120 Volt Input

[Longhorn1500]

When my wife and I go camping we usually bring along a portable powered cooler that we keep in the back of the truck. I am tired of running the extension cord into the back of the truck. So I thought it would be nice to have a power inlet on the truck with an outlet inside the bed. That's what I did. I installed a 120 volt 15 amp inlet plug in the rear bumper to the left of the license plate. Then I installed a power outlet inside the pickup bed. While at it, I also ran an extension cord to the front of the truck to power the block heater so I don't have to have another extension cord running along the ground for that. I put a switch in the bed to turn on the block heater. Pictures...

 

[CrispyBacon]

I've debated doing this on a trailer or work van...maybe even the bed with a tonneau cover on. Let me plug in overnight to keep a heater going. Stop my paint from freezing. As it is, now, I have to unload anything that might freeze, and put it back in my truck first thing in the morning before work.

 

[TestPilot57]

We have a 12v cooler, and plug it into the trailer outlet with a cheap adapter. Only negative is that it draws a fair amount of power.

 

[Tulecreeper]

We have a 12v cooler, and plug it into the trailer outlet with a cheap adapter. Only negative is that it draws a fair amount of power.

I had one of those about 20 years ago. I added a 12v adapter to the bed of the truck, plugged it in and drove from Point A to Point B, then left it plugged in for 4 hours. Sucked my battery dead.

 

[Longhorn1500]

Yeah, I have 12VDC outlets in the bed also. When at the campground I run the cooler on 120VAC. When running (cooling) the cooler draws about an amp on AC, and about 10 amps on DC.

 

[Scottly]

I hate it when my ice cream melts in the middle of January. I'll have to try this.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Yeah, I have 12VDC outlets in the bed also. When at the campground I run the cooler on 120VAC. When running (cooling) the cooler draws about an amp on AC, and about 10 amps on DC.

Everything being equal, if it is drawing 1 amp on AC, it will draw 12 amps on DC. It's a 10:1 ratio, always.

 

[Longhorn1500]

Everything being equal, if it is drawing 1 amp on AC, it will draw 12 amps on DC. It's a 10:1 ratio, always.

Yeah, that's why I said "about." My point was, that is a pretty good draw on the battery, at least for any length of time if the truck isn't running.

 

[TestPilot57]

Yeah, I have 12VDC outlets in the bed also. When at the campground I run the cooler on 120VAC. When running (cooling) the cooler draws about an amp on AC, and about 10 amps on DC.

Edit: I see someone already addressed this...

Watts = Amps x volts. So that makes perfect sense. It takes (roughly) the same Watts regardless of the power source, since Watts are the measure of energy used. 120v x 1amp = 120 watts. 12v x 10amp = 120 watts.