| Author | Message | ||
| hojji firemaker (Hojjifiremaker)
Registered Member Username: Hojjifiremaker Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 67.142.162.34  Rating: N/A |
I have not installed a complete 12 volt Dc system yet, and need to have a temporary way of converting 120 AC to 12 DC so that I can run my Dometic Frige and King Dome Satellite when parked over the winter. (I will be installing a solar system in the spring. Are there converters on the market that work opposite of a standard inverter (like a battery charger), and can plug into shore power, and have 12 volt DC terminals to hook up to Positive/Negative wiring? | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 669 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.146.77.42  Rating: N/A |
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-converters-electrical-batteries-1.htm#Converters%20- %20Progressive%20Dynamics | ||
| Camill Paul Elbisser (Paul)
Registered Member Username: Paul Post Number: 47 Registered: 3-2005 Posted From: 72.49.64.10 Rating: N/A |
I use this converter on our bus. Bought a new Battery to go with the converter to run the Fan-Tastic fans. Will not over charge battery. I leave it on all year around. Battery used very little water. www.progressivedyn.com/power_converters_9200.html | ||
| Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member Username: Moehollow Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.102.20.26 Rating: N/A |
The only comment I would make though is that you are better off running your fridge on 120 or propane. 12DC is okay to keep the chill while traveling but not to run the fridge full time. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 573 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.46.157 Rating: N/A |
Moe, the rv fridges needs 12 volt to operate nothing will work without it.It is was me I would go ahead and buy a 12 volt charger very few use the converter any more, you need batteries with both systems good luck | ||
| hojji firemaker (Hojjifiremaker)
Registered Member Username: Hojjifiremaker Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 67.142.162.30 Rating: N/A |
yeah this new dometic frige is really nice but very annoying... makes noise constantly. Dometic model#NDR 1292 side by side... frige/freezer I have a couple of 12 volt batteries that I usually use for another purpose but, have had to use them cause this frige requires 12 volt constantly, as well as propane or 120 AC. A real drag...When the battery get low, I have been changing it over the another one that is charging on a car charger. I think every time I do that it resets the frige, and it thinks it needs to starts cooling all over again cause it never shuts off and takes a break like a normal frige. Not really sure. My batteries are in a Real primitive set up right now. My bus is great, but the 12 volt I didn't plan on needing, so didn't work it into my initial outline. This is my second bus. I had a 38' 1989 international school bus for 4 years. I customized it real nice, but it only ran on shore power or a generator. I sold it in July, and bought this MCI. I did a virtually complete conversion minus water storage tanks, 12 volt, and a paint job in the last 3 months. Every day, all day long. We found out my wife has breast cancer about two weeks into the project, and then have had to really muscle through it to get it beautiful and liveable before her chemo started. Thanks alot you guys for responding back to my questions the last couple of days. I was raised in a bus as a kid, and it is not something you can grow out of. I'll keep reading your posts and ask questions when I need a little help. You guys are so smart, and obviously well educated in mechanics and engineering. Very inspiring. I have mostly learned out of necessity. I am going to put together a site showing the interior of our bus, in the coming days. Stay tuned. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 864 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.54.29.215  Rating: N/A |
Jameco and Digi-Key sell small 12 volt power supplys that run off 120 volt AC. I do not know how many amps you need, but this is a possibility if you want to eliminate the battery. As most have already mentioned, your best bet is probabaly a battery and a small battery charger. Jack | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 773 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.184 Rating: N/A |
hojji, As Moe says, your fridge will not run well on 12v. Use a 12v battery to operate the digital controls on the fridge and a battery charger to charge it once in a while. The digital controls probably take very little power so a small battery should last a long time. | ||
| hojji firemaker (Hojjifiremaker)
Registered Member Username: Hojjifiremaker Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2008 Posted From: 67.142.162.33 Rating: N/A |
Actually, it is sucking down my battery everyday. | ||
| Dallas (Dal300)
Registered Member Username: Dal300 Post Number: 186 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 74.93.62.50 Rating: N/A |
My way is to use moe modern converters from WFCO that have 3 stage chargers built in. I have 2.. both are model 9855 and supply 55 amps of 12V power. I use one for my house system and one for my start batteries, since some of the stuff I use when camped is also used as I go down the road. http://www.wfcoelectronics.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=78 I've been using these converters for almost two years and have only had to add water to the batteries once, and have no issues with corrosion around the battery terminals. Dallas | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 36 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
I have an older style 2512 Trace inverter that has a 3 stage up to 130amp battery charger that you can adjust for voltage, amperage, and temp to compensate for most any type of battery you might have. Has worked flawlessly for over 10 years for me. If you're going to get an inverter, now's the time. I wouldn't even fool with a converter. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Jack Campbell (Blue_goose)
Registered Member Username: Blue_goose Post Number: 106 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 71.100.201.35  Rating: N/A |
your battery should last more than one day if it is good and has a full charge. You said that it runs all the time. The only thing you should hear is the fans. They don't turn on until about 150 and turn off at 130 deg. There is only a 3 amp fuse in the 12V. Can't draw more than that, should be less than 2 amps. Jack | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 774 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.8 Rating: N/A |
hojji, I wasn't clear. I meant when you are running the fridge on 120v AC. You must have 12v DC on the fridge even when running it on gas or AC to operate the digital control panel. When you operate on gas or AC the pull down on your battery will be very little unless you have something else on DC besides the fridge. When using DC only the pull down on the battery is tremendous and the fridge performance is marginal at best. You can solve the whole problem by using LP gas and a battery. It seems to work better on LP anyway. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 535 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.38 Rating: |
It seems to work better on LP anyway. You bet , the simplest cure is to get away from the RV stuff with computer that controls the unit, and MUST have 12v at all times to operate. I suggest the Servelle , a propane ONLY unit with far thicker insulation than the RV units , as used by the Amish, for decades. FF |
