12 volt system vs simple batterys

[jonnyo]

why did you install a full 12 volt system in your teardrop???

On my build #1, i use simple puck light power by 2 AA batterys. i have 3 of those light and they are amazing...i did 2 years on the same battery. even with some winter camping. They are strong enough to read...light, cheap, simple and i dont need a heavy deep cycle battery or trouble of passing wire everywhere.

So, as i m starting build #2 and want to kept it light.... why would i bother with 12 volt system, wire, deep cycle battery?

what m i missing? when doing winter camping in canada...i do find 110 volt hookup as i need to power the ceramic heater....

and finaly, is it possible to power a fantastic fan with simple replacable batterys? how long would it last???

thank you everyone!

.

[bdosborn]

So, as i m starting build #2 and want to kept it light.... why would i bother with 12 volt system, wire, deep cycle battery?

You shouldn't. If AA battery lights work for you, it's perfect!

Bruce

[PaulC]

What Bruce said
Cheers
Paul
PS I think that fan needs 12v

[bdosborn]

Here's a battery fan AND light:

Tent Fan

Bruce

[jgrote]

If you want to keep with the cheap, replaceable battery theme and have a decently powerful vent fan, look into fans for computers. They are generally 5vdc. Then get a 6v battery used in lanterns and stuff. It'll run a fan like that for a weekend with no problems.

[bdosborn]

If you want to keep with the cheap, replaceable battery theme and have a decently powerful vent fan, look into fans for computers. They are generally 5vdc.

USB fans are 5V, case fans are generally 12V.

Bruce

[48Rob]

Jon,

A "simple replaceable battery" setup could/would run a fantastic fan, but would not last long and the battery cost would get expensive very quickly.
The reason your puck lights last so long on the same battery is that the "bulbs" are very low draw LED's.

You can run your fantastic fan without having a giant, heavy deep cycle battery and fancy charging systems.
Small 12 volt rechargable batteries can be had for around $20

http://www.batteryspec.com/cgi-bin/cart ... Mgodsh0AmQ

An inexpensive trickle charger can be used to recharge them, or if you have an old transformer around (wall wart) of 1 amp or so rating, it will do the job too.
The others are right, if a replaceable battery powered light works for you, then you don't need to upgrade.

The reason I have a full 12 volt system is that I have a 12 volt water pump, 12 volt furnace, 12 volt television and DVD player, 12 volt fans, and multiple 12 volt lamps.
Personal choice.

Rob

[working on it]

The price of batteries keeps going up, and unless you can recharge them, maybe a car or RV/Marine battery would be cheaper in the long run. A spring-top 6v battery costs $8-15 a pop, and you'd have to use two to get 12v (and I've never seen come them as rechargeable). Using the USB fans might work if you don't need much airflow, but in Texas you need a lot. And, as far as lighting, the LED type make replaceable batteries feasible; the old incandescent bulbs used up the power too quickly (and the filaments always seemed to go bad just when I needed it most). Even though I had a battery problem prior to my first camping trip in my trailer (fixed, thanks to advice from Bruce, and others), I used my AGM Optima steadily for two days, and it was still at 12.7vdc after that. Running a few low-voltage 12v wires for a little more reserve power might be worth it!

[eggsalad]

I split the difference. My system uses two 6V, 12Ah batteries wired in series. I will ultimately have an LED cabin light, red LED night light, LED reading light, and a small vent fan. By my calculations, it should run my whole camper for 3 days, the average length of a trip for me. Those batteries are only about $15 each.

But it you're happy with flashlights and puck lights, and don't need a fan, there's absolutely no reason to change what you're doing.

[AlgoDan]

As 48Rob said I have used the small 12v for fan and lights for a few days. They are small and light. I also use a full size deep cycle, as I will be installing a water pump this winter....

[tony.latham]

I think it's great you used puck lights on your first build. Part of the home-grown tear world is that there's a piece of the pie for all of us.

On my first factory built (Hunter) teardrop it came ready for a marine battery. I put a Group 24 in it and used it to power an interior light, hatch light, a power plug for a DVD player, and an occasional use of a mattress pad heater for preheating.

In my recent build I installed a Group 27 battery. I'm using it to power two LEDs, a bigger DVD player, a Fantastic Fan and eventually a 12V electric blanket for the first hour on cold nights. I'm a boon-docker and it's few and far between where I've camped in a campground with 120 –not my cup of tea. I put the larger Group 27 in because it's harder to draw it down to the point I'm going to damage it. Plus I think it was about $20 more than the smaller Group 24.

I pull with a Toyota Tacoma so weight isn't a big factor but believe in going light. My recent build weighs 1380 pounds and I drop 1.5-2 MPG at a pull speed of 55MPG –about 20 MPG. Not much different than my old and sweet 4x10.

I recently purchased an automotive circuit tester. My LEDs draw .1 amps –basically nothing. The Fantastic Fan pulls 3.7 amps. I haven't tested the DVD yet but it may pull 6 –hopefully less. I think the electric blanket will pull 4 amps. I've also got a dual USB port for charging phones that sucks 2+2 amps. Assuming I ran all of those devices for two hours a day, I think my usage would be about 36 amps max. In reality, I won't be using the fan and the blanket on the same day, so it should be around 20-30. My battery is rated for 105 amp hours and I don't want to use more than about 50 of those (I think). Good to have some buffer.

We recently camped in Zion with my sister. My lady and I were in the tear of course and they were in a tent. She needs a CPAP. Her husband had rigged up something that he thought would work and it didn't. What we finally rigged up was a 100 watt converter from a 12v plug in my galley and an extension cord to their tent. It brought my battery down to about 80% each night and was recharged with my truck. I've got two 30W solar panels coming next week to take over that problem.

As I stated, I'm a so-called boon-docker. I'm fortunate to live in a state that's comprised of 64% public land, a county that's 90% public so I normally camp remotely without any neighbors. An occasional USFS or USPS campground when the need arises.

So it's all about your usage and how long you want to run whatever you're going to run. I don't think your going to be happy running a Fantastic Fan off of anything other than a marine battery (or a spendy deep cycle). But think of amp draw and go from there. Good luck and enjoy your piece of the pie!
Tony

[jonnyo]

thank you everyone! the way i m building this trailer, i realise even if i want to pass wire later on, it should have a very easy thing to do as i design it with easy access to the internal of the side walls.

puck light as work so far. What i love about my pass trailer is my wife can pick it up by hands herself and take if out of the driveway and hook it to the car or simply move it around. I will stick to my simplistic system until i feel the need for it. In a few years, we are planning to drive the alaska hwy, i might decide to step up to 12 volt for something like this.... i could see how a television and charger for computer, electric blanket etc would be handy is such long trip!

but for now, i will kept it simple!

[tony.latham]

Jonnyo - YEP! Sounds perfect for your needs. The beauty of a shop-built custom tear. You can always hang a marine battery off that tongue. Glad you have that Alaska trip on the horizon. Pretty cool.

[nevadatear]

Your design msy be easy to add the wiring later, but it is always easier to install during the build. Wiring is cheap. Lay on the wiring. Later, add outlets and a battery if you want.

[Esteban]

drewh1 bought a 100 watt solar kit from Amazon.com to power his teardrop. Complete Solar Panel Kit 100W Mono:100W Solar Panel+10' Solar cables+PWM 10A Charge Controller+Z Bracket It is priced at $206.99 with many favorable reviews by buyers. It can provide all the power you will ever need to charge a battery to power LED lights, a fan, and some more goodies too.
link to photo of drew unpacking his new solar kit