Enclosed trailers are commonly used for camping, portable shops, toy transport, race car transport, and crafts. To run AC tools or appliances, there must be AC outlets, wiring, and a breaker box installed on an enclosed trailer.
When wiring, do it in such a way that you wouldn’t have to reconnect it to meet different circumstances later. So ensure to make it expandable and flexible.
This article will take you through how to wire enclosed trailer for generator. Also, you will discover the safety considerations while wiring it.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need to Wire an Enclosed Trailer for a Generator
The tools and materials required to wire an enclosed trailer for a generator are as follows:
- A dedicated outlet.
- A circuit breaker cord.
- Plastic outlet boxes (six).
- 1″ electrical flex conduit made of plastic, 50 feet.
- ¼ -inch socket driver.
- A box of conduit straps.
- 30 amp RV power cord with plug measuring 25 feet.
- Romex 12-2 home wiring of 50 feet.
- The RV cable hatch
- Putty for exterior sealing.
- A wire nut.
- Breaker box with two circuits of 15 amps.
- GFCI duplex outlets type B NEMA 5-15 with cover plates.
- Shore connection cord.
- 1 inch flex electrical conduit in plastic, 50 feet long.
- A hole saw.
- A box of 100 pieces 3/4-inch hex-washer heads.
- Metal sheet self-drilling screws
- Power supply that is fuse-protected.
- An electric drill.
How To Wire Enclosed Trailer For A Generator
Now that you have your materials and tools ready for this project, you can proceed to the proper wiring process. However, you may need to get a generator for enclosed trailers when you want power within a ‘shore’ campground.
Here are the steps on how to wire enclosed trailer generators.
Step 1: On the driver’s side of the trailer, use your Hole-saw to make a hole for the RV power cord hatch. Entering your RV is typically done through the rear or the front hatch. You can either use the gasket supplied with your hatch or use RV exterior sealant putty.
Step 2: You should install the Breaker boxes close to the entrance point. Make do with the drill, with a 1/4-inch socket to screw down the plastic junction boxes on the walls on both the left and right sides near the ceiling — one box on each corner and one in between on each side. The two end boxes should have one conduit circle removed, and the other boxes should have one circle removed on each side.
Step 3: Then, connect two flex conduit pieces, measuring and cutting them, so the ends protrude 1/4 inch through the holes in the knock-out boxes between junction boxes and breaker boxes. Label The pieces of the trailer with their respective locations. In the case of the passenger-side run, the run runs across the roof to the breaker box.
Step 4: Prepare the cable runs by cutting Romex pieces into 12-inch pieces and feeding each piece through the conduit with 6 inches hanging out on both ends. Thread wire and conduit through the holes in junction boxes, allowing wires to dangle out of the boxes’ fronts. Screw conduit straps over the conduit every 12 inches and 6 inches from each junction box.
Step 5: Remove 3 inches of the outer jacket from each cable end, including the pigtails, and cut away 8-inch cable pigtails for every box except the end boxes. Next, strip away ¾inch of insulation from all wire tips. The Ingoing wires and outgoing wires should be wire-nutted together. Also, do the same for the white and gray, bare or green wires. While doing this, ensure that the end-boxes do not have pigtails or outgoing wires. Now, you can test the connection strength by lightly tugging on the wires.
Step 6: Thereafter, the white or gray wire end should be looped and tightened under the gold screw of the neutral terminal at each box. The black wires should be screwed under the silver screw of the hot terminal. This wire is secured under the green screw that feeds the round ground socket. Attach the round ground socket to the box and then attach the finishing plate to the bare or green wire.
Step 7: All white and gray wires should be wire-nutted together before inserting all bare and green wires into the breaker box, including the green wire from the RV cord. The 30-amp RV cord and ground bus should also be inserted under the ground bus.
Step 8: Attach each black wire in the cord to an empty breaker terminal using the two 8-inch pieces of Romex. Also, connect the black wires from each 8-inch piece of Romex to each black wire in the cord. The breaker box now needs to be closed.
Step 9: An adapter is required in this step to connect the 30-amp power cord to a standard outlet.
Safety Considerations While Wiring Enclosed Trailer For Generator
Electrical equipment and installation used to wire enclosed trailers for generators must be maintained as far as reasonably possible to prevent damage.
- Electricity can be deadly. When working with electrical circuits, make sure the power is turned off first.
- It is essential to perform visual checks before using electrical equipment, including portable appliances. This equipment should be taken out of use immediately and checked, repaired, or replaced if:
- There are stains or marks on them that represent overheating.
- Any of the connectors or plugs looks damaged.
- Cables/wires that are naked and wrapped with tape are not secured.
- Any wire that has been wrongly connected is too dangerous and can lead to a fire outbreak or fatal incidents.
Conclusion
Wiring an enclosed trailer for a generator might seem difficult at first if you don’t know what to do. That’s why this article has all the details and steps you should take for it. So, now that you’ve known how to wire enclosed trailer for generator, it’s time to get to work.
But please, do not tamper with electrical appliances if you have little or no knowledge, experience, or skill. Always wait for a technician to avoid exposing yourself to the danger of electrocution.
