Keep the Leaks away!
Water leaks can be bad in just about any environment. It can be a catastrophe in an RV, Travel Trailer, Teardrop Camper, Motorhome, Pop-Up or other portable camping equipment. There are a couple rules I like to follow when adding any new electronics to my RV. Outside Supply wants you to honestly judge your experience level before taking on any project. This is because it is sometimes better to hire someone with more experience at sealing and installing items in your RV than make some costly mistakes. While many projects on an RV can be simple and easy to accomplish, certain task can require more skill, tools and experience than others. Just make a good decision about hiring a professional before starting. Many times if you are supplying the parts for a job, the installtion labor can be very reasonable.
First I limit any and all holes in my RV to an absolute minimum. This is because additional holes are additional paths for water. So I always try to handle any new projects that require holes at the same time. When I installed my Solar Panel, I knew I might want to install another panel later, so I used a larger wire size than necessary for one panel so I could easily add another panel without any new holes or even much fuss.
Second I make the holes in my RV water tight. To do this I use the smallest hole possible and use generous amounts of well placed silicone sealant. Clean the area to install the sealant thoroughly according to the manufacturers instructions. Doing this insure you will get the best possible seal the sealant can provide. Make sure you install the sealant in a fashion that insures the best watertight seal, this is usually laid out in the instructions as well. Remember if you give water any path it will find its way into your RV.
Good luck and don't rush, a careful and good install will help keep the leaks away!
