DC outlets

The fuse will protect the wire. I don't recollect the gauge but it runs two 12v fans and my dual voltage TV fine. Don't use it to run an inverter or something like that.

Ran a cig lighter outlet behind the TV. Ran another on the kitchen cabinet next to the front door above the fire extinguisher. This line I ran from a spare fuse holder on the inverter to under the door jam.

And incredible there were no 12V outlets or USB ports! So I also added next to the door a dual USB outlet with voltage readout.

Enjoy!

I don't know why someone doesn't come up with a better 12v plug system than the clunky cigarette lighter style.  For dry camping, more 12 plugs would be handy, but the big cigaret lighter tube plugs take a lot of space inside the wall, limiting where they can be installed and the male part of the plug is vulnerable to getting hit and damaged.  The SAE style plugs used for the newer solar connections, or something like it, would work much better. 

Originally posted by lostagain I don't know why someone doesn't come up with a better 12v plug system than the clunky cigarette lighter style.  For dry camping, more 12 plugs would be handy, but the big cigaret lighter tube plugs take a lot of space inside the wall, limiting where they can be installed and the male part of the plug is vulnerable to getting hit and damaged.  The SAE style plugs used for the newer solar connections, or something like it, would work much better.

The problem really isn't the receptacle/outlet. You could use any rated receptacle for a 12v circuit. The problem is the plug, the danger being that if you wire up your 12v appliance with a plug that is normally used at 120vac you could later inadvertently connect it to a 120vac circuit and find out where the smoke was hidden.

Hence the cig lighter convention. The cig lighter outlets are typically rated for 15a which will provide around 180 watts.

There are surface mount MC4 connectors available if you can find them but that is really overkill anyway for 12vdc as they are rated for 600vdc (non load break). You can readily get SAE surface mount connectors (like the "solar port" on rpods). I'd suggest using that if you don't like the cig lighter standard. Just cut off the cig lighter plugs and replace them.

Check the current rating of the connectors you get (you see numbers between 15 and 30a) and if the manufacturer doesn't list one then try to get something else. The wiring also has to be able to handle the current (14awg for 15a, 12awg for 20a, 10awg for 30a). Also be sure that you wire the appliances you connect for the same polarity you have wired the wall receptacles as the SAE standard doesn't specify that. And use the applicable fuses back at the distribution panel...