Inverter thingy question

[Queen]

I'm trying so hard to understand electrical stuff but have to admit, it completely baffles me, the same way physics or statistics baffled me in college. 

So a simple question for those who understand these things, I'm looking for a 110 inverter to plug into the lighter looking port in the car, it's a [font=Arial, sans-serif]BESTEK® 300W Dual 110V AC Outlets Power Inverter Car DC 12V to 110V AC from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...smid=AWZ3LXPHZK09[/SIZE][/size][/font][/size]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]What I want to be able to do (at different times) is plug in a coffee maker, the pump to blow up the air mattress, a tiny microwave, a blow dryer, and maybe a little AC unit (although I think that might be too much).  Can I do that with this inverter? [/font]

 

[LeeRevell]

In a word, "No".  300W is far too low for AC, coffee maker and microwave.  For instance, even a small 700 Watt microwave will need about 1000W of power to run.  AC and any electrical heating appliances need more power too.
You need to find the power requirements for each device, then get an inverter sufficient to power them. 
You can get a "Kill-o-watt" meter at Walmart, Lowes, etc, to see how much power a device draws.
I am thinking you'd wind up needing at least a 1000W to 1500W inverter, and that would need to be wired to your auxilliary/house battery with proper sized wire.  The ciggy plug off your starting battery simply won't do it.

This webpage will give you an idea of the power needs of various devices:

http://www.daftlogic.com/information-appliance-power-consumption.htm

 

[Queen]

Thanks, Lee, no aux power as we're car camping in a Subaru... if we wanted to run the other stuff (other than the little pump for the air mattress) we'd need to carry a drop cord and get an electric site?

 

[PassIntent]

I love your title for this post! I often describe things that baffle me in the exact same way. "That thingy over there should be plugged into...what thingy again?"

 

[Almost There]

Thanks, Lee, no aux power as we're car camping in a Subaru... if we wanted to run the other stuff (other than the little pump for the air mattress) we'd need to carry a drop cord and get an electric site?

In a word, Yes!

All those appliances pull too much power to run off of a plug in inverter and the 'lighter looking port' isn't wired to handle that much of a load.

It will charge cell phones, laptops etc. and will blow up the air mattress but not run kitchen appliances or the hair blower.

Going glamping are you..

 

[Queen]

I love your title for this post! I often describe things that baffle me in the exact same way. "That thingy over there should be plugged into...what thingy again?"

Yeah, made my brother nuts, he'd yell "IT'S NOT A THINGY, IT'S A ________". LOL

 

[Queen]

Going glamping are you..

You know it, a girl (and her not-interested-in-camping girl) has gotta have her comforts. 

 

[Queen]

I know this is probably so basic as to be laughable, but if you put a battery (regular car battery) in a vehicle, you wire it to an inverter, plus you wire it into your vehicle (I'm assuming you attach it to the battery under the hood?) so it can charge, then you have 110 power to run anything you want??

 

[Almost There]

I know this is probably so basic as to be laughable, but if you put a battery (regular car battery) in a vehicle, you wire it to an inverter, plus you wire it into your vehicle (I'm assuming you attach it to the battery under the hood?) so it can charge, then you have 110 power to run anything you want??

Nope, not that simple!

Yes, the inverter changes it to 110 but you still have limitations both from the inverter and the battery as to what you can run.

The plug on the post at the campground has an infinite amount of 120V power that you can use. Think of the battery as a storage unit - you can only store so much in there.  A battery bank (multiple batteries) would still only provide a specific amount of power. Yes, you can recharge them from the alternator but it's not something that will work well sitting in a campground. You'd be running the car for hours.

If y'all want to have all the conveniences of home (micro/hair blower etc) then you have only 1 choice other than staying home, take a heavy duty extension cord and book a site that has power.

I know you're taking a non-camper to a campground but the whole point of camping is to be roughing it.

 

[Queen]

Nope, not that simple!

Yes, the inverter changes it to 110 but you still have limitations both from the inverter and the battery as to what you can run.

