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Post by venturejake on Jan 10, 2023 16:56:26 GMT -5
Hey all, looking to add a few 12v receptacles (cigarette lighter sockets) and USB-A and USB-C ports to the trailer. Are there unused slots on the 12v fuse box installed underneath the refrigerator, or will I need to add my own fuse box?
Also, I will be upgrading the supplied 12v battery to a LiFePO4 battery. Does the converter charge LiFePO4 out of the box?
Additionally, any thoughts on moving the battery inside the trailer (assuming it doesn't off gas) underneath one of the dinette benches for easier wiring / access / future upgrades?
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Post by WrkrBee on Jan 10, 2023 19:06:35 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Post a picture of your converter so we can tell if you have any empty slots. We have no idea if anything was added at the dealer. I doubt if the converter has the correct charge profile for LiFeP04 batteries, but make and model # may help. The "Owner's Manual" may help, but I doubt it. Most of us have older units, so we have no idea what equipment Venture is putting into the campers now.
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Post by tallguyvr on Jan 10, 2023 19:41:24 GMT -5
From what I was told it depends what you’re planning to plug into them. We had two plugs added to either side of the bed and were told a heating blanket was ok but no inverters or other devices with a large draw.
If you used an unused slot I can imagine you’d use a heavier gauge wire.
What year/type sonic do you have?
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Post by navylcdr on Jan 10, 2023 23:52:30 GMT -5
From what I was told it depends what you’re planning to plug into them. We had two plugs added to either side of the bed and were told a heating blanket was ok but no inverters or other devices with a large draw. If you used an unused slot I can imagine you’d use a heavier gauge wire. What year/type sonic do you have? In the thread title it says 2023 190VRB. |
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Post by navylcdr on Jan 10, 2023 23:58:36 GMT -5
Hey all, looking to add a few 12v receptacles (cigarette lighter sockets) and USB-A and USB-C ports to the trailer. Are there unused slots on the 12v fuse box installed underneath the refrigerator, or will I need to add my own fuse box?
Also, I will be upgrading the supplied 12v battery to a LiFePO4 battery. Does the converter charge LiFePO4 out of the box?
To answer those two questions I wonder why you don't just open the cover door to the power center and look? |
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Post by venturejake on Jan 11, 2023 10:04:48 GMT -5
Hey all, looking to add a few 12v receptacles (cigarette lighter sockets) and USB-A and USB-C ports to the trailer. Are there unused slots on the 12v fuse box installed underneath the refrigerator, or will I need to add my own fuse box?
Also, I will be upgrading the supplied 12v battery to a LiFePO4 battery. Does the converter charge LiFePO4 out of the box?
To answer those two questions I wonder why you don't just open the cover door to the power center and look? If all of the slots have a fuse in it, are there no unused slots? I suppose you're right, I could have figured that out myself. I don't know where the converter is located however. I did consult the user manual and it was no help in identifying a model.
The other matter of relocating the battery inside the cabin, was looking to solicit the opinions of this forum.
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Post by navylcdr on Jan 11, 2023 10:40:09 GMT -5
To answer those two questions I wonder why you don't just open the cover door to the power center and look? If all of the slots have a fuse in it, are there no unused slots? I suppose you're right, I could have figured that out myself. I don't know where the converter is located however. I did consult the user manual and it was no help in identifying a model.
The other matter of relocating the battery inside the cabin, was looking to solicit the opinions of this forum.
More than likely, if there is a fuse, there is a circuit hooked up to it. You could pull the fuses one at a time and see what 12v circuits/items lose power and then label them for future knowledge. The power center should be marked with a model number. You can look on the manufacturer's website to determine the capabilities of the converter which is likely just an MBA (Main Board Assembly) type located in the bottom half of the power center. To see if the converter is part of the power center (and it looks like it is from internet pictures), open the door to the power center, find the screws that are holding the front cover on, and remove the front cover. The converter is likely in the bottom half of the power center. It is certainly acceptable to install Li Ion batteries inside, they do not produce gasses when charging. There may be items connected to the battery wires at the front of the trailer, such as tongue jack or a solar panel connecting point, so you may need to leave that wiring intact to still provide power there. You would need to run new heavy battery cables to the new location of the Li Ion batteries. |
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Post by navylcdr on Jan 11, 2023 10:59:50 GMT -5
If all of the slots have a fuse in it, are there no unused slots? I suppose you're right, I could have figured that out myself. I don't know where the converter is located however. I did consult the user manual and it was no help in identifying a model.
