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invertors

adafish

adafish

Extreme Landy Fan
i looking to buy one of these power inverter thingys for when we go camping and stuff, also for use of drills and horse clippers when working up at the "wifes" stables....what's the best type to buy regarding wattage and the like.......cheers.., thick ADA.:eek:
 
Ada,

Check the largest wattage of the item you want to run off the invertor and that'll dictate which one you'll need.

Also bear in mind though that a large watt invertor will only provide power as long as the battery(ies) can provide it.

AJ
 
You must also take into account that things with motors need a lot more power to start but once running need less power.
 
AJC said:
Ada,

Check the largest wattage of the item you want to run off the invertor and that'll dictate which one you'll need.

Also bear in mind though that a large watt invertor will only provide power as long as the battery(ies) can provide it.

AJ
Click to expand...

It's also important to note that many items with AC motors won't run off a square-wave inverter. They need a proper sine-wave inverter. Ordinary AC power drills usualy won't work withe the cheaper square-wave inverters. A battery drill (which has a DC motor running off the battery) with charger will usually be OK with a square-wave inverter.

I'd be very surprised if a set of clippers will work on square-waves.

Another thing to bear in mind is that inverters are VERY innefficient. They can drain a car battery completely in a short time, so be carefull of that.

Regards,
Marc
 
To be honest ADA, You'd be better off spending the money a good invertor will cost you on a small generater mate.
So much more versitile and far greater power supply.
 
Marc Lurie said:
It's also important to note that many items with AC motors won't run off a square-wave inverter. They need a proper sine-wave inverter. Ordinary AC power drills usualy won't work withe the cheaper square-wave inverters. A battery drill (which has a DC motor running off the battery) with charger will usually be OK with a square-wave inverter.

I'd be very surprised if a set of clippers will work on square-waves.

Another thing to bear in mind is that inverters are VERY innefficient. They can drain a car battery completely in a short time, so be carefull of that.

Regards,
Marc
Click to expand...

I agree with Marc, some devices don't like running from square wave inverters. The cheap ones also have a habit of going bang even though they are supposed to have circuit protection! Had a few come my way to repair when I used to fix agricultural electronic equipment.

Also, very important - and this applies to Gennys - check the maximum CONTINUOUS rating is sufficient to run your equipment, it not the same as the PEAK rating which is often quoted.

Angela
 
Don't even look at a cheap generator, I bought a £140 one from B&Q as my Honda unit is so heavy, I needed something smaller. The first time I used it, it burst into flames, leaking full line and sparks from the generator unit. Put out the flames, took it back to B&Q, to the response of "We have had two like that already today:eek:, would you like another one" errrrr. NO. Got a refund and bought a small Honda unit from eBay. Think long term parts availability and reliability. Honda every time.:D
 
I have a physically huge 1200W unit that I got second hand a couple of years ago. It happily drives a 750 DeWalt 220V corded drill. It also drives a small Maktec angle grinder.

Now for the "but's".

But I have a 90A alternator.
But the invertor has very thick cables that go directly from it to the battery.
But I can only use the invertor when the engine's running.
But the inverter is fitted to a second battery as the engine would die (ie fuel pump switch would drop down) when it was connected the the main battery.

I blew an el cheapo 600W microwave oven up when I plugged it into the invertor and then had to replace the protection circuit on the invertor.

The inverter also doesn't like fluorescent lights.
 
I have a small 2-stroke 900w generator and a larger B&S powered 2.2Kw unit, the 2-stroke is great for smaller jobs and only cost me £39 from Macro.

The downside with generators is you can't really use them on campsites unless you have a super silenced one.
 
i've got one too, but i'm trying to find out what wattage i can run on it....i got it from B&Q, about 2yrs ago.....can't find the manual.....its a MASTER TG 950
 
TIGER TG - 950

Specifications: 2-stroke Petrol Engined 650VA output generator.

Weight: - 45lbs - (20.5 kg).
Size: W38.5 x L31.5 x H33 cm
Petrol: Tank capacity 7 pints
(4 Litres). Unleaded.
Uses 50:1 mix with 2-stroke Oil
Running time on full tank:
approx 6 hours.
Output: 220 Volts - 50Hz - 650Watts - Single phase.

Starting method - PULL CORD

Noise level: 64dB @ 7m.
 
Like Budvizchena, I have a massive Inverter which weighs a ton. Its rated at about 950w and is pretty old. It runs my power drill, but only just, It sometimes trips out when I first pullk the trigger.
It has chunky leads like heavy-duty jumpleads and isnt exactly portable.

Id prefer a wee generator myself. Ok, A jenny is noisy, but I have to have the car engine running to keep the battery charged for the inverter, so noise isnt any different really.
 
I've got a 300W (I think) invertor - it was brought to recharge my laptop (well company laptop) - as the batteries wouldn't last all day. It seems to work ok to keep them topped up.

Go friends who have borrowed it to connect a 240v air pump to (air bed) - they take a leisure battery with them camping so connect it to that. I've just brought a 12v air pump - but there you go :)

Thats my two pennys worth.
 
Costco are doing an invertor that will run a telly for about 20 quid.
Trouble with generators is that some places only allow diesel ones.
My wee petrol one that i got at Makro will run an angle grinder/drill, but it nearly stops if I plug a kettle into it
geoff:)
 
I was told years ago, the best way to tell if a generator is a good one is if it will boil a kettle, most kettles are 3000W, that is a lot of power. The cheap Makro geny's are 950W peak power so no chance with a kettle.
 
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