How to use 110v while being towed? Or get easy 12v port?

[Fastfwd75]

I have a few electronics I would like to power while on the move. All low power such as iPad, laptop.

I don't have any inverter in my trailer so no 110v. I see two options here:
- Get an inverter. I think that would be expensive and I really just need a little power.
How expensive and involved is the installation of an inverter? Would it work with a single group 4 battery if I only use it while towing and getting power from the truck?

- Find some way to plug in a car 12v inverter and use that just like I do in the car.
Thing is I have no idea where I would plug that thing. How do you run new circuits from the panel or is there a simpler way? I am thinking I just piggy back on the lights or antenna circuits if the breaker/fuse will hold it?

[Redsky]

The price of the inverter is relative to the power in Watts that it provides. Your laptop probably uses 60 Watts at 120 volts AC so look for an inverter with that capacity. You can buy a 300 Watt inverter on Amazon for $27 which is not going to break the bank.

Read the reviews and watch out for ones with a fan as they can be very noisy. The better ones have a metal housing to dissipate the heat produced.

[oldchief7155]

Look by your tv antenna booster switch in the trailer. Many have a 12 volt receptacle there and I bet there's one in the bedroom somewhere.

[APT]

Edit double post

[APT]

All of the electronics you mention are DC based. So you want to take the DC power from your truck or TT batteries, convert to 115V AC just so you can convert back to 5V (or maybe 19V for laptop) DC? Well just get this inverter and use the USB for phones/tables and the double converter method for laptop.

There are plenty of 2.1A 12V to 5V based adapters. Something like this should work. There are also DC-DC converts for laptops which are more efficient than DC-AC-DC. They just cost more than an inverter.

Depending on how many devices you want, a portable battery backup may be best. This one should charge the phones 4+ times or tablet at least once. And larger capacity options for laptops too.

[Fastfwd75]

hedge wrote:

Interesting, I only have the basic sync system without nav on my trucks since 2009 and never had a problem charging iphones (3G, 4S, 5). I can see how it may not charge an ipad very fast as they pull 2 amps if they can get it.

I just recently added a bunch of 12v plugs and usb plugs inside my truck camper. It doesn't directly help you but may be another option.

USB and 12V plugs

Only basic Sync here too. Maybe they changed the parts between 2011 and 2012. Mine will charge with the screen on and listening to music on bluetooth. It will not charge when also using navigation; this seems to be the point where it draws more than 0.9amps. Apple charger does fine with everything on and drawing amps.

Thanks for the link. Gives me an idea if what I have to do to get that 12v plug inside the trailer.

[ChooChooMan74]

I would get 12v chargers for what you need to charge. Much more efficient than using an inverter.

[hedge]

Fastfwd75 wrote:

hedge wrote:
You have a USB plug in the dash, use that to power the ipad.

In the back of the console you have a built in 150w inverter, use that for the laptop.

2 problems with that.
- The Sync USB plug is standard USB and limited to 0.5-0.9 amp. The apple stuff does some electronic handshaking and will draw almost 2 amp. My phone actually discharges when using navigation while plugged into the sync USB.
- I have the 6 seats so no 150w built-in inverter. I added an inverter anyway so 120v in the truck is taken care of. I want things to work from the trailer too.

Interesting, I only have the basic sync system without nav on my trucks since 2009 and never had a problem charging iphones (3G, 4S, 5). I can see how it may not charge an ipad very fast as they pull 2 amps if they can get it.

I just recently added a bunch of 12v plugs and usb plugs inside my truck camper. It doesn't directly help you but may be another option.

USB and 12V plugs

[n7bsn]

Last year I added a full sine wave inverter (Xantrax ProWatt) with remote switching and power change over relay to the rig.
Besides allowing me to use the high-rate USB chargers it allows us to plug in a small crock-pot and cook dinner as I drive down the road.

Now current (2014/2015) rigs are starting to appear with 110V outlets that have built in 3amp USB chargers.

Our 2012 rig came with what they called a "clock and universal charger". It has micro-usb, mini-usb, full-usb, and several types of "cell-phone" jacks. It runs off either 12VDC or 110VAC.

[westend]

I've gotta' ask, why do you need devices powered in the trailer while underway? Maybe I missed something?

Adding an additional 12V circuit is easy, grab power either in an unused fuse location in the distribution panel or wire directly to battery. If installing an inverter, locate it as close to the batteries as possible. Pull AC wires from that location.

[Fastfwd75]

Artum Snowbird wrote:
You would want to connect an inverter directly to your battery. Most TV plugs in RV's are not designed to produce much more than 80 watts and the wiring is extremely light to the plug. Far better to use a piece of No. 8 wire and hook up to an inverter of several hundred watts.

I was afraid of that. I think my limited skills would be enough to add a 12v outlet from the panel assuming I can find a way to splice from something or there is a free terminal somewhere.

Starting to run wires outside from the battery box to the inside is a completely different story. Trailer does not seem to be build with access panels to check/repair wiring.

[Fastfwd75]

hedge wrote:
You have a USB plug in the dash, use that to power the ipad.

In the back of the console you have a built in 150w inverter, use that for the laptop.

2 problems with that.
- The Sync USB plug is standard USB and limited to 0.5-0.9 amp. The apple stuff does some electronic handshaking and will draw almost 2 amp. My phone actually discharges when using navigation while plugged into the sync USB.
- I have the 6 seats so no 150w built-in inverter. I added an inverter anyway so 120v in the truck is taken care of. I want things to work from the trailer too.

[wa8yxm]

First tell us what you are powering .. For loads under 100 watts, a one-piece inverter works fine, this is a ciggy-plug (12 volt accessory plug for the political correct) and inverter in one.. I have one in my computer bag.. Now it's an MSW so it may not play nice with SOME chargers, but it works ok with my phones, and my computers and everything else I have used it with.

now understand the phone charger is only about 10 bucks, so if it fails, It fails, who cares.

An alternative is for many things, Most I-stuff, Most Android stuff, you can get a direct 12 volt to "USB" adapters.. I got one at big lots (Again 10 bucks) looks like the letter Y, delivers up to 2 amps, split between the two arms of the Y (The body is the plug) at USB power levels, Feeds my Phone and my Tablet, or my Phone and my Blue Tooth speaker,

Laptop computers often need higher voltages, Like 17 or 19,,, Well There are universal 12 volt power supplies, basically DC/DC converters.. I have two of those lying about somewhere too.. Never used one on THIS computer but do on my other one from time to time.

IGo is one of the companies that makes them, TARGUS and I think Radio Shack is the name on mine.

IF you want to go the inverter route and are worried about MSW messing up your "Delecate electroincs" Well there are some TSW's in teh 150-400 watt range, Now I'd prefer to direct connect with at least 10Ga wire (To the batteries) and a proper fuse, but at low loads they might work off the 12 volt outlet.

[hedge]

You have a USB plug in the dash, use that to power the ipad.

In the back of the console you have a built in 150w inverter, use that for the laptop.

[Artum_Snowbird]

You would want to connect an inverter directly to your battery. Most TV plugs in RV's are not designed to produce much more than 80 watts and the wiring is extremely light to the plug. Far better to use a piece of No. 8 wire and hook up to an inverter of several hundred watts.