Wiring for my new Hawk Shell

[mhjackson123]

I have just received my new Hawk shell and have some questions about wiring.

1) what are the solar plugs/port actually connected to? Should I be able to plug in a portable panel that has a controller and be able to charge the Hawk Battery?

2) I have a Victron 700 battery monitor that I would like to set up/install. However, I am not sure how to access the wiring in the cabinet between the battery and the separator/fuse box area. Any suggestions?

3) in the battery box there is a spare red and back wire with yellow connectors. Is that for a second battery?

4) there is a coil of green wires with one (fused)yellow wire near the separator. I have no idea what this is for...

5) any suggestions for getting a wire from the battery compartment to the fuse/separator area?

6) does anyone know where I can get documentation about the wiring?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Mike

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Mike, is this a brand new shell? If so, your dealer should have helped you with this!

The solar plugs are typically connected to the solar controller, so if you want to use a portable panel with a controller, you probably need to identify the wires for the plug you're using, and connect them to the battery, observing proper polarity, with a fuse on the positive lead near the battery. You might consider a switch or diode so the plug isn't hot all the time.

I can't help on the Victron, in fact there are so many questions that in my opinion it would be best for you to speak directly with the folks at FWC. Maybe others here can help, but I can only guess at what's what in your configuration.

Apologies that I can't offer more.

 

[Advmoto18]

Hi Mike and welcome to WTW and the FWC families!

As Wandering Sagebrush mentioned, there should have been a fair amount of docs with you shell, if new. Even if purchased used, I would go back and ask the seller if they have the docs that came with the shell from FWC/dealer.

While the wiring diagrams are not in the owner's packet, many of the connections are described in the docs.

Here is the link to the FWC web site and docs for components/owner manuals. Perhaps the answer to some of your questions might be found here.

Let us know in this thread if you find the info you need.

 

[BFH4N]

Ask FWC to send you a wiring diagram. They did it for me. It was a little hard to understand, but I was able to figure it out.

- Bernard

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Welcome to the family Mike.

When we received our shell model we ordered it with just the two connectors (no solar panel) so the wiring was not connected to the battery. You will find two sets of two wires (black and red) coiled and secured near the "Sure-Power" unit in the battery compartment.

As "Wandering" suggests go back to the seller. If they are the dealer they will help you. most of us use a solar controller permanently mounted as most of us eventually add a roof solar panel to run and charge the battery for a portable or front opening compressor fridge.

I'm not familiar with the Victron either. Contact them and see if they have an installer in your area. If not, get the install instructions and locate a mobile electronics shop which is what I did . They installed my Trimetric battery monitor for $75.00 (well worth the price because I have a professional install with no problems to date).

You don't say, so guessing you probably ordered the "tower" on the drivers side which contains: propane bottle on bottom. Battery compartment above. And either a stove or empty shelf on the top.

Portable panels with built in controller
I found these units to be very heavy (around 26-30 pounds) and expensive.($200 Renogy) We purchased a 60 watt stand alone panel (about 12 pounds and less than $90 )And a MorningStar charge controller
from Solar Blvd www.solarblvd.com.

We use an Engle top loading portable compressor fridge that draws only 1.5 amps average after the cool down period (20 minutes from 108* temp to 39*. 2,5 amps continues draw) and made up a 50 foot length of 12 gauge 2 conductor wiring for shade camping.

The 60 watt puts out 3.5 amps per hour which is enough for our needs.

For your application you may need a 100 watt panel. Consider a flexible as they only weigh 4-5 pounds and can be stored under your mattress when traveling. Yes there have been problems, however just from one manufacture that as of this writing refunded everyone's money and took the product off the market. Research Flexibles on Amazon plus there is a "pinned" post on flexibles.for your review. Click on the link.

In my build post I have a lot of info on my experiences with solar that might benefit you as you do your research and build your shell.

 

[Vic Harder]

Welcome to one of the best forums and campers on the planet! Pictures of what you are talking about would be helpful, and as others have said, if this is a new camper then you should be able to get documentation from FWC. If not, then the pictures would be a good place to start. Post those and we'll help as much as we can!

I've got a Victron setup in my shell, BMV 702 as well as dual 75/10 controllers. Do you understand the Victron instructions?

 

[mhjackson123]

Thanks for all the replies. My Shell did not come with solar, just the roof and rear plug. I think I have found the connectors to those plugs. I am still trying to figure out how to run wiring inside the cabinet as it all seems to be pretty sealed up. Any suggestions for accessing?
I happen to have a 40W portable panel and have access to a 120W one. Both of these have their own built in controller, so I think I will try using these first.
If I can't figure out how to run wires through to where the separator is, I may mount the Victron battery monitor in the battery box.I will also contact FWC and the Canadian dealer to see if they can tell me more. I did not find much in the docs package.
I will take a couple more photos and figure out how to post them later.
Thanks again to all! Great forum!

