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bill4103's avatar
bill4103
Explorer
Feb 26, 2017

boondocking

This may sound lame that I don't know this , But when not having electricity to plug into should I be able to run off battery power and run things like my TV ? I realize the generator will allow this but is the a 12V to 120 converter built in as well? I have a 1999 Fleetwood Bounder.
  • Depend on how many house batteries you have and if your RV has that system build in to convert 12v to 110volt.
  • A converter uses 120 volt ac and converts to 12 volt do. You are referring to an inverter that inverts 12 volt to 120. Do you have an inverter?
  • Your 99 Bounder has a Converter to convert 120 VAC to 12VDC ,it may also have an Inverter to invert 12 VDC to 120 VAC for your TV.
    Newer motorhomes now have combination units that do both.
    Siggy
  • We use a small inverter to supply power to the TV, dvd/vcr and the satellite receiver.
    Look at the items you want to power up. Look for wattage. total wattage and find a small inverter that supplies that amount of wattage. I am guessing in the neighborhood of 250 watts.
    I ran a new 12 volt DC circuit to my inverter location as the factory wiring to the antenna and TV receptacle(12 volt) was not large enough.
  • All rigs come with some sort of converter which changes household type 120 volts AC to automobile type 12 volts DC. To run your TV and other AC voltage devices without shorepower an inverter is required which may or may not be installed on your rig. Some rigs come with a combo unit, aka an inverter charger, but you would have to verify this by looking where your fuses and circuit breakers are located. If you discern that an inverter is not onboard it is relatively easy to install one yourself. I have installed a couple of inverters on our rig, one serves the whole house which is rarely used, the other powers our entertainment center that includes HDTV, HD satellite, Xbox, Bose System, and charging laptops, tablets, and cell phones.