Posted 2013-06-26 10:16 AM (#152955) Subject: Teach me please - electrical/12volt
Member
Posts: 26 Location: MN
We have a electrical hook up to run lights and some outlets in the trailer. But I was/am wondering how I can run some of the lights when we do not have electrical or generator available? How do I go about hooking up some deep cell batteries to the electrical plug in? Just something I am kicking around. Thanks.
Posted 2013-06-26 12:17 PM (#152957 - in reply to #152955) Subject: RE: Teach me please - electrical/12volt
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
This can be real simple, or as elaborate as you'd like. I assume you currently have the basic 110v plug into a simple 110v fuse panel that goes to your light and possibly an outlet or two. If so you can either -- leave this independent for use when you do have house power or a generator, and install a 12v deep cycle battery and wire it to a simple 12v fuse panel to supply some lights. This in its simplest form would require you to recharge your battery whenever you can. A series 24 deep cycle, or the slightly larger series 27 deep cycle, can usually sustain you for lighting for several days, as long as you don't forget leave them on unnecessarily. Or:- use your truck battery to supply 12v to the trailer for lights ( keeping in mind you could run the truck battery down if left on too long). Or:- replace your current 110v panel with an RV style power panel that will provide several 110v circuits, and provide a 12v fuse panel for 12v lighting. This option will recharge your 12v battery any time you are plugged into a 110v source, or provide 12v whenever you don't have 110v available. This is what I recently did as part of finishing our LQ. In its simplest form, a 12v battery is 2 wires - positive and negative to each of the lights. You can connect the negative battery post to the trailers frame ( either steel or aluminum) and run the positive (red) terminal thru wire(s) to a toggle switch at each of your lights. Each feeder line should be fused in case of a short or an overload if you put too many lights on one feeder line. Take a look at this site for wiring tips and ideas:http://www.rvforum.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=39:batteries-and-dc-12v-stuff&Itemid=45&layout=default
Posted 2013-06-27 1:01 PM (#152990 - in reply to #152955) Subject: RE: Teach me please - electrical/12volt
Member
Posts: 26 Location: MN
I know of some friends that created their own power cord to hook to a deep cell battery and then plugs into their trailer cord. I think this is what I want to do just so we have 12v lights as an option too. I don't know that I would want to run a frig or anything else off of it. Its just an option as our State Fair camping rules state no use of generators on the property at all and if you don't get electricity you are sol.
Posted 2013-06-27 2:51 PM (#152993 - in reply to #152955) Subject: RE: Teach me please - electrical/12volt
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
A distribution panel like this is easy to install and can provide battery charging and maintenance as well as several AC and DC circuits: All the components are in one small box, and run off a shore cord.
These are available from many sources and can make an electrical installation much more simple and professional, than trying to cob some parts together to make things work.
Posted 2013-06-29 8:22 PM (#153015 - in reply to #152955) Subject: RE: Teach me please - electrical/12volt
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by whisper237 on 2013-06-26 10:16 AM
We have a electrical hook up to run lights and some outlets in the trailer. But I was/am wondering how I can run some of the lights when we do not have electrical or generator available? How do I go about hooking up some deep cell batteries to the electrical plug in? Just something I am kicking around. Thanks.
Teach me please - electrical/12volt
