Converter/Inverter Standard in a PUP?

[BIG A]

I am renting a PUP from the military to take my family dry camping in the adirondacks.  I apolagize in advance for my ignorance as I am sure a lot of you experienced campers have answered this question.  I am searched the forum and have found conflicting directions and to be honest i just don't get it.

We are staying at a state campground with no hook ups.  My hope is to bring my 4 year old sons 13" television/dvd combo in case he needs a little unwinding time before bed.  

I just ran out to Walmart and purchased a everstart marine/rv battery.(part#27DC-6)  (Amp Hours 115)  

My confusion is the converter/inverter debate.  The rental PUP is a early 2000's rockwood.  My idea was to hook up my battery and be able to plug in the television to the outlet for an hour for 2 nights and maybe use the interior pup lights.  

Will this work?

[rccs]

Your interior lights will work with the battery but not the 120 volt AC outlets. You need to have the camper plugged into a 120 volt receptacle for the outlets to work. The converter in the camper does just what the name implies, it converts 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC to run the lights, furnace, water pump etc. which are 12 volts DC. The only way you could run the tv with your battery would be to purchase a inverter and hook it to your battery to run the tv. An inverter takes the 12 volts DC and makes it into 120 volts AC. Most cheaper inverters are not a true sine wave form of output and some electronic devices don't like them so you would have to try one to see what happens. When we don't have an electric site we take along a 5" black and white tv that runs on 12 volts DC or D cell batteries, it is not as nice as a color tv but beggars can't be choosers you know. LOL  I have seen 5" black and white portable tv's at Wallgreens for $19.95 in case you are interested in one and they also have an am/fm radio in them.

[Recumbentman]

Hello Big A and welcome to PUT
If this is your first camping trip with your kids, remember that you are going to be setting the standard for how your kids grow-up with camping.

they can be looking forward to smores, campfires and camp stories
or watching TV and playings videos games out in the CG.

Either way good luck on your camp out

[BIG A]

Your interior lights will work with the battery but not the 120 volt AC outlets. You need to have the camper plugged into a 120 volt receptacle for the outlets to work. The converter in the camper does just what the name implies, it converts 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC to run the lights, furnace, water pump etc. which are 12 volts DC. The only way you could run the tv with your battery would be to purchase a inverter and hook it to your battery to run the tv. An inverter takes the 12 volts DC and makes it into 120 volts AC. Most cheaper inverters are not a true sine wave form of output and some electronic devices don't like them so you would have to try one to see what happens. When we don't have an electric site we take along a 5" black and white tv that runs on 12 volts DC or D cell batteries, it is not as nice as a color tv but beggars can't be choosers you know. LOL  I have seen 5" black and white portable tv's at Wallgreens for $19.95 in case you are interested in one and they also have an am/fm radio in them.

Thank you that helps.  I've seen the 12 volt appliances but they always seem to have a plug for a cigarette lighter.  I would need to plug in my 12 volt television into my tow vehicle?  I don't remember seeing a 12volt plug in any PUP?

The wife and I are long time campers with the tent.  We have always tented it and left the kids at home.  I have 2 boys almost 4 and 3 months.  We have decided to try and bring the boys but couldn't imagine it in the tent.  Thank you again and god bless.

[haroldPE]

since you are renting, there is little choice on what modifications you can do.  you could run wire, like 10 or 12 gauge, from the battery inside, where you could hook up to an inverter and run 120v AC.  

Depending on your length of stay and how much you have plugged into that inverter, will determine when your battery dies.  Not good to drain a battery more than 50%, if I recall correctly.

the least energy draw would be to have a portable DVD player, which runs on 12V and has a built in screen - some are available for under $100 now, but quality may suffer.

You can get a 12V cigarette lighter type receptacle jack from radio shack and run a pair of wires from inside the pup to the battery.  Then can plug in the 12V appliance right inside the pup.

Good luck and have fun!