Originally Posted by
PhilipA
I am rewiring my newly bought caravan.
I have run an 8AWG cable from the rear of the car where it taps off a 4AWG cable to run a Renolgy 20amp DC /Dc charger for my 100AH Lithium battery.
I have now run the same 8AWG cable to the 12v,240v, gas fridge to replace the thin wire which meanders around the caravan wall and is fed by the standard D2 loom through the 7pin plug to minimise voltage drop.
Total amps should be about 35 initially until the Lithium battery is full then drop to 11 amps for the fridge. 2way distance about 5 metres. The feed is via a 70amp relay in the rear of the car energised by accessory position.
The problem I came across is joining the two sets of 8AWG wires under the caravan floor. Currently I have 2x8awg rammed into one end of screw type tube connectors usually used for 240V into 1x8awg at the other end..
I do not really want the "naked" posts under the caravan floor, although I have some on order along with eye fittings for 8AWG.
Anyway, I looked for 8AWG busbars, no joy, and also there are 12v available but they all seem to have 4AWG in and 2x8AWG out and are relatively expensive.
So my solution is to use 3 x threaded 240V screw tubes , cut from a nylon insulated strip with a bit of solid brass shim material between the 2 and the one. The shim material is cut in a Y shape with the Y arms about 6MM wide folded in half to fit the connectors and is 0.5MM thick. There is a solid section about 10x10Mm between the three. The contact area in the connector tube is about 12MM long, so there is a small area between where the brass tube conductor ends and the large bit of Brass sheet which is 6MM wide folded in two. I can maybe fit these into a Jaycar box with holes cut out which can be sealed with Sikaflex.
So 2 wires in, although one is actually "out" to the fridge and one out.( to the 20Amp DC/DC Charger)
I have studied the web and it appears that the setup should be OK , but I just wanted to be sure that this connector would not cause voltage drop. The reason that I want to use this is that I can more easily seal it from the weather and rocks thrown up from the car wheels than 2xpost terminals with 8MM posts and 6 eye connectors.
Seeking opinions from the electrical experts.
Regards PhilipA
.
Bookmarks