10ga romex vs SO cable?

[Rolly]

I am replacing the lead in 14ga on my 40 year old trailer with 10ga. I am leaning toward romex but could use SO cable, I don't think MC is an option.
Opinions and suggestions please. Edit 110v AC lead in. I am upgrading from 15 amps to 30 amps.

Rolly

[eamarquardt]

I'm not sure what you mean by "lead in wire" but if you're speaking about the wire from your tow vehicle to your trailer I don't think romex is a good choice. The individual wires are too thick to allow it to flex as much as will be required over time. I'd go with the SO.

Cheers,

Gus

[H.A.]

[

[Rolly]

I have edited my first post. I am upgrading my 110v AC lead in from 15 amps to 30 amps. Lead in is from plug on outside of trailer to breaker box.

Rolly

[GuitarPhotog]

Then romex is even more inappropriate!

Use the SO, it's flexible and made for that kind of application. Romex is made for stapled-down permanent installations, not as an extension cord.

<Chas>

[Rolly]

I am really not explaining things well. This would be inside the wall of my trailer.

Rolly

[eamarquardt]

If you fasten the romex down a few inches from each fixture and along the way it will be fine for a "non flexing" application.

Cheers,

Gus

[Silver dude]

Solid core wire shouldn't be used for mobile applications. The vibrations from road use can cause the wire to bend back and forth like a paper clip then crack. Though I'm sure others are using it without issue. Its what I was told in school.

[48Rob]

Solid core wire shouldn't be used for mobile applications. The vibrations from road use can cause the wire to bend back and forth like a paper clip then crack. Though I'm sure others are using it without issue. It’s what I was told in school.

The school may need some schooling...
Vibrations and flexing are bad, but every mobile application does not involve flexing and vibration.

It is commonly used on thousands of RV's every year without issue.
If someone uses it in a situation where it can flex and crack or break, I would suggest that the person installing it isn't qualified to be making the decision.


Rob

[artfd]

I hung solid core 12ga wire stripped from standard house wiring to go from the batteries on my F250, down the firewall, under the cab & then up to a plug connecting to a slide-on camper, suspended every foot or so by wire or plastic ties. This was done in 1983 & I have since put 150,000 miles on this truck. These vulnerable wires have never given me any trouble. I did replace the plug 15 or so years ago due to corrosion inside the plug, having nothing to do with the type of wire. Your mileage may vary.

[bdosborn]

It is commonly used on thousands of RV's every year without issue.
If someone uses it in a situation where it can flex and crack or break, I would suggest that the person installing it isn't qualified to be making the decision.

Rob brings up a good point, its all about the application. I have solid core wire through-out my trailer but only for 120V. Why? Well, that's the only way romex (type NM) comes and its hard for the average guy to work with anything else from the home center. You'd have to run conduit for the stranded wire from the home center (to do it right) and I don't like to install SO cord inside a wall. Besides, its easier to terminate a solid wire correctly on the 120V devices you also buy from the home center (IMHO). All my 12V wiring is stranded because its easier to terminate on 12V devices and it's easy to get. The umbilical between the TV and the trailer is the only wire I would consider to be in a high flex situation and it really should be stranded wire.

Bruce

P.S. I actually used solid core MC cable in my trailer but that's a whole different discussion.

[bdosborn]

I have edited my first post. I am upgrading my 110v AC lead in from 15 amps to 30 amps. Lead in is from plug on outside of trailer to breaker box.

This is might be what you are looking for or some variation of it:

RV Power Cord



Make sure all the wiring inside your trailer is protected by the correct size breaker downstream of the breaker box. Do you have any pictures of your current setup?

Bruce

[Rolly]

Pics of the new Marinco L5-30 I am installing in the outside of my trailer. Wire will go from this plug to a breaker box with two circuts.

Rolly

[GuitarPhotog]

Pics of the new Marinco L5-30 I am installing in the outside of my trailer. Wire will go from this plug to a breaker box with two circuts.

Rolly

Ah! In my opinion romex would be suitable for that purpose if it's properly stapled in place to prevent movement.

<Chas>

[bdosborn]

Ah! In my opinion romex would be suitable for that purpose if it's properly stapled in place to prevent movement.

X2

Bruce