Basic electrical question

That is correct. There is a converter/charger that runs the 12 volt systems and keeps the batteries charged while plugged in.

Actually if it is newer the lights are 12VDC only. The converter/charger and/or battery power everything except the microwave, and AC. The refer can cool via gas or 120VAC, but needs 12VDC for control power

JFHenne wrote:
I'm assuming that they are always 12V but that is landline power inverted to 12V. Is that right?

I'm looking for a 12V source to install a radio.

Your interior lights are 12 vdc, power which is supplied either by the battery when not plugged into shore power or by the converter (not inverter) when the trailer is plugged into shore power.

Just pull 12 vdc from any nearby 12 vdc source, a light switch or fan switch for example - just make sure it's before the switch connection, not after ... obviously. ;)

donn0128 wrote:
Actually if it is newer the lights are 12VDC only.

This has nothing to do with whether the trailer is older or "newer", whatever that might mean. Travel trailer interior lighting is 12 vdc and always has been, the exception being some large park model units which are 120 vac, aren't equipped with a battery, and don't have any 12 vdc capability ... but that's not what the OP has so it's therefore irrelevant to this discussion. :R

JFHenne wrote:
I'm assuming that they are always 12V but that is landline power inverted to 12V. Is that right?.

Sort of. They are 12v, but 12v is converted, not inverted.

RV electric 101: 12v side of life.

Since you were so quick to pick, let me inform you that most all old truck campers and camp trailers really did have 120 volt interior lites in them, that operated only when plugged in. The first campers I had even had propane lites in them. So 128s post "newer" is correct

SoundGuy wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Actually if it is newer the lights are 12VDC only.

This has nothing to do with whether the trailer is older or "newer", whatever that might mean. Travel trailer interior lighting is 12 vdc and always has been, the exception being some large park model units which are 120 vac, aren't equipped with a battery, and don't have any 12 vdc capability ... but that's not what the OP has so it's therefore irrelevant to this discussion. :R

Your 25Z is robably a 2005 or newer and should have a modern 12VDC Power Distribution center in it.

I would find an unused 12VDC fuse slot and run a 12VDC wire drop to your radio location. There may be a fuse slot already there for a radio install...



Your trailer revolves around two POwer Distribution Panels one with 120VAC Circuit Breakers and one with 12VDC ATC type fuses...

Here is a typical 30A trailer Power Distribution Configuration...


The RV trailer is built with the idea in mind it can operate with all of its basic items being run from the 12VDC battery and then a few added high end appliances can be run from 120VAC when connected to shore power.

Roy Ken

SoundGuy wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Actually if it is newer the lights are 12VDC only.

This has nothing to do with whether the trailer is older or "newer", whatever that might mean. Travel trailer interior lighting is 12 vdc and always has been, the exception being some large park model units which are 120 vac, aren't equipped with a battery, and don't have any 12 vdc capability ... but that's not what the OP has so it's therefore irrelevant to this discussion. :R

Newer is a relative term, but years ago my parents had a late 60's or early 70's travel trailer that had both 12v and 120v bulbs in the same fixture. They had 2 switches on the fixtures. If you want to get technical, some even older trailers had gas lighting so it hasn't always been 12v.

wnjj wrote:
Newer is a relative term, but years ago my parents had a late 60's or early 70's travel trailer that had both 12v and 120v bulbs in the same fixture. They had 2 switches on the fixtures. If you want to get technical, some even older trailers had gas lighting so it hasn't always been 12v.

So if you want to be so inclusively "technical" why not go back to the stage coach days and include lighting systems used then?! Be real ... the OP has a ~ 10 yr old travel trailer and simply wants to know where / how to best pull 12 vdc for a radio so of course even the suggestion that his interior lighting could be 120 vac is totally ridiculous. :W

SoundGuy wrote:

wnjj wrote:
Newer is a relative term, but years ago my parents had a late 60's or early 70's travel trailer that had both 12v and 120v bulbs in the same fixture. They had 2 switches on the fixtures. If you want to get technical, some even older trailers had gas lighting so it hasn't always been 12v.

So if you want to be so inclusively "technical" why not go back to the stage coach days and include lighting systems used then?! Be real ... the OP has a ~ 10 yr old travel trailer and simply wants to know where / how to best pull 12 vdc for a radio so of course even the suggestion that his interior lighting could be 120 vac is totally ridiculous. :W

Allow me to mediate----the post that had reference to 120V lighting, the phrase "newer" pertained to being inclusive of all ages and was referenced in that manner. The follow up post explained the inclusion of 120V and various ages and types of lighting, in reference to your exclusion of any trailer having 120V lighting. There is no ridicule involved here nor should there be.
IMO, you are showing a pretty thin skin in this matter.