The other matter of relocating the battery inside the cabin, was looking to solicit the opinions of this forum.
More than likely, if there is a fuse, there is a circuit hooked up to it. You could pull the fuses one at a time and see what 12v circuits/items lose power and then label them for future knowledge. The power center should be marked with a model number. You can look on the manufacturer's website to determine the capabilities of the converter which is likely just an MBA (Main Board Assembly) type located in the bottom half of the power center. To see if the converter is part of the power center (and it looks like it is from internet pictures), open the door to the power center, find the screws that are holding the front cover on, and remove the front cover. The converter is likely in the bottom half of the power center. It is certainly acceptable to install Li Ion batteries inside, they do not produce gasses when charging. There may be items connected to the battery wires at the front of the trailer, such as tongue jack or a solar panel connecting point, so you may need to leave that wiring intact to still provide power there. You would need to run new heavy battery cables to the new location of the Li Ion batteries. My Sonic 231VRL is set up with outlets on either side of the bed like the 190VRB has (one set of USB and one AC outlet). In the upper front passenger side corner of the pass-through storage, there are heavy 12v DC wires going to the solar connection on the side of the trailer (on a 231VRL). I drilled a hole through the floor of the cubby behind the closet and ran heavy wire down to that corner and spliced into those wires (I think it is 6 gauge.) Then I mounted a 400 watt inverter on the back wall of the closet so I have power for 1 cpap machine when boondocking. I then continued with the heavy wire into the cabinet overhead the bed and powered the USB ports from it (the USB ports were previously tied into the lighting circuit). I replaced those USB ports with a combination USB/cigarette lighter unit to give me a place to plug in my 12v DC CPAP power supply. |
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Post by tallguyvr on Jan 12, 2023 11:39:41 GMT -5
I wonder if it’s possible to mount the batteries and other required equipment under the bed. We have a Murphy bed in our 2021 190vrb where we removed the couch (only 4 bolts) and there is lots of space.
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Post by WrkrBee on Jan 12, 2023 21:05:10 GMT -5
To answer those two questions, I wonder why you don't just open the cover door to the power center and look? I don't know where the converter is located, however. Looks like the converter is under the refrigerator, looking at the pictures on the Venture website for the SN190VRB. Wear your knee pads to troubleshoot. |
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Post by navylcdr on Jan 12, 2023 23:23:40 GMT -5
I don't know where the converter is located, however. Looks like the converter is under the refrigerator, looking at the pictures on the Venture website for the SN190VRB. Wear your knee pads to troubleshoot.  The power center is under the refrigerator. The converter is in the bottom half of the power center and is accessed by removing the entire cover from the power center. Here is a typical power center with the cover removed and the converter is the bottom half.  |
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Post by WrkrBee on Jan 14, 2023 6:38:11 GMT -5
When I started this RV game, "power centers" were all called converters. Then, its main job was to convert 120vac to 12vdc. Campers are now mobile castles and have much higher loads. Many have 120vac and 240vac appliances. Never thought I would see a "fireplace" or a kitchen island in a travel trailer.
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Post by earlelaine on Jan 14, 2023 7:39:02 GMT -5
In my old Open Range 5th wheel I installed a power transfer switch. It allowed me to have 2 power cords one 20amp and one 30amp. This was good when there was only a 30amp power pedestal at the RV Park. I would plug both cables in so I could run both A/C's at the same time. I believe my fireplace was wired thru the power switch because it was likely that you would be using an A/C and fireplace at the same time. Some RV Parks don't like or forbid them because they are charging more for a 50amp instead of the 30amp. There's a Youtube video showing how they work.
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