Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:34:37 -0700
Reply-To: Neil2 <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Neil2 <vidublu@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: broken 120 circuit breaker pin . . .
In-Reply-To: <487BA3EC.4010304@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
You are correct and this being the first item with wheels I've used the GFI
on, it completely escaped my notice. I think it's crazy to install all this
beside the potable water tank but there it sits. A breaker on the top
outlet and an outlet on the bottom would seem less troublesome (breaker
prone to breakage). I'm sure an electrical supply will have a better,
cheaper, less breakable, breaker too.
On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 12:07 PM, mdrillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> If you do this you will have removed the primary safety device. The GFI
> is a different device meant to be used in conjunction with a circuit
> breaker. Houses with GFI outlets have both, a circuit breaker at the
> source and a GFI most commonly at the outlet. They are NOT the same
> things at all. Humans could die and the vehicle could be lost to fire.
> That is why we have safety codes and the original breaker is part of
> that code.
>
> Mark
>
>
> Thomas Jefferson Kitts wrote:
>
>> So by this I take it to mean you replaced the factory double 120
>> electric outlet with a new double GFI outlet, and then wired a green
>> light inline using the electrical junction box containing the original
>> Westie circuit breaker.
>>
>> Is this correct? Seems pretty straight-forward. If so, I'll probably
>> do the same thing then.
>>
>> And thanks for the info.
>>
>> Thomas
>>
>> On Jul 14, 2008, at 11:12 AM, Neil2 wrote:
>>
>> I just did it a few months ago as well as adding a green lamp (on a
>>> white
>>> cover plate) in the box where the former breaker resided. The green
>>> lamp
>>> was a handy indicator for shore power and served as a decent night
>>> light I
>>> discovered on me maiden voyage. Not diff to wire up both and
>>> certainly an
>>> improvement to the factory design (which is common).
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 10:50 AM, Thomas Jefferson Kitts <
>>> thomas@thomaskitts.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all, new owner of a '84 Westie here.
>>>>
>>>> Just came home from its maiden voyage and my 14 year old son reached
>>>> down to the floor and picked up a piece of plastic and asked, "Hey
>>>> Dad, is this important?" It was the plastic push-pin from the 15 amp
>>>> circuit breaker on the 120 cabinet outlet.
>>>>
>>>> Apparently the pin had been broken off by something striking it from
>>>> an angle. (A foot, some cargo? Who knows?) Seemed like a bad design
>>>> decision in the first place.
>>>>
>>>> My question is, is there any reason I can't just replace the stock
>>>> Westie breaker with a recessed 15 amp GFI circuit breaker like the
>>>> ones put into US kitchens and bathrooms? The kind with the recessed
>>>> red button. Should fit the electrical box, although I haven't yet
>>>> checked this. That way the reset button would not stick out to be
>>>> struck of by an errant object.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone done this before?
>>>>
>>>> regards,
>>>>
>>>> Thomas
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Neil2
>>> '82 Diesel Westy (Duckie)
>>> Nunquam Pendite Divendium
>>>
>>
>>
--
Neil2
'86 Vanagon/Weekender in process (Savannah)
Nunquam Pendite Divendium
|