adding 12v receptacle

[jtstromsburg]

I recently added electric rc trucks to my hobby list and would like to add a 12v jack (preferably not a lighter type plug) so I can hook my charger up to keep the trucks racing after the neighbors dog
Should be easy, but I would like it to look nice as well. I can make whatever plug type work.

Any help or suggestions appreciated
I have a 2012 grey wolf 28BH tt

[donn]

I just plug the charger directly into the batteries. But there are power plugs available. You might check Radio Shack for what you want. A couple of banana plugs should do the trick. Color coded of course to denote + and -.

[jtstromsburg]

So am I right in thinking wiring straight from the batteries, with a fuse of course? would it be better to go from the battery or the converter?

[ken0042]

One of my winter projects is to install one of these in the trailer. I'm going with the extra cigarette adapters because we have so many devices that use those. And of course the USB ports for charging things like my iPhone. I ran the outlet so it is close to the main bed; that way I can use and charge devices in bed. It's also on the other end of the trailer from the factory 12 volt outlet.

I'm curious; what type of 12 volt plug were you looking for that isn't a cigarette type plug?

[jtstromsburg]

Probably a pair of banana plugs like donn suggested. My rc charger just has a pair of leads with alligator clips right now. I can lose those and add banana plugs easy enough. I haven't been able to get enough juice from the cigarette style plugs yet.

[captain-fire]

McMaster Carr has the lighter style plug that is rated for 10 amps for $10.00 and shipping. I have used these before and they are great
This should be the link
McMaster-Carr

[Rod Johnson]

I always got better charges from chargers when they were plugged into 110V. IDK why, maybe they only get 12.4V from the chassis battery compared to the 14.4 from the charger's internal transformer from 110V.

You can pick up a power panel from Tower Hobbies
TowerHobbies.com | HCAP0302 Hobbico Deluxe Power Panel II

$22

TowerHobbies.com | TOWP1105 Tower Hobbies TOWER Power Deluxe Power Panel

$20

Mounted in the wall, or the backsplash of a little workbench would make for a convenient hookup

[TheSasks]

Just remember the more current you draw and the longer the distance to the outlet from the source the larger the wire needed as you get large voltage drops with DC power. I put a 12v outlet in the pantry on our trailer which is right beside the fuse panel so my wires are only abt 2 ft long. In our previous trailer there was a 12v outlet by the TV where we plugged in a 400w inverter and it refused to run even a 22inch lcd tv and DVD player (maybe 150 watt load total) as the voltage was too low and we had a pair of Trojan 6v batteries. That wiring was probably in the order of 15ft or so from the fuse panel and probably a guess at 18 guage.

Here is a caculator to figure out your voltage drop etc.
http://www.thecarpcstore.com/cms/ind...d=47&Itemid=63