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03-05-2020, 08:16 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 366
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USB outlets
I’d like to change the outlets in the bedroom to include USB ports.
Are the outlets standard units I can get at Menards or are the some kind of special RV outlets? If so does anyone make any kind of dual outlet/usb?
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Brant
2020 Ford F-350 CCLB, 7.3 gas
2022 Arcadia 3940LT
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03-05-2020, 08:27 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,743
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Typically the RV outlets are in a "shallow" box because the walls are thin. The USB/wall outlets I've seen will not fit into a shallow box.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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03-05-2020, 09:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 1,659
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The simple solution is this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ALHQQU4
Easy to take with you when an upgraded trailer is in your future.
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2017 Keystone Bullet 308BHS in Saddle.
2017 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi 6.4L
2008 GMC Yukon XL Denali (SOLD)
Hensley SwiftArrow Control Hitch with 1000 lb Spring Bars
Me, DW, (3) little DS's, and 1 rambunctious Boston Terrier
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03-05-2020, 09:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 366
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Quote:
Originally Posted by busterbrown
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Thanks. Got that in my wishlist if I can’t find anything more streamlined.
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Brant
2020 Ford F-350 CCLB, 7.3 gas
2022 Arcadia 3940LT
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03-06-2020, 08:07 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,743
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I use one of these ... https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger...sb%2Caps%2C180
It's 60 watts so it charges our 2 phones and iPad air as well as the grandchildren tablets, phones, etc.and allows us to put all that "stuff" out of the way while charging.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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03-06-2020, 08:09 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,984
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Brant,
The front wall panels and the rear wall panels are typically much thicker than the sidewalls (4-6 inches vs 2 inches). If you remove one of the current outlets, you can measure the depth of the space and determine if a deeper outlet box can be installed. Typically, in RV's, they install the "same thing everywhere" rather than "pick and choose the max available". So, even though there's a shallow wall outlet, you might find that there's space for a deeper one on the front/rear wall installations.
Usually, the interior walls are not "structural supports" and are almost always 1" or 2" thick, so you won't find space there unless you can "intrude on a cupboard or cabinet dead space"....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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03-06-2020, 08:40 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 366
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
Brant,
The front wall panels and the rear wall panels are typically much thicker than the sidewalls (4-6 inches vs 2 inches). If you remove one of the current outlets, you can measure the depth of the space and determine if a deeper outlet box can be installed. Typically, in RV's, they install the "same thing everywhere" rather than "pick and choose the max available". So, even though there's a shallow wall outlet, you might find that there's space for a deeper one on the front/rear wall installations.
Usually, the interior walls are not "structural supports" and are almost always 1" or 2" thick, so you won't find space there unless you can "intrude on a cupboard or cabinet dead space"....
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Good to know. I’ll check it out. Thanks.
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Brant
2020 Ford F-350 CCLB, 7.3 gas
2022 Arcadia 3940LT
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03-06-2020, 10:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,286
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I installed USB outlets from Blue Sea (marine grade) on both sides of the bed. I tapped into 12v power from the overhead night light over the bed, which is not controlled by a wall switch. I was able to run the new wiring through the empty space in the cabinets. I added a switch to the USB outlets because they have a green led when they are powered. I can turn them off with the switch so that led doesn’t drain the batteries unnecessarily.
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Syst..._dp&th=1&psc=1
This USB port will not fit in an RV wall, it is too long.
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Mike
2017 F250 6.7 Powerstroke FX4 crew cab
2016 Hideout 24BHSWE (27 foot TT)
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03-06-2020, 06:36 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 503
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RV and mobile home receptacles do not need a box. All residential and commercial receptacles require a box. You will want what is called an "old work" box.
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2018 Cougar 26RBS
2016 Chevrolet 3500DRW D/A
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03-09-2020, 08:59 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,089
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The number of 120 outlets in our camper was pretty sparse, so I added a couple more and those had dual USB ports as well.
The USB ports only work when there is shore power or the generator is running so I am thinking of adding a couple to the 12 volt system too.
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2014 Bullet Premier 22RBPR - let the camping commence!
