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Highway OPie · 08-03-2011, 07:13 AM

For your 110VAC wiring, be sure to use stranded 12 or 14 ga wire; not solid as is used in your home. The stranded wire allows for more flexig. Most of my 110VAC electrical stuff came from Home Depot or Lowe's, or from the flea market. Nothing special here. You will want a master distribution panel, and or course a shore power hookup.

For your 12VDC wiring, I always go at least one gauge heavier than what's called for. Why? It's not the ability to carry more current; it's to fight the number one issue with DC wiring . . . voltage drop. The farther the device is from the power source, the greater the drop.

My motorhome conversion has four group 31 batteries for the starting function, and four group 31 batteries for the house batteries. The are both connected to the alternator thru a FET battery isolator, which has no voltage drop as most battery isolators do.

Marine wiring equipment is also a good source for parts and special items. Check out Blue Sea Systems for lots of good stuff, including distribution panels. But, their stuff is really expensive.

After carefully considering a combination AC/DC distribution panel from them (E-Bay price around $700) I decided to make my own. It took a lot longer, but it was a custom layout and turned out very nice. It only cost ,y about $200 and my time, which I have lots of!

You also might want to consider an inverter for providing AC from a DC source. Go with a Pure Swine Wave Inverter only. They cost more, but will run just about anything. Don't fall for the cheaper modified sine wave inverters; you will be disappointed.

One last thing, for now, also consider building in a battery charger for your system, so when you are connected to shore power, you batteries get topped up.

Good luck!

Highway OPie
Grad Rapids, MI

08-03-2011, 07:13 AM	#4
Highway OPie Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 74	Wiring For your 110VAC wiring, be sure to use stranded 12 or 14 ga wire; not solid as is used in your home. The stranded wire allows for more flexig. Most of my 110VAC electrical stuff came from Home Depot or Lowe's, or from the flea market. Nothing special here. You will want a master distribution panel, and or course a shore power hookup. For your 12VDC wiring, I always go at least one gauge heavier than what's called for. Why? It's not the ability to carry more current; it's to fight the number one issue with DC wiring . . . voltage drop. The farther the device is from the power source, the greater the drop. My motorhome conversion has four group 31 batteries for the starting function, and four group 31 batteries for the house batteries. The are both connected to the alternator thru a FET battery isolator, which has no voltage drop as most battery isolators do. Marine wiring equipment is also a good source for parts and special items. Check out Blue Sea Systems for lots of good stuff, including distribution panels. But, their stuff is really expensive. After carefully considering a combination AC/DC distribution panel from them (E-Bay price around $700) I decided to make my own. It took a lot longer, but it was a custom layout and turned out very nice. It only cost ,y about $200 and my time, which I have lots of! You also might want to consider an inverter for providing AC from a DC source. Go with a Pure Swine Wave Inverter only. They cost more, but will run just about anything. Don't fall for the cheaper modified sine wave inverters; you will be disappointed. One last thing, for now, also consider building in a battery charger for your system, so when you are connected to shore power, you batteries get topped up. Good luck! Highway OPie Grad Rapids, MI