Inverter Power Generators
Since we've dumped the Cyclone, this year we're going to do our races with just a good, common sense race trailer. But to keep things nice, I did order it with AC and multiple outlets throughout. I th...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
Generators are run by gas. Inverters are run by 12 vdc transformed into 120 VAC with transistors. A inverter equipped generator is able to change it's rotating speed to make it quiet under partial load conditions.
My guess is you are thinking inverter to run the cell chargers and perhaps a small TV set or Wii or other small loads? You can buy a 500 watt inverter at Costco for about $35. Plug this into a cigarette lighter receptacle in the trailer and you can plug in all the chargers you need. Just don't connect the inverter to the 30 or 50 amp RV plug. You will run down the battery quickly running a TV set, and very quickly running a TV. But a 19" LCD TV will only draw about 80 watts, and a Wii is only about 20 watts. Each battery that is 100 amp hours (size 27) is going to hold about 800 usable watts.
Each standard light fixture is about 1.1 amps, LED is about 1/4 that wattage.
To run a electric heater, then a generator is required. It will dray about 800 to 1,500 watts per hour, and even the truck alternator can not keep up with that kind of load.
Microwave, toaster, electric coffee maker are all about 1,100 to 1,500 watt loads. So a 4,000 watt generator can power these, and perhaps a air compressor too? Pick a small compressor - say 1 HP or so, to not overload the generator when it starts. You might need to unplug the air compressor and only start it at say 20 PSI if the compressor bogs down the generator on re-starts.
You can pick a pair of Honda 2,000 watt inverter generators, they can be plugged in together to power the 30 amp RV cord, recharge the batteries quickly via the RV converter, and run the rooftop A/C. Each 2,000 watt Honda is only 47 pounds, easy to move around. A 4 KW unit is typically 120 to 180 pounds.
Mayberrys.com
Fred.
Generators are run by gas. Inverters are run by 12 vdc transformed into 120 VAC with transistors. A inverter equipped generator is able to change it's rotating speed to make it quiet under partial load conditions.
My guess is you are thinking inverter to run the cell chargers and perhaps a small TV set or Wii or other small loads? You can buy a 500 watt inverter at Costco for about $35. Plug this into a cigarette lighter receptacle in the trailer and you can plug in all the chargers you need. Just don't connect the inverter to the 30 or 50 amp RV plug. You will run down the battery quickly running a TV set, and very quickly running a TV. But a 19" LCD TV will only draw about 80 watts, and a Wii is only about 20 watts. Each battery that is 100 amp hours (size 27) is going to hold about 800 usable watts.
Each standard light fixture is about 1.1 amps, LED is about 1/4 that wattage.
To run a electric heater, then a generator is required. It will dray about 800 to 1,500 watts per hour, and even the truck alternator can not keep up with that kind of load.
Microwave, toaster, electric coffee maker are all about 1,100 to 1,500 watt loads. So a 4,000 watt generator can power these, and perhaps a air compressor too? Pick a small compressor - say 1 HP or so, to not overload the generator when it starts. You might need to unplug the air compressor and only start it at say 20 PSI if the compressor bogs down the generator on re-starts.
You can pick a pair of Honda 2,000 watt inverter generators, they can be plugged in together to power the 30 amp RV cord, recharge the batteries quickly via the RV converter, and run the rooftop A/C. Each 2,000 watt Honda is only 47 pounds, easy to move around. A 4 KW unit is typically 120 to 180 pounds.
Mayberrys.com
Fred.
