Power inverters/converters. ?

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RKServicing

RKServicing

Active Member
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Afternoon all.

So I've bought myself a cheap fridge for the disco as I do alot of camping. And the trusty old coolbox is only good for 2 days max!

I'm putting in a split charge and second battery so I am run the fridge all day and night. But I also want to run it off of 240v rather than 12v. Because its more efficient in 240 (can use thermostat. That you can't use in 12v)

Ive seen a million different ones and I've confused myself as to whats best for what price.

Just because I'm going to get one it would also be handy to power the woman's hair tools aswell but again. I'm not sure what I'm looking at.... Anyone help? Got suggestions.

Cheers. Rob
 
If there's a need to run a hairdryer, you'll need a pretty big inverter, as some of them are rated at more than 2KW. Maybe curling tongs or straighteners wouldn't draw so much power. Even so, it's worth getting the one with the heftiest specification you can afford, as you'll always find more you want to plug in.
 
what fridge are you using? is it a absorption, peltier or compressor fridge?
Any fridge isnt going to last long on a battery, absorption fridge elements are around 130W (10A @12V) changing up to 240 will make no difference to that figure, if anything will make it worse, given no invertor is 100% efficient, so for a 110Ahr battery you'd be lucky to get 8 or 9 hours use out of it.
Compressor fridge may be a little better, 30ish wats running, but around 1500W for startup, a bit ask for most inverters.
Peltier, dont bother, run it off 12V, itll run continuously anyway, and still give you 8 or 9 hours out of it.
If you really need a fridge, invest in a 3 way one, Waeco do some 3 way cool boxes, 12V 240V & gas, they use next to no gas, around 100g/24Hrs for the portable ones.

Hairdryer, forget it, straighteners you might be ok, they are only 100Wish for the bigger ones.
 
If you are going to run stuff at that kinda wattage it wont work through a cigar lighter socket!, will need some hefty wiring.
Remember 1A at 240V will be needing 20A from a 12V battery plus more as inverters are not 100% efficient...
Had a 5KVA one on my ol boat and had 4 X 110Ah batteries running it.
Another thing to watch is cheaper ones are modified sine wave and not pure sine wave, some sensitive equipment doesnt like modified sine wave and wont work right, though fridge probably ok but check the power draw at 240V and X 20 for what it will pull from ya 12v system, as its also stepping up the voltage as well as supplying the current.
 
Halford's were doing the Ring Automotive 2100W inverter for only £208 (most sell it at £300 online) Combination of web special and 10% off all camping equipment.

I've bought one and it seems good for the money, it is a modified sine wave rather than a true one, so, it's not the best in the world and sensitive equipment may not be 100% happy, but, 99% of stuff will be fine.

You'll need to spend some serious money to get a true sine wave inverter i believe...


Edit... can't find it on there now though... maybe it was a special?
 
Well, what I shall be doing when I have some money is get a little sine wave one for the computers etc. and then a bigger one that turns out any old shape of waveform for other equipment. There's no need to feed power tools on sine wave, they can't tell the difference!
 
Brown said:
Well, what I shall be doing when I have some money is get a little sine wave one for the computers etc. and then a bigger one that turns out any old shape of waveform for other equipment. There's no need to feed power tools on sine wave, they can't tell the difference!
Click to expand...

laptops seem quite happy on anything too :D though, i run my laning laptop straight on DC
 
It won't e running through a cigaret lighter. I will wire it in properly and get a proper inverter.

It's a fridge from go outdoors. Was cheap enough to not care if it only lasts a year or so.... And yep. 3 way. So gas is an option. But I'm not comfortable running it on gas in the car..

The hair tools aren't essential. Would have justified the money to the woman though. :) ... Wich makes life soooo easy lol

Ill find out some wattages and things then. Thanks for the replys.
 
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