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06-19-2018, 04:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 13' Boler
British Columbia
Posts: 161
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Using automotive primary wire for 30a outlet
Hello community,
Looking for some advice.
I have a 30a receptacle port that will be connected from its backside to the ground, and neutral bus bars in my converter, hot being connected to a single pole 30a circuit breaker.
I understand that you can run 30a on a 10 gauge wire but will be using 8 gauge just to be more careful as I have some kicking around. The distance from the plug to the converter is less than 3ft.
The 8 gauge wire I have is your standard primary wire used for all 12v wiring.
My question is, will this be acceptable? Or will I need to go out and grab some of that rigid romex style wiring?
Thanks for your thoughts!
-Mark
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06-19-2018, 04:22 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fofobraselio
Hello community,
Looking for some advice.
I have a 30a receptacle port that will be connected from its backside to the ground, and neutral bus bars in my converter, hot being connected to a single pole 30a circuit breaker.
I understand that you can run 30a on a 10 gauge wire but will be using 8 gauge just to be more careful as I have some kicking around. The distance from the plug to the converter is less than 3ft.
The 8 gauge wire I have is your standard primary wire used for all 12v wiring.
My question is, will this be acceptable? Or will I need to go out and grab some of that rigid romex style wiring?
Thanks for your thoughts!
-Mark Attachment 120760
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Inside the trailer ALL wiring should be automotive. The insulation is the main reason. Automotive wire does NOT sustain fire, that's whey it's used in automobiles and it's a good idea to do the same in our trailers.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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06-19-2018, 04:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: Escape 21C
New York
Posts: 2,387
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Make sure that both the connector & Converter terminals (and the breaker) are rated for stranded wire. Generally, not a problem...
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06-19-2018, 05:24 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Your photo shows a male receptacle . The receptacle should be a female otherwise the exposed metal prongs will be energized . A very dangerous and hazardous issue .
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06-19-2018, 05:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham
Your photo shows a male receptacle . The receptacle should be a female otherwise the exposed metal prongs will be energized . A very dangerous and hazardous issue .
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ahhh.. the male side is on the camper, no? And the female side on the shore power cord.... Unless I missed something.
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06-19-2018, 05:42 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 13' Boler
British Columbia
Posts: 161
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham
Your photo shows a male receptacle . The receptacle should be a female otherwise the exposed metal prongs will be energized . A very dangerous and hazardous issue .
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I will be connecting to the female of this receptacle.should have posted this.
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06-19-2018, 05:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 13' Boler
British Columbia
Posts: 161
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Thanks for the advice folks. Much appreciated
Happy camping / renovating
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06-19-2018, 05:50 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fofobraselio
I will be connecting to the female of this receptacle.should have posted this.
Attachment 120761
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The connection terminals are not the issue
If you plug an extension cord into the outlet you pictured the prongs on the male end of the extension cord will be exposed and energized
Again if the outlet is fed hot you need a female receptacle !!!!
Your picture shows a male receptacle
Are the receptacles in your house male or female ???
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06-19-2018, 05:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fofobraselio
I will be connecting to the female of this receptacle.should have posted this.
Attachment 120761
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That is the side of the receptacle that is inside the camper right? With the male side on the outside of the camper, and that the shore power cord plugs into? No problem then.
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06-19-2018, 06:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Correct if you are using the part shown as an inlet
I have seen people add twistlok male receptacles to there trailer and fed them from a 15 or 20 amp circuit breaker . Thusly when the trailer was plugged into shore power or an inverter the exposed metal prongs were hot
The way I misread your post that is what you were attempting to do
I was wrong and I apologize
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06-19-2018, 06:10 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Gordon
Trailer: 2015 Scamp (16 Std Layout 4) with '15 Toyota Sienna LE Tug
North Carolina
Posts: 5,155
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham
Correct if you are using the part shown as an inlet
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Make sure you are using it as Steve describes.. he's a great authority on RV electrical.
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06-19-2018, 06:14 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: Boler
Posts: 227
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I am reading this right? You are going to run 120 volts ac through wire that is rated for 12vdc? If it were mine I would go buy a spool of wire properly rated for the correct voltage and amperage. You don't need to Romex you can get wire that is just a single conductor.
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06-19-2018, 06:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Trailer: Boler
Posts: 227
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman
Inside the trailer ALL wiring should be automotive. The insulation is the main reason. Automotive wire does NOT sustain fire, that's whey it's used in automobiles and it's a good idea to do the same in our trailers.
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Any wire with csa or ul listing will not support fire either. That's why we use it in your house.
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06-19-2018, 06:21 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Normal building wire is rated for 600 volts and is labeled as such
I would just use # 10 THW or THWN / THHN stranded copper wire.
For added mechanical protection you may want to enclose the wires in Carlon smurf tube which also is flame resistant
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06-19-2018, 06:34 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,519
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Why not just use a small section of your 30A shore power cord?
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06-19-2018, 06:40 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
Why not just use a small section of your 30A shore power cord?
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For the same reason the outlets in your trailer use NM cable (Romex )
The NEC states that cord is not be used as a permanent wiring method or in concealed locations . The service entrance cord is an exception to the rule .
The insulation on cords has a bad habit of drying out and failing , that’s why it is supposed to be exposed and open to visual examination / inspection .
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06-19-2018, 07:47 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Arthurs
I am reading this right? You are going to run 120 volts ac through wire that is rated for 12vdc? If it were mine I would go buy a spool of wire properly rated for the correct voltage and amperage. You don't need to Romex you can get wire that is just a single conductor.
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Misunderstanding going on here.
The voltage rating only refers the maximum voltage you can have a wire next to another wire. It's the point where arching can occur. Not all but most 12vdc automotive wire is rated for 500 to 600volts. The maximum voltage in 120 volt ac circuit is about 174 volts. (peak voltage = RMS voltage x 1.414)
The maximum voltage should be printed on the insulation.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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06-19-2018, 07:48 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
Why not just use a small section of your 30A shore power cord?
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Will it sustain fire. If so don't use it.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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06-19-2018, 08:52 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: Escape 21, behind an '02 F250 7.3 diesel tug
Mid Left Coast
Posts: 2,937
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the marine wire I use for DC wiring is rated for 600V. its 12/2 stranded, and I'll use it for up to 30A DC circuits as long as the run isn't too long.
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06-19-2018, 09:13 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,519
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman
Will it sustain fire. If so don't use it.
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It is the OEM wiring on nearly every trailer including yours.
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