| Author |
Message |
SLO (24.205.245.178)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 12:44 pm: | |
I am just about to install my electrical panel. The easiest and best place is in the clothes closet (where the onboard head used to be), but I'm not sure if that is a legal location for it. I know if I was building a house it would not be legal in a clothes closet. Anyone famiiar with RV codes? |
FAST FRED (63.215.233.169)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 3:53 pm: | |
Not sure if there is a rule ,(was in the closet on a Wanderlodge I had) but if you stick it someplace and use switches NOT the CBreakers to operate things it works out better.
Ordinarily folks do the AC like a house, but sometimes get lazy on the DC stuff, and attempt to use the breakers like switchs, instead of switches.
FAST FRED |
Bill K (209.173.120.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 5:36 pm: | |
My main pannel is in the back bay on the driver side opposite the gen set, and I have a sub pannel in a cabinet in the bathroom which is righ above the main pannel. the sub pannel is for everthing I run with the inverter. |
DrEd (67.201.149.142)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 8:22 pm: | |
I am wondering what is wrong with using DC Ckt Breakers as switches. I have been doing this for several years now and nothing has broken or bit me. Thanks DrEd |
FAST FRED (65.58.187.24)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 4:51 am: | |
The problem , is they have a limited life in this operation.
Yes, its many many operations , and you may never get to the falure point , but it WILL happen.
On commercial aircraft they replace the CB that get pulled on shutdown on a regular cycle basis.
A good rated switch is just a better long term way to controll DC items.
FAST FRED |
DrEd (64.196.184.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 7:02 am: | |
I am using DC Ckt breaker (switches) from Paneltronics whose major market is the boating industry. These Ckt Breakers are designed for use as switches. So putting another switch in the circuit is just increasing the chance of failure. Every mechanical/electrical device has a failure point. Thanks DrEd |
FAST FRED (65.58.188.252)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 1:15 pm: | |
The boat stuff is good Quality , but as always the problem is breaking the DC load.
While many in the boating industry DO use the CB as a switch , it is NOT the best practice (I'm not sure P-tronics would Recomend it but probably does allow it).
After all there are far more budget boat builders than Quality, and cost is always a consideration.
If you have a 15A breaker that protects something small like a lamp ,or radio no sweat.
But if your running 14A thru a 15A breaker , each time you turn it off you get arcing.
The arcing slowly burns the contact points , and the resistance then goes up.
This extra resistance adds to the heat load going thru the breaker , and eventually it won't handle the rated current with out poping.
While it does work , frequently for a good while (easily for years), its far better to use a quality 40A DC rated switch to cut the 14A load , and just let the breaker be a breaker.
This also lets the breaker pannel be mounted far from site , but with the Price of good marine stuff , I understand why folks leave them show.
For convience mine is sorta visable , behind the main salon table , but that was just the easiest spot to stick it.
FAST FRED |
Quest (198.29.191.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 6:13 pm: | |
If you are talking the MAIN AC PANEL, the panel should be located as close as posible to the line coming into the coach. I thought I read that the length should not be over 18" to the main box. I have seen the main box located over the cable entrance, inside a closet on the wall just above the floor. This was in an Airstream. hope that gives some help or direction.
quest |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.136.207.116)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 8:33 pm: | |
The shore line has to be protected by a circuit breaker within 18" of the entry to the shell. That's code. This can be a single breaker in a box. The main panel can be anywhere that you find convenient to use and wire. I prefer to have it at the back of a closet centrally located in the bus. It is really inconvenient to have to go outside in the night when it's raining to re-set a breaker located in a bay that probably has a bunch of stuff piled in front of the box.
Jim |
SLO (Slo) (24.205.245.178)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 14, 2002 - 9:08 pm: | |
Thanks for the tips. Just to let you all know, I'm a construction superintendent, so I'm always thinking of codes. I am building this rig for me, not for sale but still don't want to cross any code no no's.
I also have extensive experience in maintanence, and have seen all the reasons things fail. Using circuit breakers as switches definately not good, but again depends on the load being switched. Side note, breakers have a "Throw Life" also....If you 'pop' a breaker a dozen times due to a short or overload, throw it away (but FIX the problem of course). I also don't want my panel outside because of corrosion due to moisture. So, in the closet it goes, and once again thanks for the tips!!!
SLO |
George Myers (12.85.15.175)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 9:00 pm: | |
Article 551.45 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that the panel be "readily accessible." There was an exception that allowed the panel to be in the back of a closet, but this was removed in the 1981 edition of the NEC. The current thinking is that flammable clothing right against a metal door, or no door, that could have a very hot defective circuit breaker on the other side is not a good idea.
Every coach builder should have his own copy of the NEC, and read it. |