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House Electrical Panel [message #370527]

Wed, 21 September 2022 12:40

Greg C.

Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN

Karma: 0

Senior Member

I am installing a 120 volt heater in my coach, since the PO removed all traces of propane and propane powered appliances, and I have been heating with space heaters.

In running a new circuit for the heater, I pulled the cover off the main panel for the first time in my ownership. The main power in is an SO cable, and the insulation on the hot lead is cracked and falling off, so that will be replaced.

It is a Cutler Hammer box, with little metal clips on the breakers that clip into a piece of sheet metal angle to support the breaker opposite the buss bar. I am searching for something compatible with those breakers. Anyone have experience with this?

This is a Coachman upfit with the 6000 watt Onan, and you have to manually plug the house shore power plug into the generator box to run off the generator.

The main point of concern is that there is one neutral buss, and all neutrals and grounds are terminated on that buss. I know that NEC requires that all sub panels downstream of a main not have a bonded neutral/ground connection. So I am thinking of adding a ground buss bar, relocating the grounds to that, and making sure that the existing neutral buss does not have a screw bonding it to the box.

What other concerns should I address while I am in there?

Greg Crawford KM4ZCR Knoxville, TN "Ruby Sue" 1977 Royale Rear Bath 403 Engine American Eagle Wheels Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370528 is a reply to message #370527]

Wed, 21 September 2022 15:35

94nubble

Messages: 275
Registered: July 2011
Location: Chesapeake VA

Karma: 3

Senior Member

Greg, Wiring the way you described is fine. Just make sure that your outlet that you're plugging into at home is wired correctly. I have seen a lot of coaches popping breakers because the polls were reversed at the outlet. Mainly on 30amp hookups. Are you coming to the Lebanon rally. If so, I will be there and would be available for any help.

Tom McManus
1977 Royale
Chesapeake VA

[Updated on: Wed, 21 September 2022 15:36]

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370529 is a reply to message #370527]

Wed, 21 September 2022 16:00

Greg C.

Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Thanks Tom. I know my house shore power plug is correct as I wired it. I'm not bringing my coach to Lebanon but I may drive out and visit for a bit.

Greg Crawford KM4ZCR Knoxville, TN "Ruby Sue" 1977 Royale Rear Bath 403 Engine American Eagle Wheels Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370531 is a reply to message #370527]

Thu, 22 September 2022 08:25

JohnL455

Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL

Karma: 12

Senior Member

I’m confused as most Coachmen had 30A with see/saw breakers switch over.
If you have need for a new shore cord, buy a TT30 25’ extension and cut off the female end and dress into your panel and strain relief.
Neutral and Ground in the coach are NOT bonded and should have no continuity. Neutral and Ground should only be bonded at the source building’s MAIN panel only and never at any branch panels.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370535 is a reply to message #370529]

Fri, 23 September 2022 11:45

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

The problem with this thread is everyone is correct to an extent. There should only one neutral / ground connection and it should be placed as close to the power source as practical. There are exceptions to to this is rule. When you are dealing with remote structures on the same secondary 240 /120 volt transformer (and a RV park is definitely under that exception). All you care about as a user is that where you plug in that ground to neutral connects exists up stream from and not in the coach.

The problem is we have 2 power sources. What happens when you run off of the generator. That commercial connection does not exist. The generator or it's wiring must supply it. The connection on a GM fitted coach is on the back side of the female plug inside the outside access compartment.

So now you have your connection under both cases and in neither one is the connection done on the inside breaker panel box.

How Coachman did it, I have no idea.

Ken B

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370537 is a reply to message #370527]

Sat, 24 September 2022 09:21

JohnL455

Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL

Karma: 12

Senior Member

Ken, somewhere I have a hand drawn (as he does) Bob Stone paper with a 14-50 style conversion with Coachmen see/saw breaker setup. And the list of parts needed to do it. This can upgrade a Coachmen to 14-50 or “upgrade” a GM up fit to see/saw no cord moving setup. I’d have to look to see how it handles N-G bond when on Onan. But something to be said about the simplicity of the GM 14-50 set up and it is elegant as such.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

[Updated on: Sat, 24 September 2022 09:23]

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370540 is a reply to message #370537]

Mon, 26 September 2022 02:05

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

I have only worked on one of those once. While I understand the concept, I have never fully scoped that one out.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: House Electrical Panel [message #370569 is a reply to message #370527]

Tue, 27 September 2022 15:43

Greg C.

Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Thanks for the replies.

Mine is supposed to be a Royale by Coachman. I don't know how to confirm that. It has been repainted and there are no Royale graphics on it. There is/was no sticker in the glove box.

I have the 4 pole generator outlet and a 50 to 30 adapter that I plug the coach into if I want to use the generator. The main panel is a Cutler Hammer with a two pole 50 amp breaker acting as a main by having the hot leg from the cord into one pole of the 50. The other pole is empty.

I purchased a ground buss bar, installed it, and transferred all of the bare grounds from the neutral buss to the new ground buss. I removed the neutral bonding screw from the neutral buss. Now I have no continuity from neutral to ground in the main panel.

Greg Crawford KM4ZCR Knoxville, TN "Ruby Sue" 1977 Royale Rear Bath 403 Engine American Eagle Wheels Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags

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