Landscape 12 volt converter

[sseaman]

has anyone used one of these to convert 110 to 12 volt, im not planning on using a battery, so i thought this might bypass all the charger setup

[jdarkoregon]

You know this is interesting, I'm looking forward to some technical comments.

John

[Boodro]

Hi , I looked at those doing my build but the wattage was not high enough. I think most only run about 10 or 12 watts . I use a regular car battery charger to run my 12v systems. ( fans,lights,) Good luck.

[Volvord]

An option for those with some talent in electronics is to convert a computer ATX power supply. The process is simple and they have reasonable output of around 350 watts and are dirt cheap

http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Comput ... wer-Supply

[sseaman]

[quote="Boodro"]Hi , I looked at those doing my build but the wattage was not high enough. I think most only run about 10 or 12 watts . I use a regular car battery charger to run my 12v systems. ( fans,lights,) Good luck.[/quote]

i have seen them up to 1000 watts

[jeep_bluetj]

Won't work at all, except for JUST lights.

Landscape transformers drop 110v AC to 12v AC (the good ones have taps for 13 and 14V too)


Your 12v wiring in your tear generally wants DC current. (Incandecant lights are the ONLY exception.) You'll toast your stereo, your fans will sit and shudder at 60hz, led lights will be half-as-bright, etc.

Cheap solition is indeed a old PC powersupply, but the 12v outputs are generally lower wattage output.

I'd use a automatic charger and drain the battery. peak currents will end up being supplied by the battery, made up by times of no current use. A 6 or 10a automatic charger can be had for <$50.

You don't need a BIG battery. You can get a small optima (for Civic's) or even really small batteries in the 10 or so AH range (like http://www.planetbattery.com/product2.a ... 3&id3=8044)

[sseaman]

i may have to toy with the pc idea, i dont plan to install a battery the places we normally camp have electric hook ups

[Dooner]

i may have to toy with the pc idea, i dont plan to install a battery the places we normally camp have electric hook ups

Sseaman- At first, I was going to do like you and not have a battery. But as I built and read the forum, I decided that in the long run it would be best to have the battery. As of now, it only runs my stereo, one 11 watt light in the interior, and two 6" flouresent lights in the galley. My battery is large enough that I will add a 110 volt convertor or invertor, whichever it is, for my laptop and maybe a small micro.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is, I thought I would only camp in places that have shore power. Then I thought, I would be missing out on some beautiful places that do not have shore power.
Don't limit yourself. There is a lot to see out there away from civilization.
Thanks for listening.

[jeep_bluetj]

As my first post indicates, a battery is a good thing

Just to go out at night to load up the TD. If you had a battery to run the lights you don't need to turn on the TowVehicle, or hook up 110, etc.

That's why a small battery is a good thing. I ran my trailer on a 7AH battery for quite awhile, but I'd only get 2-3 hours of light out of it. No good for extended boondocking (I NEVER camp near 110v). Little 5-10AH batteries are available from old PC UPS supplies - you can also use the charger portion of a UPS to charge the battery (Trickle only, though)

[kartvines]

during the time I was installing and testing my 12 volt system I used a old train transformer and it worked great. It also allowed me to add additional power when I needed it to push more power, turning more components on at the same time. I may haul it with me to use as a back up once I go camping for the first time.

[sseaman]

[quote="Dooner"][quote="sseaman"]i may have to toy with the pc idea, i dont plan to install a battery the places we normally camp have electric hook ups[/quote]

Sseaman- At first, I was going to do like you and not have a battery. But as I built and read the forum, I decided that in the long run it would be best to have the battery. As of now, it only runs my stereo, one 11 watt light in the interior, and two 6" flouresent lights in the galley. My battery is large enough that I will add a 110 volt convertor or invertor, whichever it is, for my laptop and maybe a small micro.
Anyway, what I am trying to say is, I thought I would only camp in places that have shore power. Then I thought, I would be missing out on some beautiful places that do not have shore power.
Don't limit yourself. There is a lot to see out there away from civilization.
Thanks for listening. [/quote]


Dooner, thanks for the advise, typically if we are in the camper its with the whole family, and the wife doesnt do without showers, if im backcountry camping, then im with the guys and we are backpacking, this is why i havent planned this way but the more i plan the more involved it gets, i better start building

[Chuck Craven]

Hear is a power supply that can be used. http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/i ... PLY_(AS-IS)_.html It is 12v at 6 amps. It also has a gel cell built in to it but would have to be replaced as it is old stock. There is a sheet that will tell you how to run it with out the battery. The only thing it needs is a 10-ohm resistor across the 5v output at 100 watts. That resistor is needed to keep the supply faked out it has a computer connected to it.


Chuck

[Tripmaker]

I was not going to have a battery at first either. Thinking I would be camping at state parks and have shore power. The more I read I changed my mind. I took a trip to Yellowstone last summer and found the National Parks did not have shore power in most campgrounds, and there are very few electric sites at Custer State Park in SD. In the scheme of things buying a 12V deep cycle battery is no big deal. I bought a WIFCO converter charger for about $125. It is plugged in now, keeping my battery happy through the cold winter months.

[Dale M.]

Some time I have to wonder why people want to go to all the pushups to buy and incorporate a lot of technology, and build more complicated tears ...

A simple inexpensive battery charger and and battery will supply any 12 needs in teardrop system. Use the KISS principle, which is short for "Keep It Simple Stupid"

IF one does not what to have battery power there is no point going to a 12 volt system (other than cute fixtures) ... If you are ALWAYS going to have shore power go with 120 volt appliances and lighting, it eliminate a expensive and inefficient step in powering TB...

Dale