Date:         Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:26:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Inverters
Comments: To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4AE7904A.1080509@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Just Googled looking for specs.  I didn't measure anything. I use my
inverter about once a year. Don't have any problem with it running the
battery down.  I disconnect it.

I run the laptop off a Lind convertor. (The engineer in me doesn't
want to pay the inefficiency price to step the power up to step it
back down to run a computer. Get the proper convertor and pay the
conversion penalty just once.)

Now the refrigerator? That's a different story.

Jim

On Oct 27, 2009, at 5:28 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:

> What? Where'd you find a 400W inverter that draws 2.6A without a load?
> That's one poor design. My Harbor Freight unit draws about 1/10th that
> without a load.
>
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 10/27/2009 5:04 PM Jim Arnott wrote:
>
>> Just poking around on the 'net indicates that a 400W 120V inverter
>> draws 2.6 amps continuous.  That would suck the battery dry in 36 or
>> so hours. Turn it off when you're not using it.
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> On Oct 27, 2009, at 4:00 PM, Michael Sullivan wrote:
>>
>>> I'd be interested to know the kind of inverters used. I would think
>>> cheaper
>>> ones would drain like a wall wart.
>>> Michael in San Antonio
>>> 91GL AT 'Gringo'
>>> 73 Beetle
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 5:47 PM, Arkady Mirvis <arkmirvis@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Fellow listees,
>>>>
>>>> Let me warn you about inverters. I have 2 installed in my Westy: 12
>>>> to 120
>>>> volts (400 watts)
>> snip
>>>> Four days later my two batteries were almost totally discharged!
>>