DC to DC chargers are a game changer for rvers. Installing a DC to DC charger can allow an rver to keep their battery charged & negate the need for a noisy, messy, gas generator on many rving trips. The upfront cost is relatively high, but the installation is not that difficult. I'm 78 years old & am installing one now in our truck camper that we close to full time in. I was initially intimidated by the idea of them, but after some research & talking to a Redarc customer service tech, I realized I could install one myself. Teaching rvers how to install one would be a great service & could help to eliminate many, noisy gas generators from campgrounds.
I'm interested in advanced sessions listed above, Inverter systems, generator systems/maintenance and installation/maintenance of solar systems with lithium batteries.
I would say classes in all of the above. I am well above average in Ac/Dc theory and aplication and am still surprized by the things you turn up and the ways you get to the root of problems that I might have found in another way. Also, as your information is RV centric, adn others(like me) were from other genres(in my case aerospace) I know the DC side very well and the AC side less so. Thanks for the always very interesting articals and information!
I am interested in campground pedestals, if this is answered somewhere already, please post a link.
A typical campground pedestal has 50 amp, 30 amp and 20 amp.
So I see people running their 50 amp RV and plus something into the 20 amp receptacle (like a smoker for meat).
Are those pedestals wired to be able to use all of the receptacles simultaneously? I mean wouldn't it need 100 amp + 30 amp + 20 amp, so wiring coming into it need to be 150 amp service?
I've seen the 30 and 20 amp receptacles piggy backed off the 50 amp wiring.
That’s a whole can of worms. Each pedestal is calculated as requiring 12,000 VA of power, which is the 50-amp receptacle at 50-amps per leg which is 100 amps total. So it’s not a 150-amp pedestal.
And then you need to apply demand factor. After adding up the individual sites throughout the park, the next step is to apply the demand factors found in Table 551.73(A). This Table allows for the derating of the park’s service amps based on the total number of individual sites within the park.
For example: The demand factor for a service supplying just 1 RV site is 100%, which is just another way of saying that there is no allowable demand factor at all. But when there are 36 or more sites in the park, the demand factor from the Table is 41%, regardless of how many sites there are beyond 36. This means the park electrical service can be sized at an ampacity no greater than what is necessary to adequately supply just 41% of the total load of 36 RV sites, instead of 100% for all 36 sites. This derating is permitted because the NEC assumes that all 36 sites won’t be occupied and in full use at the same time.
As a licensed electrical contractor in NJ, I normally pay about $650.00 for the 34 hours of EDU's required for license renewal every 3 years. So, paying for instruction isn't a new thing but, I was able to wright off those costs as a part of my business.
Not that my job is to make your job difficult, maybe a two tier instruction could make the simple courses inexpensive and the advanced courses more expensive. I also don't know how your courses will fit with some of the certified RV Tech courses.
At 72 years old and as a RV owner, I do a lot of RV repairs for friends and their friends but not as a business. It is sad to see dealers with a below par technical staff. I refuse to charge owners as well as site owners for the work I do. So, I will always want to know more to help more. You might get a better response from viewers if you could put in print what courses would cost and if the courses can be certified for professionals.
About the only thing I wouldn't be interested in would be anything generator related - only because I don't have a built in genny - and I'm primarily interested as an owner.
Hi Mike, I love your columns. I am an Automotive / Software / Electrical Engineer in my daytime job, and rent a fleet of 15 motorhomes for my 'moon-lighting gig'. I can fix pretty much anything, but I often have to "come crawling back to Cummins" to fix Internal Onan/Cummins generator issues.
The Onan diagnostic manual they make for their own techs is useful, but it would be nice to have some classes on that.
BTW, I tend to put di-electric grease on all connections (low voltage sensors, 12vdc, 120vac, etc) that might get exposure to moisture or humidity... not just on 12v battery connections. It also eliminates arcing in high voltage connections. Your thoughts?
I am an owner and a General Contractor/Handyman so, I wan't to learn all areas above for RV. I really would like to become a technician and I've learned most of my knowledge form doing my own, successful, repairs/modifications, BUT, I cannot afford the tuition to go to school. THAT really hurts. I've spent MANY days troubleshooting electrical problems in our RV, my car, my truck and for friends/neighbors. I love electricity since I was a young boy! Still work with it, today. Getting ready to install an EV Charger station. Wiring, Breaker, boxes, conduit, etc. Always have my hands in something to do!
DC to DC chargers are a game changer for rvers. Installing a DC to DC charger can allow an rver to keep their battery charged & negate the need for a noisy, messy, gas generator on many rving trips. The upfront cost is relatively high, but the installation is not that difficult. I'm 78 years old & am installing one now in our truck camper that we close to full time in. I was initially intimidated by the idea of them, but after some research & talking to a Redarc customer service tech, I realized I could install one myself. Teaching rvers how to install one would be a great service & could help to eliminate many, noisy gas generators from campgrounds.
