jynx
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Post by jynx on Sept 14, 2018 6:59:08 GMT -8
Hey all, I am new here. I am rebuilding a 1964 Deville camp trailer and I have ripped out all the electrical to start fresh. I understand wiring but not camping as much. Should this trailer have both a 110 system and a 12v system or do people mostly park where they can connect to shore power and the DC system would just be a waste?
I only have a $1000 budget to make this thing go so I want to save money where I can. It looks like I would save a couple hundred going all 110 and eliminate the converter/charger and battery and go for 110 shore power only.
I know most trailers have both but do most people use both?
thanks for any help
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charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Sept 14, 2018 7:40:32 GMT -8
I really doesn't matter what most people use. Only you can answer what you will need. If you'll always camp where 110 is available, or if you can live without electricity when you do not have 110 available, then you don't need 12VDC.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 14, 2018 9:23:37 GMT -8
Will you be staying mostly at private campgrounds? Or public campgrounds, BLM, of other off the grid options? Answer these questions and you’ll know what you need. Another option, a converter:
On my last restoration we did both 110 and 12 volt. The walls of the Forester are twice as thick 1x1 3/4 and easy to run wire.
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jynx
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Post by jynx on Sept 14, 2018 9:40:34 GMT -8
I think that is the exact converter I just ordered. I decided on 12v for all the lighting and a converter with a deep cycle 12v battery and shore power for the outlets. I want to have this available to rent out so I figured this was the best way to go.
What light switches are you guys using?
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charliemyers
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Post by charliemyers on Sept 14, 2018 11:12:36 GMT -8
What light switches are you guys using? I think that I'm going to try a wireless remote control option using this (until I get around to making my own), but you're pretty much stuck with 12V LED lights with this option: Wireless LED Controller
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jynx
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Post by jynx on Sept 14, 2018 17:33:41 GMT -8
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Post by vikx on Sept 14, 2018 20:20:23 GMT -8
I have 12 volt and 110 system in all of my rebuilds. I like the way they did things back in the day. Altho I don't personally camp, my trailers are well appreciated for having both.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 15, 2018 4:30:35 GMT -8
Another point worth considering, you may never take the skin off again. It's now or never for wiring. If you think you might want in the future an outlet here, a charge port there, run the wire.
As far as camping goes, I'd say our sites are 60/40% off the grid.
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beautysmistress
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Post by beautysmistress on Sept 25, 2018 10:03:43 GMT -8
I am interested in having a small 12 volt system just for a couple small light led lights and usb charger. I am off the grid a bit but need minimal power. what do I need besides a battery, the lights and the usb charging ports. On My boat I just use alligator clamps on the usb charger and connect when needed.. probably needs to be fuses in there someplace. If someone has a material list and or a diagram to share that would be awesome cheers Flash
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kudzu
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Post by kudzu on Sept 25, 2018 10:47:23 GMT -8
Keep in mind someday you are probably going to sell it. or you heirs will have to sell it. The choices you make will effect how easy it is to sell. I am watching the market close, and I see trailers that I might have been interested in but because of the choices the current owner made, no way would I buy it.
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datac
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Post by datac on Sept 25, 2018 15:40:42 GMT -8
It doesn't have to be that complicated. Back when our trailers were built, you had to choose between high output, high current draw lighting that would quickly kill a battery, or dim but low current draw 12v lighting, thus the two separate systems. With the advent of high output, low current draw 12v lighting, that's just not a choice you have to make anymore, and you don't need to compromise your vintage light fixtures, either.
I'm keeping all of my vintage 110v fixtures, but I'll be running all of my lighting on 12v via a converter when shore power is available, battery when not. I bought warm white 12v LED bulbs with standard medium E26/E27 bases, just like regular 110v light bulbs, so they'll screw into my vintage light fixtures without modification. These bulbs are cheap- I spent maybe $20 shipped on twelve bulbs (three different wattages for four fixtures, so I can mix and match for the light levels I need), and the bulbs I chose range from 25 watt incandescent equivalent at 3 watts to 75 watt equivalent at 9 watts.
I'll keep the single 110v outlet the factory installed near the kitchen, and 110v circuits for the refrigerator and electric furnace, but everything else will be 12v.
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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Post by gary350 on Sept 26, 2018 16:10:02 GMT -8
What you do depends on where you live in the USA and what type camping you do. Eastern USA almost all camp grounds have, electric, water, sewer, clean bathroom, Hot showers, dump station. If you live out west you will find nothing at most camp grounds. There is no 110 volts anywhere in the USA not since about 1970. Everything has been standardized 120 volts everywhere. No need to have 12 volt battery power these days all lights are LED car battery and a 12v to 120v 60w inverter will power your camper trailer lights for 3 weeks. Coleman stove or propane stove works for us on the picnic table. We have never cooked inside our camper. Our 5000 btu AC is 4 amp and refrigerator is 6 amps that will not run long on a car battery ice chest is best for food if there is on camp ground electricity. 100 degree weather is miserable to camp in if it is hotter than 85 we stay home. Cold weather camping is more fun than 100 degree camping we put 14 quilts and blankets on the bed and camp in 6 degree weather with no heat. Pull back as many blankets as you need and slide in 7 blankets on top and 7 blankets on bottom we are warm as toast in snow, ice, wind, cold. Take about 100 water bottles and refill them plus some 5 gallon jugs if no camp ground water. We bought an old people potty $2 at yard sale or $33 at Walmart it works great. Campground electricity is free with the camp site we take advantage of that.
Only campground I know in the east with no electric is Smoky Mountain National Park, they have water at every bathroom, no showers, they have real toilets these days. Illinois is still a 3rd world country very few camp ground in the whole state only 6 that I know of, no electric, water at bathroom, no showers, no flush toilets. KOA is not considered to be a real camp ground only a place to spend the night along the interstate highway while traveling the KOA near Flagstaff AZ is $145 per night.
Only the die hard vintage people keep that 60 year old stone age technology stuff. We trashed ours. If you live out west a coleman stove, ice chest, LED lights, water bottles, lots of blankets for winter, is all you need to dry camp. 1 more thing people in the East dry camp but people out west boondock. LOL
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datac
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Post by datac on Sept 26, 2018 16:41:43 GMT -8
Inverters suck a huge amount of power all on their own- why on earth would you run 110v lighting on 12v through an inverter? Your battery would last far longer for the same light output if you just ran native 12v, and used a converter when plugged in to 110. There's just no downside.
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