2013 F150 Platinum - 5.0 - 3.55 ELD + towing package
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02-13-2021, 01:00 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Toronto
Posts: 14
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Bumping this old thread, hope that's ok...
All of the new travel trailers come with lots of USB ports -- does anyone know the voltage of these charging ports? Are they powered from the 12v battery system?
We're looking at a 250BHS and there are USB charging ports in each bunk. Will they have enough juice to charge a tablet, or are they the older, lower power ports with enough for a phone? If it's the latter, can they be upgraded?
Thanks in advance.
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02-13-2021, 01:17 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,326
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Welcome to the forum : wlcm:
USB ports that are not part of an outlet are 12V and the output should be 5.4V if I remember right. It should be enough to charge a tablet.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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02-13-2021, 01:45 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Toronto
Posts: 14
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Terrific, thanks for the quick answer. And not the one I was expecting!
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02-13-2021, 02:36 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,141
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We charge iPhones and iPads from the USB ports with no issues. The output is 5v. The phones charge in the typical time, but these are not the 12 watt output that the iPad likes so those will take longer to charge. Our MiFi has a higher power demand like the iPad so I get messages from the MiFi that it is not an optimum power supply and charging time will be extended.
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02-13-2021, 02:55 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Toronto
Posts: 14
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Is it possible to retrofit the 5A chargers with something more powerful?
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02-13-2021, 03:15 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,141
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As you can see in the pic I posted (from one I removed from my camper) the input is 12 to 28 volts DC. The output is 5 volts DC at 2.4 watts of power which is what most small electronic devices require (basically what a laptop computer USB port puts out). An iPhone charger outputs 5 volts DC at 5 watts of power. An iPad charger outputs 5 volts DC at 12 watts of power.
The current ports will safely charge everything you plug into them, but may take a little longer than you are used to. Yes, you can buy replacement USB outlets at higher output wattages, but unless you label them for specific devices only, you run the risk of overheating the device battery, which can shorten the life of the device or cause a fire. If you went no higher than a 5 volt DC with 5 watt output, you should be fine, but we have never had any issues using the provided ports.
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Rob & Amy
2019 Passport 240BH SL (current)
2024 Cougar 29BHL (on order, originally due late April, then pushed to early May, now pushed to early June)
2022 Ford F250 7.3L Godzilla Crew Cab FX4
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02-13-2021, 03:16 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,454
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__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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02-13-2021, 03:31 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Henniker
Posts: 2,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
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George, those require 110/120 v AC power to the outlet otherwise it can’t convert to the 5v DC power to run the USB ports. The factory USB ports in the camper are powered through the 12 v DC system and don’t rely on having shore power
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02-13-2021, 03:39 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,674
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crawford
Bumping this old thread, hope that's ok...
All of the new travel trailers come with lots of USB ports -- does anyone know the voltage of these charging ports? Are they powered from the 12v battery system?
We're looking at a 250BHS and there are USB charging ports in each bunk. Will they have enough juice to charge a tablet, or are they the older, lower power ports with enough for a phone? If it's the latter, can they be upgraded?
Thanks in advance.
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Rob has given you some good advice on the various USB outlets and power outputs in respect to what you are trying to use in them. IMO, not based on anything I've seen or read, is that the USB ports in the RV will be the ones that power anything, not the higher powered ports for very specific equipment. That would be a real problem for the manufacturer because no one will actually pay attention if they are about to burn up their smartphone.
My other question would be this; new RVs come with several USB ports and tons of AC outlets. Do they not make any 120vac adapters for your USB charging for whatever it is you need to charge? My trailer is a 20, has several USB ports but none where I want them. I have AC outlets everywhere; I use adapters anywhere and everywhere I want and happy as a fat tick.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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02-13-2021, 04:04 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog
George, those require 110/120 v AC power to the outlet otherwise it can’t convert to the 5v DC power to run the USB ports. The factory USB ports in the camper are powered through the 12 v DC system and don’t rely on having shore power
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I surely understand. I have two of the multi-outlet things in my camper; one for the phones and one for the laptop which is usually on the dining table. The OP was looking at swapping out AC switch plates wasn't he? Same thing as using the product I suggested.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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