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Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Yahoo Message Number: 93756
Investigating for possible route to install wiring for a 12V (10 amp) power supply to the bedroom I don't locate a readily accessible path. I'm curious if others have installed such power outlet and any ideas for routing the wire. Need to run a CPAP and my understanding is the MSW inverter would eventully fry the CPAP. 12V DC would be a cheaper solution than upgrading to PSW inverter. Any experiences out there to share?

.John

'02 Intrigue 11461

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93761
John,

I have an '02 Intrigue and my bedroom reading lamps are 12vdc. I haven't looked to see the rating but would think there are a number of points in the BR to pick up the needed power. There is also the possibility of finding 12vdc in the engine compartment or from the DC fuse panel in the filter compartment. And don't forget the 12vdc lights in the closet.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93762
Hi John, We added 2 marine style lighter (high amp, chrome) sockets under the bed platform in our 2002 Intrigue #11329 for a 12 volt electric heating pad. It was an easy path to the battery bay from under the mattress and because the frame doesn't slide, there wasn't any complications. One socket on each side for the dual controls near the angled panel near the base......Hope this helps.....Skip

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93776
about wires to the bedroom

The owners manual for my2003 Intrigue says there is three set of wires from the rear. One set to the front one to the galley and one set to the bedroom. I have used the two front ones But don't have knowledge of the others. Maybe Kevin Waite or some one else knows there location. Good luck

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93793
John,

I faced the same issue a couple of years ago. I ran a pair of #10AWG wires enclosed in a protective split wire loom from a spare fuse location at the engine service bay DC fuse box to the bed right side drawer, shelf, cabinet unit. The wire loom assembly was routed alongside existing wiring from the fuse box to the rear of the coach and across the frame rail until under the drawer unit, then up, behind the drawers to exit from a hole I drilled in the panel below the cabinet door, (back of the shelf, just above the drawers).

The CPAP did not function well on 12v with the humidifier on. As I recall the dc current draw was too much for the 12v cigar lighter style plug, which deformed and failed from excessive heat. Rather than risk a fire, I located a small 150Watt, 120volt, PSW inverter which now plugs into the 12volt outlet and supplies AC for the CPAP.
This has been absolutely trouble-free for well over two years, and the humidifier function is used every night, as the wife says she could not use the CPAP without it.
Here is a link to the inverter I used at Amazon, if you a re interested in this route.
Amazon.com: Go Power! GP-SW150-12 150-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Automotive
Dave

2000 Allure
#30444
As an Amazon Associate Country Coach Owners Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93794
John,

I have operated my "Respironics Remstar Plus" CPAP many days while dry camping using my original MSW inverter. So far, my CPAP has not been affected and has been working fine. However I am not using the heated humidifier only to reduce power consumption. Does the mfr. of your CPAP device advise that MSW will do harm? Do they state that sine wave is required? This info is for my Respironics Remstar CPAP using the integrated (passive, non-heated) humidifier. The instruction manual for my device shows the following under "Power Requirements" heading: AC Power consumption: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 1.0 A max DC Power consumption: 12 VDC, 3.0 A max (Caution! use only the Respironics DC power system...)
The optional "Remstar Heated Humidifier" instruction booklet shows the following under Power Requirements: AC Power consumption: 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz, 1.7 A max The booklet also shows:

"This humidifier is suitable for use with typical DC to AC invertors...(300 watts minimum)."
Now I am curious to know if your equipment has different requirements or warnings. Please provide a follow-up.

Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure, 30226

 

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93799
Thank you to each who replied... I appreciate your information. After much climbing throughout and beneath the bedroom I located a path to run 10 gage wire very similar to what Dave described. I saw another post recently describing the tail lights fuse panel hidden beneath the bottom drawer in the bedroom and so pulled that drawer and found existing wire conduit coming through the floor adjacent this fuse panel. Simple route from the exterior 12V panel, slightly behind and above it, and then through the floor beneath this drawer and then into the bedroom.


My CPAP has larger draw than yours Daron --- 2.1 amps AC or 5.1 DC... and that amount is doubled if using the humidifier too. I obtained a 15 amp power outlet from Walmart (cigarette lighter style), but even so a constant 10 amp draw seems pushing the limit and so I like the idea Dave describes of using a small inverter.
John '02 Intrigue 11461

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93803
Sorry John, but I am still a little confused. Why use a small dedicated inverter instead of the main house inverter? In the end, battery amp draw would probably be about the same either way except that you would have another piece of equipment in the circuit. Have you verified that your equipment definitely requires true sine wave instead of MSW? Daron

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93821
Daron, this morning I called the customer service line for for the Respironics Remstar CPAP. They confirm what you've said --- that using a modified sine wave inverter should be OK. This advice conflicts with lots of internet research I've done about MSW inverters and the general online consensus that MSW will cause early demise of the AC to DC power "bricks" powering laptops and other fine electronics. Thank you for prodding me to look into this some more. Now I have a little better comfort level using the main house inverter. I guess if the greatest risk is having to replace the "power brick" rather than the CPAP itself I can live with that for now.
For anybody contemplating running a 12V power source from the service box -- I have found that a challenge is finding a 12V "cigarette lighter" power port that is capable of 15 amp service to avoid an overheating power port. I searched widely and found these only at Walmart. In fact, of the many I looked at, only those at Walmart listed the amp rating on the package. Camping World has a nicer looking power port for RV installation but the wires feeding it are too small to supply the 10 amp draw of a CPAP with humidifier. In my situation I'd need 8 AWG wiring for a 34 foot total run of wire, and connecting a power port with small lead wires would create overheating and safety concerns I'm sure. I realize that not using the humidifier may be necessary to conserve energy and I may need to do that.
Regarding a small portable inverter to obtain pure sine waves, I agree with you that it would draw as many amps (actually a fraction more) through the 12V power port as would the CPAP if plugged directly into it using a 12V power cord available for the CPAP. If it turns out that my CPAP power brick eventually succumbs to the MSW inverter at least I know the AWG wire size and routing necessary to avoid it happening a second time.
I retired a few months ago and just recently purchased my coach and haven't even traveled yet... not owned a MH previously. Am learning a LOT of information from everyone on this CC Owners forum --- thank you!

John

'02 Intrigue 11461
 

Re: Installing 12V power supply to bedroom

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 93835
John,

Thanks for taking the time to verify my comments with the Respironics customer service staff. No problem with my power supply so far. The amp draw for active humidity on my Respironics is relatively low. You may want to consider a change if that feature is important to you.

Congrats on your retirement and your purchase of the Country Coach. I have owned about a dozen type A coaches including a couple of Foretravels. After using it for about seven years, I like my Country coach the best over all.
My advice to you is to get out there and use it. That's where you will learn the most! Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure 30226