ON THE ROAD SCENERIO

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   Most small LCD and LED television use less than 50 watts at 120 volts.
If using a dc/ac inverter , it would still use 50 watts (or less) plus a little more because of the inverter. About 4.2 amps. That is not a high load. You wouldn't be leaving the TV on all night anyway. 

 I had 2 - 12V batteries, 85AH capacity (each) if I remember correctly.. I had installed a small 400 watt inverter, and it ran all my 120 volts needs (phone charger, very infrequent TV use) no problems for 3-4 day weekend trips and always had power to spare. I installed the second battery because I discovered the furnace is a battery killer. A year later, I bought a MrHeater portable propane unit. Solved all powerproblems related to furnace by not needing it anymore.

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ToolmanJohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451	Topic: ON THE ROAD SCENERIO Posted: 17 May 2017 at 4:22pm
	Most small LCD and LED television use less than 50 watts at 120 volts. If using a dc/ac inverter , it would still use 50 watts (or less) plus a little more because of the inverter. About 4.2 amps. That is not a high load. You wouldn't be leaving the TV on all night anyway. I had 2 - 12V batteries, 85AH capacity (each) if I remember correctly.. I had installed a small 400 watt inverter, and it ran all my 120 volts needs (phone charger, very infrequent TV use) no problems for 3-4 day weekend trips and always had power to spare. I installed the second battery because I discovered the furnace is a battery killer. A year later, I bought a MrHeater portable propane unit. Solved all powerproblems related to furnace by not needing it anymore.
	2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI

Our pod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2016 Location: Olympia WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 17 May 2017 at 12:39pm
	The TV that came with our 179 runs on 120 AC. I would not try to run it on a battery/inverter; it takes a lot of power to pump all the BS.
	Life is good.

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 7:58pm
	You can get a little multimeter at Walmart for probably less than $10. You have to access the battery or a hot and ground point in the fuse panel. Others are talking about a hardwired volt meter, which is nice and also inexpensive but sounds like it might be beyond what you're ready to do at this point. You should be okay for one night if you start out good and you're getting a decent charge from your tow vehicle during the day's driving. As mentioned, do NOT run the fridge on the 12v option. Ever. There is really no good excuse for the 12v option. Use propane if you don't have shore power. If you don't care about running the air con or microwave, any little generator will charge your battery if you can run it for a couple of hours. Worst case, and I mean after checking the battery at the Walmart auto service area, you can buy a new battery at Walmart. I'm not an expert on batteries, but with a new battery, you'll know what you have and you can get what you want. Switching to two batteries, either 12v or 6v, is not something easily done on the road, but a new deep cycle 12 v battery will get you through many single nights without shore power. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

voisj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2016 Location: San Luis Obispo Online Status: Offline Posts: 471	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 7:46pm
	Henry, Just got back from a coast to coast and back 26 day trip. We stayed on BLM land 5 times (free), cracker barrel 2 twice and state visitor center parking lots twice, And a few nights on a farm, all without shore power. To much activity at wall mart for us and some can not let you stay the night due to city or county issues. We used our fantastic fan all night every night on 1, (white noise snoring issue), and use at least one light til we turn in and watched TV news and such when we had reception and a few DVD's when we didn't. No issues with power, we have 2 - 12v G24 batteries. We can go three nights with no issues under these conditions. My truck charges the batteries while we travel and 4 hours of driving will give us a full charge when we stop. Get one of these 12v meters off Ebay ($7) and you will know how your doing. Rgds John
	SLOPODMODS John&Sue,SLO,CA 2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 4:07pm
	+1 to John, great source. Many of us have installed USB chargers and 12 volt gauges at various locations depending upon RPod type. They come in handy. I have a 12 volt outlet, USB port and a voltmeter mounted in the Pod. I can look at it and tell battery charge status. You can do it manually, but why? I have a 178, so my location was in the panel below the front right hand side dinette. I can see it and use it from the door. The panels are readily available on line and it takes basic wiring skills to install. Happy Trails.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

john in idaho Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 12:39pm
	If you want to get some knowledge about batteries, get a book from Amazon -- 12 Volt Bible for boaters - about $15. It starts at square one and teaches you about things such as marine batteries, wiring size and how to use a volt meter, among other things. Boats and RVs are very similar.

henryv Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Feb 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 259	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 11:42am
	How do I get (and use) a voltage monitor? Also, would a bigger, or better battery eliminate any risk? Or two batteries? I'm sure the battery on now is the factory one and looks good. What is a marine battery? I know there are other posts on here about batteries, but I'm still not clear.

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 10:38am
	Hey HenryV, See you didn't mention fridge, it should be on propane. The fan I think would be next big draw. TV and lights determined by use. With a little power management the next day should be fine. Everything needs to be good at start, can't have a half charged battery to begin with. I also have a voltage monitor, so if I see an issue with low battery I can start the tow vehicle and produce a charge. Monitoring and having tools to monitor are the key. One other thing - when you turn off TV, turn off the ant power amp.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

henryv Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 Feb 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 259	Posted: 16 May 2017 at 10:07am
	Say you're on a trip, or journey across America. You decide to pull in a Walmart and spend the night. (Something I've done and I believe Walmart encourages it)..but this was with a Jayco camper)...Question: Now, if I use the lights, TV, and Fantastic Fan...am I going to have a battery problem when I leave in the morning??