Using chassis for ground wire?

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skeeter_ca

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2017
Posts
76
Location
Southern California
Hello,
I am going to install a few extra USB/12v socket outlets in my 5'er. I am not really wanting to tap into exiting wiring because I don't trust they could handle the loads. I plan on running new wiring from the outlet to the battery appropriately fused. To make it easier can it use the chassis for my ground run like they do in auto's? That way I would just have to run one wire instead of two all the way back to the battery. Is this commonly done in RV's?

skeeter
 
I did exactly that.  New wire from the power center / 12V fuse to under the bed  for the new USB, then a foot to the slider frame.  Works great!
 
skeeter_ca said:
Hello,
I am going to install a few extra USB/12v socket outlets in my 5'er. I am not really wanting to tap into exiting wiring because I don't trust they could handle the loads.
Click to expand...

A USB socket will draw, at the most, 2 amps of current.  That's the same as a small light bulb.  Most of the stuff you'll plug into a cigarette lighter socket is likewise low current.

The easiest way to install them would be to tap into an adjacent light's wiring.  You won't pull enough current to make a difference to the wiring.
 
skeeter_ca said:
Hello,
I am going to install a few extra USB/12v socket outlets in my 5'er. I am not really wanting to tap into exiting wiring because I don't trust they could handle the loads. I plan on running new wiring from the outlet to the battery appropriately fused. To make it easier can it use the chassis for my ground run like they do in auto's? That way I would just have to run one wire instead of two all the way back to the battery. Is this commonly done in RV's?

skeeter
Click to expand...

certainly you can do it, not really a big deal in practice unless it's a large draw or you are anal about technical correctness like me LOL.. of the rv's i own, the original wiring has the negative returns all go back to the power converter and then to the battery. there are only two connections to the chassis, one is the 120 V ground and the other is the battery negative at the shunt. also the trailer lights seem to use the chassis on mine as a return to the 7 pin connector to the truck.
either way will work.


 
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