do i even want 12 volt?

[Lunchbox7985]

so heres my build

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=55888

now i plan on having a 12 volt pump for my sink, and an old computer power supply i have laying around to power it. so im going to have 12 volt onboard. but what other kinds of things do you guys use the 12 volt side for? only thing i can really think of is maybe phone chargers.

ive tossed around the idea of having a battery and an inverter to power the fridge while driving to prolong the cold, but i honestly think if i let it cool, with everything in it, the night before our trip, it will probably stay cold longer than im willing to drive in one sitting anywho. it wont be opened much if at all while on the road. so i dont think i need a battery or inverter at all.

but for the pump at least i will need a converter, and any old computer power supply will power this pump just fine, but i cant think of anything to justify a bigger power supply, or running 12 wires around for cig sockets near my 110 sockets. i will probably charge the phones and camera batteries in the tent.

can you think of anythingelse 12v i may need?

[working on it]

I vote for BOTH...I wanted 12vdc for convenience: first of all > because I am more familiar with it, second > because you carry it with you, and don't have to depend on park power or a noisy generator, and third > in a pinch, you can recharge from your tow vehicle. As to items powered by it: I'm using an automotive stereo, 12vdc LED's for entry, galley, and initial cabin lighting (always powered, if you need light when not hooked to 110vac). But if available, I will choose to go with 110vac, to power the A/C ,more LED's, and a battery charger/maintainer for the 12vdc battery. I also carry an inverter to feed the 110vac accessories from the battery, and a 2500watt generator to do whatever I need it to. These are overkill, and added a lot of weight to the project, but I wanted to be able to utilize power in either mode. I supposedly built this trailer for my wife, and she may go where no external power is available. I could do without, but I wanted her to feel at home (better than a hot/cold, leaky tent!) Now I will have to write a manual to explain how to use it.

[Dale M.]

Well since I boon-dock a lot and no shore power....

Interior lighting.
Porch lights.
Lap top power (to watch movies and listen to music library).
Pump for water system.
Fan for ventilation.
Lighting in galley.
Warming pad for bed (maybe).

Of course you can do all this with 120vac, IF you ALWAYS have shore power or generator..

Dale

[eamarquardt]

About the only things likely to be used by some while camping that can't be run (effectively/within reason) off of 12 volts are air conditioners, resistance heaters, and microwave ovens.

With a battery you'll always have 12 volts available. If you have 120 volts available you can always make more 12 volt with a converter or charger.

So, it makes sense to have 12 volt lights, phone and computer chargers, pumps, TVs, refrigeration (designed to use 12 volts efficiently), ...................

If you look at most small yachts they have ONLY 12 volts and are "off the grid' for months at a time.

So, why wouldn't one want to have 12 volts?

Cheers,

Gus

[Lunchbox7985]

i feel like omitting 12v from my build will be something i regret later, but all thats going to be in there is the microwave, fridge, and sink really. and the microwave wouldnt run off the battery, and a fridge wont run long enough to be practical. i think im going to have to have shore power for this to be practical, and honestly i dont plan on camping without power.

i dont think im going to need phone chargers since they will be in the tent, and since the whole design is open, i dont think i really need light for when im not plugged in, since the lid has to be open for me to even get in there.

as ive said somewhere on here, i did think about having a battery to power an inverter, to power the fridge to keep it cold longer, for longer trips. but i figure the fridge, if left unopen, will stay cold for hours anyway. and if im going to go somewhere that takes more than one day worth of driving. im probably going to stop at a campground instead of a hotel, so the fridge would be plugged in to get cold again for the next days journey.

the more i think about it, the more i think a small computer power supply to power the sink pump is going to be enough. i dont want to have to tear the walls apart to run 12v wires later, but i dont want to spend the extra money if im never going to need it.

