jbhawley
03-05-2009, 11:55 AM
I have an Aspen Sentry camper that I pull behind my 2001 HD Ultra. I got tired of having to run several drop cords, pig-tails etc to get current to and into the camper. So I made the following modification.
I finished my 120v wiring this past weekend. I have not had a chance to get any pics but i will try. I have attached a crude drawing. Here are a few details if anyone is interested and some links to the parts i used.
Parts:
All these are waterproof exterior electrical boxes:
1. Male Receptacle - http://www.shoprvparts.com/product.do?no=13572F
2. Outlet boxes - http://www.shoprvparts.com/product.do?no=13555F This only shows the cover but you should get the idea.
3. 15 ft or so of 12/2 drop cord wire
4. 2 typical surge protectors, like you use for computer equipment
5. Misc wire loom and grommets.
Design:
As do most/all camper trailers the bed area folds out over the side of the camper base. So with that I mounted all my boxes on the right hand-outside (as you are standing at the tongue looking towards the rear of the trailer). This gave the connections even more weather proofing. The boxes/covers came in gray and I painted them black to match my camper base.
I mounted a 4x4 box at the rear of the base (this gives 4 plugs, plus you need the space for wire connections), behind the wheel and the male receptacle underneath that box. This is where my main 120v current plugs into. A mounted a 2x4 box on the front-side of the trailer (same side but in the front of the wheel). This basically gave me 6 plugs for outside usage...4 in the rear, 2 in the front. I figure this will allow connection of exterior lights, radio, etc.
I ran the drop cord wire from the back box to the front box on the underside of the base along the frame, just as the trailer lights wiring was. I wrapped the cord in black wire loom for extra protection.
From the inside, open the camper. I mounted a 5 plug surge protector on each side of the bed area between the side of the camper and where the lid opens. On a Aspen Sentry the bed is a queen (roughly 5 ft wide) so there was only about 4 inches to work with. I found some slim surge protectors that did the job. On the Aspen Classic (king bed) the area has 6 inches or so and will allow more working room.
I drilled a hole about 3 inches behind each protector and ran the wire back to the exterior mounted boxes. Thus the need again, for a box at each end. Just drill a hole in the base in the middle of the exterior box. Normally there is a plug/hole there. Cut the male plug off the surge protector cord to allow a smaller hole to be drilled. Put a rubber grommet where ever a hole is to protect the wire from chaffing. Wire loom it as well.
Use wire connectors to mount the wires to the exterior boxes. Since all the wires are basically drop cord wires, plus with the added wire loom, there is good protection. Allow some slack in the surge protector wires from where they attach to the main lid area to the hole going out to the exterior boxes. This will allow the wires to "give" without pinching when you open/close the main lid. This set up allows the bed area lid (Once the camper is unfolded) to be raised without interfering with any wires or connections. This gives a total of 10 outlets inside and 6 outside.
I finished my 120v wiring this past weekend. I have not had a chance to get any pics but i will try. I have attached a crude drawing. Here are a few details if anyone is interested and some links to the parts i used.
Parts:
All these are waterproof exterior electrical boxes:
1. Male Receptacle - http://www.shoprvparts.com/product.do?no=13572F
2. Outlet boxes - http://www.shoprvparts.com/product.do?no=13555F This only shows the cover but you should get the idea.
3. 15 ft or so of 12/2 drop cord wire
4. 2 typical surge protectors, like you use for computer equipment
5. Misc wire loom and grommets.
Design:
As do most/all camper trailers the bed area folds out over the side of the camper base. So with that I mounted all my boxes on the right hand-outside (as you are standing at the tongue looking towards the rear of the trailer). This gave the connections even more weather proofing. The boxes/covers came in gray and I painted them black to match my camper base.
I mounted a 4x4 box at the rear of the base (this gives 4 plugs, plus you need the space for wire connections), behind the wheel and the male receptacle underneath that box. This is where my main 120v current plugs into. A mounted a 2x4 box on the front-side of the trailer (same side but in the front of the wheel). This basically gave me 6 plugs for outside usage...4 in the rear, 2 in the front. I figure this will allow connection of exterior lights, radio, etc.
I ran the drop cord wire from the back box to the front box on the underside of the base along the frame, just as the trailer lights wiring was. I wrapped the cord in black wire loom for extra protection.
From the inside, open the camper. I mounted a 5 plug surge protector on each side of the bed area between the side of the camper and where the lid opens. On a Aspen Sentry the bed is a queen (roughly 5 ft wide) so there was only about 4 inches to work with. I found some slim surge protectors that did the job. On the Aspen Classic (king bed) the area has 6 inches or so and will allow more working room.
I drilled a hole about 3 inches behind each protector and ran the wire back to the exterior mounted boxes. Thus the need again, for a box at each end. Just drill a hole in the base in the middle of the exterior box. Normally there is a plug/hole there. Cut the male plug off the surge protector cord to allow a smaller hole to be drilled. Put a rubber grommet where ever a hole is to protect the wire from chaffing. Wire loom it as well.
Use wire connectors to mount the wires to the exterior boxes. Since all the wires are basically drop cord wires, plus with the added wire loom, there is good protection. Allow some slack in the surge protector wires from where they attach to the main lid area to the hole going out to the exterior boxes. This will allow the wires to "give" without pinching when you open/close the main lid. This set up allows the bed area lid (Once the camper is unfolded) to be raised without interfering with any wires or connections. This gives a total of 10 outlets inside and 6 outside.