So today was the first real day that I started "doing stuff" to my new (used) teardrop. Things went great and it reminded me how much I love working on line in vehicles (trailers mostly), 12V systems and solar. Here is what got accomplished so far:
-Removed dead deep cycle battery and replaced with two new ones wired in parallel.
-Tested onboard 12V systems and all is well
-Wired in a 1500W inverter that I had kicking around and ran a power bar off that. I will do this like my other trailer where all onboard AC systems come back to the dog house (front box) and I can patch inputs and outputs with a simple power bar. Sometimes I might be running off shore power (extension cord), other times the 12V inverter/deep cycles and another option is the Ecoflow Delta portable power station that I ordered today. It is good to have options!
-Wired in the battery tender / trickle charger.
-Replaced the flat 4-Pin trailer plug with a round 7-pin as my Toyota 4Runner has both flavours and the 7-pin gives me another trickle charge to the deep cycles while in motion. This part took some screwing around as it was getting cold and dark and the wrong lights were lighting up during the first few tests. All due to my dyslexia looking at the plug and reversing it in my brain. Through trial and error I got that all working and the trickle charge from the vehicle even seems to work.
-SOrted out all the keys (7). Went to the locksmith hoping he could lessen the grand total but most locks are not re key able so I settled for nail polish marking keys and locks and I culled any that weren't in use. I think I got the grand total down to 5 which is still A LOT considering the trailer is so tiny. Stuff I Ordered For Future Projects:
-2 nice little 4 plug power bars with 4 USB plugs too. One will go in the galley and another inside. These will run to the power bar in the doghouse.
-The Ecoflow Delta 2. I have a smaller 500W Goal Zero portable power station and I LOVE it but always need more power. This will be handy for LOTS of stuff I do.
-Some bungee pocket holder things for inside. I am anticipating a real $h!t show in there due to lack of space and I feel good organization will be key.
-A 175W flex Renogy solar panel as the little one that came with my trailer will not stand a chance with the AC draw I am adding. -A new MPPT solar charge controller. I always worry that those cheap little PWM controllers might mess up and cause a short/fire/big mess. This will be a lot more efficient and I am using this trailer (and my other one too) as a solar test bed for whatever impending doom may be around the corner.
-This trailer receiver hitch for the back so I can add my bike rack.
-This chassis mount AC plug for external AC into the doghouse.
-This little space heater as suggested on the Playing with Sticks YT channel. It has a thermostat and a timer so maybe, just maybe it will work off all this 12V generated AC power I will have on board to take the chill off as I intend to use this trailer year around.
Phew... I think that was it. Yes, a very busy day. So much fun!
That looks very sharp. Very tidy. Part of my need
to ‘cleanup‘ was my concern about shorting something out with a rogue tent pole or other metal object touching the positive battery posts and ground. I get nervous with that much power and exposed connections.
have all that stuff buried now.
Nice setup. I did some upgrades as well.