Power Invertor Size - Page 2

kzemach · 05-25-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kzemach

If you're really curious about what things use, and are willing to invest a bit (perhaps $150 total and some soldering time), then do what I do...

Or I could just ask someone who's already done it.... hmmm... who could I ask... :a1:

Fair enough. I'll pull some laptop data this weekend, get some pics of the setup, and post. The inverter I have however, is one of those crappy 170W (peak) Radio Sh*t ones, so its conversion efficiency is probably suspect. I don't carry a larger inverter, because I've switched everything I use over to DC-DC... I have never actually used the inverter.

jage · 05-25-2007, 12:39 PM

I'm just giving you a hard time. I've had a 100W invertor in my Jeep for years and only used it to power a drill rarely and sometimes an old laptop to increase my digital camera storage. My current laptop draws 180W and will only be used when my GPS maps need to be changed on the handheld, so I've got one of those 300W cheapies for that. I'm kind of a plug it in and see kind of guy (which is how I learned my 100W wouldn't work with the current laptop).

Now I need to go back and edit my power post because I got some numbers wrong...

jage · 05-25-2007, 12:46 PM

Ok, so according to http://www.downloadfreetrial.com/aut...v-toaster.html

this single slice toaster draws 16 amps.

I have to double the time for toasting, 12 minutes instead of 6, which is .2 hours.

12 volt single slice toaster: 16 amps * 0.2 h = 8 amp h

Compared to:
Toaster Oven: 1300W/13V*0.1 (6 minutes) = 10 amp h

Not a big impact (assuming I'm calculating correctly) and the convenience for traveling and hooked up days makes it worth it. Still the extra 4D is a must. I doubt I'll go solar any time soon.

scatter · 05-25-2007, 01:26 PM

Well, there's always a small generator.... Not my kind of thing, but they do make 'em small and fairly quiet now. But then there's a gas can and the generator to find a place to hide. Wants and needs, wants and needs. Nothing's easy - or cheap. Be kind to your batteries. They're hard to get to and not cheap.

Jeffrey · 05-25-2007, 02:12 PM

Come on, guys. When you're out in the wayback, you just have to give some things up. Toast just may be one of them. If I want TV, DVD, toast and a hot tub, I'll simply check into a hotel. I'm getting away from all that crap. That's why I camp. Just having a fridge and hot water is going to be a thrill. At night, I play my guitar or listen to the sweet sound of silence during an evening stroll. Maybe I'll study maps or read. I never even listen to the radio or any CD's when I'm not driving.

Remember the old camping 'toast' trick? Use your stove, running on whatever fuel you have set up. Put a slice of bread (I recommend whole grain or a bagel) on the burner for a minute while moving it around and flipping it a few times. You'll have toast in 90 seconds using NO 12v power.

Christopher Thwaites · 05-25-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Come on, guys. When you're out in the wayback, you just have to give some things up. Toast just may be one of them. If I want TV, DVD, toast and a hot tub, I'll simply check into a hotel. I'm getting away from all that crap. That's why I camp. Just having a fridge and hot water is going to be a thrill. At night, I play my guitar or listen to the sweet sound of silence during an evening stroll. Maybe I'll study maps or read. I never even listen to the radio or any CD's when I'm not driving.

Ah!!!! Finally some clarity......! I have now learned everything about inverters I was going to ask someone to tell me. Now that I'm an expert I will join the "Jeffrey" camp. It has been informational but I now have a head ache. Is it watts times ohms equals volts divided by draw over capacity or the other way around?
Chris

jage · 05-25-2007, 05:46 PM

Well giving up toast is giving up any kind of bread for me since I have a wheat allergy and the gluten free bread is nasty raw. The slices are also small so the propane stove addition barely works (think it barely works for normal bread too). Being vegetarian on top of wheat allergic means a fairly restricted available diet... so toast for me is really not so much a luxury, thus the big deal about the toaster.

Trust me I'd give almost anything to be able to just get a nice loaf of sourdough and just eat hunks off of it.

philrod · 05-25-2007, 07:56 PM

Thanks guys. You've convinced me that i can live without an inverter. I'll have a solar panel, one battery and the std. refrigerator & propane furnace. the later hopefully won't get much use. The laptop (one hr/day) and a cell fone will be dc/dc. the dash radio will be on a couple of hrs/day. think it will all work out. not having a toilet/shower will really take some getting use to!!!! (RB50 floor plan) due late in August.

JoeyNick · 06-02-2007, 12:43 AM

Jage: run your van at high idle when using any heavy draw items and you'll save yourself A LOT of power consumption. At high idle, you might be able to put from 30-50 amps into the system while taking out 40-100. It's still a net loss from the batteries but much less so.

-Joey "Nick"
In New "Yawk" City

http://www.joeynick.net/

jage · 06-05-2007, 08:39 AM

Ok, so how does one determine the state of one's house battery(ies)?

Do you just guess when to run the van/start a generator or do you pump it dry a few times to determine where your bottom actually is (or worse do math up front and try to remember how much you listened to the radio)?

Is it bad to kill the house battery? How many times?