Fuse panel Vs. Direct Wire

[Jst83]

I'm about to start wireing my tear. I don't plan to have battery. I was wondering is there a real need for a fuse or breaker panel or can I direct wire it all to the cord to the campground electric. Hope this makes since

[Dale M.]

I personally think you need to have some sort of protection for your internal systems. That means a breaker panel or fuse panel with at least one breaker or fuse (or how ever many be required) between your trailer systems and shore power... IF you power needs are minimal one circuit with 15 amp breaker or fuse may be enough ..

You can never be sure what shore power you will be plugging in to and how well it is protected... It may have a amperage capacity that is high enough to cause damage in your system before "their" breaker blows...

Dale

[bdosborn]

I get to look at all kinds of electrical systems with my work. Some of the scariest I've seen have been at campgounds. You should protect the hundreds of hours you'll have building your trailer with a circuit breaker. There's plenty of people here who will talk you through the install.
Bruce

[asianflava]

At the very least you could do a setup like Mike's. A GFCI power strip that plugs into the pole, then everything is plugged into that.

[emiller]

The worst thing in the world would be to have a fire in your trailer when your asleep, always when safety is in question be safe add some sort of protection.

[mikeschn]

We added a $5 smoke detector to our Winter Warrior.

Mike...

[Jst83]

Looks like a breaker system is the way to go. Time to find a small breaker box. Thanks everyone for keeping me from takeing the short cut I new I shouldn't take.

[Steve_Cox]

How about a ground fault interrupter to plug into the campground power and then a power strip or two with a pop out breaker in the TD.

I'm about to start wireing my tear. I don't plan to have battery. I was wondering is there a real need for a fuse or breaker panel or can I direct wire it all to the cord to the campground electric. Hope this makes since

[mikeschn]

Agreed...

If you can slip a gfci in between the campground power and your trailer, you don't need a fusebox/panel...



Mike...

[TomS]

If you can slip a gfci in between the campground power and your trailer, you don't need a fusebox/panel...

Mike, posteth electrical blasphamy! You needeth both GFCI and a breaker sayeth the Lord.

GFCIs and breakers serve two completely separate functions. GFCI's keep you from being electrocuted. Breakers protect your tear from fire. I use a short GFCI 3 outlet cord in my tear. My extension cord has a built-in 15-amp breaker.

As others have stated, do not trust campground wiring. Carry your own GFCI and breaker protection.

[mikeschn]

Okay I stand corrected.

I stated early on I know very little about electricity... That's why we have guys like you to save our teardrops!

Mike...

[Larwyn]

I used both. A breaker box and GFCI outlets, put them together in a compact package, from there it is simple outlet strips for those things with plugs.............

[bdosborn]

How about a ground fault interrupter to plug into the campground power and then a power strip or two with a pop out breaker in the TD.

Yup, that's the ticket for people who want to keep their wiring simple and sweet. Plug 'em in and you're done.
Bruce

[Endo]

You can pick up one of these at Lowes (Shock Buster). It has a built in GFCI and a 15 amp breaker.

[Jst83]

Seems to be quit the difference of opinion. GFCI or Breaker. Where is the best place to pic up a small breaker. I'm going to visit the local junk yard Fri. they have a couple nice campers I've been pilfering parts off of. Gonna see what they have going to also get my water inlets for the camper.