Living The Dream
Senior Member
Hi All,
I have a few questions about electrical systems I was hoping some people with expereince could offer advice on. I am somewhat experienced with basic electricity, only in a sense that I have a multimeter, know how to use it, and can handle V=IR
On my redo, http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/11945-84-fleet-09-tacoma-project/ ,
I plan to instal a simple fuse box for my led lights and some USB charging. I am not doing a fridge as all my trips are weekends which a good cooler can handle no problem and I have a wave 3 for electricity free heating.
I have a small 40Watt solar panel to keep the battery topped up. This will get me started. If after more use of camper I find myself needing more I will upgrade.
On the the questions:
1. So I know from taking apart my old camper (84) would often run a single hot (+) lead to the lights. Then the ground is simply bolted to the bare frame. I think this means back at the battery the ground terminal is also bolted to the frame, is that so?
Also, I think in modern systems there is a ground wire back to the fuse box. Is this true? Since I have everything apart I can easily run the ground to my fuse box. Are there any advantageous to either way? The only disadvantage i can think of is a bit more money spent on wires. But this seems pennies compared to everything else, so not a big deal.
2. How many ports in a fuse box? Do I want each light and system running directly from the fuse block to the individual light? For example from fuse block channel 1 to the porch light. From fuse block channel 2 to each interior roof light, etc. Or should I do one fuse for all lights. One fuse for all USB charges, etc.? Either way I am going to make sure my fuse block has some room to expand if things change down the road.
3. For a basic system like mine, do I need a all-off switch in there? The only parasitic load I can think of for this would be if the USB charge has some sort of LED light. But am I naive on this? Is it definitely needed that I have the all-off switch for when I am not using the camper and it won't drain my battery?
I think my three first questions are summarized pretty well in this my sketch here:
Now moving on to the solar question.
4. Where does the fuse block go in relation to the solar panel, controller and battery. I have a cheap harbor freight charger that came with the camper, again will upgrade if need be down the road, right not it should get the job done. Anyways, I see on the controller there is a load channel. Do I want to send that to my fuse block or not? What is the advantage/disadvantage of running fuse block though the solar controller rather than directly to the battery. I have one of the examples illustrated below.
Thanks for any advice, comment, criticism anyone is willing to offer. I posted this outside of my build in hopes it will reach more people and be easily searchable as a source of info for those that come after me.
Thanks. Tim
I have a few questions about electrical systems I was hoping some people with expereince could offer advice on. I am somewhat experienced with basic electricity, only in a sense that I have a multimeter, know how to use it, and can handle V=IR
On my redo, http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/11945-84-fleet-09-tacoma-project/ ,
I plan to instal a simple fuse box for my led lights and some USB charging. I am not doing a fridge as all my trips are weekends which a good cooler can handle no problem and I have a wave 3 for electricity free heating.
I have a small 40Watt solar panel to keep the battery topped up. This will get me started. If after more use of camper I find myself needing more I will upgrade.
On the the questions:
1. So I know from taking apart my old camper (84) would often run a single hot (+) lead to the lights. Then the ground is simply bolted to the bare frame. I think this means back at the battery the ground terminal is also bolted to the frame, is that so?
Also, I think in modern systems there is a ground wire back to the fuse box. Is this true? Since I have everything apart I can easily run the ground to my fuse box. Are there any advantageous to either way? The only disadvantage i can think of is a bit more money spent on wires. But this seems pennies compared to everything else, so not a big deal.
2. How many ports in a fuse box? Do I want each light and system running directly from the fuse block to the individual light? For example from fuse block channel 1 to the porch light. From fuse block channel 2 to each interior roof light, etc. Or should I do one fuse for all lights. One fuse for all USB charges, etc.? Either way I am going to make sure my fuse block has some room to expand if things change down the road.
3. For a basic system like mine, do I need a all-off switch in there? The only parasitic load I can think of for this would be if the USB charge has some sort of LED light. But am I naive on this? Is it definitely needed that I have the all-off switch for when I am not using the camper and it won't drain my battery?
I think my three first questions are summarized pretty well in this my sketch here:
Now moving on to the solar question.
4. Where does the fuse block go in relation to the solar panel, controller and battery. I have a cheap harbor freight charger that came with the camper, again will upgrade if need be down the road, right not it should get the job done. Anyways, I see on the controller there is a load channel. Do I want to send that to my fuse block or not? What is the advantage/disadvantage of running fuse block though the solar controller rather than directly to the battery. I have one of the examples illustrated below.
Thanks for any advice, comment, criticism anyone is willing to offer. I posted this outside of my build in hopes it will reach more people and be easily searchable as a source of info for those that come after me.
Thanks. Tim