Inverters

[Andy_374346145]

Hi

Managed to get hold of a large power inverter 2000w-4000w (to power that essential electrical items........the hair dryer!!!!). However having done the calculations I reckon that a hair dryer at 1600w would last about 20 minutes at most on a fully charged 12v battery and after that it would probably be useless. Does anyone have experience with such an inverter or any recommendations (other than electrical hook-up)

Thanks

Sizzler

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Try using the car battery with the engine running for the inverter

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Andy

You are correct. As a guide, whatever the current a 230V appliance uses it will draw close to 20 times as much from the 12V supply when using an inverter.

Not only will it flatten batteries quite quickly, in some cases the battery may be damaged by attempting to draw off so much current.

It is not a practical solution for high power mains appliances.

If a electric Hook up is not available, then Grahams suggestion of using the car battery with the engine running may be viable, or consider getting a generator. Both of these solutions may run you foul of your caravanning neighbours who might not like the noise and smell of an engine,

Don't forget that the majority of caravan appliances are dual fuelled, so consider using the gas where no electric power is available.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi John

"so consider using the gas where no electric power is available" - I like the idea of drying your hair kneeling down next to a Trumatic blown air duct

Andy - modern inverters are reasonably efficient at converting battery power into mains voltage, but as John says - they do suck amps out of the battery - and you only get the best efficiency when the rated power of the inverter just exceeds the demands of the appliance.

So using a 2kW inverter to power a 60 watt laptop would be quite inefficient - the losses in the 2kW inverter would probably outweigh the current required by the laptop - but would be pretty much perfect for 1.6kW hair dryer

But the inverter will draw over 120 Amps when powering the hairdryer - so remember the wiring to the battery.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Robert,

Carver did offer a hair dryer fitting for use with the Caravelle SBE1800 (circa 1986)!

 

[rob_jax]

John,

Twenty years ago I might have needed it - but now the peach fuzz dries quite quickly - so I no longer have any empathy for Brenda and her needs to dry her lionesses golden mane.

Robert