Road Foamie - done for the year

[atahoekid]

Funny you mention the $$$$ keeping the project in check. The fiberglass and the resin will be a major investment and has me thinking that I might do canvas and exterior enamel when I get there. Your right, so many options to ponder. Since this idea first hatched in my head I've been pondering the skin issue and I think that fiberglass will be the way I do it, althoooooo, maybe a canvas skin, fiberglass, maybe FRP, maybe aluminum... Some options are way more practical than others and canvas certainly heads that list, but aluminum would look sooooo cool

[atahoekid]

It's been a while since I posted, but I have been busy. My son (the youngest) graduated from High School so that took up some time, but this is one of life's interruptions that I am OK with. (In theory, I now have an empty nest as of late August when he goes off to college) I've been trying to make a final decision regarding the exterior finish (it came down to aluminum or fiberglass... fiberglass won because I 'd have to buy the right aluminum working tools) I glued up the panels for the rear doors, and started wiring up the Road Foamie. Which brings me to today's post.

I have an electrical question. I am using the router to create pathways for the electrical (in the ceiling). Is it OK to run bare wires or should I be wiring with Romex or running the wire in a loom? I have some wire loom but would need to buy more if that's what I should do. I have no Romex but I'm thinking that this isn't the time or place to be cheap...

I am loving using the stereo to listen to my tunes while I build (No overly talkative FM DJ's to listen to), just good classic rock.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I wouldn't run bare wire. If you are running 120v wire (Romex) it could get hot. The insulation will help lower the effect of the heat on the foam. I suppose you could run individual wires (black and white, insulated), but that would be up to you. I ran all my high voltage in the trailer frame, and just up to the outlets, which are all in the wall that separates the cabin from the galley, with two duplex outlets in the galley, and one in the cabin.

My 12v wiring, I used automotive wire, except for the tail/brake/signal lights. I ran a bundled wire to those, for convenience and protection. I cut groves in my insulation and drilled holes in my spars to accommodate the wire.

[atahoekid]

By bare wire, I didn't mean to say that it is uninsulated wire, I am planning to run 14 ga insulated wiring and it's all 12v. I don't tend to camp where there is electricity available

Thanks

[Cliffmeister2000]

You should be fine, then.

[Wobbly Wheels]

Go with stranded wire, not romex. In the marine world, 16ga is the smallest you run as single wire (for mechanical strength)
If your wire ever heats up, it's too small for the load.

[atahoekid]

Thanks for the sage advice folks... 14ga stranded insulated wire it is... I'll use loom where the wiring shows but I'll run it through channels cut in the foam as it is everywhere else. I'm thinking of soldering all my connections and then shrink tubing them, but that takes some time. I guess you'd only need to do it once though. My crimped connections seem to pull apart half the time. . And since there's some bumping around that goes on as a trailer bounces down the road maybe I should just take the extra time. (just thinking out loud )

[Wobbly Wheels]

FYI Mel, if you pick up a ratchet crimper and use nylon-insulated rather than pvc-insulated terminals, weak crimps will be a thing of the past. Solder takes longer and
can be problematic in an environment subjected to vibration.

[pete42]

I just replaced a badly crimped connection on my brother's clothes washer they tend to use the cheap fittings
if you go the crimped route which is what I would do (electrician 41 years) get good fittings and a good set of crimpers.
if the terminals are split always use the nub on the unsplit side making sure the wire is what is being crimped not the insulation.
some have used stranded wire run in pvc conduit that way if a wire goes bad it can be pulled out and replaced.
pete

[atahoekid]

FYI Mel, if you pick up a ratchet crimper and use nylon-insulated rather than pvc-insulated terminals, weak crimps will be a thing of the past. Solder takes longer and can be problematic in an environment subjected to vibration.

Great to know. I was getting ready to order some terminals and was wondering which were better. I've always used a pair of channel-locks to crimp my terminals closed. Maybe that's the issue. Need the right tool for the job...

...some have used stranded wire run in pvc conduit that way if a wire goes bad it can be pulled out and replaced.
pete

Yeah, I was worried about what to do if a wire goes bad. Fish tape and wire in a pvc conduit should make things easier to pull and replace. I'm really hoping to do a good job of wiring so that chances of things going wrong are minimized.

I've fretted about a lot of things during this build. Most worries have gone away once I've dealt with or worked on the issue. This electrical stuff continues to keep me worried.

[bonnie]

I'm taking notes. Though, in truth, my brother will probably do this part. He's the pro. Keep at it.

[GPW]

Since a Foamie is a simplification of a standard trailer , one might also consider simplifying the wiring ... It’s a trailer , Not a RV , or a House ... how much wiring do you really need beside the basic trailer wiring ... My Foamie wiring is a 50 ‘ extension cord with a GFI at the end ... Simple ... Think about how much wiring is in a tent .... It’s “Camping" , not like those silly sods who must have a traveling replica of their home (RV) with all the problems associated with , down the road...
Old Artists adage ," when in doubt , leave it out” ... ... and “less is More !! “

[bonnie]

GPW, I've been going through the less is more thought process, but what does get installed needs to be bullet proof.

[GPW]

Exactly !!!! The Less you install , the less worry ... I Always use the KISS principle ... Works for me !!!

Just something I’ve noted over my many years , the problem with anything you get or make is maintenance ... The more complex it is , the more to maintain ... the curse of material things ... Make it Simple , make it Right, make it only ONCE !!!

[eaglesdare]

i also use the extension cord as my electric.
but on the second one, i plan to have some type of self contained electric. not sure which way i will go with that one yet. would love to give the solar panels a try, but i am so far from that stage i don't even think about it yet.