Chinook RV

Does anyone have a reference/instruction book that you would recommend for RV wiring? I know the web is full of tutorials and bits of advice, but I'd really like something that I can take along with me when I am on the road and reference when I don't have an internet connection.

I'm looking for something that gets down to super dummy basics, like how to properly wire up a 12v outlet, what gauge wire is needed for an A/C outlet, what the proper readings should be when I test a 12v circuit with a multimeter. Not so much optimization or improvement as just getting things working, safely, for someone starting off with only very vague ideas about electrical wiring. Like, I know enough to turn off the breaker for the house, and how to replace a ceiling fan or light switch or thermostat. Basically, I know enough to match up colors and use one of those spinny cap things to make a connection. I have a feeling from reading posts on this forum that RV wiring is slightly less standardized and user-friendly Thus the desire for a portable brain I can take along on my remodeling adventures.

There are a couple of good boating books that I would have recommended ten years ago. They may still be great, but I'll have to take a look (IIRC one was by Charlie Wing and one was a Nigel Calder). I totally get wanting to have a reference book and not only rely on the web.

Another great resource is ABYC standards. These are guidelines for best practices put out by the American Boat and Yacht Council. Some people see them as onerous rules, but I find they are a great "cook book" for how best to do things. You need to pay for the most current ones, but slightly older ones can be found around the web. If memory serves, E-11 is electrical. It may not look very user friendly, but if you can get past the "Article 1, page VII" type of thing it is very useful.

Blue Sea is a company that makes lots of nice electrical goodies. But they also have a circuit calculator and many helpful articles on their website. These include diagrams and etc. to give you a feel for how things should be set up. Also real people who answer the phone in Washington state if you have one of their products and come up with a question.

I'll have a look tomorrow morning with my coffee and see if either one of those books or another one look good. Also I'll put up a link to the ABYC electrical that is available online.

I have a few different books I've accumulated, but only 2 that I think are worth it. I recommend getting them both, as even though they cover much the same ground, the way they discuss and diagram it complements each other (and the Managing 12 Volts is DC-only). Read both of these and you'll have a really good understanding of the electrical systems for RVs.

Managing 12 Volts, 2nd Edition, by Harold Barre (2011)
Sailboat Electrics Simplified by Don Casey (1999)

Managing 12 volts covers RVs as well as boats, does a good job explaining wire sizing, using volt meters, battery types and discharging, normal circuits, some nice diagrams that I find easy to understand. It covers multi-stage charger/converters, which the older Sailboat book does not.

Sailboat Electrics covers 12 Volt and AC for boats. Most of the stuff applies to RVs, though obviously some things that they are more concerned about on boats, mostly water everywhere, doesn't apply much to RVs. It does have more and even better diagrams than Managing 12 volts, and has a good chapter on troubleshooting (with more details and types of meters, volt meters, amp meters, measuring capacitance).

And don't forget to reference the Chinook manual, as it has a couple of pages that diagram the 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC layout and fusing. I have found that useful, though it might not be entirely correct (it does not show the correct path of the AC outlets on the passenger side going through the Outside Patio outlet connection - which is critical to understand that if water gets into that outside outlet over time, which it does, and corrodes the wires, that you can lose the AC on the passenger side and have no idea to look at the outside outlet during testing)

BobW9 wrote: July 6th, 2018, 4:28 am
Managing 12 Volts, 2nd Edition, by Harold Barre (2011)
Sailboat Electrics Simplified by Don Casey (1999)

Thanks for the recommendations!

Good morning!

I looked over some of my old faves at Amazon and.... you know, they either seemed pretty outdated or super heavy on theory -- or they had too many chapters covering how to fix your toilet at sea. The one I came away with as a "decent" recommendation (and only ~$17) was Don Casey's, Sailboat Electrics Simplified.

So I'm gad to see Bob recommending it as well.

It seems like a lot of the best, most, up-to-date articles are either online or in publications such as Pro Boat. Neither is going to sit tidily on your reference shelf. Don's book may not be perfect, but he always has nice, tidy drawings that really make you feel like you can do it

A book that I never left the dock without is Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems. And it is a useful book: It has drawings and parts litings for water pumps, toilets, engines, and you name it. BUT, it's big, heavy, and expensive. And you don't need to know how to fix a seacock or diesel engine at sea. But you might check it out at a library?

The other thing I'd recommend -- and I know this is online, not on your reference shelf -- is just to go to RC's Marine How to pages. These are basically photo albums wherein each one is a tutorial on best practice for something (there is text too). Pick one of interest and you have a guide to best practice. Examples that come to mind are bedding hardware, fusing battery banks, making good crimp connections, setting up a battery monitor, and the list goes on (he is always adding to them and none of them are ancient). He has connections with ABYC and he really does do things properly (he does re-fit work on boats for a living).

https://marinehowto.com/

BG

Maybe consider taking an electronics class at a local community college or similar.

You'd be able to ask questions, and ideally it would include a lab where you can safely get your hands dirty.