How To: New Wire-5 project (Bergeron)

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Harry Moon

you should consider etching out the holes too.

No etching!! The letters were printed on. The best solution is white ink (yes, there is such a thing) and a Leroy lettering set. It duplicates the lettering almost 100%. A coat of clearcoat and Bob's 'yer uncle (or at least Robert).

The early No.5.....I haven't see one like that before. If fuses are attached to those inboard posts they would probably be under the front panel (easy to check, or at least see where the wires go), but that would make them quite a chore to replace. I have doubts they would have used those post to wire fuses elsewhere as that would defeat the purpose of the switchboard and its mobility. The C5 for the Amplified set has two more posts top left in line with the regular ones.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Bruce , i knew you were nearby . I am not etching the C5 panels but the truck control panels don’t worry . The C5 were definitely painted and that is why they are so faded now . As for the discussion on these it is because it is part of the complete Truck installation kit . No Wire-5 truck is complete without one . That so little is known about them surprises me . You mean to say Bruce that you have never seen one like my MKI ? This adds to the knowledge library then . Can you post a picture of the amplified set one please so we can compare ?

[Chris Suslowicz]

What's the wiring like behind the panel, around the extra pairs of studs?

My suspicion is that it's for something like a WS52 installation with extra battery pairs (possibly because they were short of the 200 Amp Hour units and had to make do with the 100/125AH ones instead). If so the upper and lower pairs of studs will be connected in parallel behind the panel.

It's also meant to be used with two chore-horse charging sets (according to my reading of the panel lettering). The upper two switches select which batteries are feeding the output terminals (left hand switch) and internal lighting (right hand switch), while the lower pair select the charging source (Chore Horse 1 or Chore Horse 2) for Battery 1 (Left) or Battery 2 (Right).

(On my British charging switchboard No.5, the charging sources are Vehicle Generator/Dynamo and Charging Set.)

Best regards,
Chris.

[Robert Bergeron]

Here you are Chris .

[Robert Bergeron]

Another shot without a tool obstructing the view of the wires .

[Robert Bergeron]

Finished painting the handrails and the antenna protectors just now while waiting for parts .

[Robert Bergeron]

I am happy to report that the nuts on the charging panel posts are a common thread .

[Chris Suslowicz]

Argh! OK, I'll have to get one of the switchboards out of the store and trace out the wiring - it's not at all obvious from the numbering on the "stove switch" tag, and the switches on the board are different from the GE version.

I'll see if I can do that tomorrow.

Chris.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Comparing Robert's multi post early one to a more typical Canadian C5 panel they are identical except for the pairs of posts which (I think) are labeled as Battery 1 and Battery 2. This seems to duplicate the posts running up the sides for the battery connections so it doesn't surprise me they were dropped. It does make me wonder why they were put there in the first place.

As Chris says, the British panel is different and calls for a vehicle dynamo instead of a second generator set and is set up a little differently. British left, Canadian right.