Visit our Popular Forums

Al Zeppelin · 12-02-2018, 05:09 PM

I'll be building a platform bed in the rear with a lift up access door for storage. My question is can I put the panel under the bed? Any cons to doing this installation? I don't want to look at the plastic access door on the electrical panel if I can avoid that. Thank you in advance for any response.

TG Twinkie · 12-02-2018, 05:26 PM

How is the lift up access door held up when you need access to the panel?

Al Zeppelin · 12-02-2018, 05:29 PM

I'll be installing struts like the one's that hold up a cover on a truck lid or an old hatchback car tailgate, also common on a class A master bed. Should be at least a 4' x 4' access.

GeocamperAS · 12-02-2018, 07:02 PM

Not sure if there are any codes to follow for RV’s. However common sense dictates, as long as you can get at it easily if needed and any wires leading to it will not be damaged by any storage items that may hit them.

Al Zeppelin · 12-02-2018, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeocamperAS

Not sure if there are any codes to follow for RV’s. However common sense dictates, as long as you can get at it easily if needed and any wires leading to it will not be damaged by any storage items that may hit them.

That is what I figured. Just needed some assurance.

garry · 12-02-2018, 07:14 PM

Really depends on the layout.

I had one like that in a motor home it was a real pain the few times I had to go into the breaker box working on my knees with little overhead room.

A W Warn · 12-02-2018, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Zeppelin

I'll be building a platform bed in the rear with a lift up access door for storage. My question is can I put the panel under the bed? Any cons to doing this installation? I don't want to look at the plastic access door on the electrical panel if I can avoid that. Thank you in advance for any response.

I've had Airstreams that the electric distribution panel was inside the closet (1970's), inside the overhead cabinet above the bed (1999) and behind a wood panel Velcro mounted on the face of the cabinet (2000). All were accessible with little effort.

I do not see why under the bed would not work, but I don't know anything about RVIA standards.

The location has to be easy to get to at a moments notice. A protective cover is needed for the breakers, so they don't get switched on and off accidentally. And really important; the wires that connect to the panel have to be inside a chase, protected from accidental damage.

ps: I'm assuming you are talking about a 120v.

Al Zeppelin · 12-02-2018, 07:32 PM

I was planning on running the "home runs" through flex conduit. Yes 120v sir.

A W Warn · 12-02-2018, 07:41 PM

Are you planning to run the bed front to rear or side to side?
I remember another trailer that had the electric panel and a junction box inside the nightstand beside the bed.

Al Zeppelin · 12-02-2018, 07:47 PM

This will be side to side. I've framed up cabinetry on the left and the bathroom on the right both ending at the same "depth" towards the back. The back end will be a raised bed. I'll make a template after the platform is built and will get a queen sized memory foam mattress and will cut it to fit. This is a '49 so I don't have a heck of a lot of room to play with.

Shermy1987 · 12-02-2018, 08:51 PM

As per NEC 551

mythbuster88 · 12-03-2018, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Zeppelin

I'll be building a platform bed in the rear with a lift up access door for storage. My question is can I put the panel under the bed? Any cons to doing this installation? I don't want to look at the plastic access door on the electrical panel if I can avoid that. Thank you in advance for any response.

Scary idea creeps me out!

How about a better looking door.

mikextr · 12-03-2018, 07:33 AM

If your distribution panel has a built in power inverter, then you need to make sure that you allow for the necessary air flow for cooling.

A W Warn · 12-03-2018, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Zeppelin

<<snip>> the plastic access door on the electrical panel <<snip>>

I did not pay attention to this part of your post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikextr

If your distribution panel has a built in power inverter, then you need to make sure that you allow for the necessary air flow for cooling.

Mikextr is correct. When I posted I was thinking about a SquareD QO 6 space breaker panel that Airstream has used for 30+ years.
Shermy1987's post of the NEC article jogged my brain!

I was wrong in my prior post, when I said "I do not see why under the bed would not work"! I do see a problem, if the storage area beneath the bed was full of stuff it would prevent quick access. It is not a good idea.

I'll offer a suggestion for an alternate location:
Inside the cabinet beside the bed, the distribution panel could be mounted just above floor level, with a removable shelve above. This would create the enclosure to protect the components and wires. If there is a door on the cabinet, the face of the distribution panel needs to be within 2" of the aisle, per NEC. The bedside aisle can provide the required access distances. The enclosure can be vented into the storage area beneath the bed and/or an opening made in the cabinet into the living space.

switz · 12-03-2018, 10:21 AM

When we rewired our 23D. we reused the original power panel space under the refrigerator. We built a hickory door held on by two clips. The main breaker is now under the street side dinette seat under a hatch and can be reached from the front of the cabinet by openiung the storage door.

gklott · 12-03-2018, 07:41 PM

Agree with Shermy1987. From NEC 551.45(B)
"The panelboard shall be installed in a readily accessible location with the RV in the setup mode. Working clearance for the panelboard with the RV in the setup mode shall not be less than 600mm (24 in) wide and 750mm (30 in) deep."

There are two exceptions which do not apply in your case. I suggest that inside your under-bed storage, as described, does not meet this requirement.

73/gus

Al Zeppelin · 12-03-2018, 07:48 PM

Thanks for all of the input gentlemen! I'll be framing up the bed area this weekend and will post pictures at that point and I can hopefully get further input on my options.
Thanks again!

Rich

J. Morgan · 12-03-2018, 09:41 PM

If you have the access to work inside of the box, or if it’s easy to get that kind of access I would do what works best for your build.

There isn’t anything mystical about a breaker panel, just terminate it well and build your trailer.

I used two breaker panels, neither meets the access code referenced above, but I can have good access in a matter of minutes if I need to dive in deep.

(I use a panel with two breakers isolated from one another to handle my inputs, a 30 amp breaker for my shore line and a 15 amp breaker for my inverter, one or the other will feed into my larger seven circuit trailer distribution panel. )

After seeing that code, now I know why modern trailers use what I think is a cheap flush mounted panel instead of what I think is a sturdy residential panel.

switz · 12-04-2018, 07:56 AM

Interesting detail, Airstream wires the "main" breaker backwards, with the hot shore power lead coming to the load side of the breaker. This allows them to use a much cheaper breaker box that does not have main power lugs with a dedicated main breaker like residential.

J. Morgan · 12-04-2018, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

Interesting detail, Airstream wires the "main" breaker backwards, with the hot shore power lead coming to the load side of the breaker. This allows them to use a much cheaper breaker box that does not have main power lugs with a dedicated main breaker like residential.

Smart.