Charging Devices when dry camping

[lboe12]

Hi All,

We just picked up a 2018 minilite 2306 and i would like to charge ipads and phones in the trailer while dry camping. I tried plugging in an iphone and ipad into the USB port next to our bed and it would not charge the Ipad and very slowly charged the iphone. Do i need an inverter to charge our devices? I dont need microwave or TV just enough power to charge the ipad and iphone as well as camera batteries. We will have 150 watt solar and i have 2 6volt batteries.

Thanks

[Blackrock]

I added a 150w inverter to my unit which works real well for charging my devices. Used it a lot when boondocking on my 2016 Alaska trip.

[Kimber45]

wire a cigarette lighter to the battery and charge off the battery.

[spock123]

We have a 150 watt inverter in the truck that's charges all our iPhones and iPad. Plus it runs our Garmin and TPMS

[67L48]

Sounds like your trailer USB is not wired to 12 VDC and instead is tied through the 120 VAC circuit. So, that's out, unless you want to play electrician and switch that up.

So, you have some other options.

Tie directly to your RV battery using a battery tender system. I use one of these on my motorcycle for long rides.


Get a solar panel that is specific for charging small devices. I've never used one, but here is an example.

Use portable chargers (battery packs) to charge your devices. Then, recharge those chargers/batteries from your car when you drive around or from your solar/RV battery. I have used a portable bluetooth speaker from JBL that doubles as a charging device. I listen to music and charge my phone at the same time. Later, I'll recharge the speaker.

Use your TV. Doesn't take much to charge an iPhone. I will toss my phone in my truck for an hour or two if it needs a charge.

Inverter idea given above. Lots of ways to tie this in to make it more or less integrated into your RV.

Good luck.

[spydunks]

You need a higher powered USB charger to charge the iPad. Amazon has several dual 2.1 amp USB chargers that accept 12v input. If you are boondocking, I’d recommend a switched one.

[wahoonc]

Just need to swap out the current outlet for a higher powered one. You want one that puts out 2.1 amps vs the .5 amp that a standard USB provides. Or you can put in a cigarette lighter style outlet, then either use a 100 watt plug in inverter or a high powered car adapter. Lot's of choices.

I have a mix of both in my motor home. I primarily use the small inverter to power a printer or turbo charge my phones using the wall wart.

Another gizmo that I have found handy for camping is a large battery pack to charge phones and tablets up. I have a 30,000 mAh one that will get 3 phones and 2 tablets through a 3 day weekend with no problem. Then just charge it up again when I get home so it is ready to go again. I also have a couple of smaller ones that I use for traveling.

Aaron

[babock]

Using an inverter to charge DC devices is just not that smart. Wire in some 12V DC outlets and/or USB ports.

[bbbeebop]

Use your Tow Vehicle

[primo20]

we use one of these...

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[PSU Turf]

I ran a wire off of the fuse panel and installed (2) 12V cigarette lighter outlets nearby. We use a dual amperage USB port so that a phone or iPad can be charged. Also use the outlet to charge a laptop, power a 12V hair dryer, and a fan.

[TitanMike]

I'd get the largest USB battery pack I could find for a good price and use it for recharging phones/tablets. Whenever you are driving TV or Toad, charge it from the vehicle power outlet. There are lots on the market for under $50 that will charge the average phone 10 times.

My 12v power outlet (cigarette lighter) plug in charges my Galaxy Note 8 and power bank in short order. Has two ports, 1.5 amp and 2.5 amp.

[Flybob]

Might try something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/FEEYOO-Chargi...2v+usb+charger

[2010lexington255gts]

I took an unused battery backup for my home computer and disabled the alarm. It should charge a phone several times and can be brought back to full capacity anytime 120 volts is available.

[formerFR]

Walmart and auto stores have several different types or 'Power Inverters' or similar named products for just your situation: one in particular gives you both a 120v outlet AND usb ports... and it connects directly to your battery*s* with alligator clips.
If the placement near your battery is not convenient, you can easily run an extension cord from it into the coach, etc.

[USMarinesDad]

I bought one of these last year. Two 110V outlets & two USB outlets. Keeps are Macs & iPhones charged. Very nice.

https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DRIN...BInverter&th=1

[pmsherman]

Originally Posted by babock

Using an inverter to charge DC devices is just not that smart. Wire in some 12V DC outlets and/or USB ports.

When boondocking, it's critical to maximize EFFECTIVE use of power from your battery bank. Converting 12VDC to 120VAC then back to 5VDC using wall warts is guaranteed to be less efficient than converting 12V to 5V directly.

The optimum solution, if drawing on the house batteries, is to use a DC-DC "buck" regulator to generate the 5V that's needed to charge these devices. This is the device that's found in all of the cigarette lighter to USB plugin devices. You can buy buck converters at Amazon, either encapsulated with input and output wires to hook up or as prebuilt circuit boards that require soldering wires to them and placement in an enclosure.

We adopted a different solution. The DW was very unhappy with the amount of light at the dining table so we purchased a 12VDC LED lamp with a bladeless fan that has two high current USB ports built into its base. A similar one, a " Ledu Mobile Desk Task Lamp (9212)" is available online. The power line from the supplied AC adapter (120VAC to 12VDC) was cut and the wall wart discarded. I tapped into the lighting circuit for the dining area for the 12V power the lamp requires.

Phil

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

wire a cigarette lighter to the battery and charge off the battery.

I concur. If you read those USB outputs some are 1.1 amp and some are 2.1. 2.1 charges my five year old I-Pad but it prefers more. I went on line abought a couple more powerful ones that plug in to Cig Lighter type socket.

Fortunately there is on of those next to my usbs in both bedroom and in cabinet with my switches and the like.

Our bed is front, easy install from the batteries if you don't have the socket. Next solar. Right now, Costco.com offers a tidy looking 100 Watt starter kit for $110

WindyNation.com has the sets we have installed for several folks in our club. They are completely ready to install on roof.

Happy camping. Tom

[lboe12]

Just ordered a lighter USB dual 2.4amp plug which should work great. Also picked up a battery bank. Should be more than enough. Thanks for all the comments!

[Airborne]

We purchased one of these from Walmart. It charges all of our phones and tablets for the week, runs our laptop if need be, allows me to plug my TV and DVD player into it when I am boondocking, air's up the air mattresses for our kids tents and water toys and has filled up one of the trailer tires, we even jumped started the neighbors jet ski, it is very versatile. We highly recommend it.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/1200-Watt...tion/701017780