I need some help with my electrical system in my camper

[mancave]

There are some qualified electricians on this site! You have not been steered wrong yet!

May I suggest if you're uncomfortable with this task you hire it done!

Yeah he still says 8g well he says 8/2 so I am not sure if the size of the wire would be same for 8g and 8/2 or if they are different.

I can't afford to have it done so I have to do it all myself.

 

[Rich W.]

Post some pics and it will be easier to provide guidance. 8 gauge is still totally unnecessary for an RV with a 30amp service. It won’t be using 30 amps through each and every one of the circuits, 30 amps is the total draw of all the circuits. There is just nothing in a typical RV that justifies anything over 12ga. So…pics.

I agree with Kevin that from the previous comments, this would be better handled by a qualified electrician and you clearly don’t have one at your disposal. But that said, it’s nothing you can’t learn and do yourself. What stops people from sharing their knowledge in these cases is the possibility that it could encourage an unqualified person to go ahead with work and potentially make mistakes that could have life safety implications.

But I’m willing to take and look at the job and I’m sure others are too. Beyond that without more info I can’t say anything. So what are you working on? Make, model, year? And can you post some pics? That’s where I’d have to start.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Yeah he still says 8g well he says 8/2 so I am not sure if the size of the wire would be same for 8g and 8/2 or if they are different.

I can't afford to have it done so I have to do it all myself.

I try not to do this! BUT!!! Your friend may be working in the electrical field, but is not a qualified electrician.

I tried to talk you into using existing wiring, but now you have something that is useless without a good deal of help!

At this time if you must ask for help and want qualified information I suggest either choose to listen to those here that have offered to guide you on this list! Or ask a fourth graders for their opinion! You have not received more credible information other than those two sources.

I personally will not help any further if I hear you are getting information from you friend who says he is an electrician. he is not !!!

 

[Rich W.]

I try not to do this! BUT!!! Your friend may be working in the electrical field, but is not a qualified electrician.

I tried to talk you into using existing wiring, but now you have something that is useless without a good deal of help!

At this time if you must ask for help and want qualified information I suggest either choose to listen to those here that have offered to guide you on this list! Or ask a fourth graders for their opinion! You have not received more credible information other than those two sources.

I personally will not help any further if I hear you are getting information from you friend who says he is an electrician. he is not !!!

Well the good news is that if he keeps negotiating he’ll eventually get back to 12 and 14 gauge wire. ;^]
.

 

[mancave]

wow why does everyone get so insulted. I pulled the wire because it was all over in a mess. I have decided to do one step at a time. first I will get a new box and connect the shore line to it and then go from there.
as far as year,make,model I have no idea as it was given to me and the plate on the camper have worn to hardly seeing the details.
I wasn't here to insult anyone or upset anyone. In the end I always figure it out and I possibly will go back to the 14 and 12 in the end, I just have to be sure before risking it and I am sure everyone can understand that.
Anyway can you answer this. If I get a 125amp breaker box and put a 30amp for shore and then 15amps in the others and no to exceed a total of 125 will this be safe? what would be a good amp breaker to put ac and furnace on?

Thanks
Don

 

[Rich W.]

I haven’t noticed anyone indicating that they felt insulted. What I see, and what is true in my case, is that everyone who replied is concerned with some combination of your safety, the success of your project, or the quality of advice you are getting elsewhere.

As for the rest, an RV with a factory rat’s nest of wire is a prime candidate for a complete do-over to make it both professionally done, and more safe, and also much easier to work on in the future. But like others here, without more info I’ll default to my standard response on RV electrical and not offer advice on work that could lead to a life safety issue without andditional information.

Since make model and year are out of the question, maybe you can satisfy some curiosity here by posting some pics. I know I would find it interesting and having just sold my coach due to health reasons I will be living my RV life vicariously through the questions, projects, successes, and travels of others.

What I will say is that you can install a bullet proof electrical system in your RV using standard 12 and 14 gauge romex because the problems that arise come from incorrect installation or usage, not wire failure. It’s what happens at the ends of said wire that causes the problems, not the wire itself, unless you plan to put abnormal electrical loads on your RV.

Cheers,
Rich

 

[Kevin D Pem]

wow why does everyone get so insulted. I pulled the wire because it was all over in a mess. I have decided to do one step at a time. first I will get a new box and connect the shore line to it and then go from there.
as far as year,make,model I have no idea as it was given to me and the plate on the camper have worn to hardly seeing the details.
I wasn't here to insult anyone or upset anyone. In the end I always figure it out and I possibly will go back to the 14 and 12 in the end, I just have to be sure before risking it and I am sure everyone can understand that.
Anyway can you answer this. If I get a 125amp breaker box and put a 30amp for shore and then 15amps in the others and no to exceed a total of 125 will this be safe? what would be a good amp breaker to put ac and furnace on?

Thanks
Don

I was not insulted! However if I give advice and it is not followed, I feel partially to blame, if something turns to ashes.

I need to know your on the same page, as the result could even cost a life!

A 30 amp power center will work fine. We know this because it will only be powered with 30 amps. You will never draw more than that because that is what you supply it with!