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View Full Version : I need caravan help! Electrical


clivvy
16-05-2010, 08:40
Hi all, I've got a little Elddis Wisp which we are fixing/modernising. We need to run some electrical cable to the thetford, and hot taps. I was told any 2core 2.5mm...2.5mm?? Is that right?? Can any one advise the correct electrical wire? I've got some normal household 3 core knocking about, is that any good? I've also got some lighting 3 core...??
Hope you can help!

Terranoman
16-05-2010, 08:47
What voltage are you putting through it? 12v or 240v?

MudLifeCrisis
16-05-2010, 11:05
12v with 2amp fuses , 1mm should be ok.

solarman216
16-05-2010, 12:25
The problem with 12v over long runs is volt drop, I had a narrow boat and when calculating the cable needed to run air horns at the bow I measured the voltage with the air horns on and found that 12v at the battery gave 11.2v at the horns with 6mm cable, when running things like fridges that are sensitive to volt drop, I ran 16mm cable and the fridge was near the stern, so the answer is to measure the volt drop, there is a calculation but lot easier just to stick a meter on it, Rick

clivvy
16-05-2010, 13:21
well, i am running 12 volt toilet, and taps. Distance from battery isnt very far at all, 3 meters ish...??

You mention fuses...where do i fit these? I read that the cable goes directly from feed to toilet/taps??

rayf3262
16-05-2010, 14:37
well, i am running 12 volt toilet, and taps. Distance from battery isnt very far at all, 3 meters ish...??

You mention fuses...where do i fit these? I read that the cable goes directly from feed to toilet/taps??

Fuses are there to protect the wiring under fault conditions. So ideally they should be fitted close to the power source in the +VE lead.

clivvy
16-05-2010, 15:36
i've had a look at my existing setup. from themain feed runs a wire, not sure where it goes could be water pump but thats attached to a tube like thing, I assume thats a fuse? so I need to do soemthign similar for the toilet. run my wire from the main feed near the battery, and intersect the fuse on the + wire.

Im off to the caravan shop sometime this week to buy the electrical cable. Ive figured that I need automotove cable, so the household stuff is useless. PLus I need scotchlok connectors it would seem, the fuse holders and fuses and that sprobably about it. I will then be wiring in a feed to the Thetford direct from mains (fuse in between), scotchlock wiring for hot water taps x 2 into the existing wiring for water (correct??) or from main feed?

SO, I will end up with one x wired toilet, one x wire for hot water, one x wire for cold in the bathroom and the same in the kitchen...

good little project this!

zippy656
16-05-2010, 16:01
dont for get the PICS!

Deleted account DD
16-05-2010, 16:45
Is the original eldis wiring not still in place to getthe info from even if it was knackered?

clivvy
16-05-2010, 17:52
yeah all the original wiring is still there, but also a lot of newer wiring, which is slightly different, and I wasnt sure what the correct rating was to use (cant see print on the existing wiring)

Deleted account DD
16-05-2010, 17:57
yeah all the original wiring is still there, but also a lot of newer wiring, which is slightly different, and I wasnt sure what the correct rating was to use (cant see print on the existing wiring)

Just pop into the nearest maplins with a bit of the older eldis wiring and compare it to the sample board they always have up near the help desk (even if you dont buy any from them) :thumb2

clivvy
16-05-2010, 19:11
Just pop into the nearest maplins with a bit of the older eldis wiring and compare it to the sample board they always have up near the help desk (even if you dont buy any from them) :thumb2

good idea but i realised today that a caravan shop not too far from me sells wire, so im going to pop there next weekend for the wire, fuses etc!

lacroupade
16-05-2010, 19:16
I had a narrow boat

I'm really starting to hate you Rick!!! :lol:lol:lol

solarman216
16-05-2010, 19:42
I'm really starting to hate you Rick!!! :lol:lol:lol

This is our boat doing the Thames 2007

lacroupade
16-05-2010, 19:44
Beautiful....got any more pics of her Rick?

I've wanted one for ages.....:doh

solarman216
16-05-2010, 19:44
And this is my water wheel

zippy656
16-05-2010, 19:55
what yo uwant to run off the water wheel then rick

solarman216
16-05-2010, 20:02
It generates electricity when it rains, it is connected via the land rover box in the picture to a further system of belts and pully's to get the speed up and drives a permanent magnet alternator 24 v rectified to DC to charge an 880 ah battery bank.

zippy656
16-05-2010, 20:18
so what do you run off that then

clivvy
16-05-2010, 20:18
it generates electricity when it rains, it is connected via the land rover box in the picture to a further system of belts and pully's to get the speed up and drives a permanent magnet alternator 24 v rectified to dc to charge an 880 ah battery bank.

i want one!

solarman216
16-05-2010, 20:55
i want one!

Do you have a stream ?

clivvy
16-05-2010, 21:13
Do you have a stream ?

no....could make one!

solarman216
16-05-2010, 21:18
no....could make one!

How you gonna do that, I could do with enhancing mine.

lacroupade
16-05-2010, 21:55
You're not Fred Dibnah's long-lost son by any chance are you Rick??:lol:lol:lol

lacroupade
16-05-2010, 21:58
Do you have a stream ?

I've got a river (the Towy or Tywi as we say in sheep*****ing country), but because it drains a big valley system it rises and falls by 4-6 metres in heav rain so its impossible to do anything permanent, but I'd love to - I could power the whole house I reckon!!

zippy656
16-05-2010, 21:58
You're not Fred Dibnah's long-lost son by any chance are you Rick??:lol:lol:lol

i was just thinking that too..

solarman216
16-05-2010, 22:29
I've got a river (the Towy or Tywi as we say in sheep*****ing country), but because it drains a big valley system it rises and falls by 4-6 metres in heav rain so its impossible to do anything permanent, but I'd love to - I could power the whole house I reckon!!

I would love that, yes I would be powering my house with that no question, as we stand now with no rain I get around 10,000 gallons a day from my little stream after half hour of rain 100.000 gallons plus, heavy rain and it rises 4 foot, lovely, have not harnessed the full potential yet, the gear box is not ideal etc.


Fred Dibnah now there was a guy.

lacroupade
16-05-2010, 22:33
I would love that, yes I would be powering my house with that no question, as we stand now with no rain I get around 10,000 gallons a day from my little stream after half hour of rain 100.000 gallons plus, heavy rain and it rises 4 foot, lovely, have not harnessed the full potential yet, the gear box is not ideal etc.


Fred Dibnah now there was a guy.

My father in law is the dead spit of him.....worked 40 years as an electrical foreman in Vickers at Barrow and as left wing as its possible to get LOL, hates it when I rib him about his paid off house, company pension, new car every three years.........:lol:lol:lol