Looking for a power centre compatible with 240v breakers

[obscenic]

Greetings comrades.
I'm in the midst of an electrical upgrade project on a class B motorhome. It's a 1983 and currently has just 15amp u-ground service. One breaker, which splits to all outlets, appliances and to a 12v converter.

I'm a fulltimer, and I'm switching to electric heat from propane (convenience factor). Due to my climate, this leaves me needing a 240v heater. I've got 30amp, 240v service (L1, L2, N, G) so I can run my 240v heater as well as my 120v appliances. Since the converter is original (1983) and only has a single stage charger (and I have a brand new high quality AGM battery bank), I think it's probably time to put in a power centre.

What I'm struggling with is finding a power centre that meets the following criteria:

1. Must have 240v capability (ie, I can put a 2 pole breaker into it with one pole on each leg)
2. Must have a multi stage changer converter.
3. Doesn't need to be high capacity, I'll probably put a 30amp main breaker in instead of a 50.
4. The converter doesn't need to be high capacity - all of my lighting is LED and the only other things on 12v are a vent fan and water pump.
5. I don't have a generator so I don't need a xfer switch.
6. Needs to be as compact as possible as it will end up located underneath a dinette bench seat, where the breaker and converter presently live.

I'm looking at http://www.parallaxpower.com/power-centers-5300-series but unsure if it will allow a 2 pole breaker and it's unclear whether or not it has a 4 stage charger.

Any other suggestions are welcome!
Thanks!

[obscenic]

enblethen wrote:
The PD5500 does not have a 12 volt DC section
WFCO 8930/50
Need to remember that there is specialty type four pole breakers. You could get something like a 50/30 double pole breaker where the main would be back fed into the fifty and then your heater would be fed off the 30. This is just an example as a 30 would be too large. You could get something like a 30/20
If a combined unit such as these will not meet what you need then you are going to need to construct a make shift unit.

I've conceded to getting a separate 12v unit. Tech support at wfco have NO idea what they're talking about, and incredibly poor reading comprehension and writing skills. I've basically given up on wfco. They may work, but based on the placement of the main breaker on the one you posted, there's a 95% chance each half on either side are only serviced by one busbar. Is other words no chance of using a 240v breaker.

[enblethen]

The PD5500 does not have a 12 volt DC section
WFCO 8930/50
Need to remember that there is specialty type four pole breakers. You could get something like a 50/30 double pole breaker where the main would be back fed into the fifty and then your heater would be fed off the 30. This is just an example as a 30 would be too large. You could get something like a 30/20
If a combined unit such as these will not meet what you need then you are going to need to construct a make shift unit.

[obscenic]

enblethen wrote:
here is one available from Best Converter
Distribution panel
Others are available
Other distribution panels

Not one of those work for this application with the exception of one particular model of the pd5500.

[DrewE]

This RV power center on ebay appears to support 240V circuits and dual breakers! Unfortunately, it's not clear who the manufacturer is.

[enblethen]

here is one available from Best Converter
Distribution panel
Others are available
Other distribution panels

[obscenic]

enblethen wrote:
reminder that you are going to need some type of DC power distribution setup. That is why if eel that an RV 120/240 50 amp panel with an integral 12 volt distribution panel would serve you better.

Yeah, I've been hoping for this, but such a thing does not exist.

[enblethen]

reminder that you are going to need some type of DC power distribution setup. That is why if eel that an RV 120/240 50 amp panel with an integral 12 volt distribution panel would serve you better.

[BurbMan]

There is no reason not to use a residential panel in an RV as Westend notes. Be sure to remove the bridge between the neutral and ground busses, they are NOT connected (bonded) in a subpanel like this.

[obscenic]

smkettner wrote:
Call Randy, he is an expert on RV panels and should have that WFCO panel and breakers if it truly does 240v.

www.bestconverter.com

Although I would get the PD panel any day over WFCO.

Emailed, though I managed to get PD to send me all the documentation that they don't have on their website. The PD5500 comes with tonnes of options - the PD500K000 (or any that end with a 0 as the last digit) will accept 2-pole 240v breakers.

[time2roll]

Call Randy, he is an expert on RV panels and should have that WFCO panel and breakers if it truly does 240v.

www.bestconverter.com

Although I would get the PD panel any day over WFCO.

[obscenic]

Thanks, I've already picked out a residential subpanel as a backup, and I think it might become my primary plan. I confirmed that the PD5500 will accept 240v breakers, and seems like it might be the only one that does 🙂

[wa8yxm]

You can get sub panels at Lowes or Home Depot, many are exactly what you are looking for.. Hold on for link or two.
Home Depot

An Example at Lowes

From there you will need a 12 volt fuse panel (progressive Dynamics makes some of those) and a converter (Sticking with Progressive Dynamics a 9200 line will work well)

Progressive dynamics also makes a very nice load center (The one in my RV) or breaker box you might like.

PDI 50 AMP 120 VOLT

PDI 12 V

PDI 9200 CONVERTER

[obscenic]

smkettner wrote:
AFAIK There are no RV specific electric panels that accept two pole 240v breakers.
You will need a home subpanel to break out the 240v heating circuit.

Sounds like a very purpose-built project so there is no off the shelf RV solution.

Possibly keep the 120v existing panel and just add the 30a power specific for heating. You would have two cords in the winter.

That seems to be the consensus, though I do note that this: http://www.wfcoelectronics.com/Images/Products/OtherDocs/18-3.pdf indicates that you can install 240v breakers, whilst all but 2 of their other products specify 120v only in the compatbile breakers section on page 2... Their tech support is useless FYI, I wasn't able to get a straight answer out of them.

[time2roll]

AFAIK There are no RV specific electric panels that accept two pole 240v breakers.
You will need a home subpanel to break out the 240v heating circuit.

Sounds like a very purpose-built project so there is no off the shelf RV solution.

Possibly keep the 120v existing panel and just add the 30a power specific for heating. You would have two cords in the winter.