Untangling an electrical mess! Need some guidance/paid help
I don't know if this is allowed - please, admin, let me know, if not!
*If you have the skills and willingness/time to have a video session about this, to see things more clearly, I will happily compensate for your time - we can agree on rate, etc via message. I'm in NY, and hiring someone to come out just isn't an option right now. I have a good amount of AC electrical experience, and I learn quickly, but some things just aren't available to search for online. The timing is horrible with the weather finally breaking and allowing time to work, but essential business and travel only, so I'm on my own, locally....*
I am currently working on a rebuild on an '87 class C RV. We ended up having to gut the entire thing due to water damage. Some things were already torn apart/changed when we purchased, including (much to my surprise) part of the electrical system. (just like a previously owned house, it's always a crapshoot if the person before actually knew what they were doing. Likely not, in most cases...) There's also a likelihood that I took apart something without realizing that I wouldn't be able to figure out where it's supposed to go back.... I will admit to this - I naively thought I'd remember.
Having done extensive house (AC) wiring before, I felt fairly confident in rewiring this RV. Well, a previous owner(s?) has mucked things up for me by making their own alterations and not labeling anything - several things had been disconnected and/or wired differently, and there are a couple things that I just can't figure out what to do with! I've also never dealt with DC, and while I've been studying several good sources, I'd like verification on a few things, before I commit to starting.
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1. I want to verify something - the converter is on the left, yes? Would that make the component on the right the inverter? Every schematic I've seen has an inverter, but I've also read that not every RV has one. Also, a technician repair manual I acquired doesn't even mention an inverter, so I'm a tad confused... I thought they were necessary... ??
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2. So power from the converter has it's own breaker on the AC side. Pictured is the nonsense I found. The end of the wire was hooked up to a breaker, but that crazy soldered connection was just hanging loose (!!!). I'm not sure if they were just putting an extension in (why would they need to? Wouldn't it reach, as wired from the factory??) or if it was hooked up to another wire that I don't/didn't see...
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3. There's a 2A DC fuse that I think I pulled and now I don't know what it's supposed to go to. (this is the one I admit to screwing up!) Pictured is the end of it. The rest of the DC loads are pretty clear, and I've already labeled and traced out all the wires, but this has me stumped. perhaps some sort of monitor/indicator thing? Obviously something with very low power requirements.... I can't find anything online about it.... Recognize the way it was connected, perhaps?
__________________________________________________
4. The DC neutral(wrong word but I don't know the DC term!) bus was hooked up outside of the box. Makes sense, because there's no space in there. But... all the boxes I've looked up online have it inside. Not sure if it makes a difference if the wires are hooked up correctly, but it was literally taped to the side, so any other suggestions as to how to more properly mount this would be great!
______________________________________
There are a few other funky things that have me banging my head up against a wall, but I'm not sure how best to describe. It would be so much easier to show someone in person or via video, but the in-person isn't an option right now.
I'm really hoping that an electrically savvy person/RV electrician sees this. This RV is totally gutted, and there's not much more I can do as far as rebuild without doing the electrical first, so I want to get it done!
Thanks!
*If you have the skills and willingness/time to have a video session about this, to see things more clearly, I will happily compensate for your time - we can agree on rate, etc via message. I'm in NY, and hiring someone to come out just isn't an option right now. I have a good amount of AC electrical experience, and I learn quickly, but some things just aren't available to search for online. The timing is horrible with the weather finally breaking and allowing time to work, but essential business and travel only, so I'm on my own, locally....*
I am currently working on a rebuild on an '87 class C RV. We ended up having to gut the entire thing due to water damage. Some things were already torn apart/changed when we purchased, including (much to my surprise) part of the electrical system. (just like a previously owned house, it's always a crapshoot if the person before actually knew what they were doing. Likely not, in most cases...) There's also a likelihood that I took apart something without realizing that I wouldn't be able to figure out where it's supposed to go back.... I will admit to this - I naively thought I'd remember.
Having done extensive house (AC) wiring before, I felt fairly confident in rewiring this RV. Well, a previous owner(s?) has mucked things up for me by making their own alterations and not labeling anything - several things had been disconnected and/or wired differently, and there are a couple things that I just can't figure out what to do with! I've also never dealt with DC, and while I've been studying several good sources, I'd like verification on a few things, before I commit to starting.
___________________________________________________
1. I want to verify something - the converter is on the left, yes? Would that make the component on the right the inverter? Every schematic I've seen has an inverter, but I've also read that not every RV has one. Also, a technician repair manual I acquired doesn't even mention an inverter, so I'm a tad confused... I thought they were necessary... ??
___________________________________________
2. So power from the converter has it's own breaker on the AC side. Pictured is the nonsense I found. The end of the wire was hooked up to a breaker, but that crazy soldered connection was just hanging loose (!!!). I'm not sure if they were just putting an extension in (why would they need to? Wouldn't it reach, as wired from the factory??) or if it was hooked up to another wire that I don't/didn't see...
____________________________________________
3. There's a 2A DC fuse that I think I pulled and now I don't know what it's supposed to go to. (this is the one I admit to screwing up!) Pictured is the end of it. The rest of the DC loads are pretty clear, and I've already labeled and traced out all the wires, but this has me stumped. perhaps some sort of monitor/indicator thing? Obviously something with very low power requirements.... I can't find anything online about it.... Recognize the way it was connected, perhaps?
__________________________________________________
4. The DC neutral(wrong word but I don't know the DC term!) bus was hooked up outside of the box. Makes sense, because there's no space in there. But... all the boxes I've looked up online have it inside. Not sure if it makes a difference if the wires are hooked up correctly, but it was literally taped to the side, so any other suggestions as to how to more properly mount this would be great!
______________________________________
There are a few other funky things that have me banging my head up against a wall, but I'm not sure how best to describe. It would be so much easier to show someone in person or via video, but the in-person isn't an option right now.
I'm really hoping that an electrically savvy person/RV electrician sees this. This RV is totally gutted, and there's not much more I can do as far as rebuild without doing the electrical first, so I want to get it done!
Thanks!
