2000W Pure SW Inverter choices?

[gavinwibrow]

My head hurts. Been looking for a good but reasonably priced ie value for money preferably AU 2KW inverter that I can use both in the car and the caravan for everything from daily charging tools to free camping.
I'm not even sure if I need an inverter charger, or just an inverter, but would prefer one that does the automatic changeover to shore power thing for when used in the van. The options are bewildering, as are the prices.
Anyone have a recommendation from experience? I'm hoping to stay under $1K, but?

[incisor]

That's a shed load of inverter!

What you going to feed it with?

[PhilipA]

That's 166Amps at 12volts plus losses say 180 or so amps.
You had better use BIG cables and have a shedload of batteries.

Regards Philip A.

[Tombie]

Gavin. What are you seriously wanting to use it on? Specifics [emoji6]

[gavinwibrow]

Gavin. What are you seriously wanting to use it on? Specifics [emoji6]

Hi folks and thanks for responses so far.

Uses include charging 18V hand tools in the car, and providing for SWAMBOS humongous coffee machine when off grid. Idea is for inverter to be portable between cars and caravan and usable for whatever comes up. (Not intended to be used for van A/C).
Car has welding cables (70?) for battery leads and between 2 and 4 batteries at any one time depending on circumstances, so I have and can move the power. Caravan also has multiple batteries.

So I don't need one quite so big?

[Tombie]

18v tools - look at charger requirements and that should help - or most brands make an 18v vehicle charger.. [emoji41]

Coffee machines are the challenge... an inverter providing enough will be very expensive - and you'd almost want a Lithium set up to keep it happy - otherwise you'll have no power left [emoji6]

There is an LPG coffee maker avail and likely 1/2 the price [emoji6]

[JDNSW]

For what it is worth, about seven weeks ago I purchased a 2kW inverter from Jaycar for emergency use after my power system at home was struck by lightning. It is a 24v one, but I suspect they make an equivalent 12v one. It cost over $1500, but has no issues.

Once you get over about 500w, the cost of inverters starts to get fairly high. And if you are on 12v, as mentioned, the primary current gets pretty high as well.

One factor often overlooked when considering inverters is efficiency. Most suppliers only quote a single number, but in fact the efficiency varies with the power being used, and you can bet the figure quoted is the highest. Since this will usually be at close to maximum power, it is usually not a good idea to get an inverter that is bigger than needed. Look for short term ratings - and these vary widely. For example, my inverters that got killed by lightning are rated at 2kW, but will operate at 6kW for five minutes and 4kW for 30 minutes. The Jaycar one, rated identically at 2kW, will operate at 4kW for five seconds - but it is a quarter the size and a quarter the weight.

From your posts, I would be thinking very carefully about the need for the coffee machine!

[Vern]

Or one of these.
The Little Guy Home Barista Kit Espresso System (https://www.thelittleguy.info/)

[gavinwibrow]

Hi folks and thanks for responses so far.

Uses include charging 18V hand tools in the car, and providing for SWAMBOS humongous coffee machine when off grid. Idea is for inverter to be portable between cars and caravan and usable for whatever comes up. (Not intended to be used for van A/C).
Car has welding cables (70?) for battery leads and between 2 and 4 batteries at any one time depending on circumstances, so I have and can move the power. Caravan also has multiple batteries.

So I don't need one quite so big?

Many thanks for replies to date.
Well, I've checked the single bay 240V charger for my Makita 18V batteries, and all it says is Primary 220-240V 65W and secondary 7.2- 18V = 2.6A.
So putting aside the coffee machine, what size inverter would I need for charging those batteries either with car running, or drawing from multiple car batteries as a starter please?

[bee utey]

Many thanks for replies to date.
Well, I've checked the single bay 240V charger for my Makita 18V batteries, and all it says is Primary 220-240V 65W and secondary 7.2- 18V = 2.6A.
So putting aside the coffee machine, what size inverter would I need for charging those batteries either with car running, or drawing from multiple car batteries as a starter please?

The toughest little inverter you'll ever buy is the Selectronic type used by the ambo's, plenty of people have bought these:

Selectronic LD600-12 600W AC - DC Sine Wave Inverter 2 Outlet Camping Caravan (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Selectronic-LD600-12-600W-AC-DC-Sine-Wave-Inverter-2-Outlet-Camping-Caravan-/401161308465?hash=item5d6713c931:g:vhcAAOSwNphWbgA 4)

They are second hand but perform way above their rating for short periods.

