This is my design for the HVAC "control system," which is really just a 4"x5" board with these seven relays on it. Rather than buy a fully integrated (and proprietary) roof air conditioning system involving separate thermostats and controls, we got the simpler (and cheaper) self-contained units with integrated controls, which also lets us use whatever brand units we want, and even to mix and match. The problem with these is that the fans run constantly (the internal thermostats only switch off the compressors), and we did not want that. This board lets us control the three roof airs with two conventional residential-type thermostats (we bought the digital programmable ones). Since we were already putting the 'stats in place for the roof airs, we decided to use the same 'stats to control both the Webasto hydronic heat system and the supplemental electric heaters (when shore or generator power is available), and this board also manages that function.

Here are the drawings for the various component designs and layouts, including plumbing and electrical systems. Floor plans are in a separate gallery. Note: Colors will not display correctly unless you load the drawings in "original" size.

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Odyssey > Battery connection drawing for the house batteries. The batteries themselves are to scale and shown layed out in their actual relative positions -- #'s 1&2 over the right front wheel well, and #'s 3-8 over the left front wheel. The stairway intrudes into this area on the curb side, which is why we could only fit two batteries there. The other components shown on the drawing are not to scale and not in exact positions, but they're close. Not shown on the drawing is the cable coming into the Xantrex Pathmaker from the chassis batteries, which are way at the rear of the coach.

Odyssey > This is the DC panelboard schedule.

Odyssey > The Kubota-powered Fidelity generator that was in Odyssey when we got her had been rigged up with a very hokey one-touch start/stop system involving four delay-timers and a bunch of relays, and probably some magic smoke. Starting was unreliable, and, moreover, the whole timer/relay mess was not with the generator, but in another compartment full of relays and timers for everything on the coach, all of which we had to rip out. I had to completely redesign the start/stop system and the Kubota's wiring harness, and this diagram is the result.

Odyssey > This is the AC "panelboard schedule." This is something of a misnomer, as we are builidng our own custom panel, and three of the "panelboards" ("N," "I," and "S") are actually just three different busses in one enclosure. (Panel "G" is a store-bought job back by the generator.) Note that "Panel S" is fed from Panels "N" and "I," which is part of our Load Management System (see the panel wiring drawing).

Odyssey > This drawing shows the schematic layout of the three busses in our main panel. The busses are called "Panel I" (for "Inverter"), "Panel N" (for "Normal," or maybe "Non-Inverter" depending on when you ask me), and "Panel S" (for "Switched" or "Sharing"). The large power relay switches the feed for "Panel S" between Inverter and Normal power based on a signal from the Automatic Transfer Switch (see separate drawing). The SPDT switch is a manual bypass that can force the connection either way. The 3-in, 3-out rotary switch shown is actually a 3P11T switch (only seven positions used) which allows any pairing of roof airs with the three roof air supply circuits (one on each of the three panels).

Odyssey > This is the main DC distributuion diagram from the batteries up to the main disconnects, for both house and chassis. The house disconnects are manual, as we don't expect to use them ever, except in emergencies or for maintenance purposes. The chassis disconnects are Intellitec latching solenoids, controlled from a switch in the cockpit. We'll switch off the chassis batteries anytime we are parked for more than a week or so. The PathMaker is a device that automatically connects the house batteries to the main engine alternator when it is running and the chassis system has come up to a specific voltage level. It also has a driver command switch that forces a connection for the purpose of "jump-starting" the chassis battery system. The two Vanner equalizers allow us to draw 12 volts off the center tap of the 24-volt system without harming the batteries.

Odyssey > A more detailed drawing of the wet bay layout, in both plan and elevation views. The plan view is also found on the bay-level floor plan.

This is my design for the HVAC "control system," which is really just a 4"x5" board with these seven relays on it. Rather than buy a fully integrated (and proprietary) roof air conditioning system involving separate thermostats and controls, we got the simpler (and cheaper) self-contained units with integrated controls, which also lets us use whatever brand units we want, and even to mix and match. The problem with these is that the fans run constantly (the internal thermostats only switch off the compressors), and we did not want that. This board lets us control the three roof airs with two conventional residential-type thermostats (we bought the digital programmable ones). Since we were already putting the 'stats in place for the roof airs, we decided to use the same 'stats to control both the Webasto hydronic heat system and the supplemental electric heaters (when shore or generator power is available), and this board also manages that function.