Thread: 12v Inverter for Coffee Machine

Hi RVR and this type of operation is being asked for, more and more, but depending on how much you want to spend, if you set up a dual battery system using a Lithium battery as the auxiliary battery, you could use your coffee maker will you are parked ( no need to have the motor running ).

Just a suggestion!

I'll get myself comfy and get ready for the replies that are sure to follow .

Have you looked into the 12V pod coffee makers, i know Kogan sell one.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi RVR and this type of operation is being asked for, more and more, but depending on how much you want to spend, if you set up a dual battery system using a Lithium battery as the auxiliary battery, you could use your coffee maker will you are parked ( no need to have the motor running ).

Just a suggestion!

I already have a dual battery setup, although neither of the batteries are lithium (as appealing as that is...). According to the machine specs I should be able to make 2 coffees within about 3 minutes of switching the unit on, so my existing batteries should be able to comfortably handle that without running the engine, but on club trips I'm thinking I might have a queue... and it I get the pricing right on larger trips it could be running for an hour or two

My primary interest in this thread is in selection of an appropriate inverter...

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I'll get myself comfy and get ready for the replies that are sure to follow .

Have you looked into the 12V pod coffee makers, i know Kogan sell one.

Yep, get comfy! Although I did try to narrow it down to two fairly specific questions.

I wasn't aware of the 12v coffee makers. I'll check them out, but I've been unimpressed with the 12v kettles that I've tried so I was thinking that I'd go for a 240v machine. If it runs off a cigarette lighter then it will be limited to 10amps and I will give it a miss... if it doesn't draw some serious current then it won't be in the league that I'm after.

FWIW, we currently take a plunger. We managed to get a stainless steel one, which is more suited to 4WDriving than a glass one. We're now looking to up the ante.

your going to have hassles if you do it just the way you're escribing it.

look at lpg or hot plate heated units that use 12v for pumping only.

if you run your engine for extended periods to look after the batteries your going to glze the donk or hurt the front end of the uto, if you dont yout going to fry the btteries which will take out the inverters.

if you;re really certain ther e isnt a better solution than inverter driving a coffee machine get the biggest one you can afford, couple it as closely s you can to something in the order on a n120 dual purpose battery and then get a honda eui1000 or similar o run it from if you're going to do ot of them OR hae eomsoen else bring in a power source for you as payment for coffee.


other than that I'm backing drive safe but I dont quite have histrust in the lithium tech batteries yet

I'm all for the technical way, but have you tried using one of these?



They are rugged as ****, make a decent coffee and IMO way better than the pod style. Come in sizes from 3 cup (espresso cups, that is), up to 12 cup. Just add water, coffee and heat.

I've got both at home, and reach for the stovetop model every time. I flogged my nespresso (style) machine off on buy/swap/sell for whatever I could get for it, as it was just wasting space.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

<snip>if you;re really certain ther e isnt a better solution than inverter driving a coffee machine get the biggest one you can afford<snip>

Thanks, but for the purpose of this exercise, I am absolutely certain that the only solution I am interested in is a 240v coffee machine, and I want to run it off my existing dual battery set up. Unfortunately sizing the inverter according to my income/wealth doesn't really quantify the size and type of inverter that is appropriate for a 1300w coffee machine.

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/handpre...o-machine-car/

130W , just 1/10th the power of 240V machines.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

I'm all for the technical way, but have you tried using one of these?



They are rugged as ****, make a decent coffee and IMO way better than the pod style. Come in sizes from 3 cup (espresso cups, that is), up to 12 cup. Just add water, coffee and heat.

I've got both at home, and reach for the stovetop model every time. I flogged my nespresso (style) machine off on buy/swap/sell for whatever I could get for it, as it was just wasting space.

Agreed - these make a great cup of coffee with a bit of practice. I have one in the caravan and have a little 240 volt powered coffee grinder (only draws about 200 watts) running through my inverter so I can always use fresh beans.

Kicks a pod machines ass IMO, BUT I'll answer your original question as I have no issue with what you are trying to achieve.

Almost all of the 1300 watts is resistive load, so the inverter you want will have to take that load in one step and hold it there - some cheaper ones won't do this very well, and a modified sine wave unit would be on a hiding to nothing trying this. I would go a 2000 watt pure sine wave unit - as good as you can afford. I went through a cheapie and a mid range unit before lashing out on a top end toroid wound unit that handles large inrush currents well. New well over $1000 for a 600 watt unit. You see where this is going? - a VERY expensive cup of coffee.

Try a cheapie at your own peril - I doubt it would last long doing what you will ask of it. Regardless of type, if you go down this path, you will need huge cables, well installed to keep the inverter happy.

For the dollars you may need to spend you would be able to get a quality 2000 watt inverter genset which WILL run it easily - been ther, done that. . I'll see if I can find the pic....