12V wiring Aluminum Cargo Trailer conversion
Been searching for days and haven't found a clear answer on whether or not a 12V system should be grounded to the chassis of a 100% aluminum framed enclosed trailer. Am I better running negative wires...
Forum Discussion
So I found this article which is quite descriptive of chassis grounding. RV electricity part 1 and
Part 2
It would seem that the ground-plane used for most RVs DC system is for the purpose of serving as a negative return for DC appliances.
The true focus of the ground discussed in these articles is:
"properly “grounded” your RV chassis must have its EGC wire properly “bonded” (connected) to the power company’s service panel “ground/neutral/earth” bonding point. And that bonding must provide an under-1-ohm connection for the neutral of the transformer on the power pole to return any fault currents back to whence they started (in the transformer)"
Since it's become very clear in all my research to date that I should not return any negative DC current via the 100% aluminum chassis of my trailer (will run negative wires from every appliance back to the fuse panel instead) it's starting to sound like the real concern I should have is simply my shore power connection as I will be running zero AC appliances in this trailer beyond the 120 to the converter while at home for charging or connected to my generator while boondocking. I think in the past 20 years I've been to a campground with shore power connections only twice.
Am I on the right track here? Ultimately I'm looking to setup a pure 12V power system on my trailer hopefully 90% of the time charged from my 200W solar setup. My draw should be minimal compared to my old TCs as I will have no inverter and no heavy draw appliances. Really just lights and fans (fantastic fan, propane furnace fan, window DC fan, USB charging station for phones/laptop).
If the IOTA45 converter is simply properly bonded to my house 120V what purpose would the chassis ground serve?
Part 2
It would seem that the ground-plane used for most RVs DC system is for the purpose of serving as a negative return for DC appliances.
The true focus of the ground discussed in these articles is:
"properly “grounded” your RV chassis must have its EGC wire properly “bonded” (connected) to the power company’s service panel “ground/neutral/earth” bonding point. And that bonding must provide an under-1-ohm connection for the neutral of the transformer on the power pole to return any fault currents back to whence they started (in the transformer)"
Since it's become very clear in all my research to date that I should not return any negative DC current via the 100% aluminum chassis of my trailer (will run negative wires from every appliance back to the fuse panel instead) it's starting to sound like the real concern I should have is simply my shore power connection as I will be running zero AC appliances in this trailer beyond the 120 to the converter while at home for charging or connected to my generator while boondocking. I think in the past 20 years I've been to a campground with shore power connections only twice.
Am I on the right track here? Ultimately I'm looking to setup a pure 12V power system on my trailer hopefully 90% of the time charged from my 200W solar setup. My draw should be minimal compared to my old TCs as I will have no inverter and no heavy draw appliances. Really just lights and fans (fantastic fan, propane furnace fan, window DC fan, USB charging station for phones/laptop).
If the IOTA45 converter is simply properly bonded to my house 120V what purpose would the chassis ground serve?
