in one piece so decided to cut it on the RHS so I can make a flap to access the HV manual disconnect.
I just need to figure out a way to hinge it.
I've also cut a piece for the front and have it glued on and have glued on supports for the ends so waiting for the glue to harden.
Initially I'll just paint it black but plan to glue on carpet at some stage.
 
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The glue still needs to harden and the paint has only just dried but I couldn't help myself.
This is it fitted.

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It looks much darker and less like the cheap OSB board it is in real life so I'm very pleased.
The DVLA have decided they want the car inspected which is happening tomorrow morning so I wanted all HV cables out of site and away from stuff being flung in the boot before taking it.
I doubt very much it will make any difference as I think they are only inspecting the mechanical side but it makes me happier.
 
Looks a neat job Ali
Thanks mate, I'm please with it as before the HV cables and connectors were very exposed so I wasn't happy chucking stuff in the boot.
The inspection went OK today with only one potential issue that would be easily resolved but might not even be picked up on. The inspector today was only doing an ID check and taking photos to send back to Swansea.
Apparently they are specifically looking for the method used to secure cables from front to back and especially whether the cables are tied to hand brake cables or brake pipes.
 
Good news!

Is the concern around the potential interference with the handbrake cable/pipes, or the security of the cables?
Or is it the potential sudden wake up call when you pull the handbrake one sleepy morning…?!? 🤕
 
Good news!

Is the concern around the potential interference with the handbrake cable/pipes, or the security of the cables?
Or is it the potential sudden wake up call when you pull the handbrake one sleepy morning…?!? 🤕
The tester said it's because the hand brake cable moves with the suspension so the movement will damage the electric cable which makes perfect sense. In my case it is cable tied to a point that doesn't move so is OK and the tester wasn't concerned about it but we're talking about a pen pusher in the DVLA here making the decisions. :rolleyes: The tester is only taking photo's and sending them back.
 
The tester said it's because the hand brake cable moves with the suspension so the movement will damage the electric cable which makes perfect sense. In my case it is cable tied to a point that doesn't move so is OK and the tester wasn't concerned about it but we're talking about a pen pusher in the DVLA here making the decisions. :rolleyes: The tester is only taking photo's and sending them back.
Makes sense.
I suspect that they want to avoid a short potentially going through a brake line or cable, which would destroy the line or cable, rendering part of the brakes inoperative.
I know you would have secured the HV cable to the body, and not brake components. ;)
 
I don't know yet if it will be an issue but I decided to preemptively sort it anyway.
I jacked the car up this evening and as I thought the electric cables were tied to the brake cables before they were bolted to the subframe so shouldn't move with the suspension.
Having said that if the rule is don't secure electric cables to brake cables then I screwed up and am guilty as charged. I remember wondering about it at the time but thought I knew better and took what I thought was the easy way out.
With that in mind I sorted it as shown below.

This was how they were before.

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And now after re-securing them.

IMG_20231222_205007017.jpg
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I don't know yet if it will be an issue but I decided to preemptively sort it anyway.
I jacked the car up this evening and as I thought the electric cables were tied to the brake cables before they were bolted to the subframe so shouldn't move with the suspension.
Having said that if the rule is don't secure electric cables to brake cables then I screwed up and am guilty as charged. I should have known better as I remember wondering about it at the time but thought I knew better and took what I thought was the easy way out.
With that in mind I sorted it as shown below.

This was how they were before.

View attachment 305539View attachment 305538View attachment 305537

And now after re-securing them.

View attachment 305536View attachment 305535View attachment 305534
FFS Ali, you had a career ahead of you (that you didn't know you had) building campervans... and you went and threw it all away :D
 
They might say you need something more permanent than cable ties.

We all know they will be fine, but DVLA could be picky & say you need cable clamps secured to the chassis like these:

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1703331451336.png
 
Looks a pukka job… I defy any inspection to pull you up on that!
Thanks mate. If it needs reinspected it should be OK now.

They might say you need something more permanent than cable ties.

We all know they will be fine, but DVLA could be picky & say you need cable clamps secured to the chassis like these:

View attachment 305575View attachment 305576
I don't think they have the capacity to differentiate on the methods of securing so long as it is secure at the time of inspection.
They have a rule that says "Do not secure to brake pipes/cables". It's a sensible rule so I can't complain.
 
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