Trace/Map whole vans electrics

[stello1972]

Hi. I bought a hobby converted Citroen Relay 6 months ago. A lovely guy spent years getting it just so for his own needs. Now I want to make it MY own but first I need to understand the wiring as it stands. How do I begin tracing all the circuits to create my own diagram.
It has a solar panel but no campsite hookup. 100W Inverter that I don’t particularly need. Std fridge. Microwave. Chinese heater and lots of other bits.
I need to add ventilation round the battery and other little projects like USB chargers dotted about on 12V lines. Eventually a proper hookup but need an accurate picture of the circuits before I change anything.
Is this possible without ripping out walls?
Thanks in advance for all perspectives!

 

[Lenny HB]

The battery shouldn't need ventilation just a vent tube to the outside of the van if it's a Lead Acid.

To trace the wiring disconnect the battery then assuming it has a distribution unit or fuse bank you can trace the wiring using a multimeter on the ohms setting. you will need to use an extention wire on one of the meter leads then just a case of connecting one lead to the live side of a fitting i.e. lamp or switch and the other to the fuses/ distribution unit to each connection in turn until you find where it connects to.

 

[stello1972]

Makes sense! Thanks and wish me luck!

 

[Lenny HB]

Good luck, if you need more help you will need to pay your subs and join the forum proper as you only get 5 free posts.
A very helpful community on here.

 

[Figaro]

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[LithiumConvert]

It has a solar panel but no campsite hookup. 100W Inverter that I don’t particularly need. Std fridge. Microwave. Chinese heater and lots of other bits.
I need to add ventilation round the battery and other little projects like USB chargers dotted about on 12V lines.

A couple of poiints

Srtart by splitting the things on board into 12 volt and 230 volt.

The microwave will not work without campsite hookup. (EHU)

What do you mean by "Std Fridge". Anything other than Gas is not going to work without EHU

The 100W inverter will fairly useless as it will do nothing more than charge phones. Even so it needs to be connected (via a fuse) directly to the battery.

By Chinese Heater, do you mean a diesel heater?

 

[68c]

Cancelled.

 

[stello1972]

A couple of poiints

Srtart by splitting the things on board into 12 volt and 230 volt.

The microwave will not work without campsite hookup. (EHU)

What do you mean by "Std Fridge". Anything other than Gas is not going to work without EHU

The 100W inverter will fairly useless as it will do nothing more than charge phones. Even so it needs to be connected (via a fuse) directly to the battery.

By Chinese Heater, do you mean a diesel heater?

Std fridge means runs off 12V. Chinese heater is yes a diesel heater under bed and vented outside. Microwave we currently run off old caping electric hookup cable passed through window.