Posted 2005-08-23 9:49 PM (#29549) Subject: Power Inverter
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 335 Location: Decatur, Texas
Saw an inverter system setup in a pickup toolbox using traditional lead acid batteries but supplying 30A or 50A power depending on model ordered. 50A is supposed to power RV for about 10-12 hrs before having to recharge w/pickup's heavy duty alternator(replaces OEM alt). Unit weighs about 370 lbs. Only way to tell difference between regular toolbox and this one is that it has power cord connections on front. Think this would be ideal in CG's where you can't run gen at night but you could run A/C, heat,MW,etc with only noise from the unit operating. Recharges in about 1-1/2 hrs from truck alt. Kinda pricey though. Just wondered if anyone has used one or knows someone who has and how they liked it.
Posted 2005-08-24 8:27 PM (#29583 - in reply to #29549) Subject: RE: Power Inverter
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 335 Location: Decatur, Texas
Saw it at an endurance ride. They demonstrated it by setting up halogen portable lights and running an A/C on the office trailer simultaneously. NO NOISE whatsoever. Ran it about an hour for show & tell and appeared to still have plenty of power left. They're made by a company in Kyle, TX and sold by them also directly to the consumer. They haven't set up a dealer network yet, but are thinking about doing so. They have been selling to contractors who need portable power without the fuss of gasoline (and theft) of portable generators. I have been thinking about purchasing one but just wondered if anyone had any experience using one before plunking down that much cash.
Posted 2005-08-25 10:13 AM (#29594 - in reply to #29583) Subject: RE: Power Inverter
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Thats interesting. How big/heavy is it? I wonder if they could make it so it could mount on a trailer instead of in the truck and have a cable to plug the truck into it when needed. Who has it? Do you know how to get in contact with them? I really don't want a generator.
Posted 2005-08-25 9:00 PM (#29613 - in reply to #29594) Subject: RE: Power Inverter
Veteran
Posts: 216 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
Im going to throw in a couple of 2 cents worth here...my numbers may not be exactly correct but I believe they are in the ball park. A typical rv roofmount ac unit would be a 13,500btu unit. Most of these are rated about 13.5amps at full cooling and approx 1800watts at full load. Since watts are a measure of power based on 120volts times the current 13.5amps this comes out to about 1620 watts. For a 12 volt system to provide 1620 watts the current would be approx 135amps (12 x 135 = 1620). I have two 6 volt golf cart batteries in series in my trailer...these will provide a little over 200amp hours of current, or 200 amps for about 1 hour. These batteries weigh about 60 pounds each. Assume this system has 6 of these which would be in the ballpark of 350lbs then you should have about 600amp hours. Since our ac unit draws 1620 watts or 135amps from our 12 volt system per hour, the batteries would supply enough energy for the ac unit for about 4 hours. Of course the ac unit would not always have the compressor running, but its obvious to me that a battery powered inverter system is not going to run a 1800 watt ac unit for more than a few hours at best. If someone out there sees this different please speak up, but I think this system is being advertised to do something that it is not capable of doing.
Posted 2005-08-28 9:50 AM (#29679 - in reply to #29549) Subject: RE: Power Inverter
Member
Posts: 26 Location: Ontario, Canada
Unless they go to a special alternator, I'd be a little concerned. They said 1.5 hours to recharge, the alternator would be maxed out for that long, something most alternators rarely see. At about $200 for an alternator for my truck (Can$), plus the cost of the unit, I'd be spending the $$$ on on of the 'Whisper Quiet" generators (or whatever it is they're called) from Honda. Also wouldn't be adding all the extra weight either that the battery pack would.
Power Inverter
.jpg)
