Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm in the wiring stage and the more I think about it I think i will go with 110 only want are your thought?

Mike, unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE you will never ever want to use the camper somewhere where 110 is not available...go ahead...I wouldn't build one of these without both...it is just to simple not too...IMNSHO
madjack

Mike:

Jack has it right... easy to do uP front and you will use the juice in both forms. Even to charge your 12V it is great to have options. Campgrounds will have 115 and you will use it... trust me.

Mike we have 12v outlets/lights/fantastiv fan and 110 outlets for AC and charger...it is a pretty simple system....

...on future models we will probably use the 25A power center pictured in this link;
http://www.bestconverter.com/view_category.asp?cat=63
madjack

110 and 12 volt or just 110.

I asked myself that question in reverse. Should I bother with a 110V system. Its probably the part of the country your from. Here in Pennsylvania in my average camping range, which is a 300 mile circle from my home (and most times 150 miles).

Many times I camp where there is no 110V, where there is no campground, out in the wilds where theres no nothing.

I've never really needed 110v. And though I've installed a very minimal 110V system It has never been used.

I think the only NEED would be Air-conditioning.

Now do we get heat like they do down South, no. If we did would my thoughts on this change..Yes.

But I think a 12v system is an item that you would use more than you think.

Happy Trails

Len

I also think you should do both. Just think either you are packing for a trip or you just got home from a trip. So either, get out the extention cord, pack-unpack in the dark, or just turn a 12V light on.
I think the 12V would add alot of convenience down the road. And since you wouldn't use it much you don't need that large of a battery.
I have the power converter MJ linked to, Dale does too. It's a good converter. What I like the most about it is that it has a 110Vpanel with two breakers and a 12V panel with 3 fuses all in one unit. So all your electric is in one box.

Personally, I wouldn't consider just 110 only. I'd go with 12V only if I had to choose just one. At least, I'd have lights and the fan no matter where I went or where I stopped. That said, I also wanted an A/C available whenever I had 110V input, and that will be nearly everywhere I will camp, except for overnight fishing trips possibly (where I'll need the 12V lighting). Besides, 12V light fixtures are flat and usually take up less space than 110V fixtures.

My only question was what type of setup did I want. Just a charger like Jack has or a converter. I finally decided on the same converter that Jack mentioned. http://www.bestconverter.com/view_category.asp?cat=63 after I found out that the company replaced the single stage charger with a 3-stage charger. Although it appears to be rated to ouput 25 amps of 12VDC, the main polarity protection fuse is 30 amps, and it will handle up to 30 amps of 110VAC. I put in two 15 amp breakers, one each for my front and rear 110V outlets. It's all connected and working. Now, I can work on my interior in cool comfort with the A/C on.

Mike ...

Just do both... and be happy down the road.

Battery needs charging and lets face it camp grounds with 110 AC will charge you up...

Get over it and put a little wire in that rig and light uP yur life.

Smiles,

Yeah Mike,

What they all said. I only have the lighting on 12 volts. Sure is handy not getting the extension cord out every time I go hide in the TD to listen to some music, read a book, or have a little fun in the afternoon

Another item Mike. If you run a charge line from your tow vehicle, it charges your battery as you go down the road. Its a no brainer. Your battery is always charged when you get there.

Its better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Happy Trails

Len

Because of how and where I use my teardrop most of the time, I went the other way and everything is 12 Volts. The only AC I have in the trailer is to power the battery charger and the one outlet I put in the galley just because I could.

I'm doing 12v for everything. Then the wife asked where are the plugs? So I asked where are we going to haul all the extra 110v stuff? Now a very simple cord GFI and power strip. I hope thats were it ends.

None of the above.

(Although I'd install either if anybody wanted them.)

Why?

In Summer:

1. Daylight 24/7

2. Don't need A/C

3. Good luck receiving radio/TV

4. Rechargable batteries for music

5. If 110 available, wouldn't want to camp there anyway

In Winter: Same as above except

1. Somewhat dark - Alaskans are born with battery powered light on forehead

2. Good sleeping bag, Musk Ox hide and warm Husky

3. If 110 not available, another frozen battery nothing but trouble. Start car using propane fired weed burner under engine

4. If 110 available, plug in car and sleep in building

Fred

len19070 wrote:I've never really needed 110v. And though I've installed a very minimal 110V system It has never been used.

I'm with Len on this one. I didn't bother with 110, though I've considered adding a plug for my old-timey looking radio/cd player. But that is so far down on my "to-do" list that it'll probably never happen.

Joseph

Hey, how come I can't vote?

I just went 110. I'll bring a 12V battery and inverter anyway and plug THAT into my system if there's no 110 available and I still can't afford my generator because I've been drinking too much beer.