INVERTOR - R-pod Owners Forum

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hogone

Senior Member

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1060

Topic: INVERTOR
Posted: 23 May 2013 at 1:29pm

I'm sure this subject is out there somehow, but can't find it. My question is in regards to invertors. I know others have installed 12V sockets in their pods for various reasons; TV, charging various items, etc. Is there any reason not to install an invertor (not sure what size this would take) back with the breaker/fuse box so it hidden, run some disignated lines with actual 110 receptacles which would eliminate buying 12V products and just utilize the 110 products that we/I have. I am assuming they make open ended invertors where you could hook up 12V going in, and a 110 line going out to your disignated areas. Hopefully this all makes sense, and may not be possible or a bad/stupid idea. Appreciate any feedback pro and con. hogone

Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD

CharlieM

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797

Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:00pm

A few thoughts on inverters: I assume your question concerns times you are "off the grid" with no shore power available. By definition you are limited by battery capacity and every watt counts.

Inverters, which "invert" 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC, are usually 80% to 90% efficient. This is battery power wasted as heat. Then, most items such as computers, cell phones, music players and radios, use a "converter" which converts 120 volt AC to lower voltage AC or DC. This again is inefficient and wastes more battery power as heat. It's usually best to limit the number of power conversions when total battery capacity is a consideration. And the inverter will use and waste energy even when not in use unless the 12 volt side is disconnected.

As for adding designated 120 outlets, they would have to be used carefully to avoid plugging in high current appliances like hair driers, lamps, TVs, coffee makers. These will probably produce the pleasant aroma of inverter smoke in the camper. (Alright, they should be self protected, but....)

A last consideration is the size of the inverter. I carry a 175 watt Radio Shack inverter with me, but I've never used it. Note that, at 175 watts the inverter is drawing almost 15 amps from the battery. Not good for battery life if you're off the grid. The only thing in the RPOD that can be run on this inverter is the TV/CD/DVD/Radio thing. Enough said. The only real requirement I can conceive of is a CPAP machine that will not run on 12 volts.

I have added 12 volt outlets inside the RPOD and all my i-phones, pods, pads, computers, walkie-talkies, satellite radios, etc., have 12 volt adapters or USB converters. These work equally well in the boonies and campgrounds.

Of course, none of this is important if you have the unlimited convenience of campground shore power available.

Happy podding,

Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

TerryM

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Location: Saint Augustine
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1950

Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:22pm

The CPAP is running on 12vDC. That inline black box is what changes the voltage to 12DC. I have one and put in a 12VDC outlet by my bed. All I had to do was go to Radio Shack and buy another cord that goes between the box and the CPAP. Then I stripped the one end and put the male end of the regular 12v line on it. Works great!

Terry

RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

hogone

Senior Member

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1060

Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:54pm

so if i am understanding this correctly, the disadvantage to using an inverter (I spelled it right this time!) vs straight 12V is you lose and/or waste battery power when using an inverter, correct; much less efficient than if you use just straight 12V products and/or adaptors for such; and yes i am only talking about when completely off grid. Again, hope this all makes sense as I am totally green in this area.

Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD

CharlieM

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797

Posted: 23 May 2013 at 4:33pm

Terry: Good info, thanks. Since I don't use one I didn't know whether all CPAPs were essentially 12 volt devices.

Hogone: Yes, you've got it right. Especially in the case of native 12 volt items such as Terry mentions you go from 100% efficiency with the direct 12 volt cord to 72% (0.85 X 0.85). Your battery will love you. Now, change all those lights to LEDs.

Charlie

Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

jjkd

Newbie

Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11

Posted: 24 May 2013 at 10:16pm

CPAP machines do vary, mine will run directly on 12 volts, but my wife's will not. Hers requires 18 volts as I recall. There are dc to dc converters that would correct for this, less efficient than directly connecting to 12 volts, but more efficient converting once from 12 to 18 rather than from 12 volts to 120 vac and back down to 18 volts.

--
Joe Kyle
--jjkd--

shroomer

Senior Member

Joined: 24 Aug 2013
Location: New Haven, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 236

Posted: 25 Aug 2013 at 4:34pm

Hogone,

We just joined up, so sorry for the late info.
My wife's cpap runs on 12v (like yours) after the 110v converts it. So I bought a 12v "adaptor" (came with a fuse in it) online for her machine. I put a 12v outlet in the entertainment center (there's a 12v line up there for the rear lights, antenna amplifier, etc) and the machine fits beautifully in the cabinet. It's a very neat set up. Hope you found a good solution.

Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6
New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8

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hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Topic: INVERTOR Posted: 23 May 2013 at 1:29pm
	I'm sure this subject is out there somehow, but can't find it. My question is in regards to invertors. I know others have installed 12V sockets in their pods for various reasons; TV, charging various items, etc. Is there any reason not to install an invertor (not sure what size this would take) back with the breaker/fuse box so it hidden, run some disignated lines with actual 110 receptacles which would eliminate buying 12V products and just utilize the 110 products that we/I have. I am assuming they make open ended invertors where you could hook up 12V going in, and a 110 line going out to your disignated areas. Hopefully this all makes sense, and may not be possible or a bad/stupid idea. Appreciate any feedback pro and con. hogone
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:00pm
	A few thoughts on inverters: I assume your question concerns times you are "off the grid" with no shore power available. By definition you are limited by battery capacity and every watt counts. Inverters, which "invert" 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC, are usually 80% to 90% efficient. This is battery power wasted as heat. Then, most items such as computers, cell phones, music players and radios, use a "converter" which converts 120 volt AC to lower voltage AC or DC. This again is inefficient and wastes more battery power as heat. It's usually best to limit the number of power conversions when total battery capacity is a consideration. And the inverter will use and waste energy even when not in use unless the 12 volt side is disconnected. As for adding designated 120 outlets, they would have to be used carefully to avoid plugging in high current appliances like hair driers, lamps, TVs, coffee makers. These will probably produce the pleasant aroma of inverter smoke in the camper. (Alright, they should be self protected, but....) A last consideration is the size of the inverter. I carry a 175 watt Radio Shack inverter with me, but I've never used it. Note that, at 175 watts the inverter is drawing almost 15 amps from the battery. Not good for battery life if you're off the grid. The only thing in the RPOD that can be run on this inverter is the TV/CD/DVD/Radio thing. Enough said. The only real requirement I can conceive of is a CPAP machine that will not run on 12 volts. I have added 12 volt outlets inside the RPOD and all my i-phones, pods, pads, computers, walkie-talkies, satellite radios, etc., have 12 volt adapters or USB converters. These work equally well in the boonies and campgrounds. Of course, none of this is important if you have the unlimited convenience of campground shore power available. Happy podding,
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

TerryM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950	Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:22pm
	The CPAP is running on 12vDC. That inline black box is what changes the voltage to 12DC. I have one and put in a 12VDC outlet by my bed. All I had to do was go to Radio Shack and buy another cord that goes between the box and the CPAP. Then I stripped the one end and put the male end of the regular 12v line on it. Works great! Terry
	RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565

hogone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1060	Posted: 23 May 2013 at 3:54pm
	so if i am understanding this correctly, the disadvantage to using an inverter (I spelled it right this time!) vs straight 12V is you lose and/or waste battery power when using an inverter, correct; much less efficient than if you use just straight 12V products and/or adaptors for such; and yes i am only talking about when completely off grid. Again, hope this all makes sense as I am totally green in this area.
	Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 23 May 2013 at 4:33pm
	Terry: Good info, thanks. Since I don't use one I didn't know whether all CPAPs were essentially 12 volt devices. Hogone: Yes, you've got it right. Especially in the case of native 12 volt items such as Terry mentions you go from 100% efficiency with the direct 12 volt cord to 72% (0.85 X 0.85). Your battery will love you. Now, change all those lights to LEDs. Charlie
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

jjkd Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Location: Illinois Online Status: Offline Posts: 11	Posted: 24 May 2013 at 10:16pm
	CPAP machines do vary, mine will run directly on 12 volts, but my wife's will not. Hers requires 18 volts as I recall. There are dc to dc converters that would correct for this, less efficient than directly connecting to 12 volts, but more efficient converting once from 12 to 18 rather than from 12 volts to 120 vac and back down to 18 volts.
	-- Joe Kyle --jjkd--

shroomer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2013 Location: New Haven, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 236	Posted: 25 Aug 2013 at 4:34pm
	Hogone, We just joined up, so sorry for the late info. My wife's cpap runs on 12v (like yours) after the 110v converts it. So I bought a 12v "adaptor" (came with a fuse in it) online for her machine. I put a 12v outlet in the entertainment center (there's a 12v line up there for the rear lights, antenna amplifier, etc) and the machine fits beautifully in the cabinet. It's a very neat set up. Hope you found a good solution.
	Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8