Power Pack

[Ely-freda]

Hi,
We are new members with a Ford Freda, and would like to make an enquiry about power source when we are not on hook up please.
We have seen power packs advertised (there is one in the Towsure catalogue) and would like to know if there is one which:-
1. Has a built in Inverted from 12volt to 230v.
2. Is able to run up to 80Ah.
3. Is able to be charged from the car battery via the cigarette lighter or from hook up.
4. We would not need it to start the engine or have an air compressor.
Perhaps we need to go the whole hog and install a Leisure Battery, but the Power packs look neat and tidy and of course are portable. Basically we want to be able to run a small fridge(60w) while going along.
We would be grateful for some advice.
Thanks,

[missfixit70]

If you want to run a fridge while on the move, just plug it into the ciggy socket, it'll turn off when the ignition's off saving the starter battery from going flat.

[mikexgough]

if the fridge you want to run is an electric coolbox type then a powerpack will probably not really be up to the job, nor will a Leisure battery in practice.
Many coolbox fridges are 48w but they consume power all the time so in reality consume over 90 amps per day...
Waeco and Engel make Fridges that look like coolboxes but are pukka fridge/freezers....also they make built in units....as a comparison, a Waeco fridge (portable coolbox type) used 12 amps per day..... yes 78 amps per day less and 4 days or more on a big leisure battery.
As Kirsty says, use it while your engine is running and if your on site with mains plug it in direct or via an adapter when you get there.
Your username suggests that your from Ely.....? yep tell me if I'm wrong... if you want to see a Waeco portable fridge we can arrange a meet sometime to see mine....

[Ely-freda]

Hi,
Thank you both for your replies.
I perhaps should have explained- our fridge, which is fitted in the freda, is a Matsui Table Top Fridge which says the input power is 65 watt. It runs from 230v. I have tried to run it from the cigarette lighter with a small inverter, but the inverter was not man enough to run the fridge( although it said it converts up to 300w)
Maybe I am asking for something which is not possible, but we just want to be able to run the fridge on the move and perhaps for short periods when the freda is stationary when we are not near hook up.
Yes we live near Ely, thank you for your offer - perhaps I can take you up on it when I have found out a little more.
Thanks again.
Cheers,
Ely-freda

[mikexgough]

The inverter will probably be struggling when the compressor "kicks" in so cuts out then.....the 65w on a 300w should be okay when running.....but when it starts up.....it cuts out

As for when your not running the engine, then a Leisure battery looks like the way to go....although you wont get much usage time from it when using an inverter.....
Give me a shout if you want to meet up sometime , I have a leisure battery and one of the legendary Willinton Split charge kits that you can view and a compressor fridge too

[digitalgypsy]

Hewwo. Thought I would add to this post rather than starting up a new one...

I'd love to be able to use this blender http://www.tribest.co.uk/Blending/Personal-Blender-350 in the Bongo but also without electric hookup. So I have also been thinking about a power pack with inverter. The only ones I find are the '5-in-one' car start, air pump etc types but really all I want is the 220v portable power. I don't really want to wire up an inverter to the leisure batteryand certainly not a diesel generator.

The blender is 200w and you actually only operate it for short periods of time, 30 seconds. Has anyone had any experience with using power packs for a slightly more needy appliance i.e. 200 watts?

Thanks for any advice!

[winchman]

These fridges are 65w, even the light is LED, they have no compressor so are totally silent and have no big current surge on start up.
http://www.jacksons-camping.co.uk/cool/minicool.htm
I know quite a few people who are running them just off a car battery with a 200w inverter (£15 from Ebay), they turn the fridge off at night time as it stays cold because its so well insulated.
They will easily run from the starting battery whilst driving, but would flatten it in about 18 hours, so best ran via hook up or a spare battery
The best bit is I know some one who get them ex display and very cheaply.

[g8dhe]

Its rather difficult to say with motor devices if they will work or not.
There are two problems;
First a Motor when first switched on is NOT turning (stalled) and so draws a lot more power for a very short period before its up to speed, invertors /power packs etc may cut out when they see the excess load and shutdown,
Second the waveform from invertors is not the normal sine wave (unless you pay a LOT more) the motors require a waveform that has some resemblance to a sine wave, trying to guess if it will be adequate or not requires a crystal ball that I don't have - maybe you have one ?

[digitalgypsy]

I understand the complications g8dhe, maybe this isn't a good idea

[Simon Jones]

Have to considered a 12v blender instead? Perhaps something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waring-Pro-Ta ... 4ad3f29ca7

[digitalgypsy]

Cheers for the tip Simon. I ended up getting a not so expensive portable hand blender, hopefully does the job for what I need.