MaxThrust
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Joined: 02/13/2005
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I'm redoing some of the wiring in my fiver and have moved my PD9260 to the wall just behind my batteries and connected it with some 4 gauge wire I had laying around. Then I got to looking at the entire setup and thought that it could really use some improvement. To that end I would like to redo the wiring from the batteries and have them all with home run cables to a board with a common buss strip for both positive and negative, then fuses (or before) and then distribution to the various loads, inverter, converter, house, etc. The setup now is hodge-podge at best and dangerous at worst. The converter was in the space under the bathroom sink with 8 gauge wire run over 20 feet. I know that was never working well. I moved it to behind the batteries on the same wall with the 50 amp load center and the generator switch, and then used 4 gauge wire on a less-than three foot run to the batteries. Time will tell if this works better, but I'm sure it will. I also want to move the inverter to this same location (1000/2000) with 0 gauge cable. I just want to avoid having wires strung on top of each other and I think a buss strip is the way to do it.
Has anyone done this? Don't the high-end motor coaches do something similar? I've searched quite a bit online and haven't found anything that might fit the bill, but I'm sure it's out there. Anyone have sources? How about some pictures of their setup?
Thanks!
Mike 
My computer beat me at chess, but I beat it at kick boxing!
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Cliford
Whidbey Island , Washington
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Joined: 04/17/2004
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look for boat wiring on line, they have nice stuff.. and u should find some wiring to look at.
2003 2500 Dodge CD
2000 Damon 27R Hornet
2005 Chev 1/2 ton Silverado
2007 Forest River Cherokee Lite 18DD TT
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VintageRacer
Dundas, Ontario
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I go to Marine stores to look for wiring products. I also went to home-run wiring, pulling both power and ground back, and terminating grounds on a buss bar. I used a DC power distribution center with a nice fuse block. The boat guys have a lot of toys that we can use, generally higher quality and more corrosion resistant than you find in RV centres.
Brian
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, Hemi, 5 speed manual, 3.73 gears, Tow Beast hitch with 24" extension.
28 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
1980 MCI MC-5C highway coach conversion
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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There are lots of wiring kits available, just none for motorhomes. Not a big enough audience and too many variables. I have used American Autowire in the past, because all their wires come stamped which makes the runs much easier. I have wired up several roadsters from scratch. My wife calls me the zip tie king! I have gone over each of our coaches and improved the wiring runs and zip tied the loose ones they didn't take the time to secure. All those wires continually bouncing up and down and we wonder why we have shorts... ......buys some rolls of 12, 14, 16, and 18 gauge wires and go for it. A word of advice, use decent rolls of electrical tape, not the cheap, Made in China junk........Dennis
Dennis and Debi
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MaxThrust
Sierra Vista, AZ
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LOL...I think you're probably right, however, I live in a desert. I'll start checking out the marine websites or check a few places next time I'm in El Cajon.
BTW, VR, do you have any pictures of what you've done?
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falconman
On The Road!!
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Joined: 01/01/2007
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This place has a good selection.
http://www.delcity.net/
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enine
OH
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Joined: 02/19/2004
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napa parts stores have a big catalog behind the counter they can pull out and let you look through if you want to try over the counter local.
waytek wire is a place I've used online.
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MickyF
Sulphur, La
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Joined: 01/31/2006
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I did sort of what your wanting to clean up the rat's nest from factory on my trailer. I used one of these for the power distribution and drilled and tapped two bolts in the frame for ground lugs to be tied to.
2006 Chevy 2500HD CC 6.6L Diesel
2011 Sundance 3300CK
Me, Wife, Son Tyler and Dog named Splash
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MaxThrust
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Thanks...I appreciate all the great responses. Now I've got some ideas going again.
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MaxThrust
Sierra Vista, AZ
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Joined: 02/13/2005
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I've now found some buss strips that will work, but most of them are completely off-base with the price. I've found them up to almost $200, and most above $50. I did find one that is an "insulated grounding strip" that will work nicely for both positive and negative for $20. I can't believe how hard they are to find and then how expensive when you find them. I was half tempted to build my own, but for $20 I can choke that down. The other parts, wire and terminals, should be plenty easy to find.
Thanks much for the advice all.
Oh...and I'm still open to ideas, pictures, and links to reasonably priced items.
EDIT: Replaced a word for clarity.
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