 

[Beach]

You probably need to remove some of the cabinet panels to access wiring. there will be screws holding then in place. as others said FWC is your best source for details and a wiring diagram..

 

[RC Pilot Jim]

Adding Photos

From the Home page scroll down to WTW Member Support or click on the link. The top 3 pinned posts explain the steps to
embed photos in a post.

 

[tree]

I have just received my new Hawk shell and have some questions about wiring.



1) what are the solar plugs/port actually connected to? Should I be able to plug in a portable panel that has a controller and be able to charge the Hawk Battery?
THEY ARE LIVE ONCE YOU CONNECT THE 2 IN THE BATTERY BOX, (THEY COME FROM THE FUSE BOX AREA)



2) I have a Victron 700 battery monitor that I would like to set up/install. However, I am not sure how to access the wiring in the cabinet between the battery and the separator/fuse box area. Any suggestions?

6 OR 8 SCREWS. GAVE ME ACCESS, THERE IS A FEED FOR 12 VOLT PORT ALSO. AFTER INSTALLING A FUSE IN THAT SLOT AT THE FUSE BLOCK.



3) in the battery box there is a spare red and back wire with yellow connectors. Is that for a second battery?
THE SMALLER WIRES ARE FOR SOLAR HOOKUP FOR THE ROOF AND REAR PORT. THE LARGER MAY BE FOR THE SECOND BATTERY. I ORDERED MY 2016 HAWK SHELL WITH 2 BATTERIES.



4) there is a coil of green wires with one (fused)yellow wire near the separator. I have no idea what this is for... ITS ON THE LABEL INSIDE THE DOOR. YELLOW IS FOR THE CEILING LIGHTS, GREEN IS FOR THE REAR FLOOD LIGHT OPTION.



5) any suggestions for getting a wire from the battery compartment to the fuse/separator area?
DRILL HOLES. I DRILLED 3 FOR MY EXTRA WIRE RUNS.


6) does anyone know where I can get documentation about the wiring?
I ASKED FWC THE SAME. THEY WOULD NOT SEND. THEY SAID MODELS CHANGE TOO OFTEN.



Thanks in advance for any help.

Mike

 

[tree]

I just received the exact same camper, 2016 hawk shell. and added all the extras myself. even the curtains. pm any questions. I was going to even install rear flood lights but did not need them.

 

[mhjackson123]

Ask FWC to send you a wiring diagram. They did it for me. It was a little hard to understand, but I was able to figure it out.

- Bernard

I did ask but got the same response as Tree...

 

[mhjackson123]

I have finally got back to looking at my new Hawk shell and will likely take the front panel off (though it looks like I will break a bunch of silicone seal in doing so). I have posted some annotated photos of my electrics on my Google Photos site:
I think I have attached a photo of the inside of the battery box where I think the solar ports connect to. I presume that if I connect these to the battery terminals, I can then use the portable solar charger.

I also have a photo of the coil of green wires that appear to have been "terminated". No idea what these are for...

 

[mhjackson123]

The attached image is an annotated photo of the fuse/connection box showing what seems to be connected to each fuse. I am not sure what the top left one is for...

 

[mhjackson123]

and just a wider view of the fuse/connection box...

 

[mhjackson123]

Hi Mike and welcome to WTW and the FWC families!

As Wandering Sagebrush mentioned, there should have been a fair amount of docs with you shell, if new. Even if purchased used, I would go back and ask the seller if they have the docs that came with the shell from FWC/dealer.

While the wiring diagrams are not in the owner's packet, many of the connections are described in the docs.

Here is the link to the FWC web site and docs for components/owner manuals. Perhaps the answer to some of your questions might be found here.

Let us know in this thread if you find the info you need.

Thanks for this link - lots of useful pdfs to be found!

 

[Vic Harder]

I think I have attached a photo of the inside of the battery box where I think the solar ports connect to. I presume that if I connect these to the battery terminals, I can then use the portable solar charger.

First picture - those look a lot like the wires in my camper that go to the solar roof plug. Do test with a Voltmeter to be sure though.

 

[tree]

and just a wider view of the fuse/connection box...

that top left fuse is for rear flood lights. I used all spare or non used fuse slots on my fuse box. added the correct fuse, and ran wire ext. added 12 volt receptacle, led entry light, and outside side light for a table I place outside for food prep.

 

[mhjackson123]

that top left fuse is for rear flood lights. I used all spare or non used fuse slots on my fuse box. added the correct fuse, and ran wire ext. added 12 volt receptacle, led entry light, and outside side light for a table I place outside for food prep.

That is interesting. For me the bottom left fuse goes to the two outside lights. I have not figured out where the top left one runs to. I will be taking some parts of the cabinet off soon and will see where it goes...

 

[tree]

That is interesting. For me the bottom left fuse goes to the two outside lights. I have not figured out where the top left one runs to. I will be taking some parts of the cabinet off soon and will see where it goes...

you should have a white label in the fuse compartment. it list the fuse locations in order. and fuse size.