Charging digital electronics easily

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tanksalot
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Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:23 pm

Charging digital electronics easily

Post by tanksalot »

I'm passing on what has proven, to me at least, to be a good idea for minimizing the clutter from all the chargers for digital electronics in our BF. We boondock extensively, and the counter by the TV with the DC inverter was getting very crowded with all the specialized chargers. We were forgetting to plug things in and then finding ourselves with dead phones, computers etc.

We have a '99 BF with a 140 watt solar panel mounted on the luggage rack on the roof. Running through a solar controller, it charges the two Trojan T-105 batteries well. The coach has plenty of 120V a/c outlets, which we rarely use since we boondock. I disconnected the a/c line (both white and black) from the ground fault GFI circuit breaker in the control panel and fed it with the output of a 400 watt inverter, located under the power panel and wired through a fuse to the DC supply.

Now ALL of our ac outlets are functional 24/7 for any digital devices that need charging, and we simply leave many of them plugged in until we use them. The only drawback of this system so far is that there's no high-capacity outlet for my wife's hair dryer.

Hope this helps someone, and if you see any negative aspects of this approach, please comment.
Brent
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Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 4:53 pm

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by Brent »

Sounds like a good approach.

If you shut off the inverter and hook to shore power or use the generator can you use the ac outlets as usual?
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tanksalot
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:23 pm

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by tanksalot »

No; the way it's set up I can't get full power on shore power. I could put in a relay etc., but for now I'm keeping it simple.
sw23185
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Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 3:32 pm

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by sw23185 »

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Last edited by sw23185 on Wed Sep 30, 2015 4:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tomzleapin
Posts: 485
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:15 am

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by tomzleapin »

sw23185 wrote:This is a very inefficient way to go from a power loss perspective. You are stepping 12VDC up to 120VAC and then turning around and stepping it back down to low voltage DC in your chargers (with losses as part of both conversions).

Far better to use one or more dual USB charger outlets like this (https://www.bluesea.com/products/1016/D ... ger_Socket) connected to your 12V so that you can charge your portable electronic devices directly (at least those with modular USB chargers). The bonus is that your AC outlets will still work as intended ...

Image
This would be fine for devices that can run and charge via USB but some devices such notebooks, cordless drills, and other battery chargers need 120 VAC.

One thing to note is that the device pictured above only has a total output of 2.1 amps. Most tablets and smartphones need about 2 amps so you could not charge two devices at once. There are better options such as this one: https://www.bluesea.com/products/1045/D ... cket_Mount
Image
Tom
2005 24' RB
Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible on tow dolly
New Hope, MN
sw23185
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 3:32 pm

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by sw23185 »

tomzleapin wrote:This would be fine for devices that can run and charge via USB but some devices such notebooks, cordless drills, and other battery chargers need 120 VAC.
Right. You may note that I said "so that you can charge your portable electronic devices directly (at least those with modular USB chargers)" - devices that require 120VAC aren't going to have modular USB chargers and would require a different solution.

If an inverter is used as the power source for those devices that do require 120VAC then hopefully it's wired such that doesn't defeat the ability to readily use shore power or the generator. One simple temporary solution that I've seen is to put a 30A-15A adapter on the shore power cord and then plug that into the inverter (just like you would plug into a portable generator). You then manage the loads with (and are protected by) the usual breaker panel in the coach. You just need to make sure that the water heater, A/C, and any other unwanted loads that would exceed inverter capacity are turned off. When you're done with the inverter you just unplug and you're back to the normal power configuration.
tomzleapin wrote:One thing to note is that the device pictured above only has a total output of 2.1 amps. Most tablets and smartphones need about 2 amps so you could not charge two devices at once.
Right. You may note that I said "like this". The purpose of my example was simply to make people aware that they have a direct-from-DC alternative that doesn't involve conversion losses. Sizing would, as with any electrical circuit, be based on actual requirements.
shezonit

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by shezonit »

Being rather low tech, I am only charging phone, iPad, laptop. A friend has installed a basic solar system that supports my small residential refrigerator (and what a gift that was! ). Part of that solar system has some plug ins, including a 12v socket. I plug into this a $10. device I bought that was sold to plug into vehicle cigarette lighter. It has another 12v socket, and a USB slot. Voila. While stopped or driving on a sunny day, I can plug in phone and iPad for recharge. The laptop has to wait for shore power.
You notice how whenever a new device comes on the market, there are aftermarket toys available about a week later? How do they do that? :-)
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Steve
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by Steve »

Here is a 4.8A USB charger from Blue Sea Systems: https://www.bluesea.com/products/1045/D ... cket_Mount supposed to be on the market in January 2016.

Steve
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Roger H
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by Roger H »

I installed two of these, one in the bedroom and one above the cab. They're pretty convenient, really easy to install, and just use the 12v wiring.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12V-Dual-USB- ... W/29029303

Image
'06 Born Free 32 RQ Kodiak Chassis
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bcope01
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by bcope01 »

Roger H wrote:I installed two of these, one in the bedroom and one above the cab. They're pretty convenient, really easy to install, and just use the 12v wiring.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12V-Dual-USB- ... W/29029303

Image
I wonder what the charging amp rating is for each usb port? Some devices require 2+ amps.

Bill
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo

Escondido, CA
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stevek
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by stevek »

Anybody have any idea how to charge my MacBook Air via 12 volt?
The AC adapter supplies 14.8 volts/ 3 amps.
Plus it has a fancy "magnetic plug" into the side of the laptop.
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
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Roger H
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Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 7:48 pm

Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by Roger H »

bcope01 wrote:
Roger H wrote:I installed two of these, one in the bedroom and one above the cab. They're pretty convenient, really easy to install, and just use the 12v wiring.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12V-Dual-USB- ... W/29029303

Image
I wonder what the charging amp rating is for each usb port? Some devices require 2+ amps.

Bill
I'm not sure, Bill, but it charges an iPhone or iPad and a Plantronics headset or Jam Classic bluetooth speaker at the same time just fine.
'06 Born Free 32 RQ Kodiak Chassis
(Former: '01 Born Free 23 RK)
Dinghy: '16 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with a Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar.
Traveling with Sir Winston and Lady Rae (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels)
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Roger H
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by Roger H »

stevek wrote:Anybody have any idea how to charge my MacBook Air via 12 volt?
The AC adapter supplies 14.8 volts/ 3 amps.
Plus it has a fancy "magnetic plug" into the side of the laptop.
http://www.amazon.com/GPK-Car-Charger-A ... B0056PXJ8O

Image
'06 Born Free 32 RQ Kodiak Chassis
(Former: '01 Born Free 23 RK)
Dinghy: '16 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with a Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar.
Traveling with Sir Winston and Lady Rae (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels)
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bcope01
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Re: Charging digital electronics easily

Post by bcope01 »

Thanks Roger.

Bill
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo

Escondido, CA
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