I'm interested in advanced sessions listed above, Inverter systems, generator systems/maintenance and installation/maintenance of solar systems with lithium batteries.
I would say classes in all of the above. I am well above average in Ac/Dc theory and aplication and am still surprized by the things you turn up and the ways you get to the root of problems that I might have found in another way. Also, as your information is RV centric, adn others(like me) were from other genres(in my case aerospace) I know the DC side very well and the AC side less so. Thanks for the always very interesting articals and information!
Mike,
I am interested in campground pedestals, if this is answered somewhere already, please post a link.
A typical campground pedestal has 50 amp, 30 amp and 20 amp.
So I see people running their 50 amp RV and plus something into the 20 amp receptacle (like a smoker for meat).
Are those pedestals wired to be able to use all of the receptacles simultaneously? I mean wouldn't it need 100 amp + 30 amp + 20 amp, so wiring coming into it need to be 150 amp service?
I've seen the 30 and 20 amp receptacles piggy backed off the 50 amp wiring.
Curious minds want to know :)
Thanks for all you do.
Joe
That’s a whole can of worms. Each pedestal is calculated as requiring 12,000 VA of power, which is the 50-amp receptacle at 50-amps per leg which is 100 amps total. So it’s not a 150-amp pedestal.
And then you need to apply demand factor. After adding up the individual sites throughout the park, the next step is to apply the demand factors found in Table 551.73(A). This Table allows for the derating of the park’s service amps based on the total number of individual sites within the park.
For example: The demand factor for a service supplying just 1 RV site is 100%, which is just another way of saying that there is no allowable demand factor at all. But when there are 36 or more sites in the park, the demand factor from the Table is 41%, regardless of how many sites there are beyond 36. This means the park electrical service can be sized at an ampacity no greater than what is necessary to adequately supply just 41% of the total load of 36 RV sites, instead of 100% for all 36 sites. This derating is permitted because the NEC assumes that all 36 sites won’t be occupied and in full use at the same time.
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14-17,
How to locate AC and DC wire runs in motohome walls.
How to locate audio-visual wire runs in motorhome walls.
Dangers of not using an EMS while camping, and how EMSs operate.
As a licensed electrical contractor in NJ, I normally pay about $650.00 for the 34 hours of EDU's required for license renewal every 3 years. So, paying for instruction isn't a new thing but, I was able to wright off those costs as a part of my business.
Not that my job is to make your job difficult, maybe a two tier instruction could make the simple courses inexpensive and the advanced courses more expensive. I also don't know how your courses will fit with some of the certified RV Tech courses.
At 72 years old and as a RV owner, I do a lot of RV repairs for friends and their friends but not as a business. It is sad to see dealers with a below par technical staff. I refuse to charge owners as well as site owners for the work I do. So, I will always want to know more to help more. You might get a better response from viewers if you could put in print what courses would cost and if the courses can be certified for professionals.
About the only thing I wouldn't be interested in would be anything generator related - only because I don't have a built in genny - and I'm primarily interested as an owner.
All
Hi Mike, I love your columns. I am an Automotive / Software / Electrical Engineer in my daytime job, and rent a fleet of 15 motorhomes for my 'moon-lighting gig'. I can fix pretty much anything, but I often have to "come crawling back to Cummins" to fix Internal Onan/Cummins generator issues.
The Onan diagnostic manual they make for their own techs is useful, but it would be nice to have some classes on that.
BTW, I tend to put di-electric grease on all connections (low voltage sensors, 12vdc, 120vac, etc) that might get exposure to moisture or humidity... not just on 12v battery connections. It also eliminates arcing in high voltage connections. Your thoughts?
Dave Meekhof
www.DavesRVs.com
Power users and battery life is always good. Like, I have 4. 6 volt house batteries, how long can they power my residential refrigerator?
5,7 14-19
I am an owner and a General Contractor/Handyman so, I wan't to learn all areas above for RV. I really would like to become a technician and I've learned most of my knowledge form doing my own, successful, repairs/modifications, BUT, I cannot afford the tuition to go to school. THAT really hurts. I've spent MANY days troubleshooting electrical problems in our RV, my car, my truck and for friends/neighbors. I love electricity since I was a young boy! Still work with it, today. Getting ready to install an EV Charger station. Wiring, Breaker, boxes, conduit, etc. Always have my hands in something to do!
All subjects would be helpful to just about anyone
All topics would be great!
How are you in understanding the entertainment systems in rv’s? I’m a retired electrician, but the audio/video is always a challenge for me.
I’m an A/V professional and teach advanced classes in it. Let me see if I can wrap my head around what RVs use.
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