[font size="3"]I needed additional 12 volt power at the dinette table for watt sucking computer chargers, etc. without running cords across the aisle.
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With a heads up from TinkeringTechie on power panel access I ran a single 10 gauge wire from an unused fuse down through the floor, forward under the floor, and up under the slide. The negative lead is connected to the frame under the floor [/font][font size="3"]to minimize ground losses [/font][font size="3"]and run up through the floor with the positive. Be sure to leave enough slack for slide travel. The Azdel panel behind the three BlueSea sockets is reinforced with a 5"x5" piece of 1/8 thick hardboard.
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Hmmm!
Automobiles stopped using the frame as the ground return many decades ago. Boats never did this. Is it standard practice on RVs to use the frame as a ground return? The LL's aluminum frame makes this a decent idea, but I wouldn't do it generally.
David
[font size="3"]I don't know why autos stopped using the frame. Maybe a corrosion concern with the steel frames. They certainly use the engine blocks. I don't know what is standard practice with RVs, except low cost and poor workmanship. The AL chassis provides a lower loss return than even 20' of #10 wire, but the RV industry is not really concerned with voltage drop. When you only start with 12V every tenth counts. I wouldn't want AC currents flowing in the chassis due to cross coupling into the DC equipment, but that doesn't happen without a fault condition. That said, I can see where it might be easier/cheaper from a labor standpoint to run two conductor wire everywhere than to drill and pick up distributed chassis grounds.
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