http://www.batteryuniversity.com/print-partone-16.htm - I'm hoping that I can get three batteries together which will allow for 200 AH.
The Xantrex XM 1000 is GFI protected (or is that CGFI). Do you really need the household plugs to be also GFI protected? Do you really need both inverter and plugs to be CGFI? (if yes, ouch, cause I found some nice rotating plugs).
You say 2C is a minimum, but this is minimum is length of time isn't it, but in discharge rate isn't this a maximum rate of discharge? Plus, is this some standard for all 12 volt flooded batteries?
I would like to be able to use my MacBook Pro without the inverter and the MacBook Pro's power brick (power supply) - even bought a female emPower type of plug from Hypertronics distributor Kensington, but that, as well as a cigar lighter receptacle adaptor (with fan) from BatteryGeek will not charge the MacBooks battery.
(Though there is someone from Standford who has posted how to cut the mag tip from the powerbrick and connect it to a universal kit to both power and charge your MacBook Pro - but this still means needing a bulky external object, and the 19.5 Volts setting for the MacBook Pro versus the 16 volts of the MacBook can have a wattage which exceeds a cigar light receptacle - so this solution would be better if joined to an M plug courtesy of Powerlet http://www.powerlet.net/products/plugs_sockets.php )
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Nice inverter for making coffee...Xantrex XM 1000 PRO
> Some thing to consider with this inverter:
> $99 seems to be a price too good to be true. Is it a genuine Xantrex?
> Even when switched off, it draws some power. Long term storage will
> require disconnecting or charging the battery to keep it from being run
> down.
>
> Under full load, you are looking at a 100 amp plus draw. You need some
> battery capacity to back this up. A 60A/H battery will be getting pulled
> near a .5C rate which will cause internal damage. The damage can include
> some internal plate deformation and shorting resulting in future nasty
> battery failure. Yes, one of those unexplained melt down almost exploding
> deals. You really want to stay in the 2c range (discharge at 2 hour rate)
> minimum and understand that deep cycle batteries are rated at 5 and/or 20
> hour rate. The faster the draw, the lower the capacity is that is really
> available.
>
> If the inverter should be used while your charging relay or however you
> charge the battery is closed, all that wiring and the wiring from the
> alternator to that point will have to carry that load. Be sure it is up to
> the task.
>
> If you do hardwire to the other outlets in the van, wire so it does not
> feed the fridge and make sure all outlets after it are or are protected by
> a GFI.
>
> Most appliances and laptops will work fine with the modified sine wave.
> Pay attention to laptop and cell phone batteries though as the ripple from
> the modified sine wave will sometimes cause these batteries to become
> heaters. If a 12 volt charger or supplies is available for these devices,
> use it. It will be more efficient than the inverter anyway for these
> applications.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Poppie Jagersand
> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2008 3:50 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Nice inverter for making coffee...Xantrex XM 1000 PRO
>
> I just bought one of these at Canadian tire.
> No-load current is quite low, so leaving it on for an 8h night
> is not a big deal on a 60Ah+ deep cycle battery.
>
> Note to Canadians: The Canadian tire web site says $149,
> but the shelf sticker in my store said $99, and that 's what it rang
> up for. Maybe I was just lucky.
>
> B.t.w. One or another of their inverters are almost always on
> sale it is just a matter of waiting until the one you want is.
>
> MArtin
>
>
> --- On Fri, 7/11/08, Gary Duncan <Gary.Duncan@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> From: Gary Duncan <Gary.Duncan@COMCAST.NET>
> Subject: Re: Nice inverter for making coffee...Xantrex XM 1000 PRO
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Received: Friday, July 11, 2008, 1:43 PM
>
> Thanks for the heads up and review on this inverter!
> Imagine waking up to the smell of fresh coffee!
>
> Now, how to turn both the coffee maker And the Inverter on at 6AM?
> I'm thinking that I wouldn't want to run the Inverter all night.
>
> Some kind of a 12v timer?
>
> Any Ideas out there?
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM>
>
> > I've been camping around California the last week. Before I left I
> > installed a (refurbished) Xantrex Pro XM 1000 inverter I got off of
> > Ebay for around $135.
> >
> > This is a really nice inverter. It outputs 1000 Watts continuously,
> > and up to 2000W for short periods of time.
> >
> > The inverter has an automatic transfer switch. The 110VAC side can
> > also be hardwired to your shore power inlet. Then connect your
> > inside 110VAC receptacles downstream from the inverter. This means
> > when you have shore power connected all internal outlets get power
> > from the shore connection and inverter simply passes through.
> >
> > If you lose shore power, you just turn on the inverter and now all
> > your inside 110V outlets are powered via the inverter. Simple and
> > easy.
> >
> > The status panel/on off switch for the inverter can be remotely
> > mounted anywhere you like using a regular RJ11 four wire telephone
> > extension cord, so you could hide the inverter in a cabinet etc and
> > have the switch panel in a more convenient location. The panel has a
> > digital display that can show input voltage, input currant, and
> > output power.
> >
> > The inverter is silent until you put a big load on it, then the
> > cooling fan kicks in, but only as long as needed. For small devices,
> > the fan never runs.
> >
> > The best thing about this inverter? It powers my 110V drip coffee
> > maker with ease. I can have a whole pot of brewed coffee without the
> > hassle of the propane stove and Melita. I have also used the
> > inverter for regular things like laptops, cell chargers, shaver, etc.
> >
> > I installed it close to my camping battery and connected it with
> > heavy gauge wire. For now it's behind the drivers seat battery, I
> > have to figure out the best place to permanently mount it. In a
> > Westy it may fit in the "secret compartment" between the water
> tank
> > the AC receptacle.
> >
> > http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/baboonia/vanagon/IMG_6836.jpg
>
>
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----- End Original Message -----