The plug on the post at the campground has an infinite amount of 120V power that you can use. Think of the battery as a storage unit - you can only store so much in there.  A battery bank (multiple batteries) would still only provide a specific amount of power. Yes, you can recharge them from the alternator but it's not something that will work well sitting in a campground. You'd be running the car for hours.

If y'all want to have all the conveniences of home (micro/hair blower etc) then you have only 1 choice other than staying home, take a heavy duty extension cord and book a site that has power.

I know you're taking a non-camper to a campground but the whole point of camping is to be roughing it.

I think I'm starting to understand this a bit, that storage capacity of the battery is what you folks keep talking about when you say you're monitoring storage.  Interesting.  So the ones with solar use that to charge the batteries and have to balance the storage/charging v. useage?  Am I getting it??

The non-camper is a former backpacker and lifelong camper who is just over it.  I'm trying to provide a very comfortable experience (without the cost of an RV or motel) in the hopes of rekindling the old passion for being out on the road and seeing new places.

 

[Almost There]

I think I'm starting to understand this a bit, that storage capacity of the battery is what you folks keep talking about when you say you're monitoring storage.  Interesting.  So the ones with solar use that to charge the batteries and have to balance the storage/charging v. useage?  Am I getting it??

The non-camper is a former backpacker and lifelong camper who is just over it.  I'm trying to provide a very comfortable experience (without the cost of an RV or motel) in the hopes of rekindling the old passion for being out on the road and seeing new places.

Yep, you're getting it!

There are several ways to recharge the batteries - most use multiple ways because they all have their limitations. Sunlight via solar panels, a generator or shore power coupled with a battery charger or the vehicle itself by way of the alternator.

To run heavy use appliances like an a/c, a hair blower and the microwave, you need a whole lot of power, hence a really large bank of batteries. Way too much of them to put in a car and unless you've been weightlifting a bunch, your back will be put out of joint trying to move them around. The smallest of the batteries weigh over 50 lbs. each.

If you're worried about heat, there are battery operated fans available, not as good as a/c but better than nothing. I have one that runs on D cells.

Most campgrounds that have showers have electric outlets in there that will work for the hair blower.

The micro - well that's just out of the question but then cooking over a wood fire or on a propane stove is totally doable - it just takes a little longer than the microwave.

The coffeemaker - buy some packets of fancy coffee that are instant, heat water on the stove and call it good.

 

[LeeRevell]

Queen, there are 12VDC appliances that don't require an inverter - coffee makers, small food heater "thingys" (tiny ovens), etc, but they still gobble power.  You can find them at any good truck stop, or on Amazon.  Basically the battery is like your car's gas tank.  It only holds so much, and any usage drains it.  You definitely do NOT want to use your car's starting battery for anything more than occasional recharge of the cell phone.  You'd find it dead too quickly.
Bigger 'house' battery means more 'gas in the tank', but then it takes more to charge it back up too.  If this is to be a short (weekend?) trip, I would just accept it is a camping trip, and use as little electric as possible.
Each vehicle type has it's own pros & cons, and limitations.  A small car has more limitations than a van, but has it's up sides too.
May your car camping trip go well! 

 

[akrvbob]

There is a way to do what you want.

1) Buy a 1500 watt Pure Sine Wave inverter and a good, heavy pair of jumper cables.
2) Cut the jumper cables down to about 5 feet with the clamps on one end.
3) Have a professional crimp on a ring connector the right size to fit over the studs on the inverter.
4) The red clamp goes to the positive and black to the negative

To use it you'll pop the hood, connect the red jumper to the positive and black to the negative post of the battery. Start the car and turn on the inverter. Plug the device into the inverter and use it. The car has to be running the whole time and you may have to rev it up if it sounds like it is struggling.

You'll want everything to be as small as possible. A 600 watt microwave will work better than a 750 one.
Bob

Bob

 

[SternWake]

The day a Ciggy plug,/ 12v power port can power an Air Conditioner, is the day that all the world's power requirements are forever solved and we all join hands and sing kumbaya.

