Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Adding Inverter

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Adding Inverter

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14297
Printed Date: 21 Jun 2025 at 4:34pm
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Topic: Adding Inverter

Posted By: SailorDude
Subject: Adding Inverter
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2020 at 6:21pm

I'd like to add a small inverter or two to power my laptop, TV, and DVD player. I have a 176. Any suggestions on what inverter and size to use and were to wire it in would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to wire it close to the TV/Radio so cords are not going every where. I'd also like at least one plugs in the upper or lower bunk, any ideas how to get and inverter plug over there. Maybe two cheap inverters would be best, don't know. I also eventually plan to replace my single group 27 deep cycle battery to two 6 volts Trojan T105 GC2 flood acid batteries. Any advice on replacing Group 27 with the T105 also greatly appreciated.

Replies:

Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2020 at 7:38pm

I added a 12volt plug and inverter on my 189 not sure it this helps:

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14184&KW=inverter&PN=1&title=adding-a-small-inverter - Adding a small inverter - R-pod Owners Forum - Page 1 (rpod-owners.com)

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2020 at 7:21am

I’d suggest getting a dual voltage tv rather than using an inverter for that. More efficient and not expensive. Depening on what you have you can often run laptops on USB ports now. So you can get on or more 12v plus usb receptacles and tap a 12v line to run then. There is 12v already running to the furnace, fridge, and audio systems.

Re 6v battery upgrade, you can get any deep cycle golf cart batteries, case size GC2. You’ll need a battery cable to connect them in series and two GC2 size battery cases. You can get the cable and cases on Amazon or other online sellers, batteries are best sourced locally. Pretty easy upgrade to do but your tongue weight will go up by about 70-80 lbs so be sure you have the capacity.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: SailorDude
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2020 at 8:13am

On the 12 volt / 120 volt TV, do they have USB plugs for 12 volt. Or do the charge another way. Don't suppose you have a specific model or brand to recommend.

Got it on the tongue weight for the 6 volt batteries. Don't think I have to worry about that because I got a F250 for tow vehicle, which has a very high tongue wait capacity.

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2020 at 10:09am

The Dual voltage tv’s have both 120vac and 12v “cigarette lighter” plugs. Look for a tv that is the same size as what you have now. It should attach to the existing mount no problem. You can get a 12v receptacle which also have a couple USB ports on it. I mounted mine in the wall behind the tv, pulled out the stereo and connected the receptacle to the 12v supply to that. I don’t know where your tv and steroids are so don’t know if that can work for you, but you can pick up 12v several other places in the trailer.

Here for example is a dual voltage tv with built in DVD player. You can put your old tv on Craigslist and get s few bucks for it or mount it in your house or where ever.

https://www.amazon.com/TVD1805-22-22-Inch-Features-Technology-Function/dp/B075X1328R/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA6_iu0apkLIHo4p8HxiTgRA-H9SzSX9D4yrFs48mNz9sXyIeyUuk-axoCCJwQAvD_BwE&hvadid=459545637826&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9008824&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=2688568587791850749&hvtargid=kwd-297426851756&hydadcr=21332_10157565&keywords=12v%2Bsmart%2Btv&qid=1608220927&sr=8-8&tag=googhydr-20&th=1&psc=1

Here’s a 12v receptacle with usb’s And a voltmeter built in:

https://www.amazon.com/Linkstyle-Charger-Voltmeter-Cigarette-Lighter/dp/B07JHH5YP4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=12v+receptacle&qid=1608221241&s=electronics&sprefix=12v+rece&sr=1-3

Yeah if you have a f250 you don’t need to worry much about tongue weight👍

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2020 at 11:37am

Most laptops run on a DC plug of some kind with an external "brick" power supply. It would be more battery-efficient to get a DC-DC converter to convert your 12V to 18V (which is a common laptop voltage; check your brick to see what it does). The other thing is that many newer laptops (mine is one) that runs on USB-C; so just having a 12V-powered USB-C port would be sufficient.

I agree with what others have said about 12V powered TVs.

IOW, you may not need an inverter.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost