Lesson 1Using test instruments: digital multimeter techniques (voltage, current, continuity), clamp meter use, voltage drop testing, battery load testers, hydrometer and battery-specific diagnosticsThis lesson shows how to use digital multimeters, clamp meters, and battery testers in practice. Students will try measuring voltage, current, continuity, and voltage drops, along with checking hydrometers and specific battery tests to ensure the system is working well.
Safe multimeter setup and rangesMeasuring DC and AC voltageCurrent and clamp meter techniquesVoltage drop testing on circuitsLoad testers, hydrometers, and BMS dataLesson 2AC system basics: 120V shore power, inverter operation, transfer switches, GFCI/AFCI protection and testingThis introduces 120V AC power distribution in RVs, covering shore power connections, transfer switches, and inverter workings. It includes GFCI and AFCI safety devices, how to test them properly, and spotting wiring issues that could cause electric shocks.
Shore power inlets and cordsTransfer switch operation checksInverter modes and pass-throughGFCI and AFCI function and testingNeutral, ground, and bonding rulesLesson 3Electrical repair procedures and parts: terminal cleaning, crimping/lug selection, heat-shrink, busbar replacement, fuse and breaker replacement, wiring repair best practicesThis covers practical electrical repair steps, like cleaning terminals, choosing and crimping lugs, and applying heat-shrink tubing. It reviews replacing busbars, fuses, and breakers, plus good ways to splice and route new wiring.
Cleaning and restoring terminalsSelecting lugs and crimping toolsHeat-shrink and strain relief useReplacing busbars, fuses, and breakersSplicing and routing replacement wiringLesson 4Safety procedures for working on RV electrical systems: lockout/tagout for shore power, working with live 12V and 120V circuits, PPE and fire risk mitigationThis details safety rules for RV electrical work, including locking out shore power, confirming no power is flowing, and safe ways to handle live 12V and 120V circuits. It covers protective gear, risks of sparks and fires, and safe tool use.
Lockout/tagout for shore powerVerifying circuits are de-energizedSafe work around live 12V and 120VRequired PPE and insulated toolsFire risk, extinguishers, and egressLesson 5Charging systems: converter/charger operation, shore power interaction, alternator charging, solar charge controllers, absorption vs. bulk/float stagesThis explores RV charging setups, including converter/chargers, alternator charging with isolators, and solar controllers. It compares bulk, absorption, and float charging stages, and explains how shore power and generators work with batteries.
Converter/charger operation checksAlternator charging and isolatorsSolar charge controller setupBulk, absorption, and float behaviorDiagnosing under- and over-chargingLesson 612V distribution: fuse/breaker types, busbars, grounding, chassis bonding, common wiring colors and gauge selectionThis explains 12V power distribution in RVs, covering fuse and breaker types, busbars, and grounding methods. It includes chassis bonding, standard wire colours, and choosing the right wire size based on load, length, and voltage drop.
Fuse and breaker styles and ratingsBusbars and distribution blocksGrounding and chassis bonding pointsRV wire color conventionsWire gauge and voltage drop limitsLesson 7House battery health and parasitic draw testing: state-of-charge measurement, resting voltage interpretation, amp-hour testing, battery isolation switches and monitoringThis teaches how to check house battery condition using voltage, specific gravity, and load tests. It covers finding parasitic drains, acceptable idle currents, isolation switches, and monitoring tools to avoid deep discharge and early battery failure.
Open-circuit and resting voltage checksUsing amp-hour and load testsLocating and measuring parasitic drawsUsing battery disconnect and isolationBattery monitors and shunt installationLesson 8Common causes of flickering lights: voltage drop, poor connections, undersized wiring, weak battery, converter issues — diagnostic approachThis focuses on finding why RV lights flicker, by checking voltage drops, loose or rusty connections, too-thin wiring, weak batteries, and converter problems. It teaches step-by-step tests to see if the issue is DC or AC related.
Differentiating AC and DC lightingChecking for low system voltageInspecting connectors and terminationsEvaluating converter output stabilityCorrecting undersized or damaged wiringLesson 912V DC fundamentals: battery types (flooded, AGM, lithium), capacity (Ah), CCA, BMS basics, safe handling and storage limitsThis gives basics of 12V DC for RVs, including flooded, AGM, and lithium batteries, their capacity in amp-hours, CCA ratings, and simple BMS functions. It stresses safe handling, storage rules, and matching batteries to RV needs and chargers.
Flooded, AGM, and lithium comparisonUnderstanding Ah, CCA, and ratingsSeries and parallel battery wiringBasic BMS roles and protectionsSafe handling, charging, and storageLesson 10Documentation and electrical schematics: reading RV wiring diagrams, tracing circuits, marking repairs and maintaining service recordsThis covers reading RV wiring diagrams, following and labelling circuits, and recording repairs. It emphasises updating diagrams after changes and keeping good service records for future checks and warranty claims.
Symbols and legend interpretationFollowing power and ground pathsTracing multi-branch lighting circuitsMarking modifications on schematicsCreating and storing service records
