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06-22-2020, 07:10 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Valterra EZ Valve wiring question
We've decided to upgrade two of our three tanks to the electric valves from Valterra. The third one will be later if this all works as well as I'm being told it will.
I did some measuring and looking around underneath to be sure they fit and I can secure them. All good there.
One thing that got me was the electrical wiring. I can't figure out from that big collection of wires down there which, if any, are continuous 12v. I don't want to start cutting into them to test either.
Would it be ok just to run a 10 gauge wire direct from the battery for the power and another direct from the battery for the ground? I would then connect both valves to the wiring. I thought I'd asd a 10 amp fuse as well to be safe.
I plan to call Valterra and ask them as well, but I figured some of you would know as well or at least provide me some reliable advice.
Thanks y'all for your thoughts.
-Mike
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06-22-2020, 07:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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What is the draw of the electric motors? Seems to me 10 ga. wire is kind of thick for a 10A fused circuit. I am sure someone with a EE will jump in here but I would go 14 ga. as a guess.
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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06-22-2020, 07:55 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Each valve draws 2.5 amps.
You're probably right, 10 gauge is too much.
I'm a little bit out of my expertise when it comes to wiring.
-Mike
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06-23-2020, 01:15 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,325
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In my opinion, if your going to run new wiring, I would run it from the fuse panel if you have an empty slot.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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06-23-2020, 07:30 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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^^^ What Chuck said. There should be one or two empty fuse slots on the fuse panel. The factory often installs fuses in all the slots, even if they are not connected to a circuit, so look for fuses with no wires connected to the slot, not for an "empty fuse location"... Doing it that way will keep as many fuses as possible in one location and will help prevent corrosion/connection issues at the battery terminals, which are exposed to the elements "outside the trailer".
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-23-2020, 08:36 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Seems to me that getting to the battery and a waterproof fuse block near the battery might be considerably easier to wire rather than pull the wires to his converter (not familiar with location on that camper). If he has the wiring for his camper buried under the coronaplast then that would mean pulling that stuff down across a major portion of the underbelly. Is my thinking faulty (could be I guess)... (The coronaplast was a pun, btw).
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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06-23-2020, 12:40 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
In my opinion, if your going to run new wiring, I would run it from the fuse panel if you have an empty slot.
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I'll look into that option.
The wires on the EZ-Valve are 18 gauge, and would run about 8-9 feet from the battery to the valve location or 15-16 feet from the fuse panel.
Do you think a single run of 14 or 12 gauge wire would be fine for both valves? Or should I run two 18 gauge wires, one each?
-Mike
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06-23-2020, 01:22 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mj5150
I'll look into that option.
The wires on the EZ-Valve are 18 gauge, and would run about 8-9 feet from the battery to the valve location or 15-16 feet from the fuse panel.
Do you think a single run of 14 or 12 gauge wire would be fine for both valves? Or should I run two 18 gauge wires, one each?
-Mike
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I would add a fuse block somewhere inside a storage compartment and it would be all weather if possible. Run 14 ga from battery to block and then 18 ga to each of the valves; not sure how they are switched but whatever they do obviously is inline with the 18 ga wires. Something like this thing:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-900355?rrec=true
Here is another and it would take a few weeks to get to you via China:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Positive-Ne...IAAOSwMDpeVAvT
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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06-23-2020, 02:36 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
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I ended up getting two of these that I'll put five amp fuses in:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Cooper-Bussmann-30-Amp-Fast-Acting-Fuse/3138837
I'm going to run a separate power and ground for each valve.
It's a little extra work, but I'll be doing it anyway, so it's not that big a deal overall.
The only issue I ran into getting the parts at Lowe's was a spade connector to the battery posts. None were that big, so I'll just have to spread out the ones I did get and make sure they are on tight.
-Mike
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06-23-2020, 03:04 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,742
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Most folks use a ring terminal for the battery connection instead of a Spade I would connect the ground to the frame, no need for a dedicated ground back to the battery.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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06-23-2020, 03:17 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
Most folks use a ring terminal for the battery connection instead of a Spade I would connect the ground to the frame, no need for a dedicated ground back to the battery.
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I see those ring terminals all the time, and of course when I need one they are nowhere to be found.
I'll try an auto parts store. That was my mistake, thinking a home improvement store would carry auto fuses and electrical parts for vehicle batteries and wiring.
-Mike
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06-23-2020, 03:40 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 14
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tractor supply has them
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06-24-2020, 09:46 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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I buy mine at ACE Hardware. Any hardware store would have them readily available in any needed size.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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06-24-2020, 01:21 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Harbor Freight has those kit packs with dozens of yellow, blue and red crimp on connectors. The colors are for different gauge wire and these kits are cheap and work OK with the correct crimping tool (not supplied). Perhaps a bit of solder would make the connection a tad more secure if the situation calls for it; I do a dab of solder on all connections made with these things in motorcycle applications.
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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06-24-2020, 01:34 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,005
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I needed a new 12V power run from my fuse panel. My power center is at the floor level so all I needed to do was drill a hole in the floor outside of where the A-Frame runs (between the A Frame and the edge of the trailer). Then I just ran the wire through the floor and back along the trailer to where it was needed. I then sealed the hole in the floor using expanding foam.
I agree it would better to get the power from the power center, so all the fuses are in the central location (as much as possible).
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek Champagne 38EL - "Big Bertha"
2019 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali HD 6.6L Duramax TD, CC, 4WD, DRW - "Mr. Beefy"
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06-28-2020, 11:13 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Qualicum Beach
Posts: 555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mj5150
We've decided to upgrade two of our three tanks to the electric valves from Valterra. The third one will be later if this all works as well as I'm being told it will.
I did some measuring and looking around underneath to be sure they fit and I can secure them. All good there.
One thing that got me was the electrical wiring. I can't figure out from that big collection of wires down there which, if any, are continuous 12v. I don't want to start cutting into them to test either.
Would it be ok just to run a 10 gauge wire direct from the battery for the power and another direct from the battery for the ground? I would then connect both valves to the wiring. I thought I'd asd a 10 amp fuse as well to be safe.
I plan to call Valterra and ask them as well, but I figured some of you would know as well or at least provide me some reliable advice.
Thanks y'all for your thoughts.
-Mike
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Go to drainmaster.com (the actual creator's of the valves) and see what parts you are probably missing and they will still give you support. I am in the process of installing 3 valves, master switch/breaker, 3 switches indoors and 3 outdoors. I bought fuse holders locally as much cheaper but fuses from them as hard to find that size and style.
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06-28-2020, 11:24 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lacey
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sonofcy
Go to drainmaster.com (the actual creator's of the valves) and see what parts you are probably missing and they will still give you support. I am in the process of installing 3 valves, master switch/breaker, 3 switches indoors and 3 outdoors. I bought fuse holders locally as much cheaper but fuses from them as hard to find that size and style.
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We went with the Valterra EZ-Valve.
After I added the five amp fuse holders and fuses to the 12v lines from the battery, I looked at the switch plate for the valves, and it had a five amp fuse built in. So now I have two five amp fuses. I suppose an extra layer of protection isn't a bad thing.
Two valves are in. The third will be here Monday. That one's going to be fun since I get to deal with the transition from 1.5" to 3".
The folks at Valterra have been awesome answering my questions and providing recommendations.
-Mike
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