12 volt residential outlets

[bobhenry]

O.K. I have given up looking. Do any of you have a line on 12 volt outlets.

I am drawing the wireing schematic for the caboose tiny house and want 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC outlets in the same general area or even the same fixture. I understand a standard duplex can be wired DC but do not feel this is a wise or safe method. Has the electrical supply folks developed a decent looking DC outlet.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Maybe this?

https://www.makariosrv.com/products/12- ... utlet.html

[absolutsnwbrdr]

You're a handy guy... you could make your own. I took a blank wallplate, cut holes in it, and epoxied a hacked up 12VDC/5VDV USB combo outlet that I got at Advance Auto.

(I ended up cutting off one of the 12V outlets because the wallplate wasn't large enough for all three things.)

[8ball_99]

O.K. I have given up looking. Do any of you have a line on 12 volt outlets.

I am drawing the wireing schematic for the caboose tiny house and want 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC outlets in the same general area or even the same fixture. I understand a standard duplex can be wired DC but do not feel this is a wise or safe method. Has the electrical supply folks developed a decent looking DC outlet.

Yeah Do NOT wire a AC duplex outlet for 12v DC thats just asking for a major problem.. Not just with the chance of someone pluging in a AC appliance into the DC.. But your DC will will have to have AC plugs on them. This would confuse everyone even probably you after a while...
Pretty much any RV store online or local will sell 12 outlets.

[IndyTom]

Or one of these?

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=12V_Outlet&i=71714&merchID=1006&r=view

[bobhenry]

I have used various combinations of these in Chubby and the Barn. I was trying to avoid the cigarette lighter senario.

I truly can not believe with all the 12 volt appliances we still have to rely on wall wart transformers of various voltages to supply their power. I was looking for a box mounted combination of outlet and plug in end that would be compatable but easily destinguishable from it's AC cousin.

It seems the only solution to date that is acceptable by code is that a 240 volt duplex outlet can be wired DC IF and only IF No 240 volt AC is available in the building.

Here is some interesting reading on DC wiring......

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/big-steps-in-building-change-our-wiring-to-12-volt-dc.html

I have already concluded that red and blue 10 gage wire will distinguish the DC circuit wires and the standard black ,white, and green for the AC. Simple color coding like this should make the dual voltage tiny house wiring system much easier to sort out.

[Shadow Catcher]

I do agree strongly with the distinguishable from and my experience with a cigarette lighter type plugs has been universally bad. This is one of the reasons I went with the Anderson power poles throughout Compass Rose.
there are a number of types of plates that can be used with them. One of the other big advantages of them is that they are not very expensive.
One source is Power Werx http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-accessories
I used



but if I were gong to be doing new construction I would probably use one of these.

[bobhenry]

So is this the plug-in that would be installed at the end of the cord?

One side positive and one side negative ?



Are they keyed to make them idiot proof when plugging in?

Some of the 12 volt electronics may be picky about polarity ????

[Forrest747]

Could something like order some european plugs for your dc volts. I am not sure but maybe if they stil sell them use just a 2 prong outlet. the other alternative is to buy a different color outlet for DC. I bought black outlets just to go with the color scheme i am creating, but you could get them in brown beige black white and even red ones.

Although to keep it simple you could just go with a coaxial plug receptical like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIAJ_connector

http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&products_id=279

[bobhenry]

I like the happy face one from Denmark.

That is kinda what I expected when I started looking earlier this week.

Two 1/8 ?? inch diameter pins that could be inserted into a outlet designed for them that could then be installed in a standard outlet box. I was in hopes of installing a quad box and being able to insert an AC duplex and a DC pair of outlets side by side.

( and Yes I would have AC and DC in the same box and yes if they were to ever touch the world would end as we know it!)

I was quite suprised that with the push towards solar that there is no attempt to make a standard wiring system for 12 volt.

[zipz71]

So is this the plug-in that would be installed at the end of the cord?

One side positive and one side negative ?



Are they keyed to make them idiot proof when plugging in?

Some of the 12 volt electronics may be picky about polarity ????

Yes to all these questions.

More information from the same web site here.

http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-power ... pole-sets/

[Shadow Catcher]

BOB that is the big one 150A and yes it is keyed, I have a couple of those but most are

the housing can be had in a number of different colors and can be assembled in different configurations. I used them for the connections from the AC unit.

[bobhenry]

If I am reading the site correctly just the box cover is $15.00. Then you need the outlets that clamp in it ???? or are they in the outlet cover.

Then you buy the cord ends . It's starting to look kinda expensive.

Granted I would only need 6 to maybe 8 outlets but the 240 volt standard Leviton outlets and plugs are starting to look a bit more attractive.

I have a inquiry into Leviton to see if there is an answers that I have missed.

[IndyTom]

Bob,

If you are looking for cable-end connectors, look at battery connectors for electric helecopters. They pull some tremendous current from Lithium Polymer batteries. You might be able to mount one in a box of some sort to make an outlet.

Tom

[Lgboro]

Hobby shops that cater to RC cars and planes should have a selection of quality 12 plugs. Truck stops and auto parts stores often stock them too.