When boondocking in your RV, there are a number of 12 volt appliances that you might use that require power supply from a generator. It’s important to factor each of these appliances into your plans, so you know you have enough juice for the trip. Our expert RV repair and maintenance guide Dave Solberg teaches you about each of these appliances, from makeup lights and powered vents in the bathroom to LP-fueled appliances in the kitchen. Consider the power they’ll draw, and keep the total in mind when making plans for your next boondocking adventure!
5 Responses to “Running 12 Volt Appliances on Generator While Boondocking”
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8:07
Convert to RV LED Replacement Bulbs for a Brighter Space
Making the switch to LED lights can make your RV feel much more open and bright. There are a variety of LED replacement bulbs on the market; therefore, it’s important to research the differences. The more expensive RV LED replacement bulbs are made with an aluminum cage in-between the chips rather than fiberboard. This helps…
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Keep the Moisture Out by Caulking Your RV Sink
Most RVers think there is no maintenance required for countertops and sinks. Just keep them clean and dry like at home and there is nothing more that needs to be done. The truth is that as you travel down the road, bumps and dips on the road surface cause small amounts of twisting and turning…
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Reduce the Noise Caused by RV Sinks
Aluminum and stainless steel RV sinks can be a bit noisy, especially when confined in a small kitchen area. Tinging noises can come from dropping things in the sink and movement/vibrations while driving. These types of sinks also do not maintain temperatures for both hot and cold items very long. Some more modern RV sinks…
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Still Watching an Old Set? Replace Your Old RV TV
For years, RV manufacturers built boxes above the front of the cabin to house television sets. Most sets were thicker from front to back than they were from side to side, so they had to sit flush in a dedicated box, aimed straight toward the back of the rig. If you wanted to sit at…
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I need to run a Cpap with humidifier all night Need to replace my batteries-2 original in motor home. They won’t last thru night anymore. Any recommendations?
Philip,
If you are operating both of those machines off of the 120v system that is powered from the batteries using an inverter you will have to at least double the battery capacity to handle that. When powering things like that it is best to use a generator. Using batteries to power 120v items doesn’t last long. You can always increase your battery bank but you would also have to make sure it fully charges the next day if you plan on using it again at night. The best thing to do is use a generator, not only will it power the 120v system but it will also charge your batteries as well.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
1. If you need replacement batteries due to age of the equipment, you might consider upgrading to Lithium cells, but you’ll also need to make sure your converter/charger is right for Lithium batteries.
2. Consider getting a 12v travel CPAP. This eliminates the 12v DC to 110v AC inverter losses. It takes a good amount of power to convert 12v DC to 110v AC. So a 12v DC CPAP will save you that much in conversion losses. It’s also a dirty little secret that MANY home electronics actually run on 12 volts DC, but because it’s used in the home, they have a 110 cord, and step-down transformers and diodes to convert it to 12v power internally.
would have liked for you to discuss how exactly to calculate some of the appliances you mentioned against the life of the batteries while boondocking.
You forgot to mention the furnace.