You do not always need an inverter for camping. Some devices that plug into a household socket actually run on low-voltage DC through an external power adaptor. A suitable DC-to-DC adaptor may let you power them from your camping battery without converting electricity to 240V and back again.
How we powered the Denon SC LIVE 4 without an inverter
On a recent camping weekend, our camp DJ brought along a Denon DJ SC LIVE 4. Sitting on a camping table among the dishes and cooking gear, it was a slightly different addition to the usual campsite setup.
The decks were initially powered by a 1000W inverter connected to a 100Ah lithium battery. The original Denon power adaptor plugged into the inverter, and everything worked. But a look at its label revealed something useful: 12V DC output, rated at 3A, with centre-positive polarity.
We were converting battery power into 240V AC, only for the Denon adaptor to convert it back into 12V DC. Could we power the decks without the inverter?
A quick trip to Jaycar gave us the solution: a 60W Regulated Car Power Adaptor, model MP3478. It plugs into a cigarette-lighter socket, offers selectable 5V, 6V, 9V and 12V outputs, supplies up to 5A and includes four interchangeable tips.
With the adaptor set to 12V and the matching tip and polarity selected, we powered the Denon from the battery setup and removed the inverter from the decks' power supply. The music kept playing.
Before: battery → inverter → Denon mains adaptor → decks. After: battery → Jaycar DC adaptor → decks.
This change applied to the Denon controller. Separate speakers and other equipment still need their own suitable power supply.
How to check whether your camping gear runs on DC
A device may plug into a household socket through an external adaptor while the device itself runs on low-voltage DC. Check the adaptor's input and output separately: input describes the power it receives; output describes what it supplies to the device.
Our original Denon adaptor accepts 100–240V AC and supplies 12V DC at its rated 3A output capacity. Denon's published SC LIVE 4 specification also lists 12V DC, 3A and centre-positive polarity.
Does a 12V, 3A rating mean a constant 36W draw?
12V × 3A = 36W. That is the original power supply's rated output capacity. It does not establish that the decks continuously consume 36W or draw exactly 3A from the camping battery.
Actual battery draw depends on the equipment's consumption, battery voltage and conversion losses. Likewise, the 1000W inverter rating describes its output capacity, not how much power it constantly draws.
Can a DC adaptor reduce camping battery consumption?
An inverter adds a conversion stage when your device ultimately runs on DC. Our original setup had losses in both the inverter and mains adaptor. The inverter also consumed some power simply being switched on.
A suitable DC adaptor can avoid those stages, although it has losses of its own. We did not measure before-and-after battery draw, so we cannot claim a percentage saving or extra hours of runtime. We can say the decks worked through the Jaycar adaptor, allowing the inverter to be switched off when nothing else needed it.
What to check before replacing a mains power adaptor
Check the required output voltage, sufficient current capacity, centre-positive or centre-negative polarity, and the barrel plug's outer diameter, inner diameter and length. Similar-looking plugs are not necessarily interchangeable.
Also confirm the DC adaptor's input range suits your battery throughout use and charging. A camping battery described as 12V does not stay at exactly 12V. Do not assume a device designed for a regulated 12V supply can connect straight to the battery.
For our Denon setup, we used a regulated DC adaptor rather than a bare cable. We have not independently confirmed the barrel dimensions, so match your original connector and check polarity before connecting. Use a properly fused supply within the socket, cable and adaptor ratings.
When do you still need an inverter for camping?
Some equipment requires mains AC and has no suitable DC alternative. An inverter may still be the right choice for those loads. Check each device before building your power setup around one.
Our camp DJ started the weekend using a 1000W inverter to power decks supplied by a 36W-rated adaptor. A look at the label and a trip to Jaycar gave us a simpler way to keep them running.
Before buying an inverter, turn over the power adaptor. Your gear might already run on DC.
Planning your battery capacity? Add your loads to the 12V power calculator. For equipment that needs AC, read our caravan inverter sizing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a 12V device directly from a camping battery?
Only if it supports the battery's full operating voltage range. A nominal 12V battery does not provide a constant 12V output. Equipment designed for a regulated supply may need a suitable DC-to-DC adaptor.
Does an inverter use power when nothing is connected?
An inverter generally consumes power while switched on, even without a connected load. The amount depends on the model and its operating mode.
Can you power a Denon SC LIVE 4 without an inverter?
In our camping setup, we successfully powered the controller using a Jaycar MP3478 regulated car power adaptor set to 12V, with the matching connector and centre-positive polarity. Confirm the input range, output rating and connector fit for your equipment.
Is a 1000W inverter necessary for the Denon SC LIVE 4?
The original adaptor is rated to supply 12V DC at 3A, equivalent to 36W of output capacity. A 1000W inverter's capacity is much greater than that rating. Our suitable DC adaptor allowed us to run the controller without an inverter.
Product specifications and sources
This is our firsthand camping experience, not a manufacturer endorsement of the replacement supply. Product specifications and availability may change.