Nord Electronica 195

[Barbilliards]

Hi,

 

I have a 5 year old Itineo FB600 (Rapido) fitted with a Nord Electronica 195 panel. I recently had to change the engine battery as the old one wasn't taking a charge. Since swapping the battery the panel isn't recognising the new one, it shows 0.0 volts and 0% charged, it also annoyingly flashes constantly. I have disconnected and reconnected the new battery and have checked any fuses that may be in the loop (I think)..

 

Does anyone have an idea what to check next? I have contacted the dealer and they just told me to bring it in, which is a 100 mile plus round trip!

 

Thanks in advance.

[buddy]

I would get in touch with Apuljack engineering in Somerset who supply and repair the Nord Electronica systems and should be able to give advise, they are normally very helpful.

[Derek Uzzell]

Michael

 

Are you sure that your Itineo has a Nordelecttronica NE195 control panel?

 

I can’t find any mention of the “195” number, though there are plenty of on-line entries relating to the NE190 panel. (For example)

 

https://www.portablepowertech.com/library/documents/5788efc55c05c-man-kit-ne190ne189-engr2.pdf

 

https://forums.practicalcaravan.com/threads/ne-190-control-panel.55272/

 

Suggest you do as buddy advises and contact Nordelecttronica specialists to see if they can help

 

http://shop.apuljackengineering.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=132

 

https://deltaconversions.com/

 

(There are NE196 and NE185 units, but these are 12V ‘fuse boards’ not control panels.)

[Barbilliards]

Hi Derek,

 

DOH, you are absolutely correct, it's a NE196-RA and is of course the fuse board, not the control panel. Unfortunately the manuals supplied with the van didn't include anything for the control panel.

 

Thanks for the Apuljack Engineering tip Buddy, I'll give them a call.

 

Mick

[Derek Uzzell]

An Instruction Manual for the NE196_16RA is here (I assume the “RA” indicates it has custom features specified by Rapido.)

 

http://campingcarfrance.com/files/public-docs/Notices%20d%27utilisation/Porte%20fusible/MODULE%20DE%20DISTRIBUTION%20DURBAN.pdf

 

If you can identify the control-panel that - logically- will be a Nordelecttronica product, it should be possible to find a manual for it.

 

It’s sometimes suggested (and then proves to be effective) if a control-panel behaves oddly, that the panel itself be disconnected, left unconnected for a while and then be reconnected. However, if your Itineo’s panel is functioning OK except for failing to provide voltage and % charge readouts for the replacement battery (and is constantly flashing) it may be that the panel needs to be ‘reprogrammed’ to match the new battery.

 

If your control-panel’s front does not carry an “NE” reference, can you identify it from on-line images?

 

https://tinyurl.com/y2d77xjw

 

Or provide a photo of the panel here.

 

(If ‘reprogramming’ via the control-panel is needed, the chances are small that it can be done using commonsense or intuition. If you look at Pages 62 to 67 here

 

https://orbit.brightbox.com/v1/acc-jqzwj/Swift/handbooks/pdfs/000/000/024/original/1089175__Caravan_Owners_Handbook_2010.pdf?1472743472

 

you MIGHT get lucky regarding playing about with the settings of your panel.)

[Barbilliards]

Hi Derek,

 

I have tried taking the panel off, disconnecting for 5 minutes and replacing to no avail.

 

I've also recontacted the dealer, he suggests that there is a fuse in between the engine battery and the vans system which is normally located next to the battery. I can't see it.

 

I tried uploading photos of my panel and the battery compartment but I can't take one of 100kb or less so won't upload.

 

My panel doesn't appear on that webpage you sent but is very similar to the NE274.

 

 

[Alanb]

Barbilliards - 2020-08-06 11:11 AM

 

Hi Derek,

 

I have tried taking the panel off, disconnecting for 5 minutes and replacing to no avail.

 

I've also recontacted the dealer, he suggests that there is a fuse in between the engine battery and the vans system which is normally located next to the battery. I can't see it.

 

I tried uploading photos of my panel and the battery compartment but I can't take one of 100kb or less so won't upload.

 

My panel doesn't appear on that webpage you sent but is very similar to the NE274.

 

 

Hi Michael,

 

There SHOULD be a fuse between the starter battery and the habitation electrics.

 

The fuse should be installed as close to the starter battery +ve terminal as practicable.

 

The fuse may be rated as high as 50A, but there have been suggestions that such fuses can be blown during jump starting.

 

Have you checked that 12V from the starter battery, is reaching the habitation fuseboard?

 

You have not stated what your base vehicle is, but on earlier, pre 2006, Sevel vehicles (Fiat, Citroen, Peugeot), a popular place for the fuse was under a large plastic cover in the engine bay.

 

If your base vehicle is post 2006, with the starter battery under the cab floor, I would still expect the fuse to be close to the battery.

 

Alan

[Derek Uzzell]

Michael’s motorhome is a 5-years-old (so presumably that means “built in 2015”) Itineo FB600 model. (Photo attached below and specification details on following link)

 

https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/buyers-guide/motorhomes/details/fb-600/13357

 

The Itineo brand was created in 2006 by Rapido to provide family-oriented motohomes (particularly A-class designs) at a very competitive price. All Itineo models have been built on a Fiat Ducato chassis and I assume Michael’s will have a Ducato ‘X290’ base.

