Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-09-2021, 10:23 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 17
Please Proof This Electrical Layout

I wanted to run this electrical layout by the smart guys and gals here for feedback, as I'm a complete electrical novice. Intent is for the batteries to be a 12V system.

I have two power sources, solar and shore power. The solar seems pretty straight forward. I have a transfer box, charger and inverter as the other leg... couple of questions:

1) Are fuses and wires sized right? I adapted from: https://faroutride.com/van-build/lea...trical-system/

2) What do I do about grounding the system?

3) I haven't sized AC electrical panel circuits yet. They would run a laptop charger, monitor, TV, Fridge and small kitchen appliances at most.

Any feedback much appreciated!
Attached Thumbnails
Electric Design.jpg   Electric Design 2.jpg  

derekmichael02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2021, 04:46 PM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
kazetsukai's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Athens, TN
Posts: 1,574
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International RE
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by derekmichael02 View Post
1) Are fuses and wires sized right? I adapted from: https://faroutride.com/van-build/lea...trical-system/
The 300A fuse for the inverter has me raising an eye. The 1100W inverter will pull a maximum of (100W/12V =) 91A, (assuming it is true to rating) even for 200% surge loads this seems high. 150A maybe?

Fuses/breakers are best sized to protect the run, however it seems prudent to me to go lower when known load isn't even close to what the run is rated for.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derekmichael02 View Post
2) What do I do about grounding the system?
Depends on where neutral and ground are bonded. This means different potentially different grounding strategies for shore and solar power.

Solar: Ground/Neutral is likely bound in the inverter. If not, you want to bind it _just after_ the inverter, and connect this ground run to chassis.

Shore: Ground/Neutral is likely bound at the service panel, and you _may not_ want the chassis connected to ground in this case.

More discussion is likely needed.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derekmichael02 View Post
3) I haven't sized AC electrical panel circuits yet. They would run a laptop charger, monitor, TV, Fridge and small kitchen appliances at most.
Well, 1100W / 120V is a maximum of 9A, anything larger is likely/certain to cause inverter shutdown, and yet most residential panels start at 10A/15A/20A.

It seems like you would have to go with the smallest AC breakers available for every circuit, however they are unlikely to actually trip.

Best of luck!
kazetsukai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2021, 10:02 PM   #3
Bus Crazy
 
DeMac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,558
Coachwork: Integrated Coach Corp.
Chassis: RE-300 42ft
Engine: 466ci
Rated Cap: 90
Please Proof This Electrical Layout
I wanted to run this electrical layout by the smart guys and gals here for feedback....


Sorry, Bro. No one of that description has replied, as of yet. Receiving a response from a member of the skoolie network is not necessarily a factual answer. Maybe an opinion, or believed fact, but with electricity, it can be deadly wrong, none the less.

Have a Licensed Electrician review your progress. Pay if you must.
__________________
Ceiling: Framing & Electrical Rough-in
Convert Hatch to AC & Roof Patch
🇺🇸 Frederick Douglass: "If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
DeMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2021, 10:20 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
kazetsukai's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Athens, TN
Posts: 1,574
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International RE
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 76
To clarify, what you will receive here is going to be opinion/feedback/advice from a variety of sources, likely amateurs, me included. I am not an electrician, and you should consult an electrician if you truly have doubts or questions needing correct, to code answers on the subject.

I, among others, would love to hear feedback from actual electricians here, correct any misconceptions, etc but that's up to them. I'm not going to question the intelligence or credentials of other posters here, I don't see it as productive.


This in particular is where I think I can find fault:

Quote:
Originally Posted by kazetsukai View Post
Well, 1100W / 120V is a maximum of 9A, anything larger is likely/certain to cause inverter shutdown, and yet most residential panels start at 10A/15A/20A.

It seems like you would have to go with the smallest AC breakers available for every circuit, however they are unlikely to actually trip.
I was too focused on the inverter use case because it is possible the inverter would never be able to provide the output needed to trip a common residential AC breaker, this was a mistake on my part. You also have shore connectivity, but regardless you will want to size the breakers for the runs like any AC residential panel. I would just caution that repeatedly asking for more than the inverter can supply can damage it and/or cause unsafe operating conditions.


There may be other parts of my reply in error. Again, consult an electrician.
kazetsukai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2021, 11:01 PM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
DeMac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,558
Coachwork: Integrated Coach Corp.
Chassis: RE-300 42ft
Engine: 466ci
Rated Cap: 90

[QUOTE] ......credentials of other posters here, I don't see it as productive

Saving lives is progress.

We all ought verify the credentials (license, bonded, insured) before hiring or consulting any tradesman. Many "handyman" out there proving how many words they know.

A little dangerous advise can be re-read and repeated for years. It's a shame so many lives are affected by electrical fires, many of which are created by the victims' family member.
__________________
Ceiling: Framing & Electrical Rough-in
Convert Hatch to AC & Roof Patch
🇺🇸 Frederick Douglass: "If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
DeMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2021, 12:40 AM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Rwnielsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,075
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000, 40' MPV
Engine: 5.9 Cummins/B300 trans
Rated Cap: U/K
Your AC electrical panel should be sized to whatever your maximum AC supply will be. If you have a shore power inlet of 50a then you install a 60a panel. All of your branch circuits should be wired as normal. You then modify your usage to accommodate your available power. If you're on your inverter then obviously some things won't work and/or will overload the system.
Rwnielsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2021, 01:26 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
kazetsukai's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Athens, TN
Posts: 1,574
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International RE
Engine: International T444e
Rated Cap: 76
EDIT: Removed, unproductive, not fair to the OP.
kazetsukai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2021, 01:40 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Jolly Roger bus 223's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,973
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
damn i just started another electrical thread?
am i gonna get the same **** show?
sorry OP.
Jolly Roger bus 223 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2021, 02:01 PM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
Rwnielsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,075
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000, 40' MPV
Engine: 5.9 Cummins/B300 trans
Rated Cap: U/K
For the record, I'm licensed, bonded and insured.
CSLB 752511 since 98 or so...
Rwnielsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2021, 02:18 PM   #10
Bus Crazy
 
Rwnielsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,075
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC2000, 40' MPV
Engine: 5.9 Cummins/B300 trans
Rated Cap: U/K
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Roger bus 223 View Post
damn i just started another electrical thread?
am i gonna get the same **** show?
sorry OP.
Everyone seems kinda cranky lately.
Rwnielsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:25 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.