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Member
Posts: 9
| I just received my new 2015 Lakota Charger. I want to be able to plug the trailer into my barn to charge the batteries, etc. So the dealer said I need to have 110v 30amp plug installed. It will be installed on the outside of my barn and the shore power cord that came with the trailer is 30 feet long. I spoke to my neighbor that is a mechanical engineer and does electrical work also and he said he can do the install for the plug. I showed him the cord and the plug on the outside of the trailer. He was curious that the plug looks like the one for an electric stove and was wondering if there is any 220 in the trailer. I said I didn't think so. The breaker box is within a foot of where the plug will be, so what materials do I need? 10 gauge wire, the 110v 30 amp receptacle, 30 amp breaker? The trailer is parked about 50 feet from the barn now but I can move it closer. Or is it OK to get the 50 foot RV extension cord? Any advice on this would be great, Thanks Kathy |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: Los Angeles, Ca. | If you are not planning on running the a/c, a standard 120 volt outlet is more than sufficient for charging your batteries.. You can buy an adapter to go from the 30 amp RV style plug to a standard 120 volt 15 amp receptacle. |
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Member
Posts: 9
| One other question...I read somewhere that you need to start cooling your refrigerator down the day before your trip...can I charge batteries and run the refrigerator? |
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Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Belchertown MA | We have 2014 Lakota and have it plugged in with an adapter and 25' extension to a 110 volt 15 amp plug at home when not camping. I leave the refrigerator on all summer and can run anything in the trailer except the air conditioning with no problems. The AC needs a 30 amp circuit with properly sized cord to operate safely, I tried to run it on the 15 amp and will run for a few minutes then trip breaker, but everything else should be fine, hooked up our Sundowner the same way for 12 yrs with no problems, hope you enjoy your new trailer as much as we have. Also no 220 in it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 802
Location: Tenn/Ala. | Originally written by klmcbri on 2014-12-01 10:55 AMI just received my new 2015 Lakota Charger. I want to be able to plug the trailer into my barn to charge the batteries, etc. So the dealer said I need to have 110v 30amp plug installed. It will be installed on the outside of my barn and the shore power cord that came with the trailer is 30 feet long. I spoke to my neighbor that is a mechanical engineer and does electrical work also and he said he can do the install for the plug. I showed him the cord and the plug on the outside of the trailer. He was curious that the plug looks like the one for an electric stove and was wondering if there is any 220 in the trailer. I said I didn't think so. The breaker box is within a foot of where the plug will be, so what materials do I need? 10 gauge wire, the 110v 30 amp receptacle, 30 amp breaker? The trailer is parked about 50 feet from the barn now but I can move it closer. Or is it OK to get the 50 foot RV extension cord? Any advice on this would be great, Thanks Kathy Be sure and have neighbor study the electrical before he wires it. It IS NOT A 220 plug. One prong hot, one neutral, and one ground. And the neutral and ground do not tie together. It is simply a high capacity plug for regular 110 volt circuit.And yes- RV fridges recover slowly, so plug it in the day before, and load it with cool food, not hot food. |
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Member
Posts: 9
| RTSmith, Neighbor says that at the breaker neutral and ground will tie together...is this true? This is the first time he has wired this type of receptacle. Do you happen to have a picture or can you give me a diagram for the receptacle and breaker? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: Los Angeles, Ca. | The ground and neutral may be tied together inside the electric meter panel.......doesn't affect anything in your trailer. You still need three wires from the panel to the trailer....hot, neutral(white), ground(green). |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by beeoerdog on 2014-12-03 8:12 AM
The ground and neutral may be tied together inside the electric meter panel.......doesn't affect anything in your trailer. You still need three wires from the panel to the trailer....hot, neutral(white), ground(green). Unless that electrical panel is a subpanel...subpanel neutral and ground bars must separate... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: Los Angeles, Ca. | If he his going to install the 30amp RV type receptacle, use #10 wires.If installing a standard house type receptacle, #12 wires. Diagrams for which wire goes where will be with the receptacle when you purchase it....green wire to green screw, white wire to silver screw, hot wire to brass screw. If the receptacle is located outdoors and is the house type, it should be a GFCI type. Remember, all of this is 120 volt and not 220 volt. If your neighbor doesn't understand that, you need to find someone else to help you. |
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by klmcbri on 2014-12-03 4:48 AM
RTSmith, Neighbor says that at the breaker neutral and ground will tie together...is this true? This is the first time he has wired this type of receptacle. Do you happen to have a picture or can you give me a diagram for the receptacle and breaker? Your neighbor is in an area where he has little knowledge. Current NEC calls for separate (isolated) ground and neutral in subpanels. Your trailer is considered a subpanel. Only in the main service panel is the ground and neutral connected.Short answer: Do Not wire the ground and neutral together. |
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2014-12-03 6:09 AM Originally written by beeoerdog on 2014-12-03 8:12 AM
The ground and neutral may be tied together inside the electric meter panel.......doesn't affect anything in your trailer. You still need three wires from the panel to the trailer....hot, neutral(white), ground(green). Unless that electrical panel is a subpanel...subpanel neutral and ground bars must separate... Paul ... I believe you mean to say "unless the electrical panel is a Service Entrance Panel ... " |
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Veteran
Posts: 134
| I plug my LQ in using an adapter, especially made for this, and a heavy duty extension cord. It gets plugged into a regular 110 outlet and I have never had any problems. I also can run the appliances in the trailer while everything is charging. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Originally written by hosspuller on 2014-12-03 10:34 AM Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2014-12-03 6:09 AM Originally written by beeoerdog on 2014-12-03 8:12 AM
The ground and neutral may be tied together inside the electric meter panel.......doesn't affect anything in your trailer. You still need three wires from the panel to the trailer....hot, neutral(white), ground(green). Unless that electrical panel is a subpanel...subpanel neutral and ground bars must separate... Paul ... I believe you mean to say "unless the electrical panel is a Service Entrance Panel ... " No...subpanels also require ground and neutrals to be separate... http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/understanding-need-floating-neutral-... |
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Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Belchertown MA | Here is a good link on what you need and how to wire it. Thinking about upgrading mine from 15 amp to 30 amp so I can run AC if I want.
http://www.rvpowerprotection.com/Links_files/30-amp%20Service.pdf |
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