redesign to use 12V Drill batteries

[pohukai]

I have 4 3Amp/hr - 12V panasonic drill batteries with a fast charger that can fully charge them in 1 hr. A single battery should provide enough power for a 20 watt halogen light for about 1 1/2 hours (way too long and bright for my camping). A deep cycle lead-acid battery sounds like serious overkill when most of my camping will still be done with hookups. Has anyone else done this?

I also don't like bleeding the tow vehicle's battery for my minor 12v needs.

[StandUpGuy]

I have 4 3Amp/hr - 12V panasonic drill batteries with a fast charger that can fully charge them in 1 hr. A single battery should provide enough power for a 20 watt halogen light for about 1 1/2 hours (way too long and bright for my camping). A deep cycle lead-acid battery sounds like serious overkill when most of my camping will still be done with hookups. Has anyone else done this?

I also don't like bleeding the tow vehicle's battery for my minor 12v needs.

I think it is an interesting idea. I myself do not have a 12 volt system in my trailer but was simply planning on a battery operated light and a flash light as something handy to have in the trailer drawer. Perhaps this is an even better idea for me to wire up one simple 12v bulb and use a spare drill battery and charger I have laying around.

[lazerus]

If you have a dead tool that fits that batt you could have a simple plug and play system.

Thanks for the idea. I'm going to add this to all of my RV's. The bigger 2 it will just be an emergency system. It would be perfect to finish the night off if the house batts drop to low to run the furnace. Invariably it happens about 2 hours before my alarm. My 18v dewalt should run 2 or 3 hours depending on temperature and furnace duty cycle. I'll have to add a regulator to drop it to 14v.

In a tear it could power all the lights if the trailer isn't connected to the car/truck. All my tow vehicles have a dedicated 2nd batt. But I've been avoiding putting one directly on the tear.

[Kermit]

More to my liking--the single, of course. These are really nice.
http://www.galaxygas.com/falks/products.html

[Shadow Catcher]

Kermet, and really dangerous in a confined space if not vented properly.

There are battery powered LED puck lights that are cheap and can do the job, but if you are building a trailer what you want now may not be what you want in the future. From personal experience your wants/needs grow to exceed your available forethought.