Circuit/Fuse Box

[GA Camper]

Has anyone ever replaced the circuit/fuse box in their TT? The reason I ask is I just replaced the gas water heater with a gas/electric dsi water heater and in order to do it, it had to be wired in to the circuit for the microwave. Then they had to install a 3 way switch for it. If I use the hot water heater on electric, I have to turn it to water heater on the switch and it turns off the microwave. If I want to use the microwave, I have to turn off the electric water heater and flip it over to microwave.
Can you put a bigger box in?
Thanks.

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by GA Camper

Has anyone ever replaced the circuit/fuse box in their TT? The reason I ask is I just replaced the gas water heater with a gas/electric dsi water heater and in order to do it, it had to be wired in to the circuit for the microwave. Then they had to install a 3 way switch for it. If I use the hot water heater on electric, I have to turn it to water heater on the switch and it turns off the microwave. If I want to use the microwave, I have to turn off the electric water heater and flip it over to microwave.
Can you put a bigger box in?
Thanks.

They, as in a dealer service technician (tongue in cheek), or a real licensed electrician? There may not have been a vacant slot in the load center for another breaker so they used the microwave circuit. They added the switch probably because it was easier for them than to add a sub panel or replace the OEM load center for a larger one.
The switch thing is OK but it is kind of lame at best.

[GA Camper]

That's exactly why they did it. What is a sub-panel and is it ok to put in another load center?
Thanks

[sundancer 87]

A sub panel is just another load center or breaker box to service the water heater. The sub is tapped at the main supply of the main load center. You can get them from one breaker up to many breakers.
The main concern is the size of the entry wire, the main wire going into the TT. If it is sized large enough then the water heater and the microwave can work at the same time, which is more desirable of course.
A larger load center could be added depending on location and accessibility to the the OEM wiring. It all depends on what they used for entry wire, if they used too small of wiring then you are stuck with what you have, the switch.
Have an electrician look at it and he/she can tell you right away if it's doable. It could be a lot of work or it could be pretty much a straight forward deal.

[GA Camper]

Thank you very much for all of the information. I really appreciated it.

[wahoonc]

The switch between heavy draw items is a time honored method. Especially if you are on a 30 amp feed. I have been digging into the wiring on my current rig. Interesting to find they have a couple of cut-out relays to keep you from running too many high draw items at once.

Aaron

[Handyman]

Unless you use the microwave a lots, I would not go to the expense of an additional box.

[MartyG]

There is also the issue of running the wire all the way back to the breaker box. Maybe the RV outlet was an easier place to tap, to get to the new water heater?