wiring

[Lloyd]

A heads up for who ever runs an electric heater in their unit.
I was checking out the different plugins on ours and noticed on the volt meter that not all of them were reading the same voltage when the heater was running. I only have about two that have heavy enough wiring to handle the heater. Apparently CR doesn't run the same gauge wire to all the receptacles.
So you might want to check yours out. A person doesn't need a fire or melted wiring.

[dalemac377]

When we run electric heaters we only use the low setting for that very reason. Have always been concerned whether the outlets and wiring could handle the high wattage setting.

[cwit]

A electric heater is built for 15 amps only . the regular outlites are 14gauge wire for 15 amps. I believe the only 20 amp is the ac. Unless you have a bad connection you should be all right.

[Dayle1]

Originally Posted by cwit

A electric heater is built for 15 amps only . the regular outlites are 14gauge wire for 15 amps. I believe the only 20 amp is the ac. Unless you have a bad connection you should be all right.

cwit is right. If an outlet is 2nd, 3rd or further down the line, it probably is suffering with inadequate connections. Especially if the installer just used the ez push-in contacts rather than the screw connections.

[Lloyd]

Larry, you and cwit might be right, but until I get a chance to pull some of those wall outlets and check, I will reserve my opinion. Right now without checking, I'm thinking not all the outlets have 14 ga. wire.

[accordionman]

just got back from Hershey,Pa . had their annual antigue auto show .. got cold with a freeze one night .w e ran our electric heater . seemed to have no problems . i use a heaviver duty extension cord and plugged it into the galley area . i don't know how the units are wired , but i would think the outlets in that area of the camper would have a heavier wire to power toasters and other appliances just like your home kithcen . by the way,we had our heater on the high position . just MHO

[Cajun TBoy]

I added a 20 amp breaker with two recpt, one by bedroom steps for heater/blow drier and one by outside steps for skilets. Works well for us.

[tator447]

I won't plug anything that uses a lot of electricity into anything but the GFI circuits. I have already had a problem with the one in the kitchen and replaced it with an American Made brand. The wiriing was heavy guage there.

Jim

[carl]

14 AWG is the smallest wire allowed and will carry 15 amps with no problem if the connections are good!

[Lloyd]

I just had the opportunity to pull one of the wall recept. in question. It does have 14 ga wire, but the recept. is one of those that the wire just clips into. I guess I will have to change out some recept. next spring.

[nrausa]

Hey, Old Farmer, thanks for the info. Now I'll leave my screwdrivers in the tool box.



Do you think, because of the clip, that the design won't carry a 1500 w load ?



Stan

[carl]

I would suggest using a maximum 1200 watt heater with the 15 AWG wire. The circuit breaker is rated by the manufacturer for 80% of its amperage under continuous load which would not allow much other use of that circuit with a 1500 watt heater operating.
Those spring clip or prong type connections onlycompound the problem!

[FFFord]

Originally Posted by tator447

I won't plug anything that uses a lot of electricity into anything but the GFI circuits. I have already had a problem with the one in the kitchen and replaced it with an American Made brand. The wiriing was heavy guage there.



Jim

I have 3 GFCI's & they control all the branch receptacles in our Rushmore, except the washer/dryer circuits. On our Cruiser, it was wired the same way. I thought all branch circuits were wired through a GFCI on any RV, maybe it's just Crossroads.