Moving battery charger

Question

I brought my converter/charger from my old rig to the new one. Unfortunately, the new rig's charger is integrated into the distribution panel so I can't reuse my old one.

I'm thinking of installing the new one in the same area as the batteries (12v lithium drop-ins, no off gassing concerns). To do it, I need to install a 20amp outlet in that area. My thinking is that I'll drop a line down from the circuit breaker panel into the underbelly, go to the front of the camper, and then come up into that compartment from below. The total run should be 35-40'.

I'm mostly comfortable wiring up the outlet, but I just don't know if there's any special wiring that I should buy other than what is used in houses.

bfl13 · Answer

With the 5er, there is a receptacle on the front wall of the living area down low beside the steps going up to the front area. This receptacle is opposite the back wall of the cargo area up front. I pulled out that receptacle and there was a hole into the cargo area where the batteries are up front of that space.

So, I ran an extension out from the back of that receptacle into the cargo area and added another receptacle on the end of that wire, giving me a plug-in for the deck mount converter placed up front by the batteries.

Depending on the rig's layout, any another receptacle handy could be used to extend from.

drewe · Answer

If the wire is to be on the exterior of the trailer, you should use something rated for wet locations and protected with some sort of conduit.  Usually (in my limited experience) 120V wiring in RVs is not run externally, presumably to avoid these hassles.  I would suggest doing the same if possible, in which case ordinary household wiring products (Romex, for instance) are entirely okay.

soundguy · Answer

ependydad wrote:My thinking is that I'll drop a line down from the circuit breaker panel into the underbelly, go to the front of the camper, and then come up into that compartment from below. The total run should be 35-40'.I'm mostly comfortable wiring up the outlet, but I just don't know if there's any special wiring that I should buy other than what is used in houses.When I installed receptacles dedicated to my inverter I needed to run a length of Romex from the front pass through where the inverter is located back to the galley where I wanted to locate one of the receptacles.  By far the easiest route was down through the trailer floor, along the underside, and up to the galley.  Obviously I didn't want to run bare Romex along the underside so I bought a length of flexible PVC conduit similar to these for full protection of the cable.  Worked really well. :B

ependydad · Answer

Thanks everyone. I do think it'll be fairly protected being in the covered under belly. But I do like the product that SoundGuy linked to.

SG, out of curiosity- how do you get the Romex into that? And what did you use for sealing the hole through the floor (looks like caulk of some sort)?

mexicowanderer · Answer

This is where a FISH TAPE is used. And it is code to NOT used Romex or other sealed dual or tri wire within conduit. It is a matter of heat buildup.

Flexible individual marine grade conductors can be used. They pull through conduit easier then THNN home wires. Use cable-pull lubricant like found at Home Dept.

A 20 ampere receptacle and plug is different than a 15 amp. Check it out at Home Depot

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