Even thickly wired quality ciggy receptacles and plugs max out at 150 watts, and they will get quite warms passing that much current.

Hair Driers, microwaves, and coffee makers are all incredible Powerhogs.

Even with Bob's recommendation, and revving the engine, the alternator will likely not be able to keep up with a 1500 watt hair dryer, and the battery would still be depleted, the alternator would overheat, or be at the verge of doing so.

So many jumper cables out there are absolute junk. 10awg of copper clad aluminum surrounded by thick insulation to make them appear heavy duty.

Some stick and brick luxuries, should not be attempted in a vehicle, without a generator, or a huge battery bank with a plethora of charging sources available.

If you can't live without a hair drier or air conditioning, then you seriously need to rethink dabbling in this lifestyle, even just for weekends here and there.

Temporary workarounds where the battery is considered disposable are doable certainly. It is just when and where that battery or alternator fails which can be merely inconvenient, all the way up to dangerous or life threatening if way out in the sticks and stranded.

 

[Almost There]

Queen, my friends who have non-camping partners tell me that there is maybe a way to make the camping trip viable....

- The most comfortable air bed you can afford (make sure you pack nice heavy insulation for between yourselves and the airbed, they tend to be like unheated waterbeds).

- Wonderful food - go all out with her favorite luxury foods (well except the ice cream.... )

- Chocolate has been known to sooth all kinds of ill feelings!!

- good wine or whatever the beverage of choice is.

- be the bestest hostess you know how to be - your wish is my command type thing...

Now we're talking dragging partners in for canoe trips with portages and the whole nine yards so a car camping trip with a bunch of luxuries should be a piece of cake!!

 

[Queen]

AT, that is spot on!  As I said above, she's an old Appalachian Trail hand but , with 60 looming on the horizon, is now really over it.  I'm hoping a nice big tent, super comfy air mattress, fresh cuppa in the morning, might rekindle that love of exploring and overcome past memories of sleeping on the hard ground and peeing in the bushes.  

 

[Almost There]

AT, that is spot on!  As I said above, she's an old Appalachian Trail hand but , with 60 looming on the horizon, is now really over it.  I'm hoping a nice big tent, super comfy air mattress, fresh cuppa in the morning, might rekindle that love of exploring and overcome past memories of sleeping on the hard ground and peeing in the bushes.  

Ahhh, so maybe all we need to do is introduce her to hammocks and p-style devices and we can get a few more miles out of her yet.... :angel:

I returned to back country camping after more than 3 decades away from it when I figured out that I could sleep in a hammock instead of that cold hard, rocky, stick strewn ground. There is no way I would ever sleep in a tent again. But, hand me a canoe paddle or a backpack and I'm outta here!!

Bring her to RTR and I'll show her how to sleep in total comfort.

And 60 is but a child (okay a teenager)...

 

[Queen]

Sounds awesome! I just know if I can get her back out there and it doesn't utterly suck, she'll be back on board 100%.

 

[Queen]

Okay, new question but still about electric stuff so I didn't want to start a new thread.

If we get a small camper (trailer) and want to boondock a little out in NM... if we buy one of those Honda/Yamaha 2000 watt generators can we run AC and basic appliances off of that?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Okay, new question but still about electric stuff so I didn't want to start a new thread.

If we get a small camper (trailer) and want to boondock a little out in NM... if we buy one of those Honda/Yamaha 2000 watt generators can we run AC and basic appliances off of that?

It will depend on how big the AC is.  13,500 btu ACs seem to be the most common, and I've seen numerous reports that a 2000 watt generator  WON'T start one of those.

On the other hand, there's a 9,000 btu unit I'm looking at for my (eventual) set up, and apparently there are a number of people successfully running them off 2000 watt generators.

Pretty much any microwave should run off it, but probably NOT at the same time as the AC.

What other appliances are you talking about?

Regards
John