[CarlLaFong]

Except for these, there are hardly any campgrounds in Wyoming with hookups

Alcova - Alcova Lake
Alpine - Greys River Cove RV Park
Beulah - Beulah Campground
Beulah - Sand Creek RV Park
Boulder - Highline Trail RV Park
Boulder - Wind River View Campground
Buffalo - Big Horn Mountains Campground
Buffalo - Buffalo KOA - Twin Creeks Campground
Buffalo - Deer Park
Buffalo - Indian Campground
Casper - Casper East RV Park
Casper - Fort Casper Campground
Casper - KOA Kampground Casper
Cheyenne - AB Campground RV Park
Cheyenne - FE Warren AFB Crow
Cheyenne - Greenway Trailer Park
Cheyenne - KOA Campground Cheyenne
Cheyenne - Restway Travel Park
Cheyenne - Terry Bison Ranch RV Park
Cheyenne - WYO Campground
Cody - Absaroka Bay RV Park
Cody - KOA Campground Cody
Cody - Parkway RV Campground
Cody - Ponderosa Campground
Cody - Yellowstone Valley Inn and RV
Dayton - Foothills Motel and Campground
Devils Tower - Devils Tower View Campground
Devils Tower - KOA Campground Devils Tower
Douglas - KOA Campground Douglas
Dubois - KOA Campground Dubois
Dubois - Lava Mountain Lodge
Dubois - Longhorn Ranch Motel and RV Resort
Dubois - Rawhide RV Park
Evanston - Phillips RV Park
Evansville - Rivers Edge RV and Cabins Resort
Fort Bridger - Fort Bridger RV Camp
Fort Laramie - Bennett Court
Fort Laramie - Chuck Wagon RV Park
Gillette - All Seasons RV Park
Gillette - High Plains Campground
Glendo - Glendo Lakeside RV Park
Glenrock - Deer Creek RV Campground
Grand Teton - Colter Bay Village
Green River - Buckboard Marina at Flaming Gorge
Green River - Texs Travel Camp
Greybull - Campbells Green Oasis Campground
Greybull - Green Oasis Campground
Greybull - KOA Campground Greybull
Guernsey - Larson City Park Campground
Jackson - KOA Campground Jackson
Jackson - Virginian Lodge
Kaycee - Hole In The Wall Campground
Kaycee - KC RV Park
Kaycee - Powder River Campground
Kemmerer - Foothills Mobile Home RV Park
Kemmerer - Hams Fork Grill and RV Park
Kemmerer - Riverside RV Park
Lander - Mountain View CG and Cafe
Lander - Pioneer RV Park
Lander - Sleeping Bear Ranch RV Resort and Cafe
Lander - Twin Pines RV Park and Campground
Laramie - KOA Campground Laramie
Lingle - Pony Soldier RV Park
Lusk - B Js Campground
Lusk - Prairie View Campground
Lyman - KOA Campground Lyman
Marbleton - Robs Roost RV Park
Mills - Gray Reef Reservoir
Moose - Grand Teton National Park - Flagg Ranch Campground
Moran - Grand Teton Park RV Resort
Newcastle - Auto-Inn Motel and RV Park
Newcastle - Crystal Park Campground
Pine Bluffs - Pine Bluffs RV Park
Pine Haven - Cedar Ridge RV Park
Pine Haven - Empire Guesthouse RV Park
Ranchester - Lazy R Campground and RV Park
Rawlins - KOA Campground Rawlins
Rawlins - RV World Campground
Rawlins - Western Hills Campground
Riverside - Lazy Acres Campground and Motel
Riverton - Owl Creek Kampground
Riverton - Wind River RV Good Sam RV Park
Rock River - Arlington Outpost
Rock Springs - High Desert Storage RV Park
Rock Springs - KOA Campground Rock Springs
Saratoga - Deer Haven RV Park
Shell - Shell Campground
Sheridan - KOA Campground Sheridan
Sheridan - Peter Ds RV Park
Sundance - Mountain View RV Park and Campground
Ten Sleep - Ten Broek RV Park and Cabins
Thayne - Flat Creek RV Park and Cabins
Thayne - Star Valley Ranch Resort
Thayne - Wolf Den RV Park
Thermopolis - Eagle RV Park
Thermopolis - Fountain Of Youth RV Park
Thermopolis - Wyoming Gardens RV Park
Torrington - Travelers Trailer Court Campground
Wheatland - Lewis Park
Wilson - Jackson Hole Campground
Worland - Worland RV Park and Campground

[Shadow Catcher]

Good one Carl
We had 120V AC more often than not in our trip west but there were three state parks where we relied on 12V and the solar system. What you plan on today may not be what you want tomorrow. I have added circuits and out lets, and had lots to begin with.