[trout1105]

Maybe a small 2 or 3 KVA genset would be a better option for your situation.
If you are relying on Solar panels then a genset is a great standby for those cloudy days and you can always get a small inverter that will comfortably charge your cordless gear and the genset will run your coffee maker, microwave or even a small stick welder.
I bought a 2KW inverter with a 4KW peak rating and it does run an electric kettle and I can weld with it BUT it doesn't take long to deplete a couple of 110AH deep cell batteries and it is quite a large unit as well.
I have one of those Waco Can sized inverters that I use to charge up and run my laptop that uses very little power and the usb ports on my battery boxes charge all the phones, I pads etc. and I only fire up the genset when her Indoors wants to run the breadmaker or the microwave or if the batteries are running low due to lack of sunshine.
The only time I would use the 2KW inverter would be if the genset died.

[scanfor]

Maybe a small 2 or 3 KVA genset would be a better option for your situation.
If you are relying on Solar panels then a genset is a great standby for those cloudy days and you can always get a small inverter that will comfortably charge your cordless gear and the genset will run your coffee maker, microwave or even a small stick welder.
I bought a 2KW inverter with a 4KW peak rating and it does run an electric kettle and I can weld with it BUT it doesn't take long to deplete a couple of 110AH deep cell batteries and it is quite a large unit as well.
I have one of those Waco Can sized inverters that I use to charge up and run my laptop that uses very little power and the usb ports on my battery boxes charge all the phones, I pads etc. and I only fire up the genset when her Indoors wants to run the breadmaker or the microwave or if the batteries are running low due to lack of sunshine.
The only time I would use the 2KW inverter would be if the genset died.

Even a small genset will struggle.
Friends of mine take an Aldi pod machine camping and they run a Honda 2kVA inverter genset, it struggles to start the pod machine (heat cycle I'm guessing) and will not start at all if they use an extension lead.

[trout1105]

I have to ask, What on earth is a "Pod" Machine?

[scanfor]

I have to ask, What on earth is a "Pod" Machine?

A simplified coffee machine that uses pre-packaged coffee "pods"
Basically heats the water and pressurises it, squirts it through the pod/capsule et voila! real coffee, well sort of.

[trout1105]

Try boiling a billy and throw some ground coffee beans into it when it boils and Presto "Real Coffee" [bigwhistle]

[scanfor]

Try boiling a billy and throw some ground coffee beans into it when it boils and Presto "Real Coffee" [bigwhistle]

Yep!
That's what I do.

[gavinwibrow]

The toughest little inverter you'll ever buy is the Selectronic type used by the ambo's, plenty of people have bought these:

Selectronic LD600-12 600W AC - DC Sine Wave Inverter 2 Outlet Camping Caravan (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Selectronic-LD600-12-600W-AC-DC-Sine-Wave-Inverter-2-Outlet-Camping-Caravan-/401161308465?hash=item5d6713c931:g:vhcAAOSwNphWbgA 4)

They are second hand but perform way above their rating for short periods.

Thanks Bee Utey. Was late last night and I bought one!!!!

Now to see if anyone answers the underlying question. Cheers

[gavinwibrow]

Maybe a small 2 or 3 KVA genset would be a better option for your situation.
If you are relying on Solar panels then a genset is a great standby for those cloudy days and you can always get a small inverter that will comfortably charge your cordless gear and the genset will run your coffee maker, microwave or even a small stick welder.
I bought a 2KW inverter with a 4KW peak rating and it does run an electric kettle and I can weld with it BUT it doesn't take long to deplete a couple of 110AH deep cell batteries and it is quite a large unit as well.
I have one of those Waco Can sized inverters that I use to charge up and run my laptop that uses very little power and the usb ports on my battery boxes charge all the phones, I pads etc. and I only fire up the genset when her Indoors wants to run the breadmaker or the microwave or if the batteries are running low due to lack of sunshine.
The only time I would use the 2KW inverter would be if the genset died.

We are starting to get somewhere, and on the same wavelength. I have a Honda 2KV and solar access, but what I didn't explain is that I'm looking for the lowest weight options for when bush and away from other creature comforts. The coffee machine she has for caravan camping is one of the pod versions (I'll have to check the electric stats when I get to the van next) and I will get brownie points if I can justify taking it with us on non towing trips. I'm not a coffee freak, so doesn't affect me otherwise. Cheers

[gavinwibrow]

Try boiling a billy and throw some ground coffee beans into it when it boils and Presto "Real Coffee" [bigwhistle]

Have you ever tried to tell a woman, especially your partner, anything she doesn't want to hear?

[gavinwibrow]

Many thanks for replies to date.
Well, I've checked the single bay 240V charger for my Makita 18V batteries, and all it says is Primary 220-240V 65W and secondary 7.2- 18V = 2.6A.
So putting aside the coffee machine, what size inverter would I need for charging those batteries either with car running, or drawing from multiple car batteries as a starter please?

