Inverter questions

[619TOY]

I just scored (and I mean SCORED) an inverter from work today. I've always wanted a bigger inverter than my little portable but I'm not 100% sure why I'm curious what types of things you run with yours, if you have one.

More importantly, I'm looking for ideas as to mounting, extra outlets and other creative aspects as they relate to an 80. I know that Hayes has done quite a bit with his install but hopefully I can get some more input prior to taking on this project.

If you're interested, here it isXantrex Technology Inc. - Boats - Prosine 3.0 - Product Information. It's a Xantrex Prosine 3.0, pure sine wave 3000 watt continuous with built in transfer switch and charger. I got it for $100 because it is missing the controller piece and was written off.

[SD_rdcruzer]

Item# 460032

Only $2749.99
Guaranteed Lowest Price

Holy cheap, Batman.
That was a score.

[robmir]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

I just scored (and I mean SCORED) an inverter from work today. I've always wanted a bigger inverter than my little portable but I'm not 100% sure why I'm curious what types of things you run with yours, if you have one.

More importantly, I'm looking for ideas as to mounting, extra outlets and other creative aspects as they relate to an 80. I know that Hayes has done quite a bit with his install but hopefully I can get some more input prior to taking on this project.

If you're interested, here it isXantrex Technology Inc. - Boats - Prosine 3.0 - Product Information. It's a Xantrex Prosine 3.0, pure sine wave 3000 watt continuous with built in transfer switch and charger. I got it for $100 because it is missing the controller piece and was written off.

I was reading it's spec's and this is not your typical run of the mill inverter, this a $ 3,000 professional grade beast which can drive sensitive 120 a/c equipments so enjoy it's ride.

Having a 20 ms transfer switch means it's designed to drive 24/7/360 any delicate load with a transparent change over to batteries when the A/C goes off. When matted to communications grade gel batteries , you could look at it as a supercharged exquisite UPS.

I guess a microwave oven to do pop corn on your camping site should be your first test

[619TOY]

Originally Posted by robmir

I guess a microwave oven to do pop corn on your camping site should be your first test

Somebody stop me before I start shopping for the worlds smallest microwave

Seriously though......stop me

[robmir]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

Somebody stop me before I start shopping for the worlds smallest microwave

Seriously though......stop me

With 3 kw capacity, you can shop for a large microwave and I can asure you it WILL work fine

Throw a 50" Plasma, some chairs and you could charge for your camping home teather

[wob]

Damn - nice score.

[NLXTACY]

Originally Posted by robmir

Having a 20 ms transfer switch means it's designed to drive 24/7/360 any delicate load...

Better be sure you have a detailed schedule on which of the 5 days this thing is not going to power your portable heated sauna

[NLXTACY]

619TOY, you suck a$$, CONGRATS!!

I vote:
• Microwave
• 42" Plasma (will fit in the back if you mount it on a retractable arm. Normally stowed up against the roof)
• Margarita blender
• Instead of plasma, use a projector and bounce the image of the neighbors garage

***** As a side note, I was looking for a diesel powered, kick start joy-toy for the but I am thinking this might do the trick. I won't have to use the hand crank or solar power anymore*****

[robmir]

Originally Posted by NLXTACY

Better be sure you have a detailed schedule on which of the 5 days this thing is not going to power your portable heated sauna

A trailer with a 10 KW Onan diesel generator and a 30 gallon diesel tank will be better suited for the sauna, the oven, the deep fryer, etc

[WarDamnEagle]

Not an expert by any means but it appears that this is both an inverter and a battery charger (makes sense as it's for boats). I think that if you wire it correctly, you can use it as a normal inverter and can also plug 110 into it and it will charger your battery(ies). I guess that would make sense if you were at a camp site, for example, with 110 available and had a bunch of 110 stuff permanently wired into your 80 (e.g. fridge). You could then drop a lead from the inverter/charger into the 110 and not draw down your battery.

The specs also say that it draws <3 amps under no-load conditions. That probably means that it generates almost 3 amps of heat with nothing plugged into it. Therefore, I would make sure you wire it with a convenient on-off switch so that it isn't on except when you want it to be.

Great score though....let me know if you decide not to install and I'll take it off your hands!

[robmir]

Originally Posted by WarDamnEagle

Not an expert by any means but it appears that this is both an inverter and a battery charger (makes sense as it's for boats). I think that if you wire it correctly, you can use it as a normal inverter and can also plug 110 into it and it will charger your battery(ies). I guess that would make sense if you were at a camp site, for example, with 110 available and had a bunch of 110 stuff permanently wired into your 80 (e.g. fridge). You could then drop a lead from the inverter/charger into the 110 and not draw down your battery.

The specs also say that it draws <3 amps under no-load conditions. That probably means that it generates almost 3 amps of heat with nothing plugged into it. Therefore, I would make sure you wire it with a convenient on-off switch so that it isn't on except when you want it to be.

