Here (finally) are the pictures of the new isolator, new solenoids, and new circuit breakers.
New isolator and related October 20, 2016, 05:35:40 pm Here (finally) are the pictures of the new isolator, new solenoids, and new circuit breakers. Quote Selected 9 Likes
Re: New isolator and related Reply #1 – October 20, 2016, 05:36:50 pm Very nice job. Should last a lot longer-- clean and dry location. Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #2 – October 20, 2016, 05:41:57 pm Very nice David. I am a big fan of neat and tidy. Labels too. A few weeks down the road and I forget. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: New isolator and related Reply #3 – October 20, 2016, 05:48:30 pm I may redo the labels someday so that they are 1) larger and 2) straighter. I also need to add labels for the two automatic circuit breakers. Since I had to lengthen the wires I'm going to print out a chart of which wire goes where, which will go in the book for the coach. That should make things a bit easier for the next owner. Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #4 – October 20, 2016, 07:00:27 pm David,These work well for labeling wires and cables. Bigger ones for bundles.Amazon.com: Amgate 100 Pcs Write on Ethernet Wire Zip Ties Cable Mark Tags... Quote Selected 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: New isolator and related Reply #5 – October 20, 2016, 07:22:51 pm Excellent job David !All of those components out of the battery compartment and protected from the elements is a big plus. Also easy to check connections, etc without having to crawl under!Jerry Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #6 – October 20, 2016, 07:39:19 pm Yes, depending on model those components can be in the battery compartment and/or behind the driver's side rear mud flap. IMO, poor choices for a location for electric components. Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #7 – October 20, 2016, 07:45:03 pm Yes, my old set-up was behind the street-side duals. With the rear of the coach at or above ride height it is fairly easy to get under there at have easy access to the old panel, but it was still exposed to the elements. I decided that I'd just replace all of those old components rather than try to figure out which ones were still good. Also, I didn't have to mess with the rusted bolts that held them in place. I just disconnected the wires and moved them to their new homes. (Well, I did have to lengthen most of them and run a couple of new cables.) Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #8 – October 20, 2016, 08:29:33 pm Really neat and tidy job David! Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #9 – October 21, 2016, 08:27:30 am Very nice David! This is our next step in the electrical upgrade we are doing. If you made drawings of your work would you mind sharing them? Quote Selected
Re: New isolator and related Reply #10 – October 21, 2016, 09:15:18 am Makes me smile to see how much joy we can get from a job well done! Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: New isolator and related Reply #11 – October 21, 2016, 10:00:53 am I didn't make any drawings, but used the schematics that I had, took pictures, and make a list of which wire went where. Then I got all new parts (isolator, solenoids, circuit breakers) and mounted them where I wanted them. Ground wires were run to the ground terminal strip. Radio Shack didn't have the piece that would turn the barrier strip into a buss, so I just stripped some wire and connected all of the screws on one side. My original plan was to just unhook all the wires, pass them up to the new location, and connect them to their new components. That plan lasted about 30 seconds.The first challenge was getting the rusty nuts to come loose. Some never did, and I had to cut the wires. Then I found out that all of those small wires barely made it into the space at the foot of the bed, never mind up to the solenoids. I then put a terminal barrier strip in right by where the wires came in. Each wire went to its own terminal, and a new wire went from the other screw to where it was supposed to go. I still need to print the list of which wire is which.The alternator cable originally ran from the alternator, down the curb side of the engine, under the engine, then up to the isolator. I wanted to pull that cable out and use it again, but Foretravel put in a couple of dozen zip ties to keep it from moving, and many of them were unreachable, so I just got a new piece of welding cable.One group of cables is still on the old isolator. I would have had to figure out some way to either move them to some safe place or replace some really long cables, so I elected to just leave them in place and run a cable from the proper terminal on the new isolator down to them. The old solenoids are still there, too, but nothing is attached to them. Some day when I have lots of extra time I'll see if I can convince them to come loose, but that's pretty much at the bottom of my "to do" list. Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: New isolator and related Reply #12 – October 22, 2016, 01:15:10 am Nice and clean move. I just refirbed everything in place. I'll look at my work tomorrow (1 month and 2500 miles later) and decide if moving there as well will make sense. Solar equipment may make it tight in there. Quote Selected
Topic: New isolator and related