30 Amp breaker is required in your RV to be installed when you’ve exceeded the average power for your RV. If you have a refrigerator or coffee maker installed in your RV for your travel, you’ll need the 30 amp breaker. Now let’s suppose you have purchased a breaker for your RV but the time now is to install it in the RV.
Well, we all know the electrical work always scares us due to the fact of electric current which might spark and initiate some flames, but the installation of this breaker is not so technical and you can do it all by yourself.
In this article, we will go through all the steps you will take to install the breaker and the precautionary measures needed. So let’s dive into it without any further ado.
What You’ll Need
The installation of the 30 amp breaker is so feasible and simple if you have all the required tools at your place. You won’t need costly tools for it, rather they are all common electrical types of equipment. Let’s look at what you’ll require:
- Screwdriver
- 30-Amp Circuit Breaker
- Pliers
- Multimeter
- Rubber-Soled Shoes
1. 30-Amp Circuit Breaker
A 30 amp circuit is the type of breaker that you’ll require to feed your heavy energy power appliances. These appliances can be refrigerators, coffee makers, or microwaves. These cannot be powered with the normal energy power of your RV, and that’s why you’ll need the breaker.
Instead of this purpose, the circuit breaker is also used to maintain the electrical flow. In some cases, if the electrical current exceeds the average power that can cause some serious accidents, it is installed to control this enhanced electrical power. This 30 amp circuit breaker is only suitable for your RV electrical circuit if it is adapted to it, otherwise, it is of no use but can cause some serious accidents.
When buying the 30 amp circuit breaker, you’ll be asked for a single-pole or double-pole type. It’ll be dependent on your RV electrical circuit requirements. But let us describe these two types for you to understand. The single-pole circuit only has one hot wire and one neutral pole hence consisting of two openings altogether. But when it comes to the double-pole circuit, it has two hot wires and a single neutral pole and hence consists of three openings altogether.
2. Screwdriver
A screwdriver is always the main piece of equipment in any kind of electrical task as it aids in the opening and closing of the screwdrivers. You will need the cordless screwdrivers in this task many times when putting off the screws from the circuit breaker and pulling it back on it. So you must choose it wisely according to the head shapes of your screws.
The best screwdriver to choose is the one that has insulation at its handle because the insulation prevents the silver handle from conducting electricity to you during your operation. Look for the electric screwdriver with the shape according to your head screws with the insulator handle.
3. Multimeter
The multimeter is essential in the installation of the circuit as it’ll tell you if the panel on which you’ll work is powered on or off. For sure, you cannot proceed on the powered circuit as it is precarious. You’ll need to turn it off and make sure the current is measured using a multimeter.
When buying a multimeter, you’ll be asked for two types – digital or analog. Digital multimeters are preferred due to the accuracy and the number representation, while the analog doesn’t give output in numbers but in the needle and the scale format.
4. Pliers
Pliers are used to remove the protective layers around the wire that has to be installed inside the circuit openings and there so many types of pliers. This is because the protective layers don’t allow the passage of the electric current feasible to the circuit and that’s why they have to be removed.
Pliers are not too necessary if you can’t find them around as this can be substituted with a pair of scissors or knives. But you just make sure you don’t cut your fingers during the process.
5. Rubber-Soled Shoes
Rubber-soled shoes are inevitable for the prevention of the current flow across your body. While dealing with electrical operations, the importance of it can’t be ignored. The rubber-soled shoe will let the flow of electricity be restrained and make the operation feasible.
Don’t worry, if you cannot find them around you, a rubber mat or any other insulator product can be its substitute.
Steps For 30 Amp Breaker Wiring
Below we’ll be discussing how you will set up the breaker in your RV circuit, keeping the precautions under function.
Step 1: Use Safety Shoes
Every operation starts with precautionary measures to prevent yourself from any harm or accidents. In the installation of the breaker or the circuit, we will take the safety measure in the first step by putting on the safety shoes, they can be made of rubber or any insulator materials. It is necessary to put them on, as you cannot risk your life at the stake of electric current. Put on the safety shoes or the safety mat under your feet, and then head to the next step.
Step 2: Disable Power & Remove The Cover
Secondly, you are required to make the power system off. It’ll stop the electric current flow and will act as a precautionary measure. You can easily plug the power off by turning off the power plug. This plug is most often present at the top or the bottom of the breaker. Turn it off and start removing its frame by screwing off the screws from it.
Step 3: Make Sure there is No Power
It’s the most important step to ensure in installing the breaker. You must be careful about it. You have to make sure the power circuit is off or still flowing. You can find it by using the multimeter. In this, you’ll set the multimeter at zero AC Volts and touch one probe to the ground terminal while the other probe to the circuit’s screen terminal. It’ll tell you if the circuit is still in the run or turned off by showing the voltage flow. If the volts are higher or equal to 120, the power has not shut down, and you need to make it plug off again.
Step 4: Decide a Circuit Breaker Spot
Now, find the space to fit in the new 30 amp circuit breaker in your electrical circuit. Most of the circuits have space next to them for the installation of the new circuit but if you don’t find it, make another spot to fix it there in the circuit.
Step 5: Position the Breaker
Position the breaker precisely into the circuit barker. Make the breaker plug off until it is fixed at its position securely.
Step 6: Wiring A 30 Amp Breaker
Now, it’s time to make the breaker functional by wiring it in the right openings. Bring your pliers and make the insulation removed from the ends of the hot and the neutral wire. Then look for the right openings mentioned in the breaker and insert these wires straightly without any bending. Once they are inserted securely, tighten the screws there, and you’re all set to go.
Step 7: Finalize & Test It Up
In the last step, screw back all the screws of the metal frame of the circuit and close it. Remove any foreign obstacle around it to remove invasion. Now connect the multimeter with it again to see if the power has started running. If it does, then congratulations, you have installed the 30 AMP circuit breaker on your own without any technician.
Conclusion
Installing a 30 AMP circuit breaker is relatively easy if you know the right setup steps and precautions. You just have to be aware of the steps and then apply them as ditto to install it. There are no technicalities involved or any complex installation. We have described the installation step-by-step to make it feasible for you to apply. But if you still get stuck at some point, you can ask us in the comments section below.
