12v outlet inside 1207 ?

[BrunoB]

We just purchased a new 2014 1207 and I don't find any 12v outlet inside the camper that I can use to charge phones, PC etc. We mainly camp with no services so we use solar and battery. What do you guys do to get some power inside when off the grid?

[RoyBraddy]

I am not a big fan of using the 12VDC cigarette lighter type sockets. They are cheap in design and will get hot and burn out plugs and wiring...

What we do here is run a 120VAC extension cord drop from a 600WATT PSW Inverter that is installed within five feet of the main battery switch. One 120VAC drop goes to the Home Entertainment area and the other120VAC drop goes to the bedroom area. Then you just plug in your 120VAC small appliances to charge up things and run your home entertainment items just like when you are at regular camp grounds with electric.

All of the small devices gets their power from these two 120VAC emergency power drops.

I probably have way more capacity than I need but I started out with a 300WATT PSW Inverter, then went to a 400WATT and now have finally settled on a 600WATT PSW Inverter.

This fits into my camping off the power grid plans just fine...

Here is a typical trailer layout of how you install this. I have no installed cabling visible inside my trailer - all cables run inside WIREMODE or behind cabinets to get from Point A to Point B. The only thing visible is the 120VAC mulitple port mounted to a table top or up inside a cabinet...



I would suggest at least a battery bank of 220AHs capacity for when camping off the power grid. Most folks like to install the two 6VDC Golf cart Batteries which only cost around $90 each from SAMs Club or COSTCO. Also when campng off the power grid you really need to looking into smart mode charging techniques and a small generator to run your smart mode charger. With this you can return your batteries back up to their 90% charge state in just three hours time.

The problems we run into here on the East Side of the US is most public places has generator run time restrictions in place so you have to plan out your 120VAC and 12VDC items you want to run to make your batteries last until you are allowed to run the generator to recharge them.

Since you are in a POPUP you might be interested in my floorplan layout of my OFF-ROAD POPUP showing where these things are installed. Food for thought...


Roy Ken

[muelldawg]

VERY nice, Roy !

[teejaywhy]

While Roy's setup is indeed nice, it is not really necessary for someone just wanting to charge a cell phone or ipod or run the laptop. The single battery that comes with the trailer has plenty of power to do these tasks for the average 2 or 3 night camping trip.

There may be some DC outlets in the roof light fixtures. They take a 1/4" phono plug and are typically provided to operate the bunk end fan/light combo. It would be easy to make an adapter from the phono plug to a cigarette lighter socket.

I added a cigarette lighter socket under the dinette seat, close to where the converter is. I tapped into and existing fused DC circuit.

My next mod is to add a DC powered USB charging outlet which will support many modern devices which charge thru the USB. Here is an example:
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Dual-.../dp/B0082CXEI8

[campingva]

Never had a problem with the auto type outlets.n Just make sure you fuse them at a little under the rated capacity of the outlet and you should be fine. Have used them for various functions over 30 years with no problems.

[rludym]

teejaywhy - do you have pic and instructions on how you did it? would love to do this myself! thx

[Seann45]

I have added several "cig plugs" to my trailer. Roy talked about them heating up.. the answer is to buy quality ones not the cheap 2 for a dollar type. I tapped into the 12V light circuit... ALWAYS FUSE THEM...

[rludym]

what size fuse do you suggest? thank you

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by rludym

what size fuse do you suggest? thank you

Depends on the line you are splicing into, and what you are using, I would say 10A max.

[Bojingles*67]

I bought this Jayco trailer when doing a kitchen Remodel in our house. I just went on our first trip this week about 150 miles away. I blew the phone charger in the 12v outlet just before I came home. Thinking it was a defective phone charger, went down to the At & t store and got a replacement came home and plugged it into the trailer and blew another one. Anyone know what would causing this? Checked all fuses and looks good

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by Bojingles*67

I bought this Jayco trailer when doing a kitchen Remodel in our house. I just went on our first trip this week about 150 miles away. I blew the phone charger in the 12v outlet just before I came home. Thinking it was a defective phone charger, went down to the At & t store and got a replacement came home and plugged it into the trailer and blew another one. Anyone know what would causing this? Checked all fuses and looks good

Have you checked the voltage at the 12 volt accessory outlet, to make sure it was wired to 12Volts? Also to make sure that your TT's battery charge controller is producing the proper voltage.
Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[bankr63]

@RoyBraddy,

Surprised to see your inverters mounted right beside the bed in both setups. I've found the couple I have owned to be noisy between fan noise or a high pitched whine. Do you have any problems with noise, or were you able to find some really quiet options?