Custom build questions
I will be building a custom camper and was wondering about few things. Such as Which side should water intake faucet be on? What about grey,black tank? Do all Rvs have these inlet outlets in s...
Forum Discussion
DrewE wrote:Gdetrailer wrote:DrewE wrote:
Generally all utilities are on the driver's side. The NEC basically requires that the electrical inlet be on the left side, towards the back, although it does allow a little leniency for exceptional cases.
NEC does not state, address or "require" as to the location of the shore cord on a travel trailer...
NEC 551.46(E) states "The point of entrance of a power-supply assembly shall be located within 4.5m (15 ft) of the rear, on the left (road) side or at the rear, left of the longitudinal center of the vehicle, within 450mm (18 in.) of the outside wall." (Section 551 deals with RVs and RV parks.)
Three exceptions are listed. First, if there is "only a listed flexible drain system or a side-vent drain system" the electric inlet may be on either side but must be on the same side as the plumbing drain. Second, the connection may be more than 4.5m from the rear so long as the connecting cord's minimum length (elsewhere specified) is correspondingly increased. Third, an RV designed for transporting livestock may have the connection on either side of the front.
Had to look that up..
That is from 2011 NEC book, haven't been doing much electrical work since 2003 or so.. Guess I need to look up a new "book" sometime..
BUT, as for as the OP's setup, IF you really wish to split hairs following those rules, the electrical connection CAN BE ANYWHERE as long as several rules are followed..
Plumbing could be placed on EITHER SIDE which means the electrical COULD ALSO BE PLACED ON EITHER SIDE AS LONG AS IT FOLLOWS THE PLUMBING!
The 15 ft rule can also mean that it (the electrical connection) can be placed ANYWHERE on the same side as the plumbing PROVIDED the length of the cord is INCREASED to allow for the SAME reach as it would at the 15ft mark..
In reality, 15ft gives a lot of leeway in placement, especially on SHORT RVs (18 ft RV could have the electrical connection placed within 3 ft of the front if you like without extending the reach of said cord)..
