what size inverters are people running?

[simcoe]

hi guys
well it's time to update my piss weak 150watt inverter with something decent!
i need it occasionally for work to run power tools and chargers etc
and while away camping would be used to run laptops, charge cameras and phones, and plug the odd fridge and light into!

iv been looking at 1600watt ones but they are friggin huge, so decided on a 1000watt job.will this be sufficient in doing the things i have listed?

the 5.0l in my gu has a police spec 120 amp alternator and i plan on running a solar panel while im ever away camping so there shouldn't be any chance of the battery going flat!
also will be hooked up to my deep cycle spare battery .

would be good to hear what other people are using, brand/size etc

cheers

[DamTriton]

Any chance of 12 volt adapters for most of your little stuff??? These are more efficient as there is only one "voltage change". There are adapters that will run you laptop on 12 volts ($80 or so), and most of the really small stuff can be USB powered too (cigarette lighter adapter.

Lighting - DON'T use 240 volts (dangers of 240 volt power cords and wet ground). 12 volt/portable will be just as effective without the power losses of an inverter as well. LED lights these days are f'ing brilliant (5 watt LED = about 100 watt incandescent)

Your deep cycle battery (if it is a "sloppy") will not like having the 90 or so ampd drawn out of it with a 1000 watt inverter at full tilt. Deep cycle batteries are designed for "low and slow" drain (more fragile plate design that will warp and cause a cell to short if the plates get too hot).

[simcoe]

hmm thanks for the advice!
i guess i could alwways hook the inverter up to my starting battery(ameron brand)
my deep cycle is only a 105amp hour battery, was on the cheaper end of the scale..

as for camping lights i have a petrol lanton and a 12v fluro(from the pits) so it would only be on the randomest times i would use the inverter..

i would just like to be able to run my cordless charger(makita) and a pair of shears everynow and then when i cant get any power for what ever reason on a job!

cheers

[DamTriton]

Maybe Makita make a portable 12 volt charger for your tools?

If you have 18 volt power tools you could still use a laptop inverter to give you the 20 or so volts to plug into the charging point on the battery charger.

Does the Makita charger plug into the battery holder? Could you look at the plugpack charger and tell me what the output voltage of it is? Anything up to about 22 volts and you have scored a win by using a laptop inverter instead of a 240 volt inverter and plugpack. Cheaper, easier, safer, and more efficient.

[PBBIZ2]

Simcoe,
I agree with Damkia about the preference for 12v adapters if you can live with them. I use 240V power tools running off a 2500w constant rated inverter. I just uprated this from an 800w constant rated unit. I run drills and angle grinders without a problem, and being fed off the aux. deep cycle battery - yes agree not ideal but have not noticed anything negative with this system so far- used for 2 years on and off. Only word of warning though - if using the inverter for extended periods, say longer than 4 hours, have the bonnet open, and ensure good cooling air for the alternator- I fried mine recently without these precautions.

I bought a modified square wave unit and it happily runs drill, alternator and submersible pump, plus also charges the rechargeable battery drill. I have not tried it with a laptop, but suspect it will be ok as the stepdown transformers fitted to most laptops will handle the waveform I think.
I bought mine off ebay, circa $250 from memory, surge capacity 4800w, so heaps big enough and cheap. Make sure you run huge welding lead cables to feed it though as its going to draw 20 times the name plate current of the 240 v device.
My 800w unit was a dick smith unit, and it was fine, just wanted a bigger one so I could run bigger tools.
Hope this helps.

[simcoe]

thanks guys for your advice!!
sorry for the late reply..the weekend nearly killed me!
theres only so much surf, beers and sun i can handle these days and im only a spring chicken

well iv just ordered a 1200 watt constand load(2400 max) with modified sine waves for $170 (rrp 375) special offer so they say..lol

i was thinking of getting a bigger one but the physical size of them starts to get bloody huge and the 1200 one should still mount on the side of my draws in the back of my gu.

the amount of times when im using it to its max will be rare, but it will be good to know it will do the job when called upon!

PBBIZ2
with your knew larger inverter did you run the negative cable all the way to the battery terminal of just earth it on the body somewhere solid?

cheers

[bigbluemav]

Thanks for the hints guys! Great thread and info! I've been looking at getting a 2000W odd inverter, but with your advice DK, I'll look harder at 12V solutions.

Ta!!

[PBBIZ2]

Simcoe,

I have run mine to a good solid clean earth point on the body.I scratched up the metalwork, locked it all down hard then sealed up the joint. I used to run the earth back under the rear seatbelt bolt, but that is actually a swivel joint, so the earthing was never great. I have made up a seperate cable to run back to the battery if this starts to play up. If you are able to easily run back to the battery, that is best, 100% certainty of getting the circuit unless the terminals get all corroded up and gunky.

I am guessing the size unit you have selected will give you great service. I did a lot of work with my 800w unit before upgrading.

Phil

[Bingham]

i run a 600 which does 80% of what you would want be would need for general camping assistance. go the 1000 for your toast and tools