Iowa Cowgirl
Iowa
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Joined: 05/06/2012
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I have a gooseneck horse trailer that I am in the process of finishing the living area.
I'm having wired for me.
I bought all the supplies for the electrician who is installing it for me. He's doing it as a side job.
I asked that he wire the trailer for 30 amp service as most equestrian camping is either 30, and rarely 15 amp. I did purchase a converter plug for the 30 amp cord to convert to 15 amp service.
I'm slightly worried because he had me purchase a breaker box which holds two 15 amp breakers. He said something about running the a/c on a separate circuit. The only other things I would be running are:
microwave (only occasionally if it's raining), fan, heater, small dorm size refrigerator.
Question 1: Wouldn't it make more sense to install one 30 amp breaker?
And a kinda/sorta related question: He plans to have a power cord coming from the box out the trailer to plug directly into the campground box. Wouldn't it make more sense to NOT have the cord (which will be permanently hanging on the outside of my trailer) and instead have a male 30 amp inlet plug thing installed and just run an extension cord that I can stow away inside the trailer when not in use?
Another question: He wants to run the wire in conduit. Does that HAVE to happen? The 'bulky' conduit is going to get in the way of my plans to finish off the inside of my living area. Is the conduit necessary?
Obviously I'm not an electrician, which is why I hired this guy. Are my concerns unwarranted?
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Ka Ron
Kelowna
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Joined: 12/31/2009
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I am not an electrican either but our unit has 30 AMP service and our breaker box has one breaker for the front A/C, one breaker for the plugs, one breaker for the microwave and one breaker for the rear A/C
Sounds to me like he has some idea of what is right.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
Standard wire is rated for 15 amps. I would, in your shoes, want more than two circuits.
Many RV's have a panel with a 30 amp main breaker and about 6 15 amp breakers.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts Unisolar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries, 2500 MSW watt inverter.
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mena661
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2009
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30 amp service on my 5th wheel and we have one A/C unit, one 30 amp main breaker, and everything is off that 30 amp main. That's pretty standard for RV's.
2009 Newmar Canyon Star 3205, Ford F53 V10
Trojan L16 6V's 740 Amp-hours
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Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
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Joined: 04/05/2003
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Make sure that he under stands that RV's only use 120 volt, that's only one leg. There is no 230 volt.
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Iowa Cowgirl
Iowa
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Since it's going to be a LQ horse trailer (sans bathroom), I will only be running a few things at any given time. Of course, the a/c in hotter weather and the refrigerator. The fridge will run all the time, the a/c when it's unbearable.
Horse camping is dirty and hot so I want to at least be able to sleep at the end of the day. I don't plan to run the a/c during the day, because if I did, I'd never want to leave the LQ to go riding! lol
The absolute most I'd run at the same time would be:
A/C, fridge, tv, one overhead light, microwave.
Should I insist on more than two 15 amp breakers? Not sure if I need 6 though. I'm rarely in my camper when camping. I'm either out riding, at the campfire, cooking or visiting friends.
I'm trying to think of worst case scenarios like when it's raining and I'm forced to be inside.
Also, can he run the wire without putting it through conduit????
It's too bulky for my taste and I don't want to have to work around it when installing the paneling!
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sljkansas
Miami Co. Kansas
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Joined: 09/28/2005
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He may want to run it in conduit like he would in a house or comercial building. Make sure he runs stranded wires and not soild copper. Solid copper will not hold up to the constant vibrations when driving down the road (that's way cars/trucks use stranded). Also make sure he understands to wire for 120 vac not 240 vac. If he isn't sure, use wiring 120vac for Rv,s
Steve & Linda
Son married (1 DIL, 3 granddaughters 1 grandson)
Daughter can now be called a Teacher.
Miami Co. Kansas
2004 F350 CC dually 8ft bed 6.0 PSD
2009 Bighorn 3670RL
B&W under bed hitch with 18k companion hitch
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Iowa Cowgirl
Iowa
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When shopping, I could not find the 30 amp male end outlet for the outside of the trailer. I tried every single link on here: http://www.myrv.us/electric/
Not one of them had one.
The guy wants to hard wire the 50' cord with the plug so I'm forced to stow it on the outside of the horse trailer. I don't want that. I want to be able to unplug and stow it away inside the trailer! Any ideas where I can find a 30 amp male receptacle 'plug'?
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
Here is what I would want.
At least one "outside plug" on its own circuit
two plugs on different circuits in the kitchen area (if any)
a circuit for the converter (battery charger)
a circuit for the fridge
a circuit for the air conditioner.
a circuit for an electric heater in the bedroom area.
In my own RV I've added several outlets. I'll also be adding an "extra" dedicated inverter outlet in the kitchen so that when in a situation where there is only 15 amps available from shore power, I'll still have two "circuits" to use in the kitchen.
I also have a second shore power cord for use with just the converter for low power situations. It does have a single outlet that I can use with a heater or what you will.
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Iowa Cowgirl
Iowa
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I suppose I could have him install something like this:
Locking Cable Hatch
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