idaho211
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Post by idaho211 on Jun 23, 2018 9:22:41 GMT -8
So I have 8 ga battery wiring. The positive 8 ga goes to a 30 amp breaker switch in a j box. The question is the trailer wiring coming from the converter/battery charger is 12 ga. Will there be a conflict? The breaker switch will be between the two wires?
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Jun 23, 2018 10:06:45 GMT -8
Breakers and fuses protect the wire from overloading, overheating and causing fires. So you size your breaker to match your wire.
Assuming I understand you correctly, the 8 ga goes from battery to fuse box or breaker. The 30 amp breaker protects anything down stream so it is do nothing to protect the wire between it and the battery in case it shorts out.
Now I am assuming the 12 gage wire is connected to the 30 amp breaker. 12 gage wire is is good for 20 amps and you have a breaker that will allow it to pull up to 30 amps. If there is short then your wire can overheat and possibly cause a fire. You need to either increase the wire to 10 gage or replace the breaker with a 20 amp (or less).
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idaho211
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Post by idaho211 on Jun 23, 2018 18:22:15 GMT -8
I could make the wire gauge smaller coming from the battery to match the wire size. 12 gauge is too small coming out of the battery isn’t it? Hard to change the wiring coming from the converter. In the future will be pulling the skins so can change the wiring internally to the convertor.
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Jun 24, 2018 3:22:14 GMT -8
Wire size is determine by how much electricity (amperage) you are going to need/use. The larger the wire the more amps you can pull through the wire. Changing wire size just allows you pull more electricity. Nothing wrong with bigger as long as it is fused properly.
Your problem is not the wire size, it is big enough for normal use. Your breaker is to big for the wires you have DOWNSTREAM of the breaker. it has nothing to do with the wire feeding electricity to it (coming from the battery). There is no reason to rewire the camper, just replace the 30 breaker with 20 amp breaker or you risk a fire.
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charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Jun 24, 2018 3:50:36 GMT -8
What kudzu is saying is that if the 12 gauge wire has a 20 amp (or lower) fuse or breaker protecting it, then you’re fine. If not then you need to install or replace the existing fuse or breaker with one that’s 20 amp or less. The different size wires are fine as long as they are being protected by an appropriate size fuse or breaker.
If you do not understand this, then you really should ask an electrician to have a look at your situation.
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idaho211
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Post by idaho211 on Jun 24, 2018 6:33:40 GMT -8
Makes sense to me Thanks for the explanation.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jul 18, 2018 18:29:30 GMT -8
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idaho211
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Post by idaho211 on Jul 18, 2018 20:40:40 GMT -8
Yes, thanks.
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