12 Volt appliances

[fmtaylor]

Does anyone (or everyone) have any specific experience or opinions on the "non-standard" 12V appliances that are available. Like the microwave with the built on inverter, 12 volt heater, coffee maker, grill, blender, etc.

It would seem that they might be worth while if I had a solar panel and a large battery bank. Sometimes running the generator or hooking up to shore power might not be an option.

[lapeer20m]

since 12 volt appliances are not as common as 110 volt ones when it comes to coffe pots, microwaves, they tend to be significantly more expensive.

My suggestion would be to buy an inverter that is capable of running a standard microwave or coffee pot. 110 volt appliances are cheap! Just walk the isles as Wal-mart.

[DigDug]

I use a 3000 Watt inverter. It allows me to run a 120v fridge, and a few other things for a day/day and a half. I have 6 golf cart batteries.

The inverter also allows me to put a slow charge on my genset battery (when connected to shore power).

As far as the coffee maker, I bot one at Wally World that brews into an insulated pot. That way it only draws current while running.

I try to use 12v as much as possible (lights,etc), but haven't used many 12v appliances.

HTH....

[whitedog]

I have to admit that I don't have a bus, yet, but have been camping in various travel trailers etc. for quite a while. I know that it's convenient to flip a switch (or set a timer) and have coffee all set to brew but I haven't had very much luck with 12V coffee makers and don't want to start the morning with a big drain on the batteries through an inverter either.

What I've settled on is a french press from Bodum (see http://www.bodum.com for information). Just boil some water in whatever's handy, put the grounds in the press, pour in boiling water and wait for about 5 minutes then push the plunger and coffee's ready. I pour the result into a thermos to keep in hot. It works well for me and has for years.No electricity needed; no filters needed and hardly more work than boiling water.

Regards,

whitedog

[Eric von Kleist]

I use a blue enamel coffee pot from the camping department at Mal-Wart. It takes about 10 minutes to brew a pot. It won't make less than about 6 cups at a time because the percolator won't percolate smaller amounts of liquid. That's okay for me, though, because I drink a lot of coffee.

Don't ever boil an enamelware container dry: the enamel will crack and flake off, and you'll have to replace the container. Don't ask me how I know...

Oh, all that's propane powered. I use a 20# bottle of propane about every three or four months. All I use propane for is cooking.

[DigDug]

Ditto on the perculator. I have a stainless steel unit. Great on gas stove. I tried it on the grill one day, lol. I think it took 30 minutes to brew. Live and learn....

[captainkf]

Bodum's also make far superior coffee.

We have tried a number of expensive 110 volt home machines and the bodum always wins for taste. So, combine that with cost and convience you've got a winner. Alough flipping a switch first thing is quite easy

- Richard

[Jarlaxle]

I have an old stove-top percolater I paid 50 cents for at a flea market about 10 years ago...works perfectly. Don't get one made of aluminum, or the coffee will taste funny.

[dammitAndy]

I say if you can heat up water (microwave or LP range) and you dont mind instand coffee, to just go that rout. That's probably what I'll do with a microwave...

[Jarlaxle]

I'd rather drink the contents of my transmission...come to think of it, that's what instant "coffee" tastes like, anyway.