Hybrid TV dilemma

[Tamarack Lady]

Hi everyone! First let me say that I have read many times the information on this site but still am weak in understanding. That being said, I do have a knowledgeable son who is helping me with the electric. ( I also have a husband helping with the rest. )

We have the flooring on our 5x9 new build with my wiring in conduit through my sandwiched floor. (We did put the DC on its own side as per your recommendations.) We are working on the sides now.
My current question involves my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I decided to have their service department install the wiring to charge my teardrop battery when towing because of the hybrid battery. They said it couldn't be done but their explanation was unclear. So I called the company...again "no" because apparently there is an inverter between the two batteries.

So my question.....the"luxury" I wanted was a Norcold or Demetic/tundra refrigerator. Is this no longer an option? Ideas??
(This,naturally, is not a deal breaker because we have been tenting/kayak camping for years.)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...and I do appreciate all your expertise and willingness to take the time to share.
Tamarack Lady, Wendy

[H.A.]

I.

[CarlLaFong]

As H.A. alluded, there has to be a source of 12V in all hybrids to operate the accessories, the lights, stereo, windows, seats etc. It can be done, but rather than tell you that they don't know how or that they're scared of liability issues, they just tell you that it can't be done. Hogwash

[bigbendhiker]

I wonder what kind of answer you would get if you took it to a well known/respected trailer hitch installer and had them give you their opinion? I'm not necessarily talking about U-Haul, but for example here in the Dallas area we have an independent company that has been in business a long time. I would at least be willing to hear what they might have to say.

You might also get advice from a high end stereo installer that would have experience with higher power 12volt systems.

Since your vehicle is a 2006 warranty issues are probably not a concern.

Just some ideas to consider. Good luck.

[GuitarPhotog]

It's interesting that your car is rated by the mfr with a 3500 lb towing capacity, but they say there's no accessory 12VDC available. I think someone is too lazy to perform the due diligence to learn how to do it, and is saying "it's impossible"

The mfr's specs are here http://tinyurl.com/6rzds6v

<Chas>

[Tamarack Lady]

Thanks to you all!....
The cigarette lighter socket is an option and a good one to explore.
I do know of a shop that specializes in installing hitches so I think I will "pick their brains". In the past they have been very helpful so I think the challenge might be something they would like. My warranty is long gone so not a concern..."frying" the hybrid battery is, however...expensive! Going to a specialty shop seems like an excellent idea.
I do think that Toyota did not want to do this because the shop manager walked me out to a young guy who does their special installations( he was working on a very "tricked out" truck). He started to tell me something but the manager stopped him saying that they couldn't do it. The young guy then mentioned a stereo shop but I didn't get it and the manager then led me away. That's why I called the company.
I am not giving up yet! However, I am reading about solar installations .
I will explore all your suggestions and will let you know the outcomes.
I love the availability of all your collective minds!! Thanks again, Wendy

[Tamarack Lady]

Hi all....feedback on my research! A call to the company, two dealerships, two reputable hitch specialists, and two audio installers...all afraid of the hybrid!!
So plan "B"...solar. I would appreciate any feedback/suggestions. Price Right Solar has a 100 watt polycrystalline panel that would fit on top of my box in front of my trailer (or soon to be trailer...not finished but getting closer!) I would also get a Morningstar sunsaver 10 controller. My idea is to garnish as much power while driving and then make it portable to face the sun when we get to a campsite.

Questions: Does this seem doable? Does it make sense?
Are all solartech panels sturdy enough for rv traveling?
Will this size panel charge my lifeline 27 back in one day after using it down a half ?
Any suggestions????

Thanks to you all for your help and collective knowledge!!
Tamarack Lady, Wendy

[eamarquardt]

Where there is a will there is a way. I'd run a small 120 volt inverter off of the cigarette lighter outlet. Then I'd buy a nice multistage battery charger that runs off of 120 volts. When you're towing you make 120 volts, use it to run the battery charger and charge your battery on the fly. When you get to the campground and have shore power you plug your battery charger into the outlet provided and you've got virtually unlimited power.

