Extension cord sizing for inverter to RV plug

[DuneElliot]

Laptops and tablets and phones do not require an inverter.  All of these can be powered by an appropriate DC power supply that transforms 12v DC to 5vDC for USB, or to 19.x vDC for laptops.  It is also more efficient than using the inverter just to power these items, especially an inverter big enough for a microwave which will use a lot of electricity simply turned on, powering nothing.

For laptop add 'car adapter' to make and model number.  make sure it shows a regular looking power brick that has a ciggy plug on it and does not show a simple small inverter which can plug into 12v ciggy receptacle.  They run about 25$

For USB charging:
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Sys...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YT4KZZMS3E7F0BS3NJT0

Or plug a product like this into any existing 12v receptacle:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...KIXSG5MO8&rh=n:172282,k:usb+car+charger&ajr=0

I do understand this but for some reason I don't have a single 12v outlet in my 5W. I've been told that all RVs have one somewhere...but apparently not mine.

 

[SternWake]

12v outlets/plugs were designed by Murphy and the Devil when in their most sadistic moods anyway.

Cut off the plug, hardwire it to fuse block with a 15 amp inline switch. If left hooked up even when no t plugged into laptop these have a small parasitic draw. Mine is between 0.08 and 0.09 amps. Significant enought I try and remember disconnect it when laptop is not in use.

Inverters are the easiest way to overdeplete batteries/ Waste battery power. i recommend bypassing their use whenever possible, unless of course on has lots of capacity and recharging capacity to spare.

The Inverter can also be electrically noisy. It could present issues when watching Antenna TV VHFhi(cactual channels(7-13) upto actual 19 IME, or listening to AM or perhaps even FM radio. But so can LED lights and the DC to DC power supply shown, But a laptop AC DC power supply powered by an inverter is a double RFI Whammy.
My inverter powering my ACDC laptop powersupply requires 10 to 14 more watts than my DC to DC power supply. I can't justify throwing those watts away.

 

[DuneElliot]

12v outlets/plugs were designed by Murphy and the Devil when in their most sadistic moods anyway.

Cut off the plug, hardwire it to fuse block with a 15 amp inline switch.  If left hooked up even when no t plugged into laptop these have a small parasitic draw.  Mine is between 0.08 and 0.09 amps.  Significant enought I try and remember disconnect it when laptop is not in use.

Inverters are the easiest way to overdeplete batteries/ Waste battery power.  i recommend bypassing their use whenever possible, unless of course on has lots of capacity and recharging capacity to spare.

The Inverter can also be electrically noisy. It could present issues when watching Antenna TV VHFhi(cactual channels(7-13) upto actual 19 IME, or listening to AM or perhaps even FM radio. But so can LED lights and the DC to DC power supply shown, But a laptop  AC DC power supply powered by an inverter is a double RFI Whammy.
My inverter powering my ACDC laptop powersupply requires 10 to 14 more watts than my DC to DC power supply.  I can't justify throwing those watts away.

The inverter is an outside compartment and far away from the electronics. I'm hoping this is only going to be a temporary solution and that I can find someone at the RTR next year to help me do it properly and wire the inverter directly to the converter/fuse panel. This is really just a stop-gap measure until I can find someone to help me do it right.

 

[ArtW]

I don't think my TT has any 12v plugs, either.

 

[highdesertranger]

add them. if you don't have 12v outlets, install them. highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

12v outlets/plugs were designed by Murphy and the Devil when in their most sadistic moods anyway.

Why haven't these been redesigned yet?  I assume they designed them to work with the existing cigarette lighters back when the only thing that required the circle outlet was a cig lighter.  Now that those are basically obsolete why isn't anyone making a better plug and socket?

 

[SternWake]

Why haven't these been redesigned yet?

Too Ubiquitos.

Only people who really have issues with them are those like us that use them a lot and ask them to regularly pass 50 or more watts.

Every other vehicle on the planet has them already and they are usually fine for light loads as long as they remain fully seated in the socket.

Heck, I hate em  with the insane white hot passion of a thousand suns, but still use them.

But anything passing more than about 1 amp, 12 to 15 watts, I use Anderson Powerpoles, usually with the 45 amp contacts, but 15 and 30's assemble much faster and are good for lighter gauge wire.
15/30/45's all mate together.

The Blueseas version receptacle and plug is redesigned to be a better spring loaded contact with much less chance to wiggle loose and get hot, but, the plug is only rated for 10 amps while the receptacle is rated for 15.

 

[DuneElliot]

add them.  if you don't have 12v outlets,  install them.  highdesertranger

As with many things, not something I have the knowledge or skill level to do

 

[ArtW]

I probably could, but ripping into my TT like that while it still belongs to the bank ain't happening, just in case

 

[DuneElliot]

I actually found one very random 12v socket last night...I went hunting. It's under the entertainment center where it's pretty much useless because it's almost impossible to get to. I could potentially just use it for charging my phone and tablet if I can get a charger to reach it and then thread it out through a cupboard door. I feel like everything else in my 5W is well designed and put together, but no 12v sockets!!!

 

[Weight]

I would not trust a 12V dc to 19V dc adapter to power my very expensive lap top. con such a thing have clean power? I prefer a small pure sine wave inverter.

 

[Almost There]

I feel like everything else in my 5W is well designed and put together, but no 12v sockets!!!

That's because the whole RV industry is focused on a market that stays in RV parks with full hook-ups.

The concept of living in a RV while not hooked up to anything for weeks on end is completely foreign to them.

 

[becida]

The inverter and anything needing 110v to run or charge....as mentioned, TV, PS3, laptop and phone/tablet. I also have a couple of free-standing LED lights that I have plugged in. Occasionally the microwave. I realize that my set-up is a little over-kill for most of my power needs, but I'd rather have too much than too little.

I run my laptop, phone, led lights, tablet & kindle off DC, the inverter is just in case. If you're running a microwave I suspect you have one heck of a battery system!

 

[ArtW]

so what did this 12v plug look like? lighter socket?

 

[DuneElliot]

I have a 400ah AGM battery system. I haven't even started to use it yet because I'm still house sitting for my parents.

I'll see if I can get a picture. I'll use it for charging, but not for sensitive electronic devices...that's what I have a 2000W PSW inverter for!

 

[Dennis]

I bought a two pack of the Aukey flush mount male plugs with two USB ports and they fit really snug in my lighter socket. Better than I expected and with no wiggle like with the lighter plug. Worth considering if you don't already have some snug fitting plugs.

 

[becida]

so what did this 12v plug look like? lighter socket?

Yes. 
I have four of them running off the house batteries, going thru a fuse panel. Two up front & two in back by the bed.