Help with electrics (1 Viewer)

[Al Motorhome newbie]

Hi there

I have recently bought a CI Riviera 181 2001, which has been water damaged, so currently in the process of ripping a lot of it out, I have the control panel for the electrics, but all of the electrics that I assume used to live in the wardrobe have been removed and likely sold, there is no leisure battery currently insitu. I just wondered what the control panel would have been connected to? I assume that there would have been power cables from the leisure battery to whatever is there and a fuse box to then handle the electric hook up and any sockets running from that. There do appear to some cables coming from the starter battery to where the leisure battery should be. I am hoping to install solar panels eventually, so wondered whether it is better to have more 12v sockets and lighting rather than relying too much on electric hook up? Any thoughts would be gratefully received!! I have attached an example of my control panel.

 

[Figaro]

That sounds like quite a project, how was it water damaged ?

 

[HKF]

 

[PaulyP]

If there has been water damage are you sure it’s all cleared up and is structurally sound !

 

[autorouter]

Motorhome manufacturers buy in the electrics system from a number of electrics specialists like CBE, BCA, Sargent, Nordelettronica etc. So if you can find out which ones were taken out you could in theory replace them. But if it's a 2001 model I think it's best to take the opportunity to fit a modern system, which might mean scrapping that control panel.

The panel is labeled 'MOD NE101C3'. I guess that means it's a NordElettronica system. You could have a word with Delta Conversions, who supply all things Nordelettronica. They might know which 12V distribution/fusebox was used with that panel, and if it is still available. If not, they do modern version of the panel and missing bits.

They do a complete kit for converting the electrics of a standard van to motorhome electrics. They list all the component parts, and there's a manual for each part. It would be worth looking at that even if you decide to do something else.

Delta Components Group

Dedicated to Customer Service and Providing the Best Experience Possible Across All Our Companies.

deltacomponents.group

It's a big job installing all that, but maybe a lot of the wiring is still in place, and just needs connecting up. You will need to identify all the wires, and put new connectors on them, but it will be an interesting project and at the end you will understand all the details of motorhome electrics.

There'll be plenty of advice and info available on here, in forums like Electricity, Batteries and Hookup, or Solar Power. There's even a Self-Build Motorhomes forum. You will get more of a response if you post electrics questions in those forums, rather than in the CI forum.

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[autorouter]

I am hoping to install solar panels eventually, so wondered whether it is better to have more 12v sockets and lighting rather than relying too much on electric hook up?

The idea of motorhome electrics is that everything works off the 12V leisure battery - lights, water pump, controls for the fridge, and controls for the heater and water heater. A battery doesn't have the energy to provide heating, so the main heating/water heating power comes from gas (some use diesel), controlled by a 12V control board. Basically you can park up in the middle of a field with no hookup, and still stay warm, use the toilet, have a hot shower, cook a meal and drink a chilled beer. Everything works off 12V, and all the hookup does is keep the battery charged up. Many people go months or years without using hookup. The alternator charges the battery while driving, and the solar makes a contribution too.

 

[MisterB]

Check out Greg Virgoes YouTube video on camper electrics. Some will suggest you don't follow everything he does, but it will give you an insight into planning it all .....

 

[Al Motorhome newbie]

That sounds like quite a project, how was it water damaged ?

The gutter seal all around the roof is missing, the air vents and windows are leaking, it was sat in the elements for 8 years!!

 

[Al Motorhome newbie]

Motorhome manufacturers buy in the electrics system from a number of electrics specialists like CBE, BCA, Sargent, Nordelettronica etc. So if you can find out which ones were taken out you could in theory replace them. But if it's a 2001 model I think it's best to take the opportunity to fit a modern system, which might mean scrapping that control panel.

The panel is labeled 'MOD NE101C3'. I guess that means it's a NordElettronica system. You could have a word with Delta Conversions, who supply all things Nordelettronica. They might know which 12V distribution/fusebox was used with that panel, and if it is still available. If not, they do modern version of the panel and missing bits.

They do a complete kit for converting the electrics of a standard van to motorhome electrics. They list all the component parts, and there's a manual for each part. It would be worth looking at that even if you decide to do something else.

Delta Components Group

Dedicated to Customer Service and Providing the Best Experience Possible Across All Our Companies.

deltacomponents.group

It's a big job installing all that, but maybe a lot of the wiring is still in place, and just needs connecting up. You will need to identify all the wires, and put new connectors on them, but it will be an interesting project and at the end you will understand all the details of motorhome electrics.

There'll be plenty of advice and info available on here, in forums like Electricity, Batteries and Hookup, or Solar Power. There's even a Self-Build Motorhomes forum. You will get more of a response if you post electrics questions in those forums, rather than in the CI forum.

Thanks so much for the advice, I’ll definitely do that

 

[Al Motorhome newbie]

The idea of motorhome electrics is that everything works off the 12V leisure battery - lights, water pump, controls for the fridge, and controls for the heater and water heater. A battery doesn't have the energy to provide heating, so the main heating/water heating power comes from gas (some use diesel), controlled by a 12V control board. Basically you can park up in the middle of a field with no hookup, and still stay warm, use the toilet, have a hot shower, cook a meal and drink a chilled beer. Everything works off 12V, and all the hookup does is keep the battery charged up. Many people go months or years without using hookup. The alternator charges the battery while driving, and the solar makes a contribution too.

Thankyou I did suspect that was the case but wanted to make sure to avoid a disaster!! As it’s all now completely stripped out it makes sense to fit the right things now rather than retrofit once it’s done!!

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