inverters

marinepics · Veteran Member

inverters

hako · Guru

Using an inverter will drain more power from your house batteries than if you run the appliance straight from a ciggy outlet....somewhere between 10-20% when operating and maybe 3% on standby.
Good Luck.

Phil C · Guru

Hi,

Probably not a smart move to have a large screen on an inverter, this will flatten the battery reasonably fast.

I have learnt that if you look at the wattage of the appliances divide by 10 will give you a bit of an idea how many amps you will draw from the battery. You also need to add an amp or two for the inverter to operate.

Also no solar will make life interesting. OK if you are connected to mains, but not a good choice for one house battery. The small screen and ciggy socket sounds like a better plan.

BTW welcome to the forum.

Safe travels

SnowT · Guru

Question Do you have a Second Battery in the MH..? or just the Drive Battery...?

Plasma or LED Screen...An LED is far more Efficient when it comes to Power consumption..

I have a 30" LCD that does not draw a Lot of Power.. Also a 24" with inbuilt DVD which is just as Good..

I don't see a Major Issue, but then I would also recommend that you Look at installing some form of Passive Recharging.. ie solar Panels'.. Me I would go for 400w of solar to recharge.. So that you extend the life of your batteries..
-- I would say " go for a small Lithium system ", but then that is me..

So in the short run go Solar..

Juergen

oldtrack123 · Guru

marinepics wrote:
Hi Folks...
I'm not an electrician so...please excuse my naivety...
[1]If I buy an inverter to run a dvd player and a reasonably large Flatscreen....say 40 inch or thereabouts..
[2]...will it be an effective and economical way of using my battery power....I mean will it drain the battery much more quickly than if I just use a 12V dvd player straight from a ciggy adapter....I have just one large house battery, fed by the alternator...no solar.
[3]I am presuming that the bigger the screen, of course, the more drain on the battery, but I'm wondering, size for size.
[4]I also run a 40L Engel, straight from the 12V socket...

I would suggest you work out how many amphrs per day you are likely to use

To do that for devices you will need to find the WATTs on the nameplate or in the specs

Divide that by 10 then multiply by expected hrs of daily use.

Do that for each one, then add up to find the total daily use

Based on not taking your battery, if it is a wet cell lead acid, any lower than 50% soc[around 12.3V]

you will be able to work out how long you will be able to use the lot before you will need to FULLY recharge the battery

AS others have said you will need to add an extra 5<10% for any case where you use an inverter

It is much more efficient, power wise, to use all

I would suggest you also get a low voltage cutout[ set to no lower than 12V] installed to limit over discharge of your battery & thus shortening its life

ps That Engel can be a heavy user depending on factors such as ambient temp, thermostat setting, warm loading, etc anywhere from 30Ahrs<70Ahrs per 24hrs

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Sunday 12th of October 2014 11:51:25 PM

PeterD · Guru

Phil C wrote:
I have learnt that if you look at the wattage of the appliances divide by 10 will give you a bit of an idea how many amps you will draw from the battery. You also need to add an amp or two for the inverter to operate.

The divide by 10 takes into account the extra power wasted by the inverter. no need to allow the extra current bit. Alternately divide by 12 V and add 15 - 20% extra current for the inverter losses, the divide by 10 is an easier way to guestimate the current.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

We use a 12V 22" Kogan TV/DVD combo with a 12V vast box for satellite TV reception and the combined current draw is 3.8 Amp when running. This is probably our highest power user, but I would think if running similar size TV separate DVD player or a 240V vast box through an inverter would draw about double this current.
Alan

marinepics · Veteran Member

Thankyou folks...
I think I'm starting to get the picture...It sounds like the best option for the moment might be to content myself with my 22in TV/DVD player straight from the ciggy socket.
I sort of figured that inverters might not be the answer to efficient, long term usage...

one more question perhaps....is there a charging system available, that can be permanently installed alongside the house battery, to enable charging at a c/van park, without the need to remove the battery from the vehicle every time it needs an overnight charge.

In the meantime, I'll check the wattage of these devices and attempt to calculate the amps I'm using...I really need to get my head around this electrical business..I know it's just a simple formula...but somehow I never got a handle on it !!....just a lazy brain...or some sort of mental block...that's all.

oldbobsbus · Guru

marinepics wrote:

one more question perhaps....is there a charging system available, that can be permanently installed alongside the house battery, to enable charging at a c/van park, without the need to remove the battery from the vehicle every time it needs an overnight charge.

In the meantime, I'll check the wattage of these devices and attempt to calculate the amps I'm using...I really need to get my head around this electrical business..I know it's just a simple formula...but somehow I never got a handle on it !!....just a lazy brain...or some sort of mental block...that's all.

Maybe you should think about putting a solar panel on the roof and use a controller regulator to charge the battery anytime there is sun about..

There has been more questions about solar and regulators here on Techies lately than pages in the Oxford dictionary.. so a little research should give you lots to think about..

oldtrack123 · Guru

HI

Re [quote}one more question perhaps....is there a charging system available, that can be permanently installed alongside the house battery, to enable charging at a c/van park, without the need to remove the battery from the vehicle every time it needs an overnight charge.'[end quote]

You can connect any240V multi stage charger directly across the battery without removing or disconnecting it

If you get one with say at least a 10A rating,it will supply the 12v lights, compressor fridg e& have some to spare to top up the battery

Of course you will have to pay for a powered site in CPs

You could also get a couple of 100W solar panels mounted on the roof with a regulator & have those directly connected to the house batterries,BUTyou would need to park in the sun.

PeterQ

-

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Monday 13th of October 2014 09:48:16 PM

Phil C · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Phil C wrote:
I have learnt that if you look at the wattage of the appliances divide by 10 will give you a bit of an idea how many amps you will draw from the battery. You also need to add an amp or two for the inverter to operate.
The divide by 10 takes into account the extra power wasted by the inverter. no need to allow the extra current bit. Alternately divide by 12 V and add 15 - 20% extra current for the inverter losses, the divide by 10 is an easier way to guestimate the current.

Thank you Peter.

mr glassies · Guru

<<<<< has 800 watt on the roof .

dibs