Amperage Jayco Wiring

I'm thinking of putting in a 12v pump to replace the manual pump at the sink. This draws 7 amps max and it will be in a circuit that also has a 12v socket that I run my laptop on so the laptop and pump when both on would be around 10-11 amps I think. I'm pretty sure the wiring can handle about 15-17amp so I would just put a 10 or 15 amp fuse in the circuit and see how it goes.

Of course the pump will only be on for a very short time.

I'm at the edge of my understanding of the electrics here and don't want to blow up the CT!

Grant

Taron

I'm thinking you have a couple of options, others may suggest other solutions ... but we will see.

With the way the camper is set up, ... the fuse will blow before the wiring will suffer, ... so you could try connecting up the pump and see what the effect is. If the pump doesn't pop the fuse, ... it may work ok but it may draw enough current to cause the lights to dim when the pump is on.

Another option, you could instal a deep cycle battery, which is charged by the camper power supply, and you connect the pump up to the battery, which is more than capable of supplying the current draw of the pump.

I installled a pump in our Dove because the standard hand pumps in the camper is slow and hard work for kids. Our pump runs of the battery without a problem.

One suggestion, make sure you instal a filter between the tank and the pump, to make sure the pump diaphram doesn't get fine particles stuck in it causing the pump to leak or loose pressure and continue to cycle.

Thanks Anthony.

I have a 100ah AGM in the camper, I also have a 80 watt solar Panel connected to the battery. So what you are suggesting is run the pump directly from the battery with say a 10amp fuse in the circuit?

Grant (Taron)

Yes, connect the supply and ground wires for the pump to the battery, ... and instal the appriopriate size fuse in the supply wire to the pump.

Also, ... make sure you instal a switch (30A 12v swtich is about $5.00 from Jaycar), so the you can turn off the power to the pump, while travelling, ... and when the tank runs low on water.

If the pump you are to use is a self priming, pressure activated pump,... when the water tank runs low the pump will go non stop in an attempt to build up water pressure.

If you need to extend the wires on the pump to be able to reach the battery, look at using a larger size wire to do this to reduce the voltage drop between the battery and pump.

I installed water filters on both sides of the pump.

Chhers Anthony