So, can anyone illuminate this electric troglodyte as to how much inverter power I would need to charge my 18V Makita batteries in the car based on the info above? Seems like not too much, but???

I'll re-visit the coffee machine issue when I find out how much it draws, but sounds like a lot from the earlier post! Wonder if I can pre-warm the coffee pod machine water to reduce the draw?

Cheers all

[Tins]

I stupidly bought one of these:

12v Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 3000w / 6000w AUS plug Car Boat Caravan (http://www.elinz.com.au/buy/pure-sine-wave-power-inverter-3000w-6000w-12v-240v/INTP3000)

I don't have anything like the battery power to run it, but hopefully one day I will. It seems well built. If you weren't so far away I'd let you try it out.


Oops, read entire thread before posting, John[bigsad] Let us know how that one goes.

[gavinwibrow]

I stupidly bought one of these:

12v Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter 3000w / 6000w AUS plug Car Boat Caravan (http://www.elinz.com.au/buy/pure-sine-wave-power-inverter-3000w-6000w-12v-240v/INTP3000)

I don't have anything like the battery power to run it, but hopefully one day I will. It seems well built. If you weren't so far away I'd let you try it out.


Oops, read entire thread before posting, John[bigsad] Let us know how that one goes.

Thanks for the thought. How much power required to run it for how long?

I'm still hoping that maybe a 2K inverter would e okay to make a quick morning cuppa for SWAMBO, but never got my head around electrics, despite being a mathematics dux at school - not a good enuff bright spark I guess.
One of our WA aulroians has a 1500w version and says it charges his battery tools fine, so hopefully question 1 is answered, just trying to come up with a coffee solution in the desert.

[drivesafe]

Hi Gavin and start off by telling your better half that your just can’t run such a huge inverter.


Honestly, tell her any lie you think you can get away with.


Some many people these days think that all you need is a big enough inverter and the job is done.


These same people want to run microwaves, hair dryers, coffee machines, food blenders and so on.


Well you can and you only need one battery, not a bank of them.


If you don’t mind digging deep, you can use a single 100Ah lithium battery and they will easily run a 2000w inverter.


But you not only have the high cost of a lithium battery, but now you would need to spend up big on a decent battery charger, and get a large LITHIUM FRIENDLY DC/DC device.


So you would literally be looking at a few thousand dollars to this up.


OR


Just get a GOOD QUALITY 300w MODIFIED sine wave inverter and and forget all the above appliances.


A 330w inverter will easily run your Makita charger, your computer power supply, charge you phones and camera batteries and for a fraction of the price you are considering spending right now.

[gavinwibrow]

Hi Gavin and start off by telling your better half that your just can’t run such a huge inverter.


Honestly, tell her any lie you think you can get away with.


Some many people these days think that all you need is a big enough inverter and the job is done.


These same people want to run microwaves, hair dryers, coffee machines, food blenders and so on.


Well you can and you only need one battery, not a bank of them.


If you don’t mind digging deep, you can use a single 100Ah lithium battery and they will easily run a 2000w inverter.


But you not only have the high cost of a lithium battery, but now you would need to spend up big on a decent battery charger, and get a large LITHIUM FRIENDLY DC/DC device.


So you would literally be looking at a few thousand dollars to this up.


OR


Just get a GOOD QUALITY 300w MODIFIED sine wave inverter and and forget all the above appliances.


A 330w inverter will easily run your Makita charger, your computer power supply, charge you phones and camera batteries and for a fraction of the price you are considering spending right now.

Many thanks Paul.
I actually have a reasonable 300W modified sine wave inverter, and the next question was to be can I safely charge my Makita 18V batteries with this - as opposed to using it connected directly to sensitive equipment like my laptop when switched on. You have just answered this, and she will just have to have plunger coffee when we are bush without the caravan, generator etc.

I've just read elsewhere that a coffee machine can draw between 2 and 7 times its rated? power, so assuming a 1000w version, that would be anything up to 7000w, albeit for a shortish time. When bush in this situation I would usually have my 2 starter batteries (about 900 and 600 CCA versions) and a 130 AGM connected via your USI 160 system. i could also add/connect my Truckstop starter/welder, but that would be overkill, and with other more essential camping gear too much weight for the D2 anyway.
So no extra brownie points for me for coffee machines.
Cheers Gavin

[trout1105]

So no extra brownie points for me for coffee machines.

Make her a cup of coffee brewed in a billy and the brownie points will be doubled, Far better than the stale stuff in those little cups used in the coffee makers. [biggrin]

[Grentarc]

Makita make a 12v charger for their tool batteries don't they?

[gavinwibrow]

Makita make a 12v charger for their tool batteries don't they?


I'm sure you are right, but I don't want any more bits and pieces if I can help it ie prefer to multi-use inverter for existing gear.