Recommendations for installing external DC power plugs?

[zacherrie]

Hi All,

I am in the process of installing a fuse block and adding charging ports for some DC powered devices in my camper (below).


does anyone have any good recommendations for which ones to use?

I was think of the following:
1) speakers and projector: Any advice on speakers and projectors would be helpful. Having a hard time figuring which are the best for power efficiency and decent quality. Any recs you have used/liked? Would be nice to have a small set of speakers with an AUX input so I could plug them into the projector for TV and phone for playing music
2) Laptop charger: Link <--- seems like I'll need two of these? One for each laptop?
3) Phone charger: Link
4) satellite wifi router: Link

As far as fusing goes. I assume I would just need to get the products/chargers in hand and then fuse based on the wire size of the charger (since it will be the limiting factor in current carrying capacity). Let me know if I am wrong though.

Thanks as always all. This stuff is finally starting to make some sense to this first timer.

 

[HRTKD]

When you say "external" do you mean on the outside of the RV?

If it is truly on the outside, then be sure you have a switch or circuit breaker on the inside to shut off power to those external outlets. That's how I did my system. I wanted to make sure someone couldn't pirate power off my RV or some kid walk up and start poking his fingers into outlets.

I used outlets from CLINKO. They can be found on Amazon. They don't look like the cheap SAE outlets and if you pick the right one, they're rated for more amps than the SAE outlets can handle.

 

[zacherrie]

When you say "external" do you mean on the outside of the RV?

If it is truly on the outside, then be sure you have a switch or circuit breaker on the inside to shut off power to those external outlets. That's how I did my system. I wanted to make sure someone couldn't pirate power off my RV or some kid walk up and start poking his fingers into outlets.

I used outlets from CLINKO. They can be found on Amazon. They don't look like the cheap SAE outlets and if you pick the right one, they're rated for more amps than the SAE outlets can handle.

Hi HRTKD that’s my fault. When I say external, i actually mean that they are separate/will be self installed from what’s already provided with the camper. All charging ports will be placed inside the camper. With that in mind any recommendations? Still CLINKO?

Thanks for the advice

 

[featherlite]

I used outlets from CLINKO.

I found these CLINKO 500V 20A outlets on Amazon. The description says they accept 14-12AWG wire.

https://www.amazon.com/CNLINKO-Wate...nnector,+male+plug,industrial,292&sr=1-8&th=1

I do not know exactly what outlets you bought, but by chance do you have any idea whether they could accept 10AWG wires?

Thanks

 

[S Davis]

Not sure this is what you mean but I use lift gate plugs. If I remember they are rated to 200amps.

 

[HRTKD]

I found these CLINKO 500V 20A outlets on Amazon. The description says they accept 14-12AWG wire.

https://www.amazon.com/CNLINKO-Waterproof-Connector-Circular-Plugging/dp/B0CYYNB83S/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1R3W5J1VGKT2L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qP24oLMDXPXS5JMShwiOhKyxONwMH_YKnVwMIjCd797hkTdZP9iRJLi1La5VTHpPPKwrKg59vdFM5IuqlZzgCw82nJILYnVsDmeeX8jFFyaAGRcSJCBUm2ERG1-jDZqZy7hCNk50DGwbK4JQEZZe--mIHCrZmtgq9oj-PE37GbFqjE8ESXijp8eLA2_ASD2JbKbYq3XJynZiHKiwGEOofryd8EP2R57pHkwQxIIE3dw.U42MPZ6BahoXk5FXgyQlzNJ_hfUWBlSwPnqq_tQVjlA&dib_tag=se&keywords=CNLINKO+2+Pin+Power+Industrial+Circular+Connector,+Male+Plug&qid=1742081314&s=industrial&sprefix=cnlinko+2+pin+power+industrial+circular+connector,+male+plug,industrial,292&sr=1-8&th=1

I do not know exactly what outlets you bought, but by chance do you have any idea whether they could accept 10AWG wires?

