Overwhelmed by electrical system

[morgynm]

I'm having a complete brain meltdown over my electrical system. My power centre should be here tomorrow so that's a start. What I don't understand is how exactly it functions.

According to all the rv wiring diagrams I've looked at today (and it was a lot!!), I need a converter, inverter, breaker box, fuse box, battery charger, battery maintainer, and who knows what else. Am I correct in assuming that the power centre replaces all of that?? Once that's installed and connected, I can remove that bizarre fuse holder for the AC wiring?

I think I now have the Scamp wiring diagram (it being closest to the Boler) memorized btw!!! I just know I'm going to be muttering about it in my sleep tonight.





Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[Jared J]

The pd 4045 is not an inverter, but does everything else. If you require an inverter, a separate one will have to be installed.


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[morgynm]

So if I want to charge our cells off of an AC plug, I need an inverter? I'm having the worst time wrapping my brain around two different currents! AC I can handle... throw in the DC and my brain pops so I apologize for all these silly questions!


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[tractors1]

If you want to charge phones without AC, put a 12V cigarette lighter socket somewhere and use a car adapter with a USB outlet to plug into. Won't take hardly any juice to charge the phones.

[Jared J]

Yes, if you wish to run ac cell phone chargers while you only have access to dc power, you will need an inverter.

The 4045 actually holds four breakers. One is the main, and you can install doubles in the other three slots,l to give you six circuits, which is what I did. You likely would be fine with three singles in your camper.

Keep in mind one breaker needs to be a 15 amp to run the dc side.


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[morgynm]

Lol! We don't use a car one. Our cars have built in AC plugs which I now assume have built in inverters.

Anyhoo... at least my brain is only sizzling a bit now. Not fried like it was earlier.

I wish I could hire someone to walk through it with me. I used to have an appliance repair guy who would let me peek over his shoulder and would explain everything as he worked.


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[morgynm]

Thank you Jared for that! I'll make sure one is for the DC.


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[Jared J]

If it helps, you can look through my thread, I started installing the 4045 around here. http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=55038 I'm doing this on my phone, but it should get you close. Might help you with something.


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[tractors1]

A car 12V socket is maybe $15. An inverter costs a lot more (mine was $300) and has to be hard-wired to the battery - unless you get one that plugs into (guess what) a 12V car socket........

Charlie Y

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by morgynm

Our cars have built in AC plugs which I now assume have built in inverters.

Wow, what are you driving? I've never seen a stock 120V outlet in a car. Is it aftermarket? Can you post a picture?

[morgynm]

I thought lots of cars had them now. My car is an AWD Vibe and my husbands is a chev of some sort.


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[morgynm]

Maybe they're not AC? All I know is that I plug my regular iPhone charger into it!


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[Roy in TO]

An AC plug looks like most things you plug into the wall at home. Like toasters, hair dryers, kettles and irons.
A 12V outlet looks like this , note that it is almost a trick picture. The label reads 120W (WATTS) not 120V (VOLTS)

[morgynm]

Definitly AC then. I just flipped through the pics on my phone and I don't have a pic of one. I've had a few Vibes and they've all had them.


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[morgynm]

My husbands is actually an inverter. I should really spend some more time in his vehicle!! Oopsy!


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[stevebaz]

One thing you will need is a ground buss for your 12 volt circuits. The pd4045 gives you a positive wire for each fuse but doesn't give you a negative so you need to run that. I ran a 2 wire cord for each circuit and hooked up the ground all in one place rather than running single wire grounds to the frame all over the place. I used a label machine and labeled each wire as i went. With all the connections in the same place and labeled any issues will be easy to sort 10 years from now or 40 years when i am gone and the next owner has to deal with it.

[Jared J]

Forgot about the ground part. I was disappointed they didn't build that in. I used this.




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[morgynm]

Is that also an inline fuse there? And the grounding terminal has to be grounded to the frame?


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[morgynm]

Originally Posted by stevebaz

I used a label machine and labeled each wire as i went. With all the connections in the same place and labeled any issues will be easy to sort 10 years from now or 40 years when i am gone and the next owner has to deal with it.

Great idea! If somebody had done that earlier in my Boler's life, I wouldn't be in such a pickle over this wiring!!


Morgyn
1981 13' Boler
Nova Scotia

[Jared J]

If you're talking about the silver part, I wired all the 12v hot wires through a 6 pin round trailer connector. Unconventional, and I'm sure technically not to code, but it makes it easy to move the converter for access.

Nothing 12v is grounded to the frame, just one from the 120v side between the converter and frame.


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