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Topic ClosedCharging Accessorys
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Charging Accessorys
    Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 4:09pm
To a certain extent, I agree with using 12V to charge 12V devices. With cell phones, when 12V is plugged in, it is converted to 5V for the USB connection that phones use for charging. The dual-socket connectors seen higher up in this topic have a 12V socket on one side and a dual USB connector on the other. I also got one with 12V socket, meter, and dual USB connector. If you have the dual socket, it would be best to use the USB side as you would already have the correct voltage.

Depending on the laptop, you would probably need an inverter since many laptops need 19 volts. You would not simply be able to plug one of those into a 12V outlet. However, there are other 12V devices for which adding 12V outlets would be very handy.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Nov 2012
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 4:22pm
Most laptop manufacturers offer car chargers for their computers. Technically they they are DC-to-DC converters and convert 12VDC to 17 or 19VDC. They avoid the 12VDC-to-120VAC then 120VAC-to-19VDC of the inverter/charger combination and are somewhat more efficient. They also avoid some control and overhead power of the inverter, but at some point, we are splitting hairs. I have individual car chargers for two laptops which provide more flexibility, somewhat better efficiency, and more stuff to haul Tongue. Camp on.
Charlie
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OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 8:03pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

Most laptop manufacturers offer car chargers for their computers. Technically they they are DC-to-DC converters and convert 12VDC to 17 or 19VDC. They avoid the 12VDC-to-120VAC then 120VAC-to-19VDC of the inverter/charger combination and are somewhat more efficient. They also avoid some control and overhead power of the inverter, but at some point, we are splitting hairs. I have individual car chargers for two laptops which provide more flexibility, somewhat better efficiency, and more stuff to haul Tongue. Camp on.


I had not thought about a DC to DC converter. You are correct in that if one is available, it would be a good choice. I did a quick check to see how much they cost, and they are reasonable in price. Thanks for the additional information.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 7:39pm
Most of the time it is easier to just get the inverter.  If you must have the highest efficiency DC-DC converters are the way to go, but to justify that you would need to camp off-grid a lot.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 8:33pm
We have and use this one..

Charger.
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 9:00pm
We already have a small inverter that is adequate for charging laptops/netbooks. We also have a generator, we will use the generator and 110V some of the time and the inverter for laptops when we don't want to run the generator and/or are not on an outside power connection. We will use the USB outlets for phones. I can't see buying 12V adapters for our netbooks at the moment. That may change later.
StephenH
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ouR escaPOD mods
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howmanyds View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Feb 2016
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Posts: 71 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 12:45pm
Can someone please tell me where the converter panel is? Is it connected to the fuse panel or is it just inside from the port side shore power connection, which would be under the seating area in my 183G?
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:14pm
Originally posted by howmanyds

Can someone please tell me where the converter panel is? Is it connected to the fuse panel or is it just inside from the port side shore power connection, which would be under the seating area in my 183G?

Its an all-in-one unit - and, yes, the power panel (with both 120v breakers and 12v fuses) is the front of the unit.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:45pm
Originally posted by howmanyds

Can someone please tell me where the converter panel is? Is it connected to the fuse panel or is it just inside from the port side shore power connection, which would be under the seating area in my 183G?


If you go to my mods link, page 8, you can see exactly where it is, and what it is, in relation to the power distribution center..

Click Blue Link

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Joined: 07 Feb 2016
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Posts: 71 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 2:37am
Thanks
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