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SkiSmuggs's avatar
SkiSmuggs
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014

Adding 12V Receptacles

I would like to add some 12v receptacles and first thought I would have to run wire (still not a bad idea and I will come back to that), but it was suggested that I could tap into a nearby 12v light fixture. I am all LED now so I am not concerned about overload. So I can use the BR reading lamp to add a receptacle near the bed for my CPAP, and I can use a light over the sofa to add one there. I would also like one at the LR entertainment center for a 300w inverter to power TV and DVD player, but there are no lights there and am not sure if I should use the Jensen power wire or not. Any suggestions for that or about the plan in general.
My issue with running good 12v wire is I am not sure how to run that through my fiver and I am not sure how to connect to the battery. Direct battery connection of several wires doesn't seem like a good idea and it seems the existing wire runs to the converter at the back of the trailer. And would I need to run both a hot and ground wire?
Feel free to chip in on whatever topic you feel comfortable with.
Thanks

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  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    I had an interesting development while installing two RoadPro 12v outlets. Neither worked! After a night to cool off and think it over, I connected one to a battery and it worked fine. I got a volt meter and tested the house wiring for the lights. The hot and ground were reversed over the dining table and the BR reading lamp had the light fixture wired backward, which I had followed during installation, but the house wiring was correct. So I reversed the wiring of the outlets and they work fine. Is this sort of thing common?
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    hedge wrote:
    Below I've linked to a thread in the Truck Camper forum where adding 12v plugs was recently discussed. We used the Blue sea stuff, it's spendy but pretty good quality. I ran complete wiring back to the 12v side of the converter where I had a couple extra circuits available. I ran 12gauge wire, probably overkill but that's what I had.

    http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27709063/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1

    This is EXCELLENT! Thank you!
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    tenbear wrote:
    A few general thoughts:

    Many of the lighting circuits also power fans. Although the LEDs reduce the current drain, the fans will still draw the same old current.

    My lighting circuits use #14 wire which will safely carry 15A. The problem may be voltage drop, especially when powering an inverter. It depends on the wire length.

    Yes, you will have to run 2 wires unless you can get to a convenient ground, +12v and ground. The voltage drop will depend on the total wire length, +12v and ground.

    Thanks, George! It looks like the only wire run I will need (desire) is for a hard wired inverter at the entertainment center. The two 12v outlets I plan to add will just power the 3 amp CPAP and a 12v table fan when necessary. I hope to get the two outlets done this weekend and have plenty of time to think about the hard wired inverter and that may be after the paired 6v battery upgrade which has a higher priority.
  • tenbear's avatar
    tenbear
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    A few general thoughts:

    Many of the lighting circuits also power fans. Although the LEDs reduce the current drain, the fans will still draw the same old current.

    My lighting circuits use #14 wire which will safely carry 15A. The problem may be voltage drop, especially when powering an inverter. It depends on the wire length.

    Yes, you will have to run 2 wires unless you can get to a convenient ground, +12v and ground. The voltage drop will depend on the total wire length, +12v and ground.
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    Peg Leg wrote:
    I love all the idea's. The RV has now been replaced, henceforth it will be known as "Think tank on wheels". The symbols will be the Thinker statue sitting on a toilet with wheels.

    Thank you for that picture in my head (or latrine for the army). LOL!
  • Peg_Leg's avatar
    Peg_Leg
    Explorer
    Aug 01, 2014
    I love all the idea's. The RV has now been replaced, henceforth it will be known as "Think tank on wheels". The symbols will be the Thinker statue sitting on a toilet with wheels.
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2014
    Desert Captain wrote:


    As I initially recommended I will be drawing power from the back of the house fuse box which is mounted vertically at the foot of our bed. It will be a very short run, about 2' to where the new DC (cigarette), outlet will be mounted. No problem running the 250 watt inverter, heck it runs the 22" Vizio and the DVD player without complaint and they draw a lot more than the 2 amps AC of my Cpap. I will look into getting a DC power cord for the Cpap but that too will plug into my new 12V outlet.
    :C

    Location, location, location! My house fuse box and charger are at the rear in the kitchen and my head board is over 30' away at the nose so we both have solutions we should be happy with. :D
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Jul 31, 2014
    "Look at some of my more recent posts for my solution to the 12v outlet at the bed. The draw from a CPAP using direct 12v is low enough that I have no concerns about tapping into the wires for the reading light, but I would be concerned using an inverter with that setup."

    As I initially recommended I will be drawing power from the back of the house fuse box which is mounted vertically at the foot of our bed. It will be a very short run, about 2' to where the new DC (cigarette), outlet will be mounted. No problem running the 250 watt inverter, heck it runs the 22" Vizio and the DVD player without complaint and they draw a lot more than the 2 amps AC of my Cpap. I will look into getting a DC power cord for the Cpap but that too will plug into my new 12V outlet.

    :C
  • SkiSmuggs's avatar
    SkiSmuggs
    Explorer
    Jul 31, 2014
    Desert Captain wrote:
    SkiSmuggs wrote:
    Desert Captain wrote:
    I am in the same boat (RV?), as you. I need to add a DC outlet near our bed as I will be picking up my new Cpap from the VA this afternoon. I will then plug my 250 watt inverter into the DC outlet and the Cpap into that.
    :C

    Captain, almost all CPAPs will run off 12V. It is less complicated and uses less battery as you eliminate the 30% inverter loss. I ordered my 12v cable from CPAP.com and it works great right into the 12v receptacle. My only problem is that I have to run a 12V extension cord from the BR TV cubbie. If you get one of those, get a NOCO as they have heavier wire. The first extension I got was a POS that my inverter (before I got the CPAP 12V cable) wouldn't run on for more than a few seconds.
    I will have to look for the DC fuse panel, but I believe it is under the stove at the rear of the trailer and it would be a dog to run it that far. Seems like a small fuse/distribution panel directly off the battery might be a way to go, but just guessing.


    I will still need a source of 12V power next to the bed regardless whether I use the 250 watt inverter (which does not lose anywhere near 30%), or order a DC power cord for the Cpap. I agree a small distribution panel fed directly off the house batteries will work just fine if that is easier to install just make sure it is sufficiently fused and fed by adequate gauge wire.

    :C

    Look at some of my more recent posts for my solution to the 12v outlet at the bed. The draw from a CPAP using direct 12v is low enough that I have no concerns about tapping into the wires for the reading light, but I would be concerned using an inverter with that setup.

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