Can I Do This ?

critt61626 · 02-01-2016, 08:10 PM

Hi, newbie here. Headed to Florida from New England with our 2016 Sunseeker 2650. Can I use my crock pot off the battery power as we travel? Will it hurt the battery or will the battery charge as we drive.

doc73 · 02-01-2016, 08:51 PM

First question would be... Does the Sunseeker have an intervetor (makes 12v to 120v?). Most RV's only have a CONvertor (120v to 12v) unless the unit has a residential fridge. Assuming you have an interver you would need one to be large enough to power a crock pot which a SWAG would be 1500 watts to run maybe?

rockfordroo · 02-01-2016, 09:24 PM

Why do you need a crock pot if you're driving down the road??

Make some Car-B-Q instead:

How to Cook Food on Your Car's Engine: 10 Steps

Seriously, a 1500 watt inverter is going to need to supply about 13 amps at 110 VAC which means your Sunseekers battery/alternator will have to supply about 120 amps at 12VDC to the inverter. That's a lot of juice. Will your Sunseeker's alternator put out that kind of power (in addition to running the Sunseeker)? And you'll need some heavy wiring from the battery to the inverter.

ykdave · 02-01-2016, 09:56 PM

Your actually looking more towards a 140amp load on the 12v side depending on the actual efficiency of the inverter. Which with a decent enough inverter and proper gauge wiring, isnt a problem.

The alternator on that rig is likely more than capable, sub 175amp alternators are pretty rare these days on anything bigger than a rice rocket.

Either way, i dont even see a inverter being listed as optional on the sunseekers, so the whole thing is out the window unless hes installed one or is planning to

ScottBrownstein · 02-01-2016, 10:09 PM

well...surprise...a crock pot will draw something like 150 to 300 watts depending on the setting. That would be 1.25 to 2.5 amps AC or maybe 13 to 25 amps DC. Well within the range of the alternator and a reasonably sized 500 to 1000 watt inverter.

Hey...they are pretty efficient. A big TV draws as much.

If you have an inverter that can supply 300 watts or so, the alternator will constantly keep things up to charge and...the stew will be ready when you stop for the night.

HONDAMAN174 · 02-01-2016, 10:21 PM

^^ yep...he's right. Mine pulls just under three on high. But that would also make me hungry after about three hours!

2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

ykdave · 02-01-2016, 10:52 PM

cant say ive ever used a crock pot

300w on high would be a much more reasonable situation.

Bluepill · 02-01-2016, 11:10 PM

Just a note: If the crockpot has a digital timer, it may not work reliably with a Modified Sine Wave inverter. Owners of coffee makers with digital timers have reported that they had to use Pure Sine Wave inverters for proper operation. If the crockpot just has Off-Low-High with no digital display, MSW should work fine.

Still Kickin · 02-01-2016, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

well...surprise...a crock pot will draw something like 150 to 300 watts depending on the setting. That would be 1.25 to 2.5 amps AC or maybe 13 to 25 amps DC. Well within the range of the alternator and a reasonably sized 500 to 1000 watt inverter.

Hey...they are pretty efficient. A big TV draws as much.

If you have an inverter that can supply 300 watts or so, the alternator will constantly keep things up to charge and...the stew will be ready when you stop for the night.

X2.

The secret to crock pot cooking is time. Look at the power usage on the appliance. Calculate wattage using V x A = Watts. Then, the cheapest way would be to buy a12v plug in inverter (if you don't have a hard wired one already) then connect and cook. Use two rubber bands looped through the handles to the knob on the cover to secure while you're doing the in-flight cooking.

MNtraveler · 02-02-2016, 12:56 AM

I'm much more concerned about the crock pot falling over or going flying if you have to slam on the brakes. In addition to breaking the glass or pottery, the danger of flying hot food (and flying glass/pottery/cooking base) is quite real. I would seriously suggest eating something the first day you cook on the campfire or else microwave (which could be fresh cooking, or reheating something you pre-cooked at home and put in the freezer the night before then transferred to the RV freezer). Best to use the crock pot after you park and get set up on AC line power.

18CrewDually · 02-02-2016, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNtraveler

I'm much more concerned about the crock pot falling over or going flying if you have to slam on the brakes. In addition to breaking the glass or pottery, the danger of flying hot food (and flying glass/pottery/cooking base) is quite real. I would seriously suggest eating something the first day you cook on the campfire or else microwave (which could be fresh cooking, or reheating something you pre-cooked at home and put in the freezer the night before then transferred to the RV freezer). Best to use the crock pot after you park and get set up on AC line power.

Set it in the sink.

**Bama Rambler** · 02-02-2016, 09:17 AM

We have a couple of slow cookers that have latches on the lid that secures it and the crock into the base. They also have simple controls. They are called Stay-or-Go's.

I'd do as 05Crew said and sit it in the sink while moving just as extra insurance and you should be fine.

critt61626 · 02-02-2016, 10:42 AM

It sits in the sink so it will be fine. Top is secured too.

KMANUEL74 · 02-02-2016, 01:46 PM

I use a 450 watt inverter and a crock pot on low. It is placed into the sink and never had a problem. If it ends up flying somewhere, I have bigger problems than hot food.

HONDAMAN174 · 02-02-2016, 03:16 PM

That's why I use mine in the truck. Easier to stabilize

2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

Utah Traveler · 02-02-2016, 03:48 PM

My wife found a Saratoga Jack's Thermal Cooker on ebay. Just so food can be cooking while we travel. She absolutely loves it. Look it up on Google or ebay.

doc73 · 02-02-2016, 03:53 PM

My wife loves the slow cooker, I am shocked how little it draws. Usually electric heat stuff socks the juice..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

Utah Traveler · 02-02-2016, 04:47 PM

Saratoga Jack's THERMAL Cooker uses no power at all, it cookes thermally. You place food in inner pot, add water, place it on stove top, or on fire grate, Bring water to a boil for 5 minutes, Then transfer inner pot into outer thermal schell. wait 5 to 7 hours (depending on what your're cooking) It cooks without using any TT power. Yes it really works well, cookes while we travel and a great pot roast is ready when we arrive,

doc73 · 02-02-2016, 04:49 PM

I think we got something like that for x-mas this year form my sister... We were not sure how they worked or if they even did.. I cannot think of the name but the boiling water part makes me think it is the same thing.

Utah Traveler · 02-02-2016, 05:00 PM

We tried ours at home first, just to be certain it really worked the way it should. We were pleasantly surprised just how tender the beef roast turned out. Awesome
Happy camping this year.

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