[bobhenry]

I came to this party a bit late but here is my two cents worth.......

I have ac and dc lighting on Chubby I have an ac / dc fan ( O2Kool ) ac / DC television and an ac/dc radio cd player.

The fan is a must have for me ! The fact that I can turn on a porch light and change a tire in relative safety by being will lit on a dark stretch of road is a comfort. Being able to flick on an interior light and find a needed item while in route in the middle of the night is a pleasure. I did nothing very special just added a battery that I charge before the trip and again when ac power is available for the charger. I do camp in one unimproved campground and a couple little LED's and the fan are all that is needed to keep the sweat and the dark at bay.

[Roo Dog]

We have 5 x12v leds for lighting. 2 outside. 2 inside and 1 in the galley.
Thats it.
Battery pak is 2x 32ah gels which last forever or thereabouts.
We have no other power needs.
Take it easy.

RD

[alaska teardrop]

Cool kitchen that you're building there, Lunchbox.

the more i think about it, the more i think a small computer power supply to power the sink pump is going to be enough. i dont want to have to tear the walls apart to run 12v wires later, but i dont want to spend the extra money if im never going to need it.

Here is a small 110v sink pump: http://nmsinksystems.com/dpco.html

I would imagine that there may be less expensive 110v pumps available also. It might be less cost than the 12v pump & all that it would take to make it work.

Fred

[alaska teardrop]

A lesson from the past on how to spell 'Carl LaFong', Slow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41SFTn9xHus

"And if I did know Carl LaFong, I wouldn't admit it."

Fred

[CarlLaFong]

carla you spent all that time doing that research just so you could get back at me on the forum. jeeeee, wizzz!

slow

I am not trying to "get back" at you. You tend to shoot from the hip and make blanket statements which are, generally, wrong. "Everyone in California is such and such" and "Everything in Wyoming is this way" and "My way of camping is the only way" and all of the comments about the economy, the government, etc., etc.
All of that information, regarding camping in Wyoming, was available with one or two clicks of the mouse and a cut and paste.
Carla

[CarlLaFong]

A lesson from the past on how to spell 'Carl LaFong', Slow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41SFTn9xHus

"And if I did know Carl LaFong, I wouldn't admit it."

Fred

"He's a railroad man. Gets up very early in the morning."
"He's a chump."

[bdosborn]

can you think of anythingelse 12v i may need?

Okay, you asked for it :

Espar Diesel Furnace, LED Lights, TV/LCD Monitor, XM Radio, DVD Player, 420W PV Panels, Laptop, Radio, subwoofer, media streamer box, USB Hard Drive for Movies, Dish Network Receiver, Rechargeable Flashlight, 12V Refrigerator, Endless Breeze Fan, Misc computer fans, LED Projector, Blender, Keurig Coffee Maker, iPhone, iPad, Kindle.

All run from 12V!

Bruce

[Lunchbox7985]

thanks for all the input guys, i think im going to omit 12v. anything i need to power with 12v would be in the tent (like my cell phone and such) dont think im going to do the battery either since the only thing of concern would be the fridge, and that should stay cold for hours after being unplugged.

i may add a whole 12v system later, but the whole point of this is budget oriented, so by the time i get a battery, inverter, and converter, the price would be too much.

I only plan on having wood paneling on the visible places on the inside, so it should be fairly easy to run new wiring and such later by removing a couple wood panels, and the fridge to get inside the walls.