120 Volt Outlet in Basement

[Igoo65]

I have done a search on this and didn't find anything.
I have a 2007 Montana 3000RK and I would like to add an 120 volt electrical outlet to the basement. Mine doesn't have one. Has anyone done this? Where can I tap into 120 volt circuit? This is a new camper to us and I am still trying to understand how the wiring is run. I have not pulled the under belly protection off yet to see what's down there (It's still snowing). Any suggestions would be great! Thanks.

Igoo65

[DutchmenSport]

Your access to most of the "brain" of camper is probably behind the wall in your front cargo, pass-through storage area. (Basement). Unscrew that wall, and you'll find a gazillion wires, switches, and what not. You can probably trace one 120 volt wire that feeds to the upper level above the Basement area and tap into it, then add a plug in the wall you just removed. That's how mine is done. No reason to pull anything from the underbelly. Everything you need is probably behind that wall.

Good luck.

[BB_TX]

Look in your A/C distribution (breaker) panel. My 2007 (different floor plan) has some spare breaker slots. If yours does, then I would just add a breaker and run a new wire to your basement. If no spare slots, you could replace one of your single breakers with a tandem breaker to get the extra circuit. That would be better than tapping into an existing circuit, especially if you did not know what all was already on that circuit. And the way these things are wired, that is not always easy to determine.

I don't like cutting into existing circuits and tying everything back together with wire nuts. But that is just me.

[Carl n Susan]

As Dutch wrote, pull the rear wall of the passthru. Then pull the power panel as BB_TX says. You will have a straight run from the panel to the passthru area for your new 120V line.

[Igoo65]

Thanks for the information.
I do like adding a new breaker, but my breaker panel is in the middle of the trailer next to the front door and central vac. Is there access under the trailed to get a wire from the breaker panel to the basement? Are most wires in these trailers run along the frame rails? I have not pulled the underbelly panel off because of the snow. One, because it looks like a PITA to take off and two, we keep getting snow here in Colorado Springs.
There is a false wall in the basement that hides the furnace and water pump. Is this the wall that you are talking about or the wall that separates the forward compartment from the basement?

Igoo65

[jcurtis934]

That divider wall is what they are talking about. 120vac wires come from the breaker panel and will be found behind there, NOT in the underbelly and certainly not running beside the trailer frame.

[Mikendebbie]

See pic below...the posts above are referring to removing one of the panels in your front storage compartment (red arrows pointing to the panels)...
Not sure which side on your model. The pic is only for illustration.

[twindman]

Can't you use the outside outlet? On mine, near the door is a dual outlet with a cover over it. This is pretty close to the storage doors, so unless you want it real handy on the drivers side, this would work.

[Igoo65]

Mikendebbie, thank you very much. That clears it up for me. I thought they were talking about the opposite wall.

[Igoo65]

Originally Posted by twindman

Can't you use the outside outlet? On mine, near the door is a dual outlet with a cover over it. This is pretty close to the storage doors, so unless you want it real handy on the drivers side, this would work.

Twindman, I need to plug in a couple of things in the basement while camping. My outlets on my camper are on the opposite end from the basement.

Igoo65

[Daryles]

Take the wall down next to the vac. There is a plug in for the vac there. Move the plug to the basement side of the wall.

[jimcol]

Remove the panel on the curb side that Mikendebbie illustration points to. If your 07 is like my 06 you will already have a single plug 110vac receptacle right behind the panel you remove. It is dedicated to your converter so I would not try to share it with anything else.Right behind the panel you will see your furnace. Your power distribution panel is right behind the furnace. Plenty of room to get a new wire from the distribution panel to your basement.

[Igoo65]

Originally Posted by jimcol

Remove the panel on the curb side that Mikendebbie illustration points to. If your 07 is like my 06 you will already have a single plug 110vac receptacle right behind the panel you remove. It is dedicated to your converter so I would not try to share it with anything else.Right behind the panel you will see your furnace. Your power distribution panel is right behind the furnace. Plenty of room to get a new wire from the distribution panel to your basement.

Thank you very much. That helps out tremendously! I looked in there when I first bought the trailer. I guess I didn’t look hard enough.
Thanks everyone for your help!
Igoo65

[G & S Russell]

Is it me or isn’t there an outlet next to the central vac as seen on the pic? Or is that just your camper, Mike? My 3812 MS looks just like.

[Igoo65]

I looked again for an outlet in the basement and there isn’t one. I guess in 2007, Keystone figured we didn’t need one. I pulled the fake wall panel that hides the water pump and furnace and found an 120 outlet and it feeds the inverter. I have plenty of spare breaker space, so I will just wire in a new outlet. Thanks for everyone’s help!
Igoo65

[G & S Russell]

That’s the best way for sure. That way you choose what amp breaker to run for what you’ll be plugging into it. And you’ll know what’s connected to it. Good luck with the install.

[Igoo65]

Originally Posted by G & S Russell

That’s the best way for sure. That way you choose what amp breaker to run for what you’ll be plugging into it. And you’ll know what’s connected to it. Good luck with the install.

Thanks!
Igoo65

[chapman]

I just put in a 800 watt inverter in the basement ran wires to the batt. Easy to do , use some heavy wire if you go that way !

[Razahoryin]

Ok so my 2007 3000RK
Remove the closeout panel that shields/hides the water pump/furnace and converter...
It’s on the passenger side aft basement wall
Made of the same type of press board that’s in the rig..

The converter/battery charger /furnace and water pump is in this same area that you can access from the basement.. you can either tap into that existing converter circuit or add a dedicated circuit with breaker..

To add a dedicated Romex circuit
Remover ac power and then remove or loosen the ac circuit panel that is mid coach near the entry door
There should be a opening behind the panel leading to the basement.. that will allow for the new wire or circuit...it may help to trace the converter wire
Then decide if you need to add a hole for new wire
New hole should not be necessary
Feed your new circuit from behind panel to the basement// back side of furnace
You should have a few open breaker slots to add a new breaker to the panel.. mount a outlet box in the basement and you should be good to go

[Razahoryin]

Good luck on the new circuit
It’s not that hard and a good way to learn
Where everything is hidden..
You will also see how they heat/circulate heat in basement..

You mentioned snow...
The 3000RK did exceptionally well this thanksgiving snow storm down to 08 degrees F with no issues... it was a fun trip...no frozen pipes (water was self contained)