Community Forums

Sparky525 · 03-20-2019, 11:32 PM

Hey y'all.new to this lifestyle. Recently had a trailer made for you hauling. The company calls it a hybrid but I have to explain it as a half and half. Trying to decide which is easy for power. 110 or 12v with an aux battery. Really the only things I plan on running 110v are A/c, mini fridge,and a small microwave. Lighting, stereo, and everything else will be 12v. Any input is good advice. 20x7 trailer with a 12ft porch and 8ft enclosed plus 2ft v nose.

IBTripping · 03-21-2019, 12:28 AM

Welcome to the forum. Since you will be using both ac and dc power, I suggest you set up your trailer electrical system the same as other RVs. Here's how it works, when connected to external ac current, the power ac goes to power the ac, microwave, and refrigerator. It also goes to a converter/charger which converts the ac to dc to operate the dc appliances (lights) and charge the batteries.

You'll probably want to also run the refrigerator on battery power when not connected to ac. This is done with a device called an inverter which converts the battery dc to ac. You'll need a 1,000 watt or greater inverter. I suggest you get an inverter with an automatic transfer switch which stops (switches) converting the battery dc to ac when your trailer is plugged into external ac which becomes the source of ac to power the fridge.

A decent converter/charger is about $200 and about the same amount for a good quality 1200 watt inverter.

Sparky525 · 03-21-2019, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBTripping

Welcome to the forum. Since you will be using both ac and dc power, I suggest you set up your trailer electrical system the same as other RVs. Here's how it works, when connected to external ac current, the power ac goes to power the ac, microwave, and refrigerator. It also goes to a converter/charger which converts the ac to dc to operate the dc appliances (lights) and charge the batteries.

You'll probably want to also run the refrigerator on battery power when not connected to ac. This is done with a device called an inverter which converts the battery dc to ac. You'll need a 1,000 watt or greater inverter. I suggest you get an inverter with an automatic transfer switch which stops (switches) converting the battery dc to ac when your trailer is plugged into external ac which becomes the source of ac to power the fridge.

A decent converter/charger is about $200 and about the same amount for a good quality 1200 watt inverter.

So I probably should've started with what I already have planned as far as the DC system goes. I've picked out the CTEK D250s which is a charging switch that when poweris killed to my truck the aux battery will not draw power from my truck but while running will allow my truck to charge the battery. A 1500W inverter with 3 plugs will be ran off the aux battery. I chose a 3 plug because my intentions was to have a mini fridge, microwave, and wire a plug to my AC unit since it will be 110v. Everything else with have a separate circuit running from a DC fuse box and battery. Also the CTEK box also allows for Solar panels to be added and I planned on having external battery posts to run a generator in case there isn't enough sunlight or I use to much power at night. The main reason I am leaning towards DC is because I'm a DC nut. I find DC to be very easy and can't seem to wrap my head around AC for the life of me. Ironically this is coming from an electrician on airplanes which has quite abit of AC circuits. lol Also thanks for the input. I'll do some more research as I'm still open to AC but man I really hate it.

twinboat · 03-22-2019, 04:27 AM

You will struggle to run anything but a small microwave on a 1500 watt inverter and almost any air conditioner will shut it down due to overload.

1500 watts is about 12 amps @120 volts. That equates to 120 amps @12 volts.

If your aux battery is 100 AH, a pretty large, deep cycle battery, it will run out of power in less then 45 minutes.

To run air conditioning for any length of time your going to need a huge battery bank, with more solar then will fit on that trailer roof OR a generator.

Sparky525 · 03-22-2019, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

You will struggle to run anything but a small microwave on a 1500 watt inverter and almost any air conditioner will shut it down due to overload.

1500 watts is about 12 amps @120 volts. That equates to 120 amps @12 volts.

If your aux battery is 100 AH, a pretty large, deep cycle battery, it will run out of power in less then 45 minutes.

To run air conditioning for any length of time your going to need a huge battery bank, with more solar then will fit on that trailer roof OR a generator.

I've been doing alot of research in what little spare time i had today and found a website call paralax power that seems to have everything I need to run both AC and DC. I've finally made up my mind and will by running an AC system in the trailer. MY question now is how many breakers should I use and what size? I will have a small microwave, a mini fridge, the AC unit, and I also forgot and TV and a PS4. Again AC is not my forte and I was thinking 3 breakers. 1 20A for the AC, 1 15A for the firdge and the microwave, and 1 15A for the other 110 plug or 2 still undecided. Does this sound feasible cause this is really a shot in the dark at what I may need?