1976 Pace Arrow Woes

[DCordes]

Good Morning,
My name is Dwight and 8 years ago I ventured into the RV fray by purchasing a 1976 Pace Arrow Coronado 27'. I love the old girl but to my detriment the previous owner was an electronic technician, who had a love for "improving" the electrical systems of the coach.
Needless to say under the dash and hood look like a science fair project or a Radio Shack build-your-own-radio project.
There is literally a kitchen timer attached to something, and for the life of me I can't figure out what it goes to, but I'm afraid to disconnect it for fear the septic system might simultaneously evacuate.
That said, I'm trying to locate blueprints and schematics of what nature (and Pace Arrow) intended the wiring and other coach systems to look like.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a source for this information on a coach of this vintage?
Any and all help, jokes, or moral support will be greatly appreciated.

["007"]

Welcome DCordes to irv2.
Since a timer acts as a switch try jumping the leads to timer, x it out, and see what happens by doing this. What ever was on timer will always be working.
If you operate timer something will function until it shuts it down at least you will know what it is and we can decide if its necessary.

[DCordes]

Thanks 007, I'll give that a try, however, I'll be hunting you down if the blackwater tank simultaneously empties. :-)

["007"]

Do you have a macerating pump off your sewer system with valves open? Maybe what timer is for.

[73Indian]

Hey Dwight,
Well if you have had this rig for 8 years, and it is still running, then you are doing good. You might take this to the Vintage RV's forum. It's kind of a slow job to track down wires that seem to go everywhere. One wire at a time with lots of pictures and notes will help. Les

[Petro]

Dwight;

I just want to welcome you to iRV2. I believe you have found the friendliest site on the Internet to hopefully get some answers to your questions. Post often share your solutions to your problems with us.

Don

[TXiceman]

Dwight, not knowing the degree of mechanical and electrical expertise you have makes telling you where to start more difficult. I am going to presume you are at the most basic level.

First find and buy the Book, RVing for Dummies. Next get an inexpensive analog (with a needle or pointer) volt-ohm meter. Read the book and understand how to use the volt meter fro 12 VDC and 120 VAC.

After you get a basic understanding, you will need to attack one circuit at a time and start tracing it until you find the problem or what it is supposed to control. As you work though the wiring, you can make a sketch and also be sure and lable the wires as you trace them. You can label them with a letter code and keep a table or wire on the lable what the wire powers, such as ..."A" - Power to water pump. Be sure and label any fuses as you identify them.

For labeling, you can use masking tape to make a flag over the wire and write on the flag in a pen that will not fade or erase.

A lot of the older RVs and even the newer ones, the wiring diagrams were merrily and suggestion and maybe not how it was actually wired.

One word of caution, especially on a modified wiring system, assume every wire is HOT (power on it) until you can check and confirm the power is off.

Good luck and post your questions as they come up.

[DCordes]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. It's a wiring nightmare, augmented extensively by the DIY electronic technician.

[DCordes]

No that was a joke. But seriously, there are so many add on wires and homemade circuit boards and minutiae that a mere mortal (with limited electrical experience) has never seen nor really wanted to. I'm starting a complete renovation because I love the old thing and the way I see it, if it looks old on the outside, but plush on the inside, there's less chance of getting broken into. :-)
Thanks for you input.
Dwight

[DCordes]

Thanks so much for this invaluable advice. I'm looking forward to discriminating between what is original, what isn't, and what isn't necessary.

I'll keep you posted as the project progresses.

Dwight

[DCordes]

Thanks and I believe you're right. Already I've received some really helpful advise.

Dwight