12 volt appliances ??

General Discussion about almost anything Teardrop or camping related

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby 2bits » Wed Jan 18, 2017 1:01 am

SoCal Tom nailed the subjective topic here. You may want to back up the bus and ask yourself will you ever really need 12v at all? I made all these grand boondock plans on my teadrops and ended up using a power strip hooked up to the state park campsite. I don't know where you are but you might want to realistically consider where you will be camping before investing in stuff you'll never need.
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5130
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby rustytoolss » Wed Jan 18, 2017 6:57 pm

Well part of the reason I want to install a 12 volt system is, If at sometime I want to sell the trailer. It will appeal to more people. 8) , And having 12 volts , may come in handy.
Mostly Old Parts And Rust= MOPAR
rustytoolss
500 Club
 
Posts: 557
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 am

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby kudzu » Wed Jan 18, 2017 8:08 pm

We've now been in campgrounds twice when the power went out. We could have managed without 12v but it sure was handy to have & helped keep us more comfortable until we had 120v again. Of course, we spent many years camping without using any electricity other than batteries for flashlights & a little radio. Neither 120v nor 12v are necessary for camping, but I'm not in a big hurry to go back to that style of camping. :lol:
kudzu
Donating Member
 
Posts: 439
Images: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:20 pm
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby rustytoolss » Wed Jan 18, 2017 9:12 pm

Modern Primitive camping= electricity (of some type 120v,12v,battery cells AA/C/D, Solar, hamster wheel ???) Cell phone/smart phone, pizza delivery, TV to watch the game, port a potty nearby, AC incase it's hot inside your camper, Cold Adult beverages :beer: :wine: , and a camp fire under the stars, with friends /family...now that's roughing it....aaaaaahhhhh, peace and quiet :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Mostly Old Parts And Rust= MOPAR
rustytoolss
500 Club
 
Posts: 557
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 am
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby booyah » Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:07 pm

So we may be odd, but its nice to park down the end of dead end dirt road out in national forest or state land, by a river and just camp. Right there. You'll never get me to give up my 12v system. I love my tent camping for the same reason, but the TD sure is more comfy :thumbsup:
My build, 5x8 modified benroy "Smiles to go". Started April 2nd 2015, first trip August 2nd 2015.

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63145
User avatar
booyah
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 424
Joined: Fri May 16, 2014 5:27 pm
Location: Lansing MI
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby tony.latham » Wed Jan 18, 2017 10:34 pm

A few good reasons to have a 12 volt system:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

I can't imagine being limited to campgrounds with 120 volts. There's a piece of the pie for us all but when you live and camp in the west, camp spots with current bushes, are few and far between.

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby kudzu » Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:12 pm

Tony & booyah, that's why I added solar! Though most of my camping is done in the SE at US ACE campgrounds so we end up with electric hook-ups, whether we need it or not. However, when in nat'l forest sites, we usually forgo the electric in favor of more scenic sites. And the 12v is very handy on our trips out West. We do primarily use established campgrounds, but most have no hook ups. We may not be as adventurous as some others, but having 12v to power the furnace fan helped us enjoy 36 hours of sub-freezing temps at Chisos Basin in Big Bend and a multiple days of over night freezing temps near & in Yellowstone. This Southern gal was thrilled to get a couple days of snow in Yellowstone. Bison in the snow, live & in person. Super cool, in all senses of the word. :D

My pictures aren't as scenic as yours, Tony, but here's one from Chisos Basin. You might be able to see a little hoarfrost left that afternoon, despite it being in the 60's at lower elevation. My little camper has greatly improved the quality of our vacations!!

Image
kudzu
Donating Member
 
Posts: 439
Images: 16
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:20 pm
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby Rhino Ray » Thu Jan 19, 2017 1:22 pm

Most converters installed in your 12v systems will charge your battery when connected to shore power and convert the 110v to 12v at the same time. So when you are connected to shore power you are not using power from your battery, just converted power. There is no real need for an inverter as all your appliances can be 12v thus illuminating the need for 110v. You can even get 12v hair dryers :lol:
The eleventh commandment: Ye that snoozeth loozeth. Selling real estate in ALL of Jefferson State (Northern California and Southern Oregon)
Image
Image

My Build http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=49746
User avatar
Rhino Ray
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 363
Images: 60
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:02 pm
Location: Roseburg, OR
Top

Re: 12 volt appliances ??

Postby Socal Tom » Sat Jan 21, 2017 11:06 pm

Personally, I think a 12V system is worth having. Even if its a small battery that just powers lights and charges the phone. However, fancy 12V appliances aren't worth spending extra on unless you are going to be off the grid a lot. Even then, things that draw a lot of power like coffee makers, Air conditioners are better left at 120v. Either camp at a park with power, or get a generator that can pull it. The 12V system that can pull an AC unit would be really spendy, and a coffee maker or 12V heater would put a real strain on the battery.
Tom
Socal Tom
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1347
Images: 12
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 am
Location: San Diego Ca
Top

Previous

Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests