Looking at setting up a camper for a friend to be stationary. It will have shore power all the time. No need for a battery to supply 12v to the brakes since it wont be towed. That said a battery is just extra hassle in this situation. Would it be possible to purchase a converter to take 120v ac from supplied shore and supply enough 12v dc that the batter could just be removed and the converter output be hooked up to the trailers positive and negative leads that are currently on the battery?

Yes, better converters like the ones Progressive Dynamics build, do not require a battery in the circuit. Lesser unit require the battery for filtering the DC.

When I disconnect my battery, my existing converter handles all my 12v needs.

Yes that will work. Seems odd to connect at the battery. I would connect at the 12v fuse panel. Should also have 120vac power there close to plug in the converter.

The battery does act like a large capacitor in the 12V system. I would spend the extra $75 and know that the battery is helping the 12V system. If the trailer does need to be moved, a utility outage occurs, or the converter fails, you'll still have some 12V to power some of the functions.

Older converters needed the battery to act as load and help control outputNewer electronic control converters do NOT need a battery.Trailer stationary.....no battery required.Fixed voltage output (single stage) converter would work

replacing battery with converter | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

boosTT
Explorer
Oct 18, 2016
Put a $35 lawn and garden battery in.
liborko
Explorer
Oct 17, 2016
For this purpose the switch mode Magnetek or Parallax constant output 13.8V converter would be ideal. You might find a used one from somebody who upgraded to multistage converter. Stay away from older Magneteks which had big & heavy transformers.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 17, 2016
spike99 wrote:
ScottG wrote:
You DO NOT need a battery with a good converter.

When electricity goes out during planned grid maintenance &/or during electrical outages from storms, what keeps the fridge and furnance and onboard 12V light working?
OP does not want a battery.

Of course all goes dark if no power. My house is the same way.
spike99
Explorer
Oct 17, 2016
ScottG wrote:
You DO NOT need a battery with a good converter.

When electricity goes out during planned grid maintenance &/or during electrical outages from storms, what keeps the fridge and furnance and onboard 12V light working?
ScottG
Nomad
Oct 13, 2016
You DO NOT need a battery with a good converter.
spike99
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016
In a perfect world, no battery is required at a stationary TT site with 110/120V electrical service (for 12V Converter). Since our world isn't always perfect living conditions, I use an optional 12V battery (at my seasonal site). When electricity cuts out (planned service outage or from electrical storms), I proactively "manually" switch my battery on (and disconnect 110/120 service line). Thus, my fridge still works (on 12V + LP gas) and if needed, my furnace (via 12V + LP gas) still works as well. When electrical returns and its stable, I then manually switch back to normal 110/120 Service line + 12V converter mode. During electrical outage, fridge's food is saved and trailer insides stay warm as well.

This works for me...
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Oct 13, 2016
Grab yourself a Mega Watt unit and you will be good to go.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 13, 2016
Deck mount converter:

http://www.bestconverter.com/Inteli-Power-PD9130
westend
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016
Jebby14 wrote:
also where in gods name do you get a deep cycle battery for 75 bucks
At Costco, Sam's Club, or Walmart. For $75, you won't be getting a Concorde or Rolls-Surrette but if you're always on shore power and converting to 12V, a cheap one will be OK.

If you don't want/need the capabilities of a converter, you could always use a standard 12V power supply. Mexwanderer has a thread going in the Tech Issues section of the Forum, currently. It is mostly about modifying the Megawatt brand supply but useful information can be had.

Good luck with the 12V system!
Jebby14
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016
also where in gods name do you get a deep cycle battery for 75 bucks