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Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:50 pm
by cuchillo
Hello,

Working on tracing and labeling the wires in my conversion and I see this in the cupboard:
Image

Whats is it? I have not yet traced it as I need to remove some of the wood work and it also looks like it goes behind the plastic body work and there is a massive screw and bolt coming out of the body (I think).

I have a bad feeling that I might end up stripping out the conversion to be able to trace all the wires :shock:

(Not something I want to do! Have ordered on of those endoscopes off ebay, maybe it will make life a little less frightening)

Many thanks!

Cuch

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:07 pm
by haydn callow
Yes......looks like a load of Earth wires

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:07 pm
by Gasy
That just looks like a multi connector block
Like the new style ones they use on sites these days
The cables are not segregated so yes like a buz bar
why they brought that blue in through a side hole I've no idea
Looks like a load of earths
But people tend to use any colour wire they have for alterations

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:11 pm
by cuchillo
Assuming that they are a load of earths then could it mean that out of those 6 wires, 5 are the negatives from 5 devices and one of them is the wire that goes back to the battery? Or is it more complicated than that?

Yes, I know we cannot be sure of that and I would have to trace each wire to be sure. Just looking to form a mental image to compare against when I do trace them :)

TIA

Cuch

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:42 pm
by g8dhe
Yes just an Earth connection strip.
Not sure I like the idea of having any electrical wires in close proximity to the gas pipe however!!!! Any of those wires abrading against the pipe could be broken and then the live side of the circuit is touching the the gas pipe, if its earthed (the pipe) then it could arc against the outside causing damage, if the pipe isn't earthed then it would become live itself and possibly earthed during connection to a gas tank when there is a chance of free gas and sparks in the same location!!!
Re-site the connection strip and keep all wires clear of the gas pipe.

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:43 pm
by Gasy
Just put a multi meter to them wires and to a earth / body point to check for continuity / voltage
Before tracing them

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:49 pm
by cuchillo
g8dhe wrote:Yes just an Earth connection strip.
Not sure I like the idea of having any electrical wires in close proximity to the gas pipe however!!!! Any of those wires abrading against the pipe could be broken and then the live side of the circuit is touching the the gas pipe, if its earthed (the pipe) then it could arc against the outside causing damage, if the pipe isn't earthed then it would become live itself and possibly earthed during connection to a gas tank when there is a chance of free gas and sparks in the same location!!!
Re-site the connection strip and keep all wires clear of the gas pipe.
Yes, I did notice that. Took a while for my eyebrows to come back down again :D

Will probably start moving things around when I have documented everything as I want to replace the cables from the LB to the MPPT with thicker one and then reroute the "appliance" wires from the LB/Earth to the load side of the MPPT so that I can see what the individual drains are. Also I should have more room at the back of the van for a decent fuse and bus bar unit than under the hood. Least I hope I will, even if it goes under the bed.

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:52 pm
by Gasy
Good point g8
25mm min clearance required in domestic property's
Or insulate / wrap the pipe
Never thought about earthing the gas pipes in caravans / bongos etc
We should always put a earth continuity strap ( jump lead ) on gas pipes before we cut them for that reason

I cut a incoming cold water mains once in a loft
Which I found out was live
The neutral had snapped of the flourescent strip light in the kitchen , the earth of which was wrapped around the cold water mains in the loft
When I cut it it bloody hurt and I couid not let go of the pipe
Builder managed to switch of the mains while I was screaming in the loft :D

Re: Whats is this? A busbar?

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 8:07 pm
by g8dhe
Its one of the reasons I get jumpy when I see domestic cabling used in cars, the insulation is designed for flexibility not wear resistance, so if it rubs against anything in a car the vibration will wear its way thru the insulation and in no time you have a contact to what its rubbing against. Where as proper vehicle grade insulation is a lot harder and less flexible it will withstand rubbing and vibration to a much higher degree.