Inverter question

[Bluebeard]

The DW needs to have a working hair dryer when out boondocking. I am considering adding an inverter to ensure a happy wife (happy life). I get it that it is easier to have its own circuits coming off the batteries, but was wondering what you guys do to hook it up beyond that. I am thinking to stick it in a cubby hole and run extension cords from the plug outlets to specific wall plugs. Is this common? or am I missing something?

[tenbear]

brulaz wrote:
Just the thought of getting out and firing up a generator to dry my hair makes my skin crawl.

Think of it as getting out and firing up a generator to make your DW happy. :h

[westend]

Get the Honda genset and have her sit in front of the hot air venting. No hair dryer or inverter needed. and batteries charged.:B

[2oldman]

brulaz wrote:
Just the thought of getting out and firing up a generator to dry my hair makes my skin crawl.

I feel the same about making a pot of coffee.

[time2roll]

Yes solar/inverter could work...

[Kayteg1]

brulaz wrote:


Just the thought of getting out and firing up a generator to dry my hair makes my skin crawl.

The guy lives in Northern CA, so he might need it, we camp in Sierra in Lake Tahoe area, when sticking your head outside for 5 minutes gets the hair dry 😉
In my conversion I had 4 golf-cart batteries and no solar.
Even making 1 l coffee in the morning, microwave use, charging computers and using lights with water pump, family of 4 was good for 3 days and only on long weekends I had to start generator for 1 hr.
Then we usually spend evenings around campfire and use solar showers.

[RJsfishin]

Bluebeard wrote:
Ok, thanks for the input. I have a honda 1000w generator and I told her to get a 1000w hair dryer, so maybe the best bet is to just use the generator? Other than the hair dryer, I pretty much don't have a need to cover any heavy loads. We are pretty frugal, other than drying hair.

Isn't this perdy cut and dried ????? OP has the best idea,...
Kill 2 birds w/ one stone, use the Honda 1000 on a 500 watt (not 1,000) hair dryer, and be charging the batteries at the same time. Nothing is wasted.
But wait a minute, that makes too much sense ?? 🙂

[brulaz]

Kayteg1 wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Ten minutes on the generator-hairdryer and you are done.

Or

Ten minutes on the inverter-hairdryer then an hour of charging to get back to where you were.

Or 10 minutes on inverter-hairdryer and 4 hr on solar charging.

This. Or with 700Ws of solar, and sunshine, a bit less.

Just the thought of getting out and firing up a generator to dry my hair makes my skin crawl.

[brulaz]

SoundGuy wrote:
Most hair dryers have several settings so although it may take longer ask your wife to only use the lowest setting. I do and my 1000 watt PSW inverter handles the task without any issues at all running by just one 8 yr old G27 battery. 🙂

Same here, with, I believe, the same 1000W PSW inverter you have. Think it's the heaviest load the inverter/batts see but works like a charm for shorter hair. Longer hair might take awhile though.

But this is far better than turning on the furnace and hovering over the vents, or leaning over the propane range (with a metal plate over the flames).

[pianotuna]

Hi,

If you installed a hybrid inverter/charger such as the Magnum 3012, then the existing generator would be able to power the hair drier with the extra energy coming from the battery bank using the load support feature.

Imarine has the best price on the inverter and the (necessary) ARC remote control.

You may find a reasonable hair drier at about the 800 watt level.

The other solution is to double the size of the generator.

[Kayteg1]

smkettner wrote:
Ten minutes on the generator-hairdryer and you are done.

Or

Ten minutes on the inverter-hairdryer then an hour of charging to get back to where you were.

Or 10 minutes on inverter-hairdryer and 4 hr on solar charging.

[time2roll]

Ten minutes on the generator-hairdryer and you are done.

Or

Ten minutes on the inverter-hairdryer then an hour of charging to get back to where you were.

[Boon_Docker]

SoundGuy wrote:


Well I said it once already but all this talk about high wattage inverters and generators is unnecessary ... a 1000 watt inverter will easily power a hair dryer on it's lowest setting, typically 350 to 500 watts. Just takes a little longer but works just fine ... reserve genset use for recharging the battery.

Kind of sounds like going around in circles.
Use an inverter to run the hair dryer then after you are finished use the generator to recharge the depleted batteries. Why not just use the generator to run the hair dryer. 😉

[SoundGuy]

Bluebeard wrote:
Ok, thanks for the input. I have a honda 1000w generator and I told her to get a 1000w hair dryer, so maybe the best bet is to just use the generator? Other than the hair dryer, I pretty much don't have a need to cover any heavy loads. We are pretty frugal, other than drying hair.

Well I said it once already but all this talk about high wattage inverters and generators is unnecessary ... a 1000 watt inverter will easily power a hair dryer on it's lowest setting, typically 350 to 500 watts. Just takes a little longer but works just fine ... reserve genset use for recharging the battery.

[time2roll]

Existing 1000w Honda and low or medium setting on the hair drier is the best solution.
Give it a test run before you go so that you know what to expect.