secharles
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Post by secharles on Jun 17, 2024 1:36:53 GMT -8
Q: why are trailers wired with "romex"?
(or any solid conductor)
automotive & marine applications use stranded wire to better withstand vibration.
(and perhaps other reasons which i am unaware)
thanks
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idaho211
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Post by idaho211 on Jun 17, 2024 5:46:18 GMT -8
My Kenskill is solid copper wire. Will be changing to stranded when done with framing.
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secharles
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Post by secharles on Jun 17, 2024 6:54:46 GMT -8
i was just looking at a 1939 Schult saleman's book on the internet archive and specifically "Romax" (sic)
wire was touted as a feature.
the contemporary van & four wheel expedition builders gravitate to stranded wire,
either in factory sheathing or single strand run in protective loom covering.
as mentioned in my introductory post, i am having some struggle with the boundaries of the medium.
in time it will become easier, but for now, everything is a hurdle!
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Post by vikx on Jun 17, 2024 12:25:15 GMT -8
Most of our vintage trailers used a type of Romex for the 120 wiring and stranded if they had a 12 volt inside system. (rare in a 50s/early 60s trailer) Tow wiring is always stranded. The Romex has been in good condition for the most part. Some of the very old trailers used cloth wrapped wires, always replaced. My 53 Hanson came with knob and tube wiring, so that was replaced with Romex. I also did a complete inside 12 volt system with stranded wiring. The Hanson also had a converter. Some of the 60s to 72 trailers had aluminum wiring which should be replaced with today's Romex. Aluminum wiring can cause fires and arcing because of the difference in heating/cooling compared to copper. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/53634851@N03/53798666215/in/dateposted-public/" title="006 f Fried Alum Wiring (2)"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53798666215_31e59d15c1_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="006 f Fried Alum Wiring (2)"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The above was in a 66 Kit Companion; multiple fried wiring points... |
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ruderunner
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Post by ruderunner on Jun 21, 2024 2:42:21 GMT -8
Solid vs stranded comes down to costs. Solid is cheaper to produce, cheaper to install. Stranded requires crimping terminals on for each end of a wire, Solid can be looped to fit a screw or even push in connection.
Stranded is definitely better for vibration and is probably why you see it for safety critical systems like road lighting and brakes.
Comparing camper wiring to automotive wiring is apples to kamquats. Automotive vibration is magnitudes worse than camper vibration. Cars are expected to go 100k miles or more, how many campers run up mileage like that?
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secharles
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Post by secharles on Jun 21, 2024 4:16:49 GMT -8
Solid vs stranded comes down to costs. Solid is cheaper to produce, cheaper to install. Stranded requires crimping terminals on for each end of a wire, Solid can be looped to fit a screw or even push in connection. Stranded is definitely better for vibration and is probably why you see it for safety critical systems like road lighting and brakes. Comparing camper wiring to automotive wiring is apples to kamquats. Automotive vibration is magnitudes worse than camper vibration. Cars are expected to go 100k miles or more, how many campers run up mileage like that? oh; good to know. . . |
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