SimonTuffGuy
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1973 Shasta 1400
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jun 26, 2018 5:38:55 GMT -8
The original breaker box that was installed seemed to be acting weird. Even with the breakers turned off, I had power to outlets. At the same time, I decided to change from 15A to 30A. I picked up a Furrion 30A Stainless inlet with LED and a 50ft cord for the inlet. I decided to use the existing hole where the water feed for the water tank was at, since I'm not using the water tank (planning to use some 6 gallon jugs if/when we go for something that doesn't have water on-site). My progress so far was to mount and install the inlet, wire it up, and get the cable fed into the upper cabinet where the breaker box is going to be mounted.    All of the existing wiring was 12/2 for the outlets and lights, so I'm going to reuse that since it all looked to be in decent shape (and since I'm trying to avoid removing all the skins if I don't have to for the repairs I'm making). I may pull the outlet back out after seeing it there and flip that cover upside down (so there isn't an "entry" in there, in the event I would spring a leak with the water fill to the side of it there. If nothing else, at least seal it so that water entry wouldn't be possible. |
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SimonTuffGuy
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1973 Shasta 1400
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jun 26, 2018 5:44:42 GMT -8
Also - Looking for recommendations on what to do/how to fix the hole where the old 15A inlet was connected... It's a big square box there now. Am I better off simply installing a new GFCI/outdoor rated outlet and cover there instead of trying to patch it?
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Post by vikx on Jun 26, 2018 20:10:00 GMT -8
Be sure to use 10ga wire from the inlet to the breaker box. From there, if the old wiring is good, it's fine to use it.
Your outdoor outlet is exactly what I was going to suggest.
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SimonTuffGuy
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jul 13, 2018 6:36:05 GMT -8
Your outdoor outlet is exactly what I was going to suggest. Vivx - I'm curious on your thoughts of this setup. The original wiring for the outlet at the fridge looks like this:   It sits behind that cover, but it's not exactly a waterproof setup. None of this was GFCI protected. The screws on the near side of that outlet were rusted. I'm replacing the outlet, but I'm also thinking about moving the outlet location itself. Would putting it up on the wall behind the fridge be a better location? At least not sitting in a spot where rain COULD accumulate if it blew in a certain direction. As part of my original question, on what to do with that hole where the original 20A plug went... I found a nice recessed outlet cover that I just ordered off Amazon to fill the void. My plan was to put a GFCI outlet on that and then wire feed the outlet there at the fridge off that wire. Is that my best bet here to protect everything? Is that actually original Shasta wiring for the fridge? |
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jul 13, 2018 14:24:17 GMT -8
that doesn’t look original to me. I would mount the plug vertical and not like it is. If you have anything else on that circuit then I wouldn’t put it on a gfci because you will be more prone to nuisance trips and it will ruin your bologna.
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Post by vikx on Jul 13, 2018 19:17:35 GMT -8
I agree that it doesn't seem original. I would move it to the forward wall. That will protect it from water intrusion going down the road as well as when camping.
GFCIs are not normally used on appliance circuits because they are prone to tripping. If the fridge shuts off, then Asimx is right, no bologna sandwiches. It's up to you whether you use GFIs in other areas. I don't install them in my trailers.
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SimonTuffGuy
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jul 16, 2018 4:30:02 GMT -8
I agree that it doesn't seem original. I would move it to the forward wall. That will protect it from water intrusion going down the road as well as when camping. GFCIs are not normally used on appliance circuits because they are prone to tripping. If the fridge shuts off, then Asimx is right, no bologna sandwiches. It's up to you whether you use GFIs in other areas. I don't install them in my trailers. Thanks for both answers. My plan will be to move that to the front wall so that it up and out of any water path (other than something leaking in from the ceiling I guess, but that area seems to be sound). Your take on not being original is probably sound. Here's what that wiring looks like inside:  The breaker box was located in that upper cabinet there. An original (or, I'm assuming it's original, it runs into the wall and down into a junction box located in that seat box, right next to the wheel well). It then goes off of that into the cabinet, up and out, and then you can see the white white wire that runs to the red square and up into the yellow box, which is where that outlet was behind the fridge. Being that that wire was surface mounted, I guess that's probably my answer - I'm assuming that if it was original wiring, it would've been between the skin and the wall, right? Is it "acceptable" to run them that way again? Like my 10g wire that I have running there to feed the new box. It's not hurting by any means, but... am I better off pulling the skins to run it that way or that's just personal preference? I was trying to not make more work than I needed. I know I have to pull the skin on the front and the rear to fix some rotted areas, but I'm trying to avoid anywhere that I don't need to. That side wall is solid. |
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Post by vikx on Jul 16, 2018 18:53:59 GMT -8
I run every wire I can exposed in the dinette, cabinets and under the bed. The easier it is to get to the wiring, the less worries you will have. I do run "some" wiring in the wall and across the ceiling, but most is exposed. It's very easy to protect the wires with conduit or a chase if you think it's needed.
So, to answer your question, I wouldn't worry about running the wiring in the wall. There's ways to wire almost anywhere without lifting the skins.
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SimonTuffGuy
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Post by SimonTuffGuy on Jul 18, 2018 4:30:03 GMT -8
You're an amazing asset to this forum, vikx... I appreciate your time to reply.
With checking on the wood rot that I have going on and needing to lift the skins to check other places, I thought that it would've been as good of time as any to wire behind them if needed. I think surface mounting and covering where exposed (if needed) is the way I'll go.
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chriss
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Post by chriss on Jul 21, 2018 15:52:31 GMT -8
If you are getting enough water through that vent to worry about that outlet, I would be more worried about all the wood getting soaked.
Maybe it's not realistic to say, but there should be no water getting through there from a normal rainfall, even if going down the highway.
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