12 V Receptacle

[nayl]

How does one use 12 V appliances in a standard equipped trailer? Our 2003 International AS has no receptacles for a 12 V plug.

We recently saw a nice 12 V fan (made by Fantastic Fan) and tried it out in the truck. It worked great, but the only way we would be able to use it in the camper is to attach it to a 12 V converter outlet. I imagine we could use the one that came with our 12 V refrigerator/cooler. If electricity is not available there is no way to use this or any other plug-in 12 V appliance.

Would we have to have a receptacle installed? I do not have the knowledge base or skills to do this myself, so it would have to be done professionally. Don't know if it would be worth the expense.

[moosetags]

I can't believe that your AS doesn't have any interior 12 volt outlets. Our 2005 Safari has three 12 volt outlets.

There is 12 volt power throughout your trailer. It would not be super difficult to install a 12 volt outlet or two.

Brian

[azflycaster]

I added an additional 12 volt outlet to my trailer so that I could use my Endless Breeze fan in the front window. You can pick up an outlet for a couple of bucks at any auto parts store. I spliced into the wires going to my radio for power.

[nayl]

No 12 V outlets that I can find either inside or outside the trailer. I have a couple of phone jacks and cable TV jacks, but no 12 V outlets.

I don't splice!

[Jammer]

There ought to be one somewhere.

12 volt outlets are ugly and the Mother Ship does their best to hide them. I have one in the cupboard above the gaucho, one next to a shelf the island on the end of the dinette, one above the nightstand, and one in a shirt closet in the bedroom. The one above the nightstand is the only one that's clearly visible.

The only thing I use mine for is a charger for my computer and phone. The fan thing sounds intriguing.

An alternative to consider is to install more suitable connectors on both the fan and the trailer rather than the large, ugly, cigarette lighter connectors. Take a look at what the motorcycle crowd uses for heated clothing, on the Gerbing web site. You can buy just the connectors from them. They are small, reliable, carry lots of current, and are easy to connect and disconnect. The BMW 12 volt connector is also a good choice.

[lewster]

Look here: Powerlet Products - Rugged power outlets, cables and electronics

[nayl]

OK, so now we are on a search for the elusive 12 V receptacles!

[nayl]

My daughter found one! It was hidden behind the microwave. It would actually be in plain sight if not for the microwave. I never thought to look there; that's where one of the cable connections is located and we don't travel with a TV.

We both searched outside and haven't been able to find one there. An outside receptacle is what we really need as we wanted the fan for outside use.

[walter1]

Show us the fan

[Jammer]

I don't have any exterior 12v outlets and doubt if they are customarily installed.

There are adapters for the 7-way connector on your tow vehicle available.

Also, you could make an adapter for the 7-way on your trailer, since it always has 12 volts on it, if you wanted.

[Jammer]

FanTastic Vent - Product - Endless Breeze

[Airtandem]

I have a 25 ft fc and it has 3 12 volt outlets; one under the table, one behind the tv and another in the bedroom. I bought a 11o to 12 volt adapter at the Wally. It is made by Coleman for about $20.00. I also have a 12 volt adaptr that has battery connectors on it also at Wally in the auto dept. About $7.00.