Question: How long does it take to put 120v outlets in your bays?

gumpy · July 08, 2010, 08:20:47 PM

Answer: 10 years and 3 days!

It's been just about 10 years since I purchased my bus. I just spent the last 3 days putting in some electrical outlets in the bays. It went ok. A little tedious. It's very tight quarters in my bays. The Greenlee knockout punch set I borrowed is awesome!! I punched holes in my partitions to run wires and conduit through, and in the box I mounted some relays in to control the 120v to the A/C, heater and air compressor.

Some of this was precipitated by the near fire we had a few weeks ago. I decided I need to start cleaning up some of the half-arsed crap I had left undone 2 years ago. It's looking much better,
and I am nearly complete with the 120v electrical install in the bays. I have some lights to mount in the bays, and may install a single outlet in my transfer switch to turn on my small marine charger which is connected to my generator battery when the shore cord is plugged in or the generator is running. The charger would kick on 2 amps after 10 minutes, which should keep the small gen battery up just fine (my generator didn't have the alternator option installed in it because it was installed in a high end RV and used the RV start batteries).

Tomorrow I have to run some wiring for the relay switches and make a switch bracket. Then I'll be able to control the A/C power from inside the coach instead of using the breakers for disconnects switches (that's hard on breakers).

Incidentally, if I were starting a coach from scratch now, I'd buy a couple Greenlee punches and I'd start perforating the partitions in the bays. I'd put some holes in for 1/2" conduit and 3/4" conduit. Maybe 4-5 of each in each side of each partition. Then I'd run flexible conduit from the front bay to the front of the bus, and from the rear bay to the engine compartment before I put the floor back in. I did 3 conduits to the front, but did not put in any to the engine compartment. I regret that now.

craig

Jriddle · July 08, 2010, 08:27:45 PM

I'm not sure I have not yet done this after three years.

John

grantgoold · July 08, 2010, 11:11:22 PM

Just a little longer than 119v outlets

Sorry

Grant

bevans6 · July 09, 2010, 04:51:50 AM

I put outlets in each bay as part of the initial wiring, all GFI protected. Handier than a pocket in a shirt! I still don't have 120 volt in the front of the bus (spare tire compartment and the accessory tank closet, would be handy for a little air compressor) or in the engine compartment. I need to run conduits through the axle spaces for that.

Brian

belfert · July 09, 2010, 05:00:47 AM

I actually put outets under the bays. They have outdoor type covers on them. No ill effects from road spray I can see yet. They are turned off when on the road. My inverter is in a bay and it has an outlet on it in addition to the hardwired connection.

My bus has a lot more ground clearance than most so the outlets are pretty far off the road.

Jerry32 · July 09, 2010, 05:23:47 AM

I put the outlets in the bays first thing with initial wiring. I had greenlee punches since I used to build much of my own stuff for ham radio. I did run a switched outlet to the engine room so I could turn on the block heater from inside.

robertglines1 · July 09, 2010, 05:33:29 AM

Good job!you were really patient and did it rite..lots of research and thinking..requires a lot of naps for me! Bob

Dreamscape · July 09, 2010, 10:39:17 AM

I guess I shouldn't feel so bad now. I installed a rec. box in my old A/C compartment about 6 months ago, haven't wired it yet. Still waiting for the "Right Moment!"

bevans6 · July 09, 2010, 10:42:10 AM

Some jobs just take a lot of research. Kinda like me installing a new vent on my black tank. I'm gonna think about that one for a LONG time before I actually go out and get all stinky...

Brian

gumpy · July 09, 2010, 04:09:52 PM

Quote from: Dreamscape on July 09, 2010, 10:39:17 AM
I guess I shouldn't feel so bad now. I installed a rec. box in my old A/C compartment about 6 months ago, haven't wired it yet. Still waiting for the "Right Moment!"

I get that "Right moment" thing. I've actually been dreading this for a long time because there just isn't enough room where I mounted the breaker box to get conduit routed! I ended up drilling through the wall straight behind the box and running 2 conduits from 90* connectors straight back and into the next compartment. Worked ok. I had to move my battery fuse and redo one of the 4/0 cables. But all's good.

I think next I have to tackle the low voltage stuff in the bays and try to clean up that mess!! I'm dreading that even more.