CBE PC200 - Hobby Motorhome

[Hobby-Andy]

We have a CBE PC200 12V control system in our Hobby Motorhome. All functions on the panel appear to work fine (on/off, water pump. outside light), but the display is malfunctioning. Just randomly flashing depending what buttons are pressed.

Motorhome has not been used for 18 months, leisure battery went flat. New Leisure battery has been fitted, have tried disconnecting the panel & reconnecting etc, to no affect.

Hobby want £450 for a new control panel, which is ridiculous. It's a custom plate for Hobby, so I don't think I can buy a standard CBE one without leaving exposed holes around the current mounting position. I have contact CBE direct and as it is a Hobby unit, they say I have to go to Hobby.

I have found 2 companies that say they do repairs, but bit worried about sending to an unknown company. Any good reviews of repairers, or any other suggestions.

 

[Pausim]

I haven’t used them but others say Apuljack are helpful, might be worth a phone call to get advice.

Apuljack Engineering Ltd.

 

[Fontie]

+1 for Apuljack

 

[Colino]

Have you asked on the Hobby motorhome enthusiasts page on Facebook. They might have some ideas.

 

[Hobby-Andy]

I haven’t used them but others say Apuljack are helpful, might be worth a phone call to get advice.

Apuljack Engineering Ltd.

Thanks Pausim, that is one of the companies I have been looking at.

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[Hobby-Andy]

So as an update - CBE won't deal with me as it was a "custom" panel made for Hobby and insist despite all the components being standard CBE components that if I buy a standard control panel it will not work. Hobby UK want £450 for a new control panel (more than the cost of a whole standard CBE system) and it will have to come from Germany on 6 week delivery. Hobby Germany say they don't support it anymore and to contact CBE direct. So it has gone to Apuljack who hopefully can repair it. Alternative will be buying a standard panel and trying that.

 

[Fontie]

It may be a standard panel it will be the firmware that is different, the panel itself is dumb its the firmware that is motorhome specific its basically a program that says when y button is pushed x will happen it is programmed like this for every button/touch on your control panel. Buying one direct would be a waist of your money. Apuljack are good see what they say. If you have to swallow hard and buy from Hobby for your particular motorhome.

 

[Hobby-Andy]

It may be a standard panel it will be the firmware that is different, the panel itself is dumb its the firmware that is motorhome specific its basically a program that says when y button is pushed x will happen it is programmed like this for every button/touch on your control panel. Buying one direct would be a waist of your money. Apuljack are good see what they say. If you have to swallow hard and buy from Hobby for your particular motorhome.

If the tank sensors, the battery charger, the temperature sensors and the DS300 distribution box are all the same as a standard system and the standard control panel has exactly the same buttons as the "custom" hobby panel, I can not see any possibility that a standard panel would not work, it is not that cleaver of a system. The only thing that I can see is custom made for Hobby would be the front facia panel. Anyway lets see how Apuljack do. I won't be paying Hobby more than the cost of a new system anyway. I would rather replace the whole standard system than pay Hobby extortionate money.

 

[Hobby-Andy]

OK, so as a follow up. Apuljack are able to repair, by basically replacing the whole PCB from another unit, charging nearly as much as Hobby for a new control panel.

After discussion on here, emails with CBE, Hobby and Apuljack everyone said buying a new panel won't work. However, looking thru all the manuals etc, I could not believe this, so brought a new PC-210 control panel for £105 inc VAT & delivery from Caravan Conversions. This morning I plugged it in and guess what, all main functions work fine. The only issue (which is minor) the internal & external temperature sensors have individual connectors and not the combined one on my original panel. So just going to either live without or if I can find the correct connector I will change them over.

Going to make a simple cover plate to go over the original hole / screw holes and fix the new panel to the cover plate.