Wiring and grounding

[240zron]

Hi,
I'm starting to wire my weekender and have a question. I have a GFI receptical wired in at the side of the trailer to plug into the shoreline connection. I have a seperate ground running from the ground fault to the trailer frame.

Is that enough of a ground, or should I also run a seperate wire from the trailer frame to a grounding rod?

Thanks,

[Miriam C.]

Ron
Thy this thread.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=7881

Ground rods are traditionally 8' long and driven into the ground. Don't think ya need to go that far. If you are using expensive equipment some of the ways to check for ground at the source are listed (I think).

Good luck!
Miriam (trol extrordinair)

[240zron]

Thanks for the link. After thinking about it a bit, I have found I have made a bunch of mistakes already. I used a GFI on the side of the trailer to plug the shore line power into.

If I do it this way, I'm going to need 2 male ends on the main power cord. I don't think that to smart of an idea. (and to think I was a mechanic for 30 years)

So I think it's time to remove the GFI and start all over. So tomorow it's off to HD and look for a different kind of plug in.

[Kevin A]

Thanks for the link. After thinking about it a bit, I have found I have made a bunch of mistakes already. I used a GFI on the side of the trailer to plug the shore line power into.

If I do it this way, I'm going to need 2 male ends on the main power cord. I don't think that to smart of an idea. (and to think I was a mechanic for 30 years)

So I think it's time to remove the GFI and start all over. So tomorow it's off to HD and look for a different kind of plug in.

Ron,

It sounds like this might be what you're looking for. Charger Inlet

[240zron]

Thanks Kevin,

That's just what I'm looking for. Do you know if they make anything like it that will fit into a standard 2 reciptical box? I haven't looked yet But I would love to be able to install it in the box i already have installed.

[Kevin A]

Thanks Kevin,

That's just what I'm looking for. Do you know if they make anything like it that will fit into a standard 2 reciptical box? I haven't looked yet But I would love to be able to install it in the box i already have installed.

Ya know, I tried several local hardware stores for the household type double receptacle with no luck, someone else on the board pointed me in the direction of Bass Pro Shops and that charger inlet.

[Miriam C.]

HI guys,
You can use the charger inlet but you still need to wire to the GFCI. If you take your power cord, from outside and/or (you can wire it directly) to the GFCI then run all of your other outlets or switches downstream from there you should get it.

I think we are trying to use too many pre-wired, plug attached things and it gets like the old Christmas tree light thing.

Try this link if you want to get fancy. Great pictures to help
http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Teardrop%20Electric.htm

Miriam

[Kevin A]

HI guys,
You can use the charger inlet but you still need to wire to the GFCI. If you take your power cord, from outside and/or (you can wire it directly) to the GFCI then run all of your other outlets or switches downstream from there you should get it.

I think we are trying to use too many pre-wired, plug attached things and it gets like the old Christmas tree light thing.

Try this link if you want to get fancy. Great pictures to help
http://www.nfdc.net/home/cbdb/Teardrop%20Electric.htm

Miriam

Good point, Miriam,

I'll be hardwiring GFCI outlets into both the galley & cabin sides of the bulkhead once I get the galley built. Until that happens, I'm using a power strip.

[greasywheats]

Hi all-
anybody have a picture of the backside of that charger inlet? How do you wire it to your converter (i am using a WFCO 25A converter from BestConverter.com)?

Anyone using the WFCO converter have any pictures of how they wired it up (particularly if you also had a charger inlet)? I'm a wiring newbie- so I haven't figured out how the WFCO wiring goes.
Thanks!

[Miriam C.]

Ok guys here is a finder for Leviton all your hardware stores will have it.

http://www.leviton.com/sections/prodinfo/newprod/npleadin.htm

they have shore power inlets for 120v and will be cheaper than Bass Pro.

This is the way I am going to wire mine. I am not an electrician so take if for what it is worth.

Wire as follows:
if 15 amp use 14g or 12g
black to gold (or brass)
white to silver
green to ground (screw color going to round plug) romex has bare ground.

if 20 amp use 12g wire
if 30 amp use 10g wire

Inlets come rated for amps.

The Zepher has a good picture and diagram of this. The others do as well.

If this doesn't make sense to you don't do it. Hire an electrician. It really isn't worth the problems to do it yourself
and is dangerous.

I don't know how to wire to a converter, sorry.
Miriam

[Kevin A]

I tried to search the leviton link, seems they require registration and browser settings that allow pop ups. I'm not comfortable with either of those requirements.

[madjack]

I didn't have to register to search the site but I did haveta allow popups...they promised no popup advertisng will result....
madjack

[Miriam C.]

Sorry Kevin,
I only went to the first page. It has a picture of the inlets there.

Will try to do better.
Miriam

[Kevin A]

:lol: Sorry Kevin,
I only went to the first page. It has a picture of the inlets there.

Will try to do better.
Miriam

no need to apologize , I just prefer to not register to view websites
I wasn't able to locate the pictures of the inlets, could you link directly to them?

[madjack]

...let us see if this works..... http://www.levitonhelpdesk.com/catalog/ .....
EDIT: apparently they won't allow hot linking and use popup windows to showcase products....