Generator or Inverter

  • 3KW Generator

    Votes: 6 85.7%
  • 3KW (peak) Inverter

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • Total voters
    7
  • Poll closed .
ermmm, I understand Mr Ohms law fairly well but thanks for the revision, but the duty cycle of a tool is not related to how long a supply will last - it's a ratio of the tools design usage time, this often is a good way to gauge is a tool is intended for professional or DIY use - I believe you are confusing how long you will expect to use your tools with their actual specification

I get that, but if your load is continually on that would be 100% duty cycle, ie. lighting is usually always on when you are working. But a grinder or drill only is a load when its running, therefore the duty cycle is less.
There is a duty cycle in respect as to how long a tool will run before it burns your hand, bursts into flames or trips out.
Then there's the invertor's duty cycle, it may be rated at 1500W, but the chances are you couldn't keep it cool enough not to trip if you loaded it that much, even if your battery held out.

As ever it's suck it and see, try it, as someone else mentioned it's the start up current that'll give you the most grief.

Oh... and my invertor gives up if the battery voltage drops too low, it still seems to draw current though :(
 
dont know where duty cycles came into it :confused: I was talking about tripping out the inverter on start up. Mine monitors battery voltage as well but I've never had it warn or cut out though I dare say it would but I'm usually only using it with large power tools for 1/2hr or so.
Like I said I like it cause it sits behind my seats and is always there if I need to charge a phone, plug in a laptop or size beams out of 2 1/2'' thick planks
 
there is an old saying "you get owt fot nowt" inverters are fine for low power stuff, charge a phone, laptop or even a battery charger for power tools. but if you are already using a genny then you have the leads and they run for hours. an inverter powering a large load, just try dividing the rating of the tool by 12 volts and see what sort off pull you will be putting on you batteries....and that's assuming the conversion is perfect..it wont be....I have a battery powered grinder, small at 4.5 inches and it eats batteries when used, I carry 6X18volt nicads...and they don't give a full hour,if used hard, I can recharge one using a small inverter from the cigarette lighter socket, that small inverter has a capacity of 2 amps at 220 volts output....when I checked the input from the vehicle it was nearly 40 amps.....even a good battery without the engine running wouldn't last the hour....Genny every time....just worry about the health and safety and earths another day.....so buy a gen set with an RCD output....good to go

your choice....you could get a supper deluxe system with big wires to carry the high currents and battery tools for light work...and it would look the dog's dooda's..then still need a gen set to get you out of trouble when you really need it., so spending good earned money, if you already had a genny better to stick with it....you know what you need it for......genny are poor if your stuck indoors....ventilation....but would you want to leave your vehicle running outside with the keys in, when your working inside.

Rant over....hope it helps
 
."but would you want to leave your vehicle running outside with the keys in, when your working inside."
*
outside waterproof socket, plus spare set of keys, doors locked - sorted!
but must agree, a jenny with a long hosepipe on the exhaust wont need long power dropping cables eh?
*
I`ve got a elderly jenny, 4 stroke but only 240 V-700 watts output or 12volt, but if and when we get power cuts (been known over the last few years) not enough for power tools, but can watch telly/sky & have lamp on...
was me old dads before he passed on......
 
."but would you want to leave your vehicle running outside with the keys in, when your working inside."
*
outside waterproof socket, plus spare set of keys, doors locked - sorted!
..

Spare keys??? Locked door???, you haven't got a fender have you??? If only it were that simple:eek::eek:;);):rolleyes:
 
."but would you want to leave your vehicle running outside with the keys in, when your working inside."
*
....

Depends on where you are working also, dont forget its technically an offence to leave an unattended vehicle with the engine running if a copper or more likely jobsworth PCSO gets arsey.

Had a spate of em collaring people last winter for owners leaving their cars running to warm up whilst staying indoors

Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home | Mail Online

Cheers Steve
 
Depends on where you are working also, dont forget its technically an offence to leave an unattended vehicle with the engine running if a copper or more likely jobsworth PCSO gets arsey.

Had a spate of em collaring people last winter for owners leaving their cars running to warm up whilst staying indoors

Driver fined for leaving engine running as car defrosted outside his home | Mail Online

Cheers Steve
Sounded like the driver let his mouth overload his arse. And the cop gave him a ticket instead of a word of caution

But a 5000 watts inverter hooked to the alternator with a hand throttle to set engine rpm's and you will have all the power for hand tools you need and even a small wire welder. Works on the farm quit well.

That was on the road way not private where the law dosen't apply
 
ive got a small diesel genny 3kw..... up side is it runs on red diesel, not road fuel youve paid bucket loads of tax on......down side its bleedin heavy
 
ive got a small diesel genny 3kw..... up side is it runs on red diesel, not road fuel you've paid bucket loads of tax on......down side its bleedin heavy
and that's why they are so bloody expensive to buy..."owt for nowt"..

Here's another slant, assuming your genny doesn't get nicked again, then what sort of life expectancy will a genny have, we use a whole load of Inverters to replace old fashioned motor starters, we are struggling to keep them going for three to four years before they fail, then its a total replacement....where the only fashioned starters are still going after 20 years...the modern electronic stuff is so well designed its life expectancy is low....it does the job just long enough to let you think...well its not that bad....we put up with the failure rate because our driver is energy savings.
 
cheap Chinese copy - why not look for a used Honda or Yanmar engines one - least you can get spares
 

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