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Electrical Invertor
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:12 pm
by on sea
Are these any good, or just a waste of money. I read somewhere they can sap a battery in no time..is this right?
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:17 pm
by Ian
There's a useful, if somewhat technical, discussion here:-
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... t=inverter
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:24 pm
by on sea
Many thanks Ian.
Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:30 am
by dandywarhol
I use a 1200W invertor - enough to power a 700W microwave for a few 5 minute reheat meals, electric drill, soldering iron etc.
A battery will be sapped dependant on what you power with it.
They aren't the most efficient of things - it takes the full 1200W to power the 700W microwave but as long as you're ok with that inefficiency then they're fine.
Oh, and - mine is powereed from the 115A/h leisure battery through jump lead sized cable.
Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:09 pm
by timhum
Hi Dandy'
Wow, that's one motha of an inverter!
Does your leisure battery fit under the bonnet? I would be inclined to fit the inverter next to the battery to keep the losses in the cable low. With those big inverters, they usually have a remote switch to enable it to be turned off and on inside the cab.
I was put off putting a leisure battery inside the van for safety reasons but if you managed to get the it under the bonnet I would have a go myself.
Tim
Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:14 pm
by francophile1947
Hi Tinhum
Search for Leisure Battery and you'll find all you need to know.
Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:48 pm
by timhum
Hi Francophile 1947,
I sought, found and bought the tray off ebay!
Now to find the battery mentioned, or one that size.
Many thanks,
Tim
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:01 am
by dandywarhol
timhum wrote:Hi Dandy'
Wow, that's one motha of an inverter!
Does your leisure battery fit under the bonnet? I would be inclined to fit the inverter next to the battery to keep the losses in the cable low. With those big inverters, they usually have a remote switch to enable it to be turned off and on inside the cab.
I was put off putting a leisure battery inside the van for safety reasons but if you managed to get the it under the bonnet I would have a go myself.
Tim
It's a 115A/h battery which squeezes onto a home made tray under the bonnet timhum and the invertor fits under the dash so keeping the cables short. They're also chopped up jump leads so more than capable of taking the strain...........
The whole plot is isolated by a switch fitted where the flare would sit.

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:14 am
by timhum
Thanks for the pictures, Dandy. Neat rig!
The isolation switch is a good idea with all those amps flying about. I will shamelessly copy that.
Cheers,
Tim