Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: POPPASMURFF#1 on January 08, 2018, 01:23:05 pm

Title: Relays,
Post by: POPPASMURFF#1 on January 08, 2018, 01:23:05 pm
Can't seem to find any information on the 6 relays in the 1995 U-240 electrical panel. Have a couple that are questionable.
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on January 08, 2018, 02:56:44 pm
Can't seem to find any information on the 6 relays in the 1995 U-240 electrical panel. Have a couple that are questionable.
Which panel and which relay? Foretravel used a  latching VW relay for the water pump.

P
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on January 08, 2018, 05:47:44 pm
Most likely in the dash area they are common Bosch style relays.  They are good to have a spare or two and have many other uses as well.  You can find then with out wiring harnesses but if you need the harnes and plug then ypu have them.

They are often used ro switch higher powered loads like headlights through the relay with a much lower powered circuit  switch to actvate the relay.

Amazon.com: 5 Pack - EPAuto 30/40 AMP Relay Harness Spdt 12V Bosch Style:... (https://amazon.com/gp/product/B017VDI0GY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: wolfe10 on January 08, 2018, 06:43:41 pm
And, over-sizing the relay is a GOOD idea (i.e. using a 30 or 40 amp in place of a 15 or 20).  More surface area in the contacts.

Over-sizing a fuse-- NOT a good idea, as the fuse is there to protect the wire.
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: POPPASMURFF#1 on January 08, 2018, 06:53:05 pm
Roger/Brett, Thanks Gonna pull one tomorrow and make sure that's what they are BUT sure looks like it
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on January 08, 2018, 07:18:26 pm
Make sure you know the difference between latching and non-latching relays before you purchase one. Here is a good quote, "A latching relay has internal magnet(s) that will hold the relay once energized so that power to the relay only has to pulse it on or off, thereby saving energy by not requiring that the coil be continuously powered. Some latching relays have two coils, one for setting and one for resetting, some only have one coil and rely on power polarity reversals to set and reset the relay."

This also explains why it's a bad idea to keep the boost switch (supplying power to a non-latching relay) on over any length of time as it will not only use juice but get hot enough to burn your hand after a while. This also explains why Foretravel chose this relay for the water pump with at least a couple of different switch locations. Note that the other Bosch relays are not latching so you do need to read the part number marked on the side/top.

Here is the source for the latching relay used in our coaches. Note that the $14 variety are not OEM Bosch but Asian clones.
vw latching relay headlight | eBay (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xvw+latching+relay+headlight.TRS0&_nkw=vw+latching+relay+headlight&_sacat=0)

And lastly, if your water pump is not working or works intermittently, check the ground wire at the pump. Ours was bad and I relocated the wire to a better spot.

Pierce
Title: Re: Relays,
Post by: POPPASMURFF#1 on January 09, 2018, 03:07:50 pm
Well got the correct relays ordered.

Now there are a couple circuits that are giving me trouble. When I get the new relays in I am going to install a new relay temporarily and see if it does the trick and if so it stays LOL.

Then on to the next trouble maker