Chasing wiring
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Chiefland, Fl
Chasing wiring
Our Dutchmen has the option for a 2nd A/C unit, the wiring is up in the ceiling. However, I can't find out where it terminates too. I've tried hooking a battery up to it to locate the wire in the convertor panel, but nothing is showing up on the multimeter. Any ideas without having to rip the ceiling down? I temped a new power wire for it so we can use it for our trip to the keys, just would like a cleaner install.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: La La Land
You may find a wire tracer is a good tool to use in this case.
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Sinometer MS6812 Tone Generator Cable and Wire Tracer | eBay
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I hate to link to eBay, as this thread lives on LONG after the eBay listing is taken down, but...
Sinometer MS6812 Tone Generator Cable and Wire Tracer | eBay
Pop
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
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From: Bristol, TN.
Our Dutchmen has the option for a 2nd A/C unit, the wiring is up in the ceiling. However, I can't find out where it terminates too. I've tried hooking a battery up to it to locate the wire in the convertor panel, but nothing is showing up on the multimeter. Any ideas without having to rip the ceiling down? I temped a new power wire for it so we can use it for our trip to the keys, just would like a cleaner install.
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Steve
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Chico,CA.
I would be surprised if that trailer was set up for a second A/C. Are you sure those aren't just wires for a vent fan (12V)? If it were pre-wired you'd have a 50 amp service as RV Tech indicated, and the breaker would most likely be already installed in the panel.
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From: Chiefland, Fl
While the trailet only has a 30 amp convertor, the box on the ceiling states" air conditioning circuit-this connection is for air conditioners rated 110-125 volts ac. 60 hz 16 amp maximum". For the present, I have wired the ac seperately from the unit.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Bristol, TN.
When a ceiling air starts, it draws about 35 amps for a second, then drops back to about 14-15 amps on a typical day so you can see it puts you right on the edge with everything else in the camper turned off including the power converter. If you change to high efficiency roof airs, you can just squeak by. On a 100 degree plus day forget it!
Steve
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From: Chiefland, Fl
Steve, I wasn't planning on running both of the units off of the convertor. I was hoping to find where the wire terminated so i could have a cleaner install instead of wiring on the inside ceiling. I guess i need to talk to an electrician about chasing the wire for me.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
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From: Bristol, TN.
Steve, I wasn't planning on running both of the units off of the convertor. I was hoping to find where the wire terminated so i could have a cleaner install instead of wiring on the inside ceiling. I guess i need to talk to an electrician about chasing the wire for me.
The wires most likely end somewhere near the present breaker box and, in an ideal world, you would change out the breaker box to a 50-amp and run a 50-amp shoreline.
What you might be able to do is use the ceiling duct in your present system as a wire chase and drop down in a cabinet depending on the layout of your rig. That can be done in a pretty safe and sanitary manner and I appreciate the fact you are going about this task in a thoughtful way. I will tell you that when I have to get serious about running wires to install a component, it often takes me longer to plan the runs than it does to run the wires.
On a good job no one should be able to tell you worked on anything.
Good luck,
Steve
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