Artic Wolf fifth wheel

[DaveM]

We picked up our 2021 Artic Wolf 287BH March, made three trips, last trip we were dropping off after we got back. I disconnected, activated the brake away to test, it started to get very hot, the wires started to glow and insulation melted the harness into front storage area. Forest River claims we caused the melt down by testing the brake away and won’t warranty repair. They say not to test brake away. When asked how would know if it worked they said it would. Has any one heard of this?

 

[Gronk]

When you pulled the break away lanyard you allowed full power to the magnets. Each magnet is supposed to pull 3 Amps each, so four would be 12 Amps. Since the trailer probably had 14 Ga (should be 10 Ga) wire it will cook the wiring. I don't know the reason for the too small wire, but they all are like that. The break away switch is only for emergency use like if the trailer falls off going down the road....... Yes, what you expeienced is normal.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

We picked up our 2021 Artic Wolf 287BH March, made three trips, last trip we were dropping off after we got back. I disconnected, activated the brake away to test, it started to get very hot, the wires started to glow and insulation melted the harness into front storage area. Forest River claims we caused the melt down by testing the brake away and won’t warranty repair. They say not to test brake away. When asked how would know if it worked they said it would. Has any one heard of this?

That is sure a lame excuse to explain an emergency system failure.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

When you pulled the break away lanyard you allowed full power to the magnets. Each magnet is supposed to pull 3 Amps each, so four would be 12 Amps. Since the trailer probably had 14 Ga (should be 10 Ga) wire it will cook the wiring. I don't know the reason for the too small wire, but they all are like that. The break away switch is only for emergency use like if the trailer falls off going down the road....... Yes, what you expeienced is normal.

Sounds as though the system as designed if activated for an emergency disconnect could cause a fire. Also, if the system fails as described, what would stop the trailer or prevent further movement such as rolling downhill, as the system is supposed to do? Sounds rather lame to me. I'll not test ours without a quick and proper ability to disconnect or turn off the battery. I would think 14 Ga wire would not get red and the insulation melt with a 12 amp load. For residential wiring, #14 is approved for a 15 amp service.

 

[Gronk]

If you look at a chart for 12V wiring it takes a larger wire to handle the same amperage as 120V.
The Amp load is the number on the left, and the wire size is the top row. Where the amp and size intersect is the maximum distance for one way in feet for a 5% or less voltage loss. Keep in mind when the voltage goes down the amp draw goes up for the same number of watts.
Chart location: Wire Size Chart

WIRE GAUGE​

Amps​

14​

12​

10​

8​

6​

4​

2​

1​

0​

00​

000​

0000​

1​

106​

169​

269​

427​

679​

1080​

1717​

2166​

2730​

3444​

4342​

5475​

2​

53​

85​

134​

214​

340​

540​

859​

1083​

1365​

1722​

2171​

2738​

4​

27​

42​

67​

107​

170​

270​

429​

542​

682​

861​

1086​

1369​

6​

18​

28​

45​

71​

113​

180​

286​

361​

455​

574​

724​

913​

8​

13​

21​

34​

53​

85​

135​

215​

271​

341​

430​

543​

684​

10​

11​

17​

27​

43​

68​

108​

172​

217​

273​

344​

434​

548​

15​

7​

11​

18​

28​

45​

72​

114​

144​

182​

230​

289​

365​

20​

—​

8​

13​

21​

34​

54​

86​

108​

136​

172​

217​

274​

25​

—​

—​

11​

17​

27​

43​

69​

87​

109​

138​

174​

219​

30​

—​

—​

9​

14​

23​

36​

57​

72​

91​

115​

145​

183​

35​

—​

—​

—​

12​

19​

31​

49​

62​

78​

98​

124​

156​

40​

—​

—​

—​

—​

17​

27​

43​

54​

68​

86​

109​

137​

45​

—​

—​

—​

—​

15​

24​

38​

48​

61​

77​

96​

122​

50​

—​

—​

—​

—​

14​

22​

34​

43​

55​

69​

8​

 

[Bob K4TAX]

If you look at a chart for 12V wiring it takes a larger wire to handle the same amperage as 120V.
The Amp load is the number on the left, and the wire size is the top row. Where the amp and size intersect is the maximum distance for one way in feet for a 5% or less voltage loss. Keep in mind when the voltage goes down the amp draw goes up for the same number of watts.
Chart location: Wire Size Chart

