Getting ready to remove the old panel
THE PROJECT
Having made the decision to go through with the electrical upgrade , we took an ‘ out with the old , in with the new ’ approach . The Redarc Manager30s Battery Management System ( BMS ) was something we were already familiar with , so we chose to go with it again . We like the fact it offers many solutions for managing batteries all wrapped up in a single case .
Before removing the old gear , we needed to understand the existing circuit . After carefully removing the old electrical board , we uncovered wires galore that needed labelling . It was a bit of a job to trace , test and label every wire and connection , but that time was well spent and really helped us understand how we ’ d go about designing the new electrical 12V distribution board .
With the old board out and a circuit diagram we ’ d drawn in hand , the new design layout started . We found the Manager30 ’ s instructions and diagrams were easy to follow and used these as a guide . They explained where wires needed to go , which wires needed to be used , and the wiring size required for the job . Having this information at our fingertips made the job simpler .
The areas we were keen to upgrade included circuit protection and fault-finding capability , along with improving current flow and reducing voltage drop . To address these , existing load cables were replaced with larger diameter cabling , and some professionally crimped ring terminals were incorporated to ensure sound electrical connections .
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