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Anyone ever drilled through the floor?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Anyone ever drilled through the floor?
    Posted: 10 Nov 2023 at 10:02pm
Hi, I'm in the process of installing a solar panel on the roof and I was planning on running the electrical wiring through the roof in the space behind the shower (rpod 177) and mounting the charge controller there (the wall where the other sensors and switches are by the door), then continuing the wiring down through the floor and joining up with existing wiring over to where the battery is.   I've installed a LiPO battery so I've also got a battery monitor mounted on that wall as well.   But this means I need to drill through the floor.   Anyone ever done that?  How hard is it?  What do you recommend to plug up/waterproof the hole after I run the wiring through?   There's the existing hole with the wiring but it's under the shower pan and I can't get to it, plus it's not big enough so I was just going to drill another hole.   I've installed a small access door near the floor on that wall so I can get to the floor and have already installed the battery monitor but the wiring is just hanging down.  I've not put the solar panel on yet. I've fairly confident about everything except drilling that hole as the floor is rather thick and I know there's a lot of layers and I want to make sure I properly seal it up after the wires are through.  So again, any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.  

Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 7:03am
I did that once. I don't remember exactly and I can't look at it as we traded the RPod. I used a short piece of pipe with fittings to make sure there was no sharp edge to cut the wire. After running all the wires, I sealed around the wires as well as around the pipe to make sure there was no water intrusion.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote JR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 8:15am
I have a 2019 179 and have installed solar on the roof and did some extensive rewiring of the 12v system on the trailer.  The solar system seems to be holding up well after 5 seasons of camping.  Regarding your question of putting a hole in the floor for some wiring you are adding for your system that you are installing, I elected to increase the size of the hole already in the flooring that Forest River had put there. It is my understanding that the floor construction is the same as the walls.  That construction of the flooring going from top to bottom is there is a layer of lauan (1/4 inch) then 2 inches of foam insulation followed by another layer of lauan and finally a black fabric vapor barrier visible from the bottom.  Also there is a 2 inch aluminum frame work incorporated into the flooring.  Both layers of lauan are glued to the insulation/frame work. You can search the r-pod trailer construction from older posts on this web site which have you-tube video clips of the construction process.

I chose to enlarge the holes in the flooring that Forest River put there, thinking that would keep me away from penetrating any of the aluminum frame work.  After all the wiring was run I used expandable foam insulation to seal the hole up.

Also I chose to run the new wiring on the inside of the trailer from the breaker box in the rear of the trailer to the new location for the controller/inverter/switcher and the solar panel controller which is located in the front of the trailer under the bed. I was able to access the area under the shower floor pan which is raised above the flooring and is accessible through an access panel (metal vent).  This access was very helpful in running the new needed wiring and installing the different monitoring readouts.  Hope this helps you.  
Jay

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Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 9:08am
We installed an E-Go trailer mover a couple of years ago, and we put the controller unit on the wall inside the "garage" (for lack of a better term). The floor was a sort of sandwich with some very thick particle board and foam plus the flooring material on top. The hole I put in was about 3/4" diameter for the wires, and I filled it with a good dose of polyurethane caulk. I check it whenever I'm down there and it's been that way for quite a while.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 10:20pm
Thanks for the insights.   

I have determined I will have to drill a new hole if I'm going to do a run at the bottom of the trailer.  I can't reach an existing hole and it would need to be enlarged which would mean pulling existing wiring.   I have considered not drilling the hole as I could run the wiring in theory along the door to the front bench then around the wall to the other side where the breaker panel and the rest of the wiring is in a 177.   The most exposed it would be would be in front of the door but there appears to be room to put it under the aluminum tread there as long as I protected it.    So I don't know.  It seems that drilling has some risk if I can't tell what I'm drilling into.  I'll have to give it more thought.  

I will say that I'm not sure if the floor is identical to what has been described by others.  The rear of the trailer has had some issues and part of the vapor/protective barrier has come loose exposing what is clearly a sheet of regular plywood.   What's above that I don't know, however.  
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 10:25pm
Originally posted by StephenH

I did that once. I don't remember exactly and I can't look at it as we traded the RPod. I used a short piece of pipe with fittings to make sure there was no sharp edge to cut the wire. After running all the wires, I sealed around the wires as well as around the pipe to make sure there was no water intrusion.

Do you remember what you used to seal with?

The existing holes for pipes and wiring seem to use two different substances.  One is very rubbery and the other is a very dense gray-black foam.   I'm not sure why they differ and if there are reasons for that.  
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Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2023 at 11:20pm
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DAP-Dynaflex-Ultra-10-1-oz-Black-Paintable-Latex-Caulk/1000881602

I am pretty sure this is what I used. I have used it for multiple purposes. It is rubbery. Great Stuff foam or equivalent is also good for filling holes.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Nov 2023 at 6:11pm
Thanks!
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