With the untimely passing of the Perfect Home EWHE4 dehumidifier after just 18 months (see PS Mailport, December 2014 online), the EvaDry 2200 remains our top pick for an onboard dehumidifier, and the EvaDry maker has recently introduced a 12-volt plug for the unit.
Still going strong after 2 years (see PS, June 2013), PSs EvaDry test unit is still removing water at rated capacity, the fan is quiet, the power supply runs only 20 degrees above ambient temperature, and the plugs remain tight. It has been thrown in lockers, knocked off countertops in rough weather, and frozen repeatedly.
With the units new 12-volt plug, which is compatible with both the EvaDry 2200 and the EvaDry 1100, there is no need for a converter, and it can plug directly into any cigarette lighter-style plug. However, we still see virtue in running the unit on 110 volts, allowing for control with a simple plug-in timer or photocell activated switch; this allows some measure of humidity control, reduces run time, and provides a defrost cycle, critical in northern climates. (We recommend operating the dehumidifier at night, allowing for thawing during daylight hours when temperatures are warmer. On those days when the temperature does not reach 32 degrees in the cabin, humidity is so low that ice accumulation stops at a safe level.) Additionally, many smart inverters have a low voltage cut-off, preventing dead batteries.
The 12-volt cord set is $13, and is available on the EvaDry website, www.eva-dry.com.