Power Inverters

lostnfound is absolutly correct.
Always-Always multiply 1.1 -1.8 as a power factor to the size needed to run your total wattage of all goodies on board!

 

The range (spread) in the multiplier is an effciency factor of your inverter. Siemens makes an inverter that is only .5 power factor for about 750.00 bucks and it only operates if it has a solar panel (s) connected .
check it out RV. setup.

www.siemens.com

 

I have a microwave on my truck it is a 600 watter. I have a 1500 watt inverter hard wired to the batteries and then a surge protector with additional outlets mounted inside the cab. It works great. I have other appliances such as a sandwich maker, crock pot and toaster oven and the 1500 watt powers each one as needed.

If I get a full fledged refrigerator for my truck I will upgrade to a 2500 to 3000 watt inverter.

In my opinion get a bigger one right from the start. You will be happier with it and wont have to buy a bigger one later if you decide to add appliances later.

 

I agree buy what you can afford the bigger the better.

 

Yeah, the truck stop i work at, i was asking the electronics guy about getting an inverter once i am solo, and he said "figure out what you want to run, total it all up, and get one almost twice as much as you need. You have 800wats to run and use a 1000w inverter, you'll cook it alot faster than you will if you had one that was 2000-2500w."

Always get an inverter for WAY more than you need.

 

what is the biggest inverter u can plug in the cigarette lighter

 

I believe a 400W. But it stresses the circuit.

 

You can plug in any inverter that has the attachment but you'll only get about 130W out of that socket without wiring direct to the battery. The 400's usually come with both sets of cables.

 

depends on if the cig lighter is wired with a 15 or 20amp fuse, 15s are only good for about 125watts, 20s will get ya 200 or so.

I've got a 450watt inverter with a cig plug on it but I wired my own plug for it with heavy wiring and 30a fuse.

 

thanks alot how big do you need for a small microwave