Basic Electrical Install

[drcurran]

I tried a search, and came up with way too many topics and, of course, anything that had the word electric in it was included. Here is what I need. How best to install electric in a CT. I know how to wire it up like a house with 110v, but would I be better off wiring it up like a "store bought" RV with 110v and 12v? And if so what materials do I need and how is this best done. My "camping" is one night stays, and often not in campgrounds. Thanks for any help.

Dan

[Dale M.]

If you are mostly camping in non commercial power area, I would do the the DC system (12 volt) and not worry about the 110 side, you can always "maintain" your 12 volt system for lighting and entertainment with a battery charger (converter) if you have shore power option...

If you have shore power there are extension cords for running any appliances you may have.... Its sort of a "life style" decision...

I really do not have any plans for any AC wiring in my build and mostly I do camping where the is no shore power, and if it is available it can power my DC (12 volt system) with above mentioned converter...

Dale

[drcurran]

I also should lhave mentioned that I do carry a 2000w geni, so I want to have 110v power.

[alffink]

Dale beat me to it

my tear was built to be used in the desert with no campground supplied AC, so it was to be all 12V

I later added a very simple AC circuit to supply power to my charger if I did have access to shore power, along with a single duplex box along side the actual inlet alowing for 110 in the galley

Check out; http://tnttt.com/viewto ... highlight=

for a good thread on circuit ideas

[TPMcGinty]

I used one of these to wire my teardrop:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RV-trailer-American-2000-POWER-CONVERTER-12-volt-NEW-/370424728882?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item563f08cd32

It was inexpensive, easy to wire, and works well.

[mikeschn]

My simple electrical install...

The orange line is the extension cord that get plugged into the campground electrical.

That black thing is a GFCI.

And the yellow thing is an extension cord of sorts...



Mike...

[drcurran]

Mike - Just the kind of simple install I was hoping for. Do you have a conrter of some sort to charge a battery? Thanks for the help.

Dan

[drcurran]

Sorry that was to read converter.

[mikeschn]

Mike - Just the kind of simple install I was hoping for. Do you have a conrter of some sort to charge a battery? Thanks for the help.

Dan

No, not really. I have a battery charger at home, and I just made sure I was charged up before I left on a camping trip...

Although, if I was doing it again, I would probably put a solar panel on the roof!

Mike...

[drcurran]

Thanks Mike I'll keep looking for a 12v charger / supply. I'm guessing that is what I need to charge a battery and have 12v in the CT. Thanks again.

Dan

[Dale M.]

Also something to consider is to charge 12 volt battery in TD, you can use TV battery..... You can run a wire from car battery with relay to control disconnect/connect for car battery to TD battery.... IF you do this, you will never arrive at campsite with a dead battery...

Dale

[S. Heisley]

Did you look here?

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=20164

[southpennrailroad]

I always like my lap top screen running on full light so I always have my 2000 watt gen running and a batt tender on the battery anyway so the batt is always charged in the time I am using the lap top. Right now though I am on the lap top battery but will be turning on the gen in about and hour when that batt begins to go low. On saver mode, I use one gal for 12 hours anyway so the batt is always on charge. I use the batt for the lap top and electro warmth blanket. I do use the trailer light but not often which is run off the batt as well. No hook up to the TV at all. The only time I am total battery usage is at night for the heating pad. All other lighting is LED Duracell battery lantern which has been running well for several months on the one set of Duracell battery's