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santacrocemt's avatar
santacrocemt
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014

Install additional 110 volt outlet in RV

Our Passport travel trailer doesn't have enough outlets. We often need to work at the dinette with a computer and there's no outlet anywhere near the table. However, there's a terrific spot for one right on the wall near the converter and power distribution panel.

I want to add an "old work" double gang box and put a 110V outlet in one bay and a triple USB connector in the other bay. This will allow us to use laptops and charge our phones. I have a "blank" in the power distribution panel and can get a new breaker for the new circuit.

BUT, I cannot find a single or double "old work" electrical box to mount in the wall. The most common old work boxes assume that the little fins will catch on the sheetrock of your average home. They do not appear to extend far enough to accommodate the thickness of an RV wall. I would like to avoid a surface mounted box as that could be problematic given that it would be mounted to the RV wall (which don't have nice wooden studs for mounting)

Does anyone have any suggestions...
  • Forget about using a residential type outlet box and receptacle. What you want is a "self-contained device" or SCD for short which are used in RVs and mobile homes. No box is required and can be installed in an existing wall. There is a plastic cover on the back that covers the connections. They are available at any local RV parts store, RV vendors on the internet and on ebay. They are CSA and/or UL approved and are every bit as good as the type used in residential applications. The only trick is "punching down" the wires onto the slotted stabs. There is a proper tool for this but if you are careful, you can use flat-nosed plers or a couple of large flat blade screwdrivers.

    RV manufacturers often just screw a standard one-gang cover plate directly onto luan as in the case of TV co-ax/amp outlet at TVs for example (low voltage devices only).

    Then just use a double port cover plate only screwed onto the luan plywood beside the receptacle like in the 3rd pic.

    Here is a link to an SCD recept. on ebay: SCD receptacle

    FWIW, Sigma has a charging center as shown in the last pic. You can also order it with two USB ports.

  • Try RV or Mobile home outlets, they are made for thin walls, and also listed for RV use. Local/small hardware stores (ACE/True Value) usually have some.