Help with Fuses and circuits - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-15-2016, 04:40 PM   #1
Member
 
Name: Lionel
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300 pulled by a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Ontario
Posts: 40
Registry
Help with Fuses and circuits

I am installing a new power centre in our 1976 Trillium 1300 and i don't know what size (amp) of 12V fuses to use. I have 6 DC circuits to work with, but with a little trailer I doubt I will use most of them. I have upgraded all the interior lights with LED bulbs for a total of 6 interior lights. I was thinking of keeping all these on one fuse but unsure what amp fuse to use. I will also run a double USB charger outlet for charging our iPhones, iPad etc. on a separate circuit. Then likely a 12V Radio/CD Player on a third. I have a pack of 20Amp fuses but want to make sure I use the right ones for each circuit. Any recommendations appreciated!
LionelAucoin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:06 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
The size of the fuse is determined by the size ( guage) of the wire
( conductor ampacity) The size of the wire ( conductor) is determined by the load ( amperage ). I would not put all your lights on the same circuit , if you blow the fuse you will be totally in the dark. Split up the lights on 2 different circuits.
steve dunham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:08 PM   #3
Member
 
Name: Lionel
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300 pulled by a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Ontario
Posts: 40
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
The size of the fuse is determined by the size ( guage) of the wire
( conductor ampacity) The size of the wire ( conductor) is determined by the load ( amperage ). I would not put all your lights on the same circuit , if you blow the fuse you will be totally in the dark. Split up the lights on 2 different circuits.
OK, so the lighting wire is all 14 gauge. I can easily split into 2 circuits. What amp fuses would be good for these?
LionelAucoin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:18 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Jon Vermilye's Avatar
 
Name: Jon
Trailer: Escape 21C
New York
Posts: 2,387
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
OK, so the lighting wire is all 14 gauge. I can easily split into 2 circuits. What amp fuses would be good for these?
A good set of tables for determining wire size, fusing, etc is at West Marine.

Using their tables, AWG #14 can be fused up to 35 amps, although as a long time 120V electrician, I'd prefer to only fuse # 14 wire at 15 amps...

15 amp circuits will be fine for everything except for providing power for a refrigerator that runs on 12V.
Jon Vermilye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:41 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Name: Randy
Trailer: 1980Trillium 1300
Ontario
Posts: 373
...Just follow your towing vehicle fuse panel with assumption all wire gauges corrected. Open your tow vehicle fuse panel, reading the ratings and here you go, Buddy. Just a thought.
Thinh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:45 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Name: Randy
Trailer: 1980Trillium 1300
Ontario
Posts: 373
Supplemental: For battery fuse, usually rated at 30Amp DC, flood lights/head lights... 20A, and the rest..MOST are 15 amps..If using LED light I think 10A is more than enough
Thinh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:45 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
OK, so the lighting wire is all 14 gauge. I can easily split into 2 circuits. What amp fuses would be good for these?
#14 AWG copper wire has a listed ampacity of 15 amps , so the largest fuse allowed is 15 amps . You can fuse the wire at less than 15 amps . We often installed #12 AWG copper wire which is rated for 20 amps but fused the circuit at 15 amps.
steve dunham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:47 PM   #8
Member
 
Name: Lionel
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300 pulled by a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Ontario
Posts: 40
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
#14 AWG copper wire has a listed ampacity of 15 amps , so the largest fuse allowed is 15 amps . You can fuse the wire at less than 15 amps . We often installed #12 AWG copper wire which is rated for 20 amps but fused the circuit at 15 amps.
Perfect, thanks all. Will pick up some 15 amp fuses.
LionelAucoin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 05:48 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Roy in TO's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1972 Boler American and 1979 Trillium 4500
Posts: 5,137
Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
I am installing a new power centre in our 1976 Trillium 1300
I'm considering replacing mine. What did you choose and why?
Roy in TO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 06:04 PM   #10
Member
 
Name: Lionel
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300 pulled by a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Ontario
Posts: 40
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy in TO View Post
I'm considering replacing mine. What did you choose and why?
This is what I purchased:

https://www.amazon.ca/WFCO-WF8735PB-.../dp/B004LF14Q4

I can't say I did an amazing amount of research or anything, but it had what I needed (and more) and would fit in the space that I had. :-)
LionelAucoin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 06:20 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
Just a note . Automobile / vehicle wiring is not covered in the NEC.
RV wiring is covered by the NEC. One of the primary reasons is that an RV is designed to be a dwelling place with cooking facilities and sleeping quarters where a vehicle is not . Choosing the size of fuses / overcurrent devices based on auto industry practices will often put you in violation of the NEC. I know in my truck there is #12 AWG fused at 40 amps , where the NEC limits the fuse size to 20 amps.
steve dunham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2016, 07:08 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Roy in TO's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1972 Boler American and 1979 Trillium 4500
Posts: 5,137
Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
it had what I needed (and more) and would fit in the space that I had. :-)
Thanks. I think everything I've looked at has more than I need. Maybe getting what fits in the space is the answer.
Roy in TO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2016, 07:40 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Name: JD
Trailer: Scamp 16 Modified (BIGLY)
Florida
Posts: 2,445
When I installed the wiring in my Scamp I used 2 and 4 conductor cables of the proper size and ran both power and ground to each device so that the wires stayed neater.
Also they are a little better protected.
Labeling is a good idea as well since although I remember absolutely every thing I do ...........well you get the idea.
I bought wire with white insulation and you can write on it if you want to.
What I bought was sold as speaker wire and is available on Amazon in 14 and 16 gauge. I used 16 and fused accordingly since my trailer is all LED.
The wiring to the Refrigerator was of course heavier as was the Romex run to the outlets which I installed everywhere and now wish I had installed more!
I installed barrier terminal strips behind the converter and brought all of the circuits there along with a grounding buss mounted next to that. I also brought all of the seven wires from the trailer 7 pin plug to a strip here so that troubleshooting the electrical could be done from a central spot. That includes the brake wiring from the plug and to each brake, tail and running lights, turn signals and reversing lights.
The main trailer power from the plug is fused and tied into the battery via the first 30 amp circuit (fused in the converter) in the system.
The power from the trailer is protected with a 30 amp circuit breaker and has a cutoff relay to kill power when the engine is not running.
If you check my thread on rebuilding the Scamp I also added power meters for both AC and DC so I would know what is happening electrically.
redbarron55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2016, 06:42 PM   #14
Member
 
