Drilling through floor. Help,

[Hotfoot5]

Hello all,

I'm looking for some help with my travel trailer.

I'm going add a 600 watt inverter to my Salem bunkhouse. I'd like to mount it under the master bed in the front of the camper. Wiring it does not bother me, what I need help with is running the wires from the batteries (2, 6 volt golf cart batteries) into the camper.

What is the best way to pass the wires into the camper and than seal the hole?

thanks!!

[myredracer]

Look where the wiring currently runs from the battery & mini circuit breakers in the A-frame. If you are lucky, there will be a suitable hole that goes up into the forward side of the pass-through compartment. You'd need to peel away the luan to access the wiring, then re-install it. Maybe you'd find that there is a length of wiring loom to protect the wires. Once into the pass-through compartment, it'd be easy to go the under-bed storage.

Our TT has a hole into the pass-through but workers at the factory just whack a hole through the frame and make no attempt to remove burrs. I managed to get two #8 wires through the existing hole but it was a very tight fit.

[Gjac]

Hotfoot5 wrote:
After passing the cables, it seems easy enough to fill the holes. However I'm still not certain how to keep the tarp-like membrane from fraying and flapping around.

Anymore input?

Butyl tape will stop the fraying or unraveling.

[pappy437]

Put some good tape on it and then cut the whole in it before you drill.

[Hotfoot5]

After passing the cables, it seems easy enough to fill the holes. However I'm still not certain how to keep the tarp-like membrane from fraying and flapping around.

Anymore input?

[Gjac]

I drilled 2, 1/2 in holes in the floor right above my batteries and ran AWG 1 wire to the batteries 1 1/2 ft long then filled gap with butyl tape. Then ran 120v extension cord back to main plug. Butyl tape seals well and has remained soft after 10 years.

[RoyB]

I used PVC Electrical boxes and PVC FLEX tubing (LOWES) on my OFF-ROAD POPUP Trailer wiring. The underbelly of my trailer does not have the membrane enclosure and I was dragging some of the original wiring off being OFF-ROAD alot.

I used these items to go through the floor or front wall to get to the batteries.



When going through the wall or floor I drilled a large hole in the bottom of these electrical boxes and then mounted them upsidedown under the floor using sealent to get a good weather seal.

Then I run 3/4-inch PVC flex tubing to interconnect all of the service points that went through the floor to the cabinet areas.


I too used those plastic cable bushings guards on the top side of the floor inside the cabinets. This dresses up the wiring real nice.


All got sealed up just fine to protect against weather and insects etc...

Another plus for me was each of the PVC electrical has removable covers which allows me to route new cables as needed.

My new cable layout shown in Blue looks something like this floorplan drawing of my POPUP trailer...



This is probably an overkill for your project but sure saved the day for me protecting my cables routed under my trailer.

Roy Ken

[eDUBz]

I just did the same thing 600 watt samlex inverter under the master bed. I just drilled a new hole next to an exsiting one that way i dont have to rip open another hole in the pastic under neath the trailer
I bought one of thos round plastic things that are on top of desk so the comp wires can go under the desk, used it to clean up the look of the hole and not a hack job.

[time2roll]

Hotfoot5 wrote:
Thanks for the replies!!

What'd you have to do to the floor after passing the cable through?

Mine has some woven plastic sheeting. Sealed with duct tape at the wire entry point.

[westend]

I piped 1/0 battery cables, an additional pair of 14 AWG and the solar controller's temperature sense wire through a 2" ABS pipe. The run was from one side of the trailer to the other. The pipe fittings where they entered/exited the floor were caulked in place.
Using conduit or pipe is often an easier method because there are all manner of fittings/inserts that will be durable and seal any weather out.

[Hotfoot5]

Thanks for the replies!!

What'd you have to do to the floor after passing the cable through?

[dalenoel]

I ran 12v under mine and ran it on the outside edge of the frame I-beam. Then went up, or down, through the floor on the outside edge. Molding can cover some of the wire run or in my case I was able to run behind and through cabinets alongside the outside wall. this way the belly coverings did not need to be disturbed. Created a longer run but did not damage the coverings.

[Hotfoot5]

I'm only looking at a 6 foot or so run from the batteries to the inverter.

The camper has a vapor barrier or membrane on the bottom, that seems like it will get shredded over time once I puncture it.

[Hiking_Hunter]

If you have a choice, it would be better (electrically) to mount the inverter close to the batteries and run a 120v extension to the final destination. Less voltage drop that way. Keep your 12 volt wires as short as possible.

Otherwise, unless you can find an existing path, drill your hole, then shoot a little "Great Stuff" around the hole to seal it. Any hardware store should have it.