Electric In My Trailer

STUMPFOOT

I would like to put an electrical outlet in my trailer, you know something I can plug an extension cord into on the outside and have electric on the inside. Is there a kit for this or do you have to peice that togethr from a hardware store?

MinConst

This is how I did it.
http://minichillosconstruction.com/trailer/trailer.htm

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Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

Celtic

How does this...



get into here:


Did you cut the back of the boxes out or something?


The trailer walls don't look more than an inch thick.

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MinConst

Yes with a hole saw. If I remember correctly the outside receptacle has a punch out in the back. The inside one I drilled. And yes the trailer walls are a bit over 1" thick. That is the reason for the 1/4" plywood behind the inside box.

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

mikey48

Great job and pictures. I am in the process of sittting up my new trailer. Did you attach the ground wire to the trailer?

Celtic

What kind of wire is in the PVC pipes?

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mickeyco

I'm betting it's electrical wire.

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Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.

JumboJack

As aposed to what....water wire?

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

mickeyco

No, as opposed to non-electrical wire like speaker wire (I have seen this), phone wire, etc

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Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.

Celtic

The question goes deeper than "electric wire" ....but how would you know that? All wire carries electricity, right?

Let me ask a more precise question....what type INSULATION is on the wire?
..and electrically insulated ain't the right answer.

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MVH

I am getting ready to wire my trailer for some receptacles. What type of wire do you recommend? I plan on using a RV twist lock shore power connection.

Mike

Celtic

I'll give you a hint...it ain't "building wire".

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mdshunk

I'd bet it's some sort of thermoplastic.

MVH

That's odd, all the RVs I have seen are wired with solid core Romex.

Do you recommend I pull a permit and hire an electrician?

Mike

MinConst

For those who really care. I generally have 12-2 romex around and that is what is in the PVC pipes. And I did not run the ground to the trailer chassis in my mind it might electrify the trailer if there was a problem. MD?

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

mdshunk

Actually, the opposite is true. Without that ground wire, in case a hot wire gets against the trailer metal, the whole trailer (and the truck if you're still hitched up) will be energized at 120 volts without that bond wire. If you jump off someplace with your ground to the trailer metal, and there's a fault, the breaker in the house where you have your shore power cord plugged in will trip and save the day.

There isn't anything in the NEC that would specificly apply to your tool trailer, but this is a requirement for mobile homes, RV's and such. Same idea applies to your tool trailer.

MinConst

Thank you MD. I guess I was relying on the GFCI too much. I will add the ground to the chassis.

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

mdshunk

Well, crap... I forgot you had a GFCI. Yeah, as long as the fault is on the load side, you're protected. If the fault is somewhere else, like in the shore power cord laying on your fender or draped across the tongue on the way to the inlet, you're not protected. In most scenarios, the GFCI would help you out. In a few, only the bond wire will protect you in that situation. Rightfully, the shore power cord should be GFCI proteted where ever you have that plugged in at, but I think that probably doesn't always happen.

MinConst

I never drape the cord over anything. It allways runs on the ground to the trailer and up the wall to the plug. I think I will add the ground anyway if it is the proper way to do it. I might sell the trailer someday and the next owner might not be as carefull as I am.

__________________
Paul
Minichillo's Construction
Website
I will never leave you hanging!

mdshunk

Good call.