The advantage of doing it this way is that the voltage out of the cigarette lighter outlet may not be high enough to charge a 12 volt battery properly. Stepping up to 120 volt and then back down, via the battery charger, will ensure that your battery is charged properly (three stage) and to the correct voltage.

I'd check with the maker of the battery charger to ensure that it will run on a modified sine wave and also ensure that your 12 volt outlet will supply enough current to power the inverter and that the inverter will provide enough power to power the charger.

Easier to install and deal with than solar. You can always add solar to the equation.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[Shadow Catcher]

According to one source there are 2 12V power outlets in the rear. I have a Waeco refrigerator that travels in the back of our Subaru plugged into the 12 system. We also have a solar panel on the top of our tear that supplies power to the tear and a plug in for the Waeco.
I would also be checking the Toyota plug in the vehicle, there are five wires and I would be willing to bet one of them is a positive and one a negative as well as the trailer light connections.

[Richard A.]

The advantage of doing it this way is that the voltage out of the cigarette lighter outlet may not be high enough to charge a 12 volt battery properly. Stepping up to 120 volt and then back down, via the battery charger, will ensure that your battery is charged properly (three stage) and to the correct voltage.

I doubt there is anything in the car to REDUCE the voltage at the cigarette lighter outlet to 12 volts from the normal 13.6 vdc.

MOST cig outlets are rated for about 10 amps ... if not .. then the plug you insert is certainly rated at that. If you run that much current thru most plugs they will eventually fail because there is a spring inside (pushing the tip out to contact the bottom of the outlet) and that heats up from the current and eventually looses is springiness.

How much current will that battery charger draw? Remember for every 100 watts of 120 vac and inverter needs to draw 10 amps dc.

[Breytie]

No need to worry about reducing 13.6V to 12V. Very few 12V systems are 12V, especially when Lead-Acid batteries are involved. Automotive systems and accesories to be connected to them, must be able to opperate permanently at about 14V, because that is the voltage of the battery when it is being fast charged. Momentary peaks of 70V plus is fairly common. Float charge voltage is about 13.6V to 13.8V, so that is taken as the "nominal voltage" of the system.

So do not fret too much over the 12V rating if it is designed to be connected to a car or light truck with a 12V system.

[eamarquardt]

The advantage of doing it this way is that the voltage out of the cigarette lighter outlet may not be high enough to charge a 12 volt battery properly. Stepping up to 120 volt and then back down, via the battery charger, will ensure that your battery is charged properly (three stage) and to the correct voltage.

I doubt there is anything in the car to REDUCE the voltage at the cigarette lighter outlet to 12 volts from the normal 13.6 vdc.

MOST cig outlets are rated for about 10 amps ... if not .. then the plug you insert is certainly rated at that. If you run that much current thru most plugs they will eventually fail because there is a spring inside (pushing the tip out to contact the bottom of the outlet) and that heats up from the current and eventually looses is springiness.

How much current will that battery charger draw? Remember for every 100 watts of 120 vac and inverter needs to draw 10 amps dc.

The voltage in my brand new Chevrolet Traverse varies from just above 12 volts to over 14 volts. In an electric car I doubt that that the auxiliary outlets are connected to an alternator and 12 volt battery that is charged via a voltage regulator. Soooooooo, I doubt that like a conventional auto with a true 12 volt system with alternator and regulator that the 12 volt outlets will be set up to really charge a battery properly (or more properly than just connecting them to a fixed 12 volt power source) and may not get the voltage to a full charge. That's why I suggested an inverter to get to 110 volts and then a battery charger. If you wanted to, you could pull the factory cigarette lighter socket out, tap into the wires, and install some powerpole connectors to alleviate any concerns about the reliability of the connection.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers,

Gus