(OT) Inverters

(Snip)

alt.energy.homepower

They know all about this stuff.

--Winston

Be a bit careful with the low power inexpensive models, they often draw more no load current than higher capacity (also more expensive) models. The no load current draw should be stated in the specifications, if it is not watchout. Higher power units often include a search system that only starts the inverter if a load is present, while in search mode very little 12 volt power is consumed.

Jack

you can buy 12v compact flourescents, a little more expensive but when you turn the switch off they draw zero

Inefficiency shouldn't be a problem. But some inverters draw as much as 20 Watts idling. If that's an issue, then look for one with a "sleep" feature. This site will give you some model names and US prices to compare

Wayne

First of all, figure out your power consumption. 100W at 12 volts is about 8.5 amps assuming 100% efficiency. How big is your battery to start with? If you are using a 10AH battery, it will run for about

1 hr before the battery is dead.

Your car headlights are typically 55watts each. So your load is roughly the same as 2 car headlights.

On Tue, 9 Nov 2004 09:02:05 -0500, "Jack Hayes" vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

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OK. I checked a couple out yesterday. They show quiescent specs, and draw what looks very like 0.1mA for every watt of full power capability. So a 150W one draws 15mA with no load. A 500W one draws

50mA.

That's acceptable. Still does not show me what it draws under _light_ load, if this is some switched sleep setup.

I actually bought the smaller one. It was $50, which does not hurt too bad, and is 150W constant, which is enough for now. The prices were not as much of a savings at higher power as I thought they were. The

500W one cost about $160. I was expecting maybe $100 or whatever.

***************************************************** Dogs are better than people.

People are better than dogs for only one purpose. And then it's only half of ofthe people. And _then_ most of them are only ordinary anyway. And then they have a headache.........

On 9 Nov 2004 16:47:16 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@w-sherwood.ih.lucent.com (Charles A. Sherwood) vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

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No, I am talking maybe 80AH battry, and can be charged by running the engine. No trouble there.

***************************************************** Dogs are better than people.

People are better than dogs for only one purpose. And then it's only half of ofthe people. And _then_ most of them are only ordinary anyway. And then they have a headache.........

I would check to be sure. That seems very high for a auto battery. Also keep in mind that starting batteries are not designed for deep cycle use and won't tollerate it well.

On 10 Nov 2004 16:03:00 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@w-sherwood.ih.lucent.com (Charles A. Sherwood) vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

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truck, tractor, loader etc, not just auto.

If I draw 8 amps for 3 hours I will well and truly stay above the battery's capabilities, and that's the sort of use I am looking at.

***************************************************** Dogs are better than people.

People are better than dogs for only one purpose. And then it's only half of ofthe people. And _then_ most of them are only ordinary anyway. And then they have a headache.........

Try a truck stop - the store inside has 12 and 24 volt to 120 and 240 volt inverters. I see you are in au - but that is likely the same downunder. Lorry ? or Lorrie ? or Truck. Semi-tractor trailer - big truck stop.

Mart>

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 00:15:43 -0800, Winston vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

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Well, I make no statement about that group. But unfortunately for them, me and the other metalworkers, coming here is far better for just about _any_ topic.

Most other groups are so far up their own fundamentals that you get tied up in little knots over the use of one word, or there is one "king-pin" who insists on answering all messages, has burned themselves out and can't stop being snide about your "stupid repeated" questions....etc. The groups are often stagnant or moribund. They are specialist; they know more and more about less and less until they seem to know just about everything about bugger all!

Here it's a rough-house, but a very clever, knowledgable and broad-ranging one. I get many answers, some argument, but always a wide range.

***************************************************** Dogs are better than people.

People are better than dogs for only one purpose. And then it's only half of ofthe people. And _then_ most of them are only ordinary anyway. And then they have a headache.........

On 9 Nov 2004 06:13:15 -0800, snipped-for-privacy@localnet.com (Beecrofter) vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!:

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I gave some thought to that, but they were quite a bit more expensive. Also, the inverter/240Volt method allows me to use these lights when mains power _is_ available.

.......I suppose I could have gone the other way and used battery chargers....

.....actually that's not so funny, except that when I do have power, I always like it to be as easy and convenient as possible.

***************************************************** Dogs are better than people.

People are better than dogs for only one purpose. And then it's only half of ofthe people. And _then_ most of them are only ordinary anyway. And then they have a headache.........