Electrical questions

[STORMRIDER151]

Hi Folks,
I'm currently well into my build and i'm at the point of doing the bulk of the electrical work. I have a Progressive dynamics power center and I think I have figured out most of it but just a couple of things. Please keep in mind I am no electrical Guru by any stretch. The first question is:
1. The trailer will have both 110 and 12 volts. The power center has 12, 12 volt hot leads coming from the back and only 1 ground point. I'm thinking all ground connections for lights and so forth would be connected to a bus bar and a single wire to ground. The question is, Battery ground or chassis. I'm thinking battery but I'm not sure.
2. My 30 amp lead in is 8/3 Romex. Thats what an electrician used to hook up 30 amp for my travel trailer. For the indivdual outlets I'm planning to use 12/2 Romex. The question is, Is this the right size for regular outlets. The most that will run on them is a small microwave, a toaster oven and a 2500 BTU air conditioner.
I really can't go any further until I figure this out as the wiring will be inclosed in a gateway. Thanks for your help I'm ready to get back to work.

[Shadow Catcher]

1. The trailer will have both 110 and 12 volts. The power center has 12, 12 volt hot leads coming from the back and only 1 ground point. I'm thinking all ground connections for lights and so forth would be connected to a bus bar and a single wire to ground. The question is, Battery ground or chassis. I'm thinking battery but I'm not sure.
Battery ground ! A bus for ground does simplify wiring.

2. My 30 amp lead in is 8/3 Romex. Thats what an electrician used to hook up 30 amp for my travel trailer. For the individual outlets I'm planning to use 12/2 Romex. The question is, Is this the right size for regular outlets. The most that will run on them is a small microwave, a toaster oven and a 2500 BTU air conditioner.
12/2 is good to 20A. The PD power center can use double breakers so four separate 120 AC lines are possible. One of them needs to be a GFCI

[STORMRIDER151]

Thanks a bunch! Someone had told me to use a chassis ground but the gut was saying battery. I like the gut. I think it was you that put me on to the PD converter and you sure were right. It's perfect for my app. Thanks again. Now back to work

[STORMRIDER151]

I have one more question. My power converter is a 60 amp. The wire I was planning to use ( well have already run )is AWG 8. The run is 14 feet to the battery. I know, why so far. Well, the power center is located in the upper cabinet of the galley for easy access. I'm wondering if this wire is too light to charge the battery. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It really helps.

[pmowers]

I would check your power center specs. I don't think that you are going to be sending 60A to the battery, at least not more than once.My WFCO is a 45 A unit, fused for 30A on the connections going to the battery. According to the Southwire calculator, sending 14 VDC ( charging voltage is normally 13.4), at 60A would give you a 3% drop over 14 ft using #3 copper wire. 30A draw requires a 6 ga. wire. for the same distance. Is it possible to put the converter anywhere closer to the battery. You may not need access to it that often. I have seen a number of people mention that breakers are not designed to be used as switches.

Pat

[pete42]

No need to worry about your wire it will be ok.
your convertor can handle 60 amps which is what "they" use to install in houses.
as far as using breakers as switches not a normal pratice but having worked
as an electrician for over 41 years in a foundry where they were used every day.
switches are better.

pete

[STORMRIDER151]

Thanks Guy's,
The reason I wanted access is for the 12 volt fuses. With the exception of the fan everything 12 volt is LED. So Pete you think I'm Ok. I sure am glad because they sure proud of wire these days.

[bdosborn]

A #8 wire isn't rated for 60 amps, its only rated for 55 amps under the most generous circumstances (routed in free air). The ampacity goes down to 40 if you route your wires through an insulated wall. The PD converter will supply 60 amps to a deeply discharged battery, that's why so many RVrs like them. The good news is that it will only supply that much current for an hour at most and then taper off the current. I'd feel the charge wire the first couple of times you recharge your battery to see if its getting warm when in boost mode. You can use the charge wizard to cycle the charger down to normal mode if it is.
Southwire Rating

You're going to have a lot of voltage drop through that little #8 wire, which also adds to the heat build up. Any chance you can change that wire out if you have problems?
Bruce

[STORMRIDER151]

Thanks Bruce,
Yes I can drill the floor and run a heavier wire through conduit to the front of the trailer. Everyone makes good sense about their posts. I think I'm going to move up to an AWG 6 for the sake of piece of mind and safety unless you guy's think it needs to be bigger. Thanks everyone for your help.

[bdosborn]

I'm pretty conservative with wire sizes, you might as well try it to see how it works before you take it out. Check the wire, if it gets too hot then you can swap it out.

Bruce

[pete42]

Thanks Bruce,
Yes I can drill the floor and run a heavier wire through conduit to the front of the trailer. Everyone makes good sense about their posts. I think I'm going to move up to an AWG 6 for the sake of piece of mind and safety unless you guy's think it needs to be bigger. Thanks everyone for your help.

first I didn't mean to imply that #8 was ok for 60 amps
I was talking about using 12 gage for lights and recepitals way over kill.
you mentioned the cable feeding the convertor was 8 gage romex I am thinking
it runs from the input plug to the convertor and you have a power cable that
runs from the trailer to a campground pedestial or house plugin.
if you feel you need a bigger wire by all means use a bigger wire to feed your convertor
remember all of the trailers electrical usage can't be more than the campground can supply
which is usually 15 or 30 amps at the best 60 with the proper hook-up.
when charging my car battery or lawn tractor battery I hook the charger to a 20 amp circuit and it works very well
I don't see you using 60 amps to charge your battery and run all your lights.
good luck
pete