Are there 12v outlets for charging things in new LL trailers?

[alazear]

Rookie question:  I've got 2018 LL 21 BHS Platinum. 

I read in the manual there were supposed to be "aux 12v outlets located inside and outside in order to attach 12v devices and appliances," p. 27 of the manual....   I don't find any?  Spec. change, old literature or me overlooking something?

I'd just like to charge a Iphone or two when dry camping off my dual 6v golf batteries.  I can't seem to figure out how to do it.  Even the new stock 12v Furion radio won't charge anything via its USB port when turned on.  What gives? 

Oh no...   Is this why all the rewiring, inverter and solar talk on this site and everywhere else?  I wanted to avoid that as I only dry camp for 2-4 days in a row and keep power consumption to a minimum doing so.

[nhlakes]

There used to be 'charging centers' like this:

http://www.sunnyislandrv.com/console/photos/inventory/large/2a5d8edd127f83f.jpg   

There's also USB by the bed in some models.  Mine did not have 12V charging by the bed, I tapped into 12V power in the outside access under bed storage, drilled a hole above and ran a 12V line for my 12V cpap, phone charging, etc...

The USB on the stereo is likely to input music, not for charging.

I'd be shocked if Thor removed 12v charging capability altogether. 

[Merlin]

Maybe @Paul knows where some are, he just started using his new 21.

[Paul]

Maybe @Paul knows where some are, he just started using his new 21.

The USB by the bed and the one by the bunk bed only works on 110v. There is no USB working on 12v. I haven't try the one on the radio maybe it work with 12v? Will try it later

[DavidM]

Maybe @Paul knows where some are, he just started using his new 21.

The USB by the bed and the one by the bunk bed only works on 110v. There is no USB working on 12v. I haven't try the one on the radio maybe it work with 12v? Will try it later

Isn't that a stupid way to rig a USB outlet? If they just wired the USB outlet to the DC system it would work on converter power when plugged in to shore power as well as battery power when not plugged in.

David

[Diversteve]

It is easy to add an outlet.

[ADR]

My 2018 16TBS had absolutely NO 12v connection (cig socket) in place to charge or run 12V things.
Neither did my Rpod.
In fact in many years of many campers, I can't recall a single one that came with a 12V outlet.

First thing I did was add one next to the radio.
That proved a little inconvenient having to lay phones etc on the small kitchen counter.

Next I added 2 more in a wall plate next to the AC wallplate for the TV. 
I also added another wall plate (in grey) to provide inverter made AC power.   The grey is to differentiate it from the regular house AC.

There is a gap of about a foot between the end of the cabinet and the wall where I added the outlets- I plan to make a shelf to go there to place phones etc on.    The outlets are up high- next to where the shelf will be.

[Steve Sanders]

Find the manual for your power center. If you don't have hard copy, I'm sure you can find it on the interwebs. There are several 12v circuits in the power center, each having a different color wire coming from the back of the power center and it's own fuse location in the front. Each of those will provide 12v positive, and there should be a larger white wire that is the single 12v negative that is shared by all of the 12v circuits. Amazon can provide the outlet. Add a little wire, crimp connectors and time. It's not a big project.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[nhlakes]

My 2016 has the 12v charging station w/ cigarette style plug and 2x USB that does not require shore power, nor does the 12V cigarette style plug by the TV. 

I've added an additional 12v cig style outlet by my side of the bed for the cpap and will be adding a dedicated 12V USB to both sides, all of which will not require shore power.   

Thinking back, I seem to recall my 2010 LL QS10 also had a 12V cig style outlet that did not require shore power - but perhaps I may have added it. 

[Diversteve]

The radio in our 2014 DBS had a USB outlet built in, very handy.
USB of course is 5 vdc.
Camp on!

[nhlakes]

The radio in our 2014 DBS had a USB outlet built in, very handy.
USB of course is 5 vdc.
Camp on!

Awesome, just verified I can use that port on my 2016 without shore power as well.  I knew you could use it to read music but it never occurred to me to use it to charge a phone, etc...  thanks

[Merlin]

It's hard to believe that in this day and age, there are no USB ports in a camper that work without shore power. All of us have so many things that need that little slot! My 2015 camper came with 2 lighter-type receptacles and 3 USB receptacles, all of which work with the 12V house battery. Because I have so much "stuff", I've added even more.

Here is an example of one that I have used hardwired into 12V power. There are other cheaper ones, but this one is waterproof and comes with a fuse in the + lead and 2 USB receptacles. The advantage of this one is the very shallow (approximately 1 inch) mounting depth needed. Many of these take twice as much depth.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/poly-planar--waterproof-dual-port-usb-charger--15094345?recordNum=2

[Diversteve]

Here is a cool one with a built in 12 vdc meter.
https://www.amazon.com/MICTUNING-4326593002-Voltmeter-Universal-Motorcycle/dp/B01M4OKBSB/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1526775976&sr=8-22&keywords=Dual-Port+USB+Charger

[nhlakes]

Installed one of these in my last camper.  2 USB, 1 cig style, 12v meter, and on/off switch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBJYO9M

[DavidM]

If anyone is thinking about changing out their 120V AC powered USB outlets to 12V powered ones, here are a couple of tips:

I would leave the 120V powered USB outlets in place if possible and install a separate 12V powered one. If you must remove them it would be best to pull the wiring to the outlet back to its source. Hopefully that will be a nearby 120V power outlet. But you might have to go all the way back to the 120V breaker panel and that probably won't be easy. I know this sounds like a PITA but it is the NEC code. Worse comes to worse, put a junction box behind the cabinet or whatever and put the 120V wires inside and wire nut them safe. This is a bit of a kludge, but I believe it meets the NEC. Whatever you do you don't want bare 120V wires flopping around inside a cabinet.

Then look for a nearby source of 12V power for the new USB outlet. Maybe the radio, maybe a light switch or if you can get to it easily, all the way back to the DC fuse panel. The USB outlets don't take much power, a couple of amps max, so almost any circuit where you can find 12V will work. Then patch into that source typically by cutting the wire to the source and crimping on a parallel wire.

Do it safely!!!

David