12V outlets wanted
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
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=4023
Printed Date: 07 Jun 2025 at 5:11am
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Topic: 12V outlets wanted
Posted By: waterflaws
Subject: 12V outlets wanted
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 12:29am
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We'd like to add some 12V receptacles. I was looking for the water pump, and when looking behind (breaking through, actually) the cabinet under the sink, I noticed some red and white wire pairs. Are these 12V lines? Is red "hot"? Would I be able to tap into those for a 12V receptacle? How do I fix the "walls" of the cabinet (hah!)? We got two deep cycle batteries for our two CPAP'S (which we have been hooking up directly to the battery via cord). So far, it looks like one machine only uses around 25% of one battery (or 1/8th of both). Hopefully we'll have plenty of power for lights and appliances. I DO wish the AC would run on 12V!
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Replies:
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 4:04am
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I use a CPAP also. On my Pod the bed is directly under the TV/radio combo. The TV amplifier runs on 12v so I taped into that for the CPAP. I have no idea what those wires are for that you found. There will be people checking in with other suggestions. I take it that you are planning on camping without hookups because the CPAP runs on 110v AC with its power cord. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Jdub
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 9:32am
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Terry, just how do you tap into those lines for the 12v? Red goes to what??? Black to ???? After a recent extended trip I realized how nice it would be to have 12v outlets in the pod...the 178 doesn't have any.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 10:28am
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I don't know what the load of a CPAP is, but I would pull a stand alone 12v circuit from the box. On ours we have 3 open 12v slots, if I remember correct. 12v is very straight forward, a positive and a negative. Pulling from the box, the positive wire will be anchored next to the fuse slot you want to use, and the negative will come back to the ground. Look at any other 12v circuit in the box and copy it. From your description, the wires you found under the sink are on the 120v circuit and are fused links. (that's what I found under mine) We added 2 12v outlets in our 177, one on the front street side bench and one next to the bed. I just tapped into the power sources for the propane detector and the heater fan motor. But, I am not plugging in medical equipment, if I was, as I said, I would pull a new circuit. ------------- |
Posted By: waterflaws
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 11:01am
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We plan on quite a few trips where there will be no electric hookups. We have 2 of ResMed's 12V converters. I'm guessing that battery output will decrease as the temperatures get colder? ------------- r-pod 2013 177 TV 2002 Sport Trac The Pod Couple |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 11:01am
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I have and use a CPAP every time we go podding. We stay in locations with electricity so I can use the 110v outlet right on the side of my bed for it. I wouldn't even consider using it on 12 volts.
The average CPAP is consuming 20 watts ... to know for sure what yours does then look on the bottom of it for the sticker that has the Amperes number and Volts number and multiply the 2 together. Remember that if you are also using a humidifier on your CPAP you need to add that in as well because it contains a separate heating element in it. Using it all night, set up on a deep-cycle battery, has shown that it will drain the battery usually after 4 nights of usage. That is not including any other additional loads you would be putting on the battery, especially if you are boon-docking it.
Of course, if you are only out for 1-2 nights you can risk it with less of a chance of draining your battery, or if you have doubled-up your batteries you will definitely be better off. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 1:14pm
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I wouldn't even rely on the VA calculation - get a Kill-A-Watt for $25 and measure the actual use. Bbattery operation with the heater may be impossible. Resistive heating is always a large load, and may be too much even for one night. 20 watts (which must be w/o heater) is 1.67 amps at 12 volts, which is very doable. 9 hours would be 15 amps or about 3 nights from your typical deep cycle battery (to stay above 50%) IF no other loads in the camper were run from that battery. Adding in LPG detector, brains of the fridge, some lighting and water pump usage and I would fully recharge after 2 nights. Yes, cold weather does reduce the available amps. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2013 at 1:34pm
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I do love playing with my kill-a-watt...
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Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2013 at 3:45pm
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Been gone for awhile. My CPAP runs on 12DC supplied by the little gray inline box. It changes 120v AC to 12DC. The box says 12v @5.0 amps. The CPAP says 12v @ 5.0 amps. Interesting! The humidifier doesn't say anything about power consumption! When I'm at a campground I use the humidifier. Out in the boonies I don't, but I'm never out for more than a couple of days. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2013 at 3:52pm
The female 12v part that I used had a red and black wire on it. So that wasn't a problem. One thing to note: If you have the same unit as I do, it doesn't matter how the 120v wires go into the inline box. You can unplug the 110v input wire and reverse it, plug it in and it works fine. My CPAP is a Philips Respironics, REMstar Auto, A-Flex. Terry EDIT: I do have 2 12v batteries ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2013 at 4:57pm
Terry, my CPAP is old, and runs only on 120VAC. The humidifier is built into my CPAP and is always enabled, even if I don't have the container of distilled water mounted on it. I bet yours is the same and the 5.0 amp draw includes the humidifier power requirement. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Hylandspirit
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2013 at 5:38pm
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As my husband says he is "a mechanical idiot." So we had the dealer install two 12v outlets. They put one above the bed tapping into the entertain center. The other was placed Blythe front door, since the fuse/breaker box is there. ------------- Roxanne and Rick Bella, Cuban dingo dog RR-Pod 178 2006 Avalanche |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2013 at 10:36am
Not necessarily ... mine are separate components and each has it's own power rating listed on it. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2013 at 12:53pm
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As I said, my CPAP is old, going back to 2000. I lost weight several years ago and was able to put in into mothballs. I am sure the newer CPAP W/humidifiers have been improved, but I was not aware that they are now separate units. Thanks for the updated information. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2013 at 3:33pm
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I checked mine this morning and with the humidifier it was using 0.70amps. Surprised me. Just an update. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: waterflaws
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2013 at 5:36pm
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We boondocked one night this weekend. Monitor said we used less than 25% of 2x deep cycle batteries. 32ยบ low temp. We ran 2x C PAPs all night, on their 12V plugs via a splitter via direct extension cord to battery (NO humidifiers). Brewed 2 cups coffee in 12V drip maker (slow and plug got VERY hot - not recommended). Ran some lights for several hours. Ran the heater a couple times. We were pleasantly surprised!
------------- r-pod 2013 177 TV 2002 Sport Trac The Pod Couple |