Thanks

Here's a link to the one I bought back in 2021 and put to use. It's a little different from the one you linked to.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XZMB3PK

Click on the images on the left, there is a spec sheet that details what wire gauge it will accept. I used 10 gauge as I recall.

 

[0truck0]

The fuse block is likely rated for 25 or 30 amp fuses so that is plenty for what you are doing. looks fine.

Skip the fancy chargers. Put in a DC outlet/ cig outlet, and then you can plug usb chargers into that, which cost $3 and up, not $20, and you have a useful DC outlet when needed. Then you can unplug usb charger and have zero parasitic draw.

Thats a fancy laptop charger, I dont know about those. Buy a cheap 100 or 300 watt pure inverter and plug that into your DC outlet and charge laptop off inverter, and then you have a fancy inverter for anything else too. In RVs you must have dual-purpose everything when possible.

For speakers the tube-looking things kids carry around seems best, are bluetooth or you can use AUX cable, and they are battery, so once charged wont run down your camper battery. I havent found a good solution as speakers take up space and use power, I use headphones a lot when movie watching, and I bought a DVD external player and watch on laptop, and again, there is a dual purpose use as laptop for movies and for laptop stuff. I sometimes put movies on a thumb drive but youtube keeps fighting us for doing that....

 

[Drizzt321]

Personally I'm not a fan of the car style DC plug...so big. I use Anderson power poles a lot, most common is 30a, but they also have a 45a version.

 

[zacherrie]

The fuse block is likely rated for 25 or 30 amp fuses so that is plenty for what you are doing. looks fine.

Skip the fancy chargers. Put in a DC outlet/ cig outlet, and then you can plug usb chargers into that, which cost $3 and up, not $20, and you have a useful DC outlet when needed. Then you can unplug usb charger and have zero parasitic draw.

Thats a fancy laptop charger, I dont know about those. Buy a cheap 100 or 300 watt pure inverter and plug that into your DC outlet and charge laptop off inverter, and then you have a fancy inverter for anything else too. In RVs you must have dual-purpose everything when possible.

For speakers the tube-looking things kids carry around seems best, are bluetooth or you can use AUX cable, and they are battery, so once charged wont run down your camper battery. I havent found a good solution as speakers take up space and use power, I use headphones a lot when movie watching, and I bought a DVD external player and watch on laptop, and again, there is a dual purpose use as laptop for movies and for laptop stuff. I sometimes put movies on a thumb drive but youtube keeps fighting us for doing that....

Thanks!

Dual use is a good thought to keep in mind

 

[Drizzt321]

@zacherrie can your laptop be charged via USB-C USB-PD? If so, I'm using https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFQ7MS2D 12v/Car -> USB-PD charger and works great.

Although I actually modded mine to hook up to Anderson power pole since that's what I use for moderate current wiring/connectors in general.

 

[0truck0]

I meant to say, each slot of the fuse block is rated for 25-30 amps....

 

[Drizzt321]

I meant to say, each slot of the fuse block is rated for 25-30 amps....

Depending on the fuse block, but most of the ATC blocks, yeah, 25-30a max per slot, and usually like 100 or 150a total, or something. Typically, but always check the specs of your fuse block.

 

[0truck0]

Depending on the fuse block, but most of the ATC blocks, yeah, 25-30a max per slot, and usually like 100 or 150a total, or something. Typically, but always check the specs of your fuse block.

In life everything, EVERYTHING, can be under category of "Depends", no need to add emphasis, and
Didnt I just say this? no need to repeat on a forum post bc it just adds another post without saying anything new, now we added two post of nothing

 

[zacherrie]

@zacherrie can your laptop be charged via USB-C USB-PD? If so, I'm using https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFQ7MS2D 12v/Car -> USB-PD charger and works great.

Although I actually modded mine to hook up to Anderson power pole since that's what I use for moderate current wiring/connectors in general.

Thanks!