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Old 08-26-2015, 06:38 PM   #1
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Removed bus flooring. Ready to tackle electrical system- Help!!!

Hello,

I'm really new at this. Just got a 2000 Bluebird All American bus. Started the conversion process and need help.

I removed the flooring to check for any signs of rust and take care of it.

Next I need to work on the electrical system prior to insulating the bus.

I am clueless about the process. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
What should I look for?

Comments/ Help much appreciated.

Thank you!


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Old 08-26-2015, 07:24 PM   #2
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Quote:
I am clueless about the process. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
What should I look for?
Really? Do you think we are supposed to have any idea about what you are asking? We have no idea of what you are trying to accomplish. YOU have to have some sort of plan. I suggest you spend a few weeks reading old posts, get a plan on paper. No one is going to, or be able to, answer such a generic question.

Dick
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Old 08-26-2015, 08:26 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by somewhereinusa View Post
Really? Do you think we are supposed to have any idea about what you are asking? We have no idea of what you are trying to accomplish. YOU have to have some sort of plan. I suggest you spend a few weeks reading old posts, get a plan on paper. No one is going to, or be able to, answer such a generic question.

Dick
Hey Dick,

Thanks for the lecture and all the help. I appreciate it.

Sounds like someone needs to get some.

Brady
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Old 08-26-2015, 08:43 PM   #4
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What should I look for?
Wires.
Try asking well thought out specific questions.

I'm beginning to agree with Nat.
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Old 08-26-2015, 08:57 PM   #5
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Seriously though, "work on the electrical system" is fairly ambiguous.

The coach electrical system? I'm not sure there's any standard thing on that; it seems most of us just leave that stuff (turn signals, head lights, brakes, horn, charging system) alone. Usually the school-specific safety stuff has to be disabled or removed (red/yellow lights, swing-out stop signs, etc) but that seems to be different for each bus.

A 120 volt system? There are threads here for that http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f10/ho...ac-448-16.html and http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f10/rv...y-7862-10.html

A house dc system? I think there's a thread on that too, but as I recall there aren't the same degree of "standard/good practices" for dc as for ac.

I guess the first step is to define what you want the electrical system to do for you. Here on skoolie.net I've seen it run the gamut from an all-electric coach with electric instant/tankless water heater all the way to just enough solar and battery to warm a hot drink and run a few LEDs.

If you can kind of draw an outline of what you want an electrical system to do, then we can give more specific suggestions or feedback on how to get there.
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Old 08-26-2015, 11:06 PM   #6
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Red is positive and black is negative. Is this what you are looking for?
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Old 08-27-2015, 12:17 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brady78 View Post
Hello,

I'm really new at this. Just got a 2000 Bluebird All American bus. Started the conversion process and need help.

I removed the flooring to check for any signs of rust and take care of it.

Next I need to work on the electrical system prior to insulating the bus.

I am clueless about the process. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
What should I look for?

Comments/ Help much appreciated.

Thank you!

Start by isolating and labeling all the wires you find. Figure out where they go, figure out what they run, label them simply, then figure out if you need them or not. This is where I would start.

More specific questions will get you more specific answers, just remember to ask before you F something up that you can't fix.
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Old 08-27-2015, 02:28 AM   #8
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Actually, technically, well...sort of what I've seen is black is power and white is ground on bluebird busses.

But then all the other systems have other colors anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal View Post


Red is positive and black is negative. Is this what you are looking for?
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Old 08-27-2015, 08:21 AM   #9
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Wiring doesn't explain whether you are doing 12 volt or adding 120
volt house wiring. If it's 12 volt and your bus is new enough you can
go to Central States Bus Sales and download a wiring schematic for
your bus. This will show you what each circuit goes to in your bus.
When you look at wires in your Blue Bird you will find small numbers
on each factory wire which identifies the circuit they go to. If you don't
want to use that circuit you can remove the wire or re-purpose it for
something else you will use. The 120 volt side of wiring is a whole other
subject.
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Old 08-27-2015, 09:20 AM   #10
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You (OP) need to look at your bus like a house.

Ever seen someone build a house without floor plan and electrical plans? Sure you can, but you can't really asks someone for help if they can't look at what you have in mind...

Look at you conversion like a house.

What's going where, what type of devices (and power consumption it has etc).
Where are going the tanks and plumbing
etc.