Name: George
Trailer: 1997 16' Scamp
Michigan
Posts: 81
Which wire gauge and what fuses? The wire size ALWAYS determines the maximum fuse that can be used. Your battery feed will probably 30 amp and #10 wire. The circuits will be of wire sizes #14 and #12, maximum fuses will be 15A and 20 A. Suppose you run a #14 wire to your stereo or your pressure water pump. The information with the stereo or pump will recommend the fuse size, probably 6 - 10 A which is below the 15A maximum for the #14 wire. Label things well and have spare fuses.
varmint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2016, 06:45 PM   #15
Member
 
Name: George
Trailer: 1997 16' Scamp
Michigan
Posts: 81
Another thought, most all wire you will find is stranded which stands up to vibration better and is more flexible. Romex house wire is solid.
varmint is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2016, 07:22 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Name: Tim
Trailer: Boler
Alberta
Posts: 277
Please let me know how this converter works for you! I have been debating buying the exact same one. My old one suffered after a power surge and I am still debating if I buy this or put in a breaker panel, battery charger and fuse panel instead.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
This is what I purchased:

https://www.amazon.ca/WFCO-WF8735PB-.../dp/B004LF14Q4

I can't say I did an amazing amount of research or anything, but it had what I needed (and more) and would fit in the space that I had. :-)
TimR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2016, 07:32 AM   #17
Member
 
Name: Lionel
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300 pulled by a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
Ontario
Posts: 40
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimR View Post
Please let me know how this converter works for you! I have been debating buying the exact same one. My old one suffered after a power surge and I am still debating if I buy this or put in a breaker panel, battery charger and fuse panel instead.
Will do! I am hoping to finish up with the wiring/install this weekend but unfortunately with the cold weather coming in it will be next spring before we get to take it out.

And will be posting pictures as I go on our blog: ourtrillium.wordpress.com
LionelAucoin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2016, 12:00 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Name: Tim
Trailer: Boler
Alberta
Posts: 277
Very cool. I found the converter kind of strange though that going from black to brown costs more than double??!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by LionelAucoin View Post
Will do! I am hoping to finish up with the wiring/install this weekend but unfortunately with the cold weather coming in it will be next spring before we get to take it out.

And will be posting pictures as I go on our blog: ourtrillium.wordpress.com
TimR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2016, 05:29 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Joe MacDonald's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1981 Trillium 5500
Posts: 1,158
if you already have a converter with ac and dc circuits whether fuses and or breakers, it is not usually too big a chore to pull out the dc section of the old converter, and wire in a new PD9130 or something similar, that is what I did, when I pulled the old converter out the dc section was just bolted on the back of the panel. I pulled it off, made a couple of brackets and mounted the new converter on the old panel. Ran a couple new wires into the panel, re did the wires for the battery, and bob's your uncle back in busines with a minimum of wiring
Joe






























































































-1+





























































































++
Joe MacDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2016, 06:58 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Carl V's Avatar
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 700
I just bought a new Progressive Dynamics PD4135 for my trailer.
I haven't installed it yet due to lack of time (and now it's getting colder...)

My plan was to initially go with a deck-mount converter like the PD9130, and use the existing circuit breakers and fuses (or install a new DC fuse panel and new push-button AC breakers).
Then I realized that going with a all-in-one converter like the PD4135 wasn't more expansive, was simpler to wire and install, and offered the option to upgrade the trailer from 15A to 30A AC service, which I'm planning to do (not that I will be using 30A regularly, but I'll have the option).

The main thing on upgrading to 30A is simply getting a 30A main breaker instead of 15A, and replace the power cord to a 30A-rated, 10AWG RV cord. I found a 30A RV extension cord at Costco for $42 (real cheap) that I will be using for this.

My new converter has 6 DC and 5 AC branches. I'm adding both AC and DC voltmeters/amp meters, USB charging ports, new LED lights, new battery, and various switches to control all of this.
Carl V is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
15 amp vs 20 amp circuits? LionelAucoin Modifications, Alterations and Updates 21 09-09-2016 07:13 PM
Blowing fuses and receptacle question.. Bluebamboo Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 19 05-29-2013 03:52 PM
Fuses in a Town and Country Tow Vehicle GingerB Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 21 12-28-2012 01:18 PM
Road racing circuits TonyB Camping, Campout Reports 3 09-04-2007 12:26 PM
The fastest fuses blower Legacy Posts General Chat 8 07-04-2003 02:36 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.