Inverter choice

[John61CT]

> Yeah....that there was all just Charlie Brown's mother to me.  Sorry.

So you need to get going on climbing that learning curve, no way around that I'm afraid.

Or have deep pockets to pay a pro to do it all for you, but very likely they won't do a good job and lots will need redoing anyway.

I'll try to find my reference thread for "DC Electrics 101" learning resources for you.

 

[John61CT]

Here it is:

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=28197

 

[mothercoder]

> My plan is to get a 200Ah AGM battery, an inverter and an inverter generator.

Specifically what meaning do you assign to that last?

A link to an example would help.

???  I think that's pretty straight-forward.

 

[user 37446]

Hi mothercoder,

I rarely post anymore, too many "know-it-alls" offering jibberish to up their post count. That's why the block feature helps. Especially in this subforum.

Anyway, why don't you try what one poster said, get an inexpensive HF or maybe a Bestek or Cobra 300 or so watt unit and just try it. Some stores won't let you return electronics but I don't think HF or Walmart particularly care.

Use it for your biggest draw item, and try it with someones portable ac only fan. If it powers those ok, then you are good. Like jim said, it seems most of your needs are already 12 volt powered, so you don't/shouldn't need a high wattage model.

If you had plenty of funds, then a smaller pure sine wave would cover most all bases well, however, for under $30 you can get what you may need in a modified sine version.

 

[mothercoder]

Hi mothercoder,

I rarely post anymore, too many "know-it-alls" offering jibberish to up their post count. That's why the block feature helps. Especially in this subforum.

Anyway, why don't you try what one poster said, get an inexpensive HF or maybe a Bestek or Cobra 300 or so watt unit and just try it. Some stores won't let you return electronics but I don't think HF or Walmart particularly care.

Use it for your biggest draw item, and try it with someones portable ac only fan. If it powers those ok, then you are good. Like jim said, it seems most of your needs are already 12 volt powered, so you don't/shouldn't need a high wattage model.

If you had plenty of funds, then a smaller pure sine wave would cover most all bases well, however, for under $30 you can get what you may need in a modified sine version.

Thank you for speaking English.  This sounds like a good plan.  I'll run my numbers and see if a pure sine wave is in the budget.  Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

 

[Weight]

I have had harbor freight inverter. Some other brand low watt inverter. The HF burned up during my learning curve. Real fire. The low watt thing did well for my 10 inch lap top. All that stuff is now in some museum. I have an expensive inverter (samplexpower PST-2000-12 @ >$600) to power my microwave, toaster, and coffee pot. I have a smaller quality inverter (again a samplex 300W) to deal with NEW lap top and other such small needs as required. Sorry can't find the papers.
If 100 or 300 dollars is doable, the better quality inverter is best. If you are budgeted, than every thing will add to your knowledge and is not a loss.
Sorry, but I do not know what you are calling a inverter generator. I get frustrated by the postings here, also. I may soon quit. But if you ask specific questions you can gain some help here. The help is worth what you pay for.

 

[jimindenver]

An inverter generator is like a Honda EU2000 or Champion 3100i.

 

[John61CT]

???  I think that's pretty straight-forward.

An inverter generator is like a Honda EU2000 or Champion 3100i.

Great and yes that is what the phrase is tradionally supposed to mean.

Problem is those (mostly scamming) marketeers using the term "generator" for high-capacity powerpacks, that often include an inverter, makes clarifying terms important.

 

[tripper]

I have
Xantrex 1000 watt inverter it is $284 on Amazon.  It uses about 6/10ths of an amp when idle.  I use it to power a small microwave, conventional coffee maker, an induction hot plate (on half power setting, still hot) and charge my ebike battery.  I have used it for up to 8 hours a day for 2 weeks at near max capacity and it has performed flawlessly. The is an inexpensive  pushbutton you can get to turn it on and off remotely. It is spec'd at 900 watts continuous, 100 watts short term, and 2000 watts surge. 

You should use as short as possible 4 gage or better cables to connect it to your battery. It is silent unless you are drawing a huge amount of power, then the fan spins up to cool it off, the fan is powerful and a bit loud. I highly recommend just buying a good inverter now, this one is very efficient, no need for several smaller inverters. There are 600 watt and 2000 watt versions also.

 

[Weight]

Thanks John. I think I was sleeping. My remark was meant; Inverter Generators come in multiple wattage. 1,2,&3 thousand readily available. What did you consider?

 

[mothercoder]

An inverter generator is like a Honda EU2000 or Champion 3100i.

Yes, thank you.

 

[mothercoder]

Thanks John. I think I was sleeping. My remark was meant; Inverter Generators come in multiple wattage. 1,2,&3 thousand readily available. What did you consider?

I'm looking at the Sportsman 1000w

 

[Weight]

I have seen two versions of 1000i Sportsman, one is four cycle engine, other is two cycle engine. 2 cycle requires oil mixed with gasoline. 4 cycle should be quieter. My next will be Sportsman 2000i with propane fuel.

 

[jimindenver]

The two cycle is not the inverter version.

 

[mothercoder]

I have seen two versions of 1000i Sportsman, one is four cycle engine, other is two cycle engine. 2 cycle requires oil mixed with gasoline. 4 cycle should be quieter. My next will be Sportsman 2000i with propane fuel.

I just heard about the propane fueled generators.  What's the advantage?

 

[jimindenver]

If I may

Propane has the advantage of being easier to store, does not go bad and after running the generator it does not gum up the carb if any is still in it. The downside is you get less power from propane and it may be harder to find. A dual fuel generator would give you the most flexibility. (gas or propane)

 

[John61CT]

If you do the conversion route to get dual fuel, do the breaking in on gasoline even if you only use propane after that.

Propane also causes much slower engine wear, maybe double the hours lifetime between engine reco.

Less relevant with these type gennies, but another data point.

 

[DLTooley]

Cutting the AGM batteries and going with flooded lead acid is a way to cut costs. FLA does require maintenance, but also has less downside risk if you harm the bank through other means. That learning curve is a good reason to start with a $200 budget. I'm assuming every laptop has a cigarette lighter cable available, but it's not a requirement. There are a number of options for creating additional cigarette lighter receptacle. That's project, but not an overly complicated or expensive one. At some point you will want a fuse block for direct wiring, including the 12v cooler.

 

[mothercoder]

Cutting the AGM batteries and going with flooded lead acid is a way to cut costs.  FLA does require maintenance, but also has less downside risk if you harm the bank through other means.  That learning curve is a good reason to start with a $200 budget.   I'm assuming every laptop has a cigarette lighter cable available, but it's not a requirement.  There are a number of options for creating additional cigarette lighter receptacle.  That's project, but not an overly complicated or expensive one.  At some point you will want a fuse block for direct wiring, including the 12v cooler.

Thanks, Doug.  I'm totaling the cost of my set up right now.  I'll consider the FLA if the numbers aren't working.  So far (on paper) I'm over budget by $266 and that doesn't include any finishing of the floors and walls. :  

I hope to order my trailer tomorrow.  And now I'm thinking about adding a side vent in a place where I can place my battery(ies).

 

[mothercoder]

I have seen two versions of 1000i Sportsman, one is four cycle engine, other is two cycle engine. 2 cycle requires oil mixed with gasoline. 4 cycle should be quieter. My next will be Sportsman 2000i with propane fuel.

I just found a Sportsman 1000i unused and still in the box on CL for $175.  I'm hoping it hasn't been sold.