Cheryl_B wrote:
I was told that you can run things like the microwave, coffee maker, use the computer and other things by plugging into an inverter. I didn't expect it would power the a/c. You can't just plug things like your laptop or your little flatscreen tv into the regular outlets in the walls, right?
What's an "inverter generator"?
The only time you would use an inverter is when you are camping without an electrical hookup. Inverters change the battery voltage, 12vdc, to normal house power, 120vac. They use a lot of battery power if you are using them to power things like the microwave or coffee maker. A 1000 watt load on the inverter will draw about 100 amps from your battery. If you have only one battery It will be dead in about a half hour.
You said "You can't just plug things like your laptop or your little flatscreen tv into the regular outlets in the walls, right?" You can if you have hookups, which you will have in almost all campgrounds. The exceptions are some state parks, etc.
What's an "inverter generator"? The better generators for RV use use an inverter to create the 120vac, 60 cycle power.
A non inverter generator has to run at a constant speed to keep the frquency of the power at 60 cycles. So if you are running a very small load like your laptop, the genny is running at the same speed as it would if running your microwave. Noisy.
An inverter genny uses an inverter to convert the power that the genny puts out to 120 vac, 60 cps. Thus the mechanical part of the genny can generate power at lower voltages and different frequency or even direct current and the inverter changes that power to 120 vac 60 cps. Thus the inverter generator can run at slower speed and makes less noise when being used for small loads. It also costs more.
I hope this makes sense.
