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clayman
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 16:23:28
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I'm trying to decide on which inverter to get, and am slowly losing the will to live, trolling through page after page on Google!!!
So what better way than to ask on here, and let the full power of the Norman Mafia guide me 
All I want to power whilst on my travels will be a 23" TV, and a lap-top.
At the moment I have 2 85amp/hr. liesure batteries, not linked.
I can already feel the knowledge starting to flow!!! lol
Cheers in advance. |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 19:21:37
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Maplins for a 12 volt power supply for the laptop.
That sorts that one out!
23" TV - an inverter from Maplins that can handle whatever the load is - check the TV rating plate.
Or an inverter from E-bay - often cheaper than Maplins although warranty - hmmm - don't know.
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
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clayman
United Kingdom
34 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 20:15:12
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Many thanks will go to Maplins website.
Cheers |
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stratford4528
United Kingdom
414 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 20:41:48
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| If you want quality and reliability use the make I use 24/7 for my cottage which is Samlex pure sinewave and 2 year guarantee |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 20:48:58
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Inverters have a power rating, you need to watch, some vendors show the maximum or peak rating, others show the continuous rating. You need to be careful that you are comparing like with like.
When choosing an inverter, it's continuous rating needs to be more than you intend to run (obviously!) but not massively over. If you draw 200W from a 1000W inverter it will be hideously inefficient and munch through your batteries much faster than a 350W inverter with the same 200W load.
Other things to know. It is not good to discharge a lead acid battery beyond about half of its capacity. You have 2 x 85Ah to you can in theory draw 85Ah.
If your TV takes 20W at 240V it will also take 20W at 12 V Ohms law makes that 1.6A - Allowing for inefficiencies all over the system and less than perfect batteries at less than perfect full charge. That could give you about 40 hours of TV time.... assuming absolutely no other use of electricity. (Possibly - My maths and ohms law is shocking!!)
The other concern Is how are you going to recharge the batteries? An inboard with an alternator would take a day to fully recharge the above scenario. An outboard with a charging coil could take weeks!!! But in reality you would not have flattened the batteries that far in one evening!!
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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stratford4528
United Kingdom
414 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 21:43:56
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I have been using inverters every day for over 15 years if you want more advise please feel free to email me.One bit of advise don't buy chinese
Bob |
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chris.s
58 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2011 : 15:10:29
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Roger Hi,
Good advice from Deano, just to support what he is saying, I use a 12v to 20v laptop Adapter which hardly puts a strain on the batteries and then recharge pretty quickly through 60 watts of solar panels.
Inverters are pretty inefficient and so my suggestion is to go for as small a one as possible and run as much equipment off of 12 volts, if your tv runs through an external transformer you could also use a 12v adaptor/stabiliser and not bother with an inverter. (this is how my 16 inch tesco led tv works)
I don't have inverters in their traditional format, I have two used computer back up supplies, which I took out the internal batteries and hard wired them to each battery through a fuse, these have the benefit of a super stable sine wave and if/when you have a 240 supply can be plugged into charge the battery.
Chris |
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chris.s
58 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2011 : 21:52:33
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Roger Hi,
Check out the maplin offers at the moment they have their full range of inverters on offer at the moment.
Cheers
Chris |
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stratford4528
United Kingdom
414 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jul 2011 : 22:19:08
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| I have checked maplins and their cheap inverters are modified sine which sometimes can cause problems running some equipment. It pays to use pure sine wave. |
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Inverter Advice
