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Old 07-25-2019, 12:58 PM   #1
ejerni
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DC outlets

We have a 2019 Montana 3791rd. Why don't we have any DC outlets???
 
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Old 07-25-2019, 01:52 PM   #2
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Because it's 2019, and everything has gone to USB ports! Seriously, I would think most of their buyers are aging baby boomers who still use things with a cigarette lighter plug, so a couple of such outlets would be benificial. I'm pretty sure that you could replace your USB ports with cigarette plugs, if they are powered by your 12 volt system. If they work when unplugged from shore power than they are 12 volt. There may be a cigarette plug by your antenna booster if that helps.
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Old 07-25-2019, 03:27 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejerni View Post
We have a 2019 Montana 3791rd. Why don't we have any DC outlets???

Nope. Those days are gone. If you need a 12V power-point in the form of a cigarette lighter, you'll need to wire it in or have someone do it. The three pop-up outlets with the USB ports are all 120V AC powered so you can't tap 12V there. There is 12V wiring all over the place if you need a source to tap, but it will be limited on the available current without blowing fuses. Or do a fused home run to the batteries or converter.
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Old 07-25-2019, 04:33 PM   #4
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Well, it seems like we are getting further and further away from campers and morphing into mobile homes soon they'll be removing the holding tanks and batteries!
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Old 07-25-2019, 06:28 PM   #5
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They are gone along with VCRs and rotary phones. Most cars do not have them anymore either.
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Old 07-25-2019, 08:27 PM   #6
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Actually I'm not sure that's true. Our car has two as well as two USB's and our truck has three as well as two USB's and an AC outlet..
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Old 08-01-2019, 06:42 PM   #7
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I installed several 12 volt cigarette style ports throughout our unit. Easily done anywhere there is 12 volts available. If we need usb, simply use an adapter. We can charge phones/e-cigs/I-pods or whatever anytime.
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Old 12-20-2019, 02:10 PM   #8
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dc plug recepticals

We have been told that the receptacles we want to use, would have to be wired in for use when we dry camp. Dealer said it is very expensive to rewire the whole 5th wheel. Any ideas??
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Old 12-20-2019, 04:14 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejerni View Post
We have been told that the receptacles we want to use, would have to be wired in for use when we dry camp. Dealer said it is very expensive to rewire the whole 5th wheel. Any ideas??
What exactly are you trying to power with 12V cig plugs?
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:12 PM   #10
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DC

I want to be able to watch tv or run our coffee pot etc..Our solar panel only keeps the batteries charged, but in order to use the outlets we have to run the generator because our rig doesn't have AC/DC.
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:33 PM   #11
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Actually your RW is AC/DC, meaning that when connected to 120 VAC your built-in converter converts the 120 AC to 12 VDC.
To run a typical TV or Coffee Pot with no shore power you need an Inverter that converts 12 VDC battery power into 120 AC.
For the coffee pot you'll need approx a 2000 watt inverter and a battery bank capable of a few hundred amp hours and the Inverter wired directly to the batteries, no cigarette lighter outlet will give you enough power for the coffee pot.
While you could run the TV with a small portable inverter plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet.
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:38 PM   #12
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Thank you so much. I'll have to think about that. We were told it had to be wired for it and a $800.00 Jaboni set up with solar to keep the batteries charged more
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Old 01-15-2021, 03:26 AM   #13
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Ok so its not just me. We just got our 2018 381 and i was wondering the same thing.
We already ordered 4 replacement 120V outlets with the usb plugs in them as well. Adding a few 12V outlets as well for boondocking. We have a bearded dragon who needs her heat lamp or under tank heater on all the time. We set it up of a small 12V outlet inverter in our class a and it worked great for when we were off grid instead running the generator all day long.
My wife and I actually just spent our after dinner time last night looking for ways to run dedicated wiring through walls and such to the underbelly.
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Old 01-15-2021, 07:53 AM   #14
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Maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MBRGNHW..._4VAaGb9W9GRZD
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Old 01-15-2021, 08:50 AM   #15
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Well thats nifty. Havent seen anything like that before. Unfortunately i need it to go the other direction. Need the 12V outlet to plug in a small inverter to run our dragons heat lamp when we are boon docking. Pretty sure we figured out how to get the 12V stuff where we need it, just have to work on getting a wire snake through the belly area
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Old 01-15-2021, 10:36 AM   #16
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Running wire through the underbelly is difficult even with fish tape ... been there on a couple of rigs. Running a wire inside any wall lengthwise of the fiver will be next to impossible. The wall studs are hollow, but basically 2" square aluminum tube. Back to the underbelly, Before level up units ... the curbside was the easiest to run fish tape with a bit of the belly panel down at both ends. Most wiring, hyd hose, and water lines used to be on the street side in the underbelly. In the ceiling, you can remove lights and vents and sometimes go from hole to hole to get several feet of wire run. You might look at a 12 VDC portable battery jumpstart unit to get you by until something else is figured out.
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Old 01-15-2021, 10:42 AM   #17
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I get lucky, on our 381 there is a half wall (for lack of a better term) between the kitchen and the living room, and if i remove a drawer there is a wire run down, then if i go into the exterior cabinet in front of my furnace and remove a carpet panel, i would just need a long stretched out metal coat hanger to grab it and pull it, then somehow magically push a wire in a straight line under that cabinet out to the battery. Piece of cake
May have to just throw the jump box in for now lol, thank you for the idea!
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Old 01-15-2021, 11:04 AM   #18
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Running wire through the underbelly is relatively easy. Simply cut some access hatches we're needed by only cutting three sides leaving the uncut side towards the front of the camper. Cut them big enough you can get your head and hands up in there. The harder part is drilling upwards and knowing where to do it. When you're done fold the flap back up and tape it with Gorilla Tape
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Old 01-15-2021, 11:15 AM   #19
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Going from the basement to the kitchen island shouldn't be too hard. You can follow the pex water lines to the island and put in a 12v socket in the island.
Remove the panel covering the plumbing under the sink and you will see what I'm talking about.
Going from the island to the rear den would be challenging.
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Old 01-15-2021, 11:34 AM   #20
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Awesome tips guys, Thanks!
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