 

The NE196 wiring diagram on Page 15 of the Instruction Manual

 

http://campingcarfrance.com/files/public-docs/Notices%20d%27utilisation/Porte%20fusible/MODULE%20DE%20DISTRIBUTION%20DURBAN.pdf

 

shows 50A fuses on the starter and leisure batteries (extract in 2nd image attached below).

 

The rationale of the Nordelecttronica NE196-RA ‘fuse-box’ seems similar to CBE’s “DS” distribution boxes, with the box doing all the clever stuff and modular equipment (control-panel, battery-charger, sensors) simply being plugged into the box.

 

Michael has said that his Itineo’s control-panel seems very similar to a Nordelecttronica NE274 panel and there’s an Instructions Manual for that panel here

 

https://orbit.brightbox.com/v1/acc-jqzwj/Randger/articles/source_documents/000/000/024/original/NORDELETTRONICA__NE274-FV_MANUAL.pdf?1532442663

 

Advice on checking the starter-battery’s voltage and percentage charge-state are as shown on the 3rd image attached below. There is nothing in the NE274 Manual to suggest that ‘programming’ the system is possible.

 

The Itineo’s starter-battery will be under the floor in front of the left cab seat. The fuses will be in the area enclosed by the red line in the 4th attached image below.

 

(It has to be said that, although my 2015 Rapido almost certainly has a large amperage fuse for its CBE electrical system on or near the starter-battery’s positive terminal, I don’t know exactly which fuse it would be.)

[Derek Uzzell]

Barbilliards - 2020-08-06 11:11 AM

 

...My panel doesn't appear on that webpage you sent but is very similar to the NE274.

 

 

For what it’s worth, Nordelecttronica control panels seemingly carry identification labelling on their rear. The labels on the panel in the attached image indicate that it’s a 274 model.

[Alanb]

Derek,

 

I never cease to be awed by your research capabilities.

 

Is the picture of the starter battery posted above one of your own vehicle, or a stock image?

 

It is probable that the red 50A midi fuse in the photo could be the habitation (converter's) fuse.

 

Compare with the following picture of Snowie's bespoke PVC, where the position in not equipped.

 

On Snowie's vehicle two inline fuses are connected to the starter battery positive by short lengths of cable.

The larger green fuse will be a 30A maxi blade fuse for the habitation fuse panel, and the smaller yellow 20A blade fuse is presumably the fridge 12V supply.

 

In Derek's picture there are two brown cables which appear to be connected directly to the battery negative. This is not a good idea, as a conceivable remote earth connection on these cables would negate the safety given by removing the battery negative clamp.

 

Alan

 

See picture of Snowie's battery on this thread.

 

[Derek Uzzell]

The photo In my posting was taken from an earlier forum thread - it's not of the battery compartment of my Rapido motorhome (that now has Varta starter and leisure batteries).

[Barbilliards]

Folks,

 

Many many thanks for your responses. I did manage to send a photo of the battery positive terminal to the dealer and he called me back indicating the red midi fuses that are the likely culprits. I have two on order that should arrive today, I'll let you know if that resolves the problem.

[Derek Uzzell]

You should be able to check with a multimeter the continuity of the present red Midi fuses without removing the fuses.

 

Also worth reading Mikefitz's advice about starter-battery changing on this earlier forum thread

 

https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Vehicle-Battery/55275/#M649477

[Barbilliards]

UPDATE

 

New fuses arrived, installed and problem solved :-D

 

Thanks again for all your advice.

 

Mick

[mikefitz]

For reference the red midi fuse, F73, is used for the feed to the converters outlet situated behind the trim at the bottom of the drivers (RHD) B pillar. Even where the converters outlet has not been specified this fuse is often in place.

Fuses F 70, F 71 and F72 supply various base vehicle systems via relays and further fuses The grey CAL4 fuse connects to the starter and alternator ( also the jump start point).

 

Mike

[Alanb]

Barbilliards - 2020-08-08 10:35 AM

 

UPDATE

 

New fuses arrived, installed and problem solved :-D

 

Thanks again for all your advice.

 

Mick

 

Mick,

 

It seems that somehow you had blown fuse F73 (red midi fuse). This fuse has a 50A rating, and such fuses do not blow at random. Unless you are aware of a possible cause of failure such as jump starting, you should have the wiring checked by a competant person.

 

Alan

 

[Alanb]

mikefitz - 2020-08-08 11:50 AM

 

For reference the red midi fuse, F73, is used for the feed to the converters outlet situated behind the trim at the bottom of the drivers (RHD) B pillar. Even where the converters outlet has not been specified this fuse is often in place.

Fuses F 70, F 71 and F72 supply various base vehicle systems via relays and further fuses The grey CAL4 fuse connects to the starter and alternator ( also the jump start point).

 

Mike

 

Again for reference the fuse arrangement on x244 vehicles is slightly different.

There is no CAL fuse for the starter.

On my vehicle at least, the positions of F72, and F73 are illogically interchanged.

 

On the x244 2.8JTD the fuse ratings and allocations are:

 

F70 150A Engine bay fusebox, which supplies LHS cab fusebox.

F71 80A RHS cab fusebox.

F73 70A Converters fuse.

F72 125A Alternator

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

I wasn’t aware until now that pre-X250 Ducatos had their starter-battery under the cab floor, though I see this was touched on here in the past (and on-line images show differences in the fuses on the positive terminal).

 

Came across this ‘entertaining’ YouTube video on Ducato starter-battery replacement.

 

 

A peculiar method is suggested in order to access the under-bonnet positive jump-start point. I just push a small flat-blade screwdriver into the slot arrowed on the attached image below and lever upwards.