WIRE GAUGE​

Amps​

14​

12​

10​

8​

6​

4​

2​

1​

0​

00​

000​

0000​

1​

106​

169​

269​

427​

679​

1080​

1717​

2166​

2730​

3444​

4342​

5475​

2​

53​

85​

134​

214​

340​

540​

859​

1083​

1365​

1722​

2171​

2738​

4​

27​

42​

67​

107​

170​

270​

429​

542​

682​

861​

1086​

1369​

6​

18​

28​

45​

71​

113​

180​

286​

361​

455​

574​

724​

913​

8​

13​

21​

34​

53​

85​

135​

215​

271​

341​

430​

543​

684​

10​

11​

17​

27​

43​

68​

108​

172​

217​

273​

344​

434​

548​

15​

7​

11​

18​

28​

45​

72​

114​

144​

182​

230​

289​

365​

20​

—​

8​

13​

21​

34​

54​

86​

108​

136​

172​

217​

274​

25​

—​

—​

11​

17​

27​

43​

69​

87​

109​

138​

174​

219​

30​

—​

—​

9​

14​

23​

36​

57​

72​

91​

115​

145​

183​

35​

—​

—​

—​

12​

19​

31​

49​

62​

78​

98​

124​

156​

40​

—​

—​

—​

—​

17​

27​

43​

54​

68​

86​

109​

137​

45​

—​

—​

—​

—​

15​

24​

38​

48​

61​

77​

96​

122​

50​

—​

—​

—​

—​

14​

22​

34​

43​

55​

69​

8​

I find there to be contradicting information. When asked if the DC current rating is the same as AC current rating for copper wire, the answer comes back:
The answer is no, the "current rating" of wire is not different for AC and DC though 240V AC circuits would commonly fall under the domain of regulatory codes, such as the National Electrical Code in the US, which do dictate current ratings, 12V DC applications typically would not. The actual current capacity, whether AC or DC is different for solid vs stranded and stranded wire can be either standard or fine strand with a fine strand having the highest current carrying capacity for a given gauge and solid wire having the least. The rating is also dependent on the jacket material. For example, an identical 12 gauge wire with a TW jacket is "rated" for 25 amps but with a THHN jacket, the rating is 30 amps. Obviously, there are other factors to consider when sizing wire but I think this answers OP question.

From Ohms law, we find P = I x E There is no distinction between AC and DC. Therefore 12VDC @ 12 amps is 144 watts. If one uses 120 volts AC then the current goes down for 144 watts or 1.2 amps. Different wire insulation is required based on being open to the air or enclosed in conduit.

I agree that 12 volts at 12 amps DC is 144 watts, and 120 volts at 12 amps AC is 1440 watts. In either case, #14 wire is handling 12 amps and is adequate per the NEC as wire resistance is the same for AC or DC. This determines the I X R voltage drop and subsequent heating which limits current capacity based on resistance. Not voltage.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

If you look at a chart for 12V wiring it takes a larger wire to handle the same amperage as 120V.
The Amp load is the number on the left, and the wire size is the top row. Where the amp and size intersect is the maximum distance for one way in feet for a 5% or less voltage loss. Keep in mind when the voltage goes down the amp draw goes up for the same number of watts.
Chart location: Wire Size Chart

WIRE GAUGE​

Amps​

14​

12​

10​

8​

6​

4​

2​

1​

0​

00​

000​

0000​

1​

106​

169​

269​

427​

679​

1080​

1717​

2166​

2730​

3444​

4342​

5475​

2​

53​

85​

134​

214​

340​

540​

859​

1083​

1365​

1722​

2171​

2738​

4​

27​

42​

67​

107​

170​

270​

429​

542​

682​

861​

1086​

1369​

6​

18​

28​

45​

71​

113​

180​

286​

361​

455​

574​

724​

913​

8​

13​

21​

34​

53​

85​

135​

215​

271​

341​

430​

543​

684​

10​

11​

17​

27​

43​

68​

108​

172​

217​

273​

344​

434​

548​

15​

7​

11​

18​

28​

45​

72​

114​

144​

182​

230​

289​

365​

20​

—​

8​

13​

21​

34​

54​

86​

108​

136​

172​

217​

274​

25​

—​

—​

11​

17​

27​

43​

69​

87​

109​

138​

174​

219​

30​

—​

—​

9​

14​

23​

36​

57​

72​

91​

115​

145​

183​

35​

—​

—​

—​

12​

19​

31​

49​

62​

78​

98​

124​

156​

40​

—​

—​

—​

—​

17​

27​

43​

54​

68​

86​

109​

137​

45​

—​

—​

—​

—​

15​

24​

38​

48​

61​

77​

96​

122​

50​

—​

—​

—​

—​

14​

22​

34​

43​

55​

69​

8​

Please note? >>>> How to use the charts

1. On the left, locate the current you will be dealing with (either array or load current.)
2. Move across to locate the distance to be traveled.
3. Move up to locate the size of wire to be used.

This chart is to be used to determine the length of the wire and wire size for a given current. For a 15 amp load, the suggested distance for a 3% voltage drop is 7 ft.

 

[Gronk]

Like I posted, the correct wiring size for that particular installation SHOULD be #10 wire as per the chart for the distance between the battery to the tongue/pinbox and then to the axles. The manufacturers can save a few dollars per unit by using undersized wiring. They are probably counting on not needing the brakes in an emergency. BTW, I do kknow how to read that chart I posted...........