Tapping into the 12v Electrical

[milo]

Good Morning. Our 5er does not have a gravity flow opening for the fresh water tank fill. So to fill it, I have to hook a hose to the water inlet and select tank fill and find a water spigot to add water to the tank.
My question for all you electrical experts out there ... I have a 12v pump I can use to pump the water into the FW tank. What would be the best way to tap into the 12v electrical that runs under the slideout about 3 or 4 ft away. The wires are covered with that protective corrugated plastic covering. I'm trying to figure out the best way to add wires & a plug so I could plug the pump into it when needed to add water & unplug it when not using it or on the move. Need a type of setup (wiring & plug) that won't get all screwed up from the road elements. Any suggestion on what would be the best way to tap into those wires & what type of plug.

Thanks
Milo

[milo]

UPDATE!!!!!... Here's what I ended up doing. I had a piece of 12/2 Romex that I attached the black wire to the exit side of the breaker that comes off the battery and attached white to same ground screw the battery ground uses and run it across the storage bay and ended it with a 20 amp cigarette lighter plug (yes I used connectors soldered & shrink wrapped). Also had a 15 ft run of 10/2 gauge cord I use with my 22 watt solar panel. Plug one end into a cigarette lighter and attach the other end to the 12v shurflo pump and WALLA..Let there be water flowing. Now I can pump water outa my little 5 gallon water jug into the FW tank. Twas actually perty simple task. Plus now there is a 12 outlet on the street side of the 5er to run the 12v air compressor if need be.

Thanks everyone for your help

Milo

[milo]

Thanks for your input. Great ideas. I'll try and report back when I've decided how I'm gonna go about getting power to this little 12v Shurflo pump.

Thanks
Milo

[BFL13]

If the water is being brought in the truck then just use the truck's 7-pin and put the other connector end on the pump. Leave the truck in idle while pumping if it will take a while.

[wa8yxm]

How I did it: In my case the fuse panel was well located so I put in a 20 amp fuse (Last step) in a blank slot and hooked up some 10GA wire to a pair of Anderson power Poles.. I use a lot of those.. The standard 2-pole automotive connector is a good alternate choice. You put the NEGATIVE lead (motor home end( on the exposed pin.. that way if it shorts to ground, well. its already there.

(This is not an issue with power poles).

In your case. since you need the pump outside, I would either enter the RV via the electrical bay or simply put a short, FUSED lead with either power poles or flat-2 Automotove connector pictured by a prior response direct to the batteries (unless the fuses are closer)

alternate route.. You can follow the water lines up into the interior, and likely follow them till you can branch away to the fuse panel. (How I do it). if you wish as well.

Whatever you do. FUSE IT.

[westend]

My vote goes to the Anderson Powerpole connectors and either establish a junction box or solder and heatshrink the leads into existing wiring. If you have the distribution panel close to the location, I'd run even a few more feet to have the pump connector leads fused from an open slot or led off terminals of the distro panel and fuse after that.

[DiskDoctr]

BFL13 wrote:
You can use the existing trailer cord that plugs into your truck to get 12v from. Adapt the pump 12v so it has that type of 7-pin connector like on the truck (just use charge and ground wire pins for it) and use long enough wire to reach around to where you are pumping.

^ This ^

You can back your vehicle closer if room allows, carry water in the back of it, etc. VERY SIMPLE to do.

Otherwise, you can use a portable power pack, most have a DC plug now.

[RoyB]

Being a HAM RADIO guy and liking to play with things when OFF-ROAD Camping I found the best solution was to run HD cabling (4AWG in my case) from the battery location to the other end of the trailer storage bay area and mount one of the BLUE SEA 12VDC SUB STATIONS. Mine is properly fused using BLUE SEA fuse block. I also run a good solid 4AWG cable from the 12VDC SUB STATION to frame ground of the trailer close by. All of my primary DC wiring uses ANCOR Brand marine quality cables with proper ring terminals hand crimped in place.



This gives six or more ATC fused circuits to use for additional 12VDC items that I need to install. These connections will use #10 ring terminals and you can run 2-conductor 12-14GUAGE "BOAT WIRE" to your 12VDC device you need to power up. Connectors on the device end can be good quality 12VDC Power connectors like you see at Radio Shack or Auto Parts stores


Anderson cable connectors makes a great high quality connector for 12VDC items


I would think just finding an unknown 12VDC source cable and tapping into is asking for big troubles.

Roy Ken

[mbopp]

For my macerator pump I tied into a spare 12V fuse on the converter. I ran 12ga flexible speaker wire and soldered a 2-pole connector on the end. It's fished out the outside shower hose and stored in the shower compartment.

[BFL13]

You can use the existing trailer cord that plugs into your truck to get 12v from. Adapt the pump 12v so it has that type of 7-pin connector like on the truck (just use charge and ground wire pins for it) and use long enough wire to reach around to where you are pumping.

[KJINTF]

I did exactly what you describe
Make sure you find a source of DC power with enough current capability
Guess I was lucky my wet bay is not part of the sliders
I had earlier hardwired a high current 20amp 12Vdc connector
It can be used to power a small 12Vdc fresh water pump mounted inside the bay. The pump has quick disconnects to attach hose and water fill lines
Works Great

[Gjac]

I don't have a gravity fill either. I rigged up an old Sureflow water pump but have yet to use it. I find it easier to use my overflow tube and gravity fill with a 5 gal shower bag. If I was near an unlimited water source like a lake or stream I would use the pump, for 5 gals at a time in a CG its easier to use the overflow tube.

[donn0128]

First of all you have a check valve that you will have to bypass,or your going to have to do some serious plumbing work. Pump only pumps one way, tank to faucets.

[milo]

Jack, I had the same idea. Run wires from the battery but it's 30ft from the docking station and I don't want to take the battery out and lug it to the back of the 5er when there are wires 4ft away.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

I also do not have gravity fresh water tank fill. Must attaché hose. So when dry camping an bring along a 25 gallon plastic tank with tap fitting on the bottom. Hook up a hose and 12v transfer pump attached to battery terminals with alligator clips. Fill the fresh water tank and simply disconnect alligator clips and put pump back into storage. The water tank fits in my pickup bed.