You there is no 1 recipe because no one chooses a bus to build it like someone else's. They'd buy an RV...

Figure out a plan, then make an effort to sketch out a way to acheive it then double check with people here.

Right now you look like you haven't done your homework and no teacher wants to help someone who doesn't work on their own a bit...
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Old 08-27-2015, 09:57 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aaronsb View Post
Actually, technically, well...sort of what I've seen is black is power and white is ground on bluebird busses.

But then all the other systems have other colors anyway.
I was still at the battery.
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Old 08-27-2015, 05:53 PM   #12
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I understand completely the frustration, I have worked customer service most of my life. That said it takes nothing to not be a dick (unless your name is Richard). I agree be concise and don't waste peoples precious time and for the love of god don't be a dirty hippy too misguided by "good vibrations" and completely lacking a plan.
The option to ignore idiots and time wasters on the board, and any other, is in your hands. Instead of getting into a berating session. Just click the x and move on with your life, if you don't have constructive things to say.

OR

Why don't you write an excellent "how to" with loads of good pictures, links and other resources then STICKY it so that people can bask in you knowledge with out bothering you.

OR

Make a new sections called the NOOBS playground where people can ask dumb questions and threads about such things can be moved to.
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Old 08-27-2015, 06:10 PM   #13
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Make a new sections called the NOOBS playground where people can ask dumb questions and threads about such things can be moved to.
+1
That right there is a great idea!
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Old 08-27-2015, 11:53 PM   #14
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Roger that...we were all newbies at something at sometime. Enough already with the arrogant, superior whining. How about some simple good manners people and welcome newcomers with a bit more courtesy.

(Please notice I intentionally avoided using "common courtesy" since like "common sense", these days, there is nothing "common " about either one at all.)
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Old 08-28-2015, 12:23 AM   #15
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Ok, going on tango's observation I'll make a reset the conversation post.

If brady78 is still watching these posts, I'd like to ask: which electrical system are you talking about?I'm sort of going to guess you are talking about the run of wiring to the back of the bus, the ones that illuminate the tail lights and school flashers up top.

Yes/no/close?

PS: in the electrical box your primary grounds to the body ground post are white, and your primary positive feeds from switched and unswitched power are black.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango View Post
Roger that...we were all newbies at something at sometime. Enough already with the arrogant, superior whining. How about some simple good manners people and welcome newcomers with a bit more courtesy.

(Please notice I intentionally avoided using "common courtesy" since like "common sense", these days, there is nothing "common " about either one at all.)
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Old 08-28-2015, 09:32 AM   #16
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Thanks Aaron...I wasn't really directing my annoyance necessarily at this thread or anything in it. It was simply at the overall level of pissy responses that seems to have taken over the whole forum whenever newbies ask "dumb" questions. What is truly dumb is the amount of negative energy that has been put into calling them down by the know-it-alls who seem to have nothing else to offer than vitriol.

I'll say it again...

I have always had a helluva lot more patience with sincere ignorance on a subject than I ever did with arrogance and bad manners.
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Old 08-28-2015, 05:24 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango View Post
Thanks Aaron.

I'll say it again...

I have always had a helluva lot more patience with sincere ignorance on a subject than I ever did with arrogance and bad manners.
Yup.


We've removed a pile of posts that are offtopic. Folks - one more time:

Do NOT tell new members to "go search" for their answers.

You can bet that if someone took the time to register on the forum they have already been looking for help. Either offer up some assistance or don't post - plain and simple.
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Old 08-28-2015, 05:27 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by Tango View Post
Thanks Aaron...I wasn't really directing my annoyance necessarily at this thread or anything in it. It was simply at the overall level of pissy responses that seems to have taken over the whole forum whenever newbies ask "dumb" questions. What is truly dumb is the amount of negative energy that has been put into calling them down by the know-it-alls who seem to have nothing else to offer than vitriol.

I'll say it again...

I have always had a helluva lot more patience with sincere ignorance on a subject than I ever did with arrogance and bad manners.
That's a geat way of looking at it.
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Old 08-28-2015, 05:31 PM   #19
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That's a geat way of looking at it.

I agree with my friend here.
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Old 08-28-2015, 11:17 PM   #20
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Thank you Janet.
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