Great score though....let me know if you decide not to install and I'll take it off your hands!

The main purpose of this inverter is what I explained on my post #3, your idea is one of it's more common applications like for your expensive yatch when it's docked and plugged to the marina A/C charging the batteries , and when you are off shore fishing on a nice spot with your engines off, it will power your sensitive communication equipment, radar, deep meter, sat phone, GPS, etc. (and your microwave and blender to do your marguerites), SO beware because I SAW it FIRST, back off you vulture

It's exactly what I need to power my C band dish and receiver and my TV set, when our third world power service frequently goes off after been seized by our extremely unefficient goverment (before it was private owned by an american company and worked like a charm), and I am leaved in the dark with only my ipod to relax and make plans on how throw out the dummies who conduct our country.

This inverter change over is so fast that my C band Receiver and my HDD/DVD recorder will not notice any power interruption nor loose any data. I still believe it's too exquisite as to be used as a plain off road inverter but looking at what he paid for it, what a heck !!!!! Of course if it were mine I would refurbish it with the missing parts, sell it and with the dough I would purchase a bad ass small diesel generator which would provide unlimited time camping power without be worried by the inverter batteries discharge.

[619TOY]

Anybody got any recommendations? I unboxed this thing and I'm a little worried that I may have a little more inverter than I need. The recommended cable is 500 MCM which appears to be a couple sizes larger than 4/0 I have no intention of running this thing at near capacity but you never know. Dual batteries have been a part of my long term plan and maybe now is the time. I'm thinking of 2 group 31's. Too may projects, too little time (and $)

[SOCALFJ]

Steve, we have a 1500watt continuous with 3000watt peak and trust me.... it never hurts to have more power than you need! Yes, make sure to install dual batteries next. We have dual lifeline batteries in the trailer rated at over 800 CCA each and if i need too, i can kill them in a few days in a base camp. We have dual Odyssey's 880CCA in the cruiser. 4 Batteries total.

[knorrena]

Where the heck do you work?

Karl

[TrickyT]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

Anybody got any recommendations? I unboxed this thing and I'm a little worried that I may have a little more inverter than I need. The recommended cable is 500 MCM which appears to be a couple sizes larger than 4/0 I have no intention of running this thing at near capacity but you never know. Dual batteries have been a part of my long term plan and maybe now is the time. I'm thinking of 2 group 31's. Too may projects, too little time (and $)

Steve,
Your inverter is rated at 3,000 watts continuous power, which means it draws almost 300 amps (!) continuously at full power. (3000W / 12V / 0.85 efficiency factor = 294A) Even with two group 31's your batteries won't last very long. And the alternator in your LX 450 won't come close to producing 300 amps. This is a monster inverter. On the plus side, it's a high-quality "pure sine wave" inverter and so, as Robmir says, will power any type of quality electronics. So I think you need to buy a high-end accessory for your rig, say something like an audiophile-quality surround-sound "truck" theater system.

[CreeperSleeper]

Wow, all you guys started thinking TVs and Microwaves... I was thinking a grinder and a 110 wire feed!

[619TOY]

Yeah I know the limitations and have no intention of running it to it's potential for extended periods. I've been in the automotive electrical field for 20 or so years so I know a little about current, cable sizes and limitations. One cool feature is that while turned on with no load, it will draw less than 1/4 of an amp at 12V. I have it now, want to use it, and am looking for a little insight prior to installing it

[TX_TLC]

Or you could always "flip" it and buy everything for you duel battery set up, and the biggest inverter you actually need and probably have money left over!

Just a thought.


"Flip this Inverter!"

[robmir]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

Yeah I know the limitations and have no intention of running it to it's potential for extended periods. I've been in the automotive electrical field for 20 or so years so I know a little about current, cable sizes and limitations. One cool feature is that while turned on with no load, it will draw less than 1/4 of an amp at 12V. I have it now, want to use it, and am looking for a little insight prior to installing it

I still believe that this inverter, just for off-roading, is like using a Rolls Royce limousine to buy groceries at your next Wal-Mart, it will get you there, your purchase will fit in the trunk, in a great style but !!!!!

Seriously if you got a customer who will pay what this baby is worth, you will have enough dough to buy a good inverter more suited to your less strict requirement and also a portable 2 kw gas or diesel generator or a kick ass solar panel.

[619TOY]

Originally Posted by TX_TLC

"Flip this Inverter!"

Originally Posted by robmir

I still believe that this inverter for off-roading is like using a Rolls Royce limousine to buy groceries at your next Wal-Mart.

Seriously if you got a customer who will pay what this baby is worth, you will have enough dough to buy a converter more suited for your less strict requirement and also a gas or diesel generator.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I have actually been giving this some thought from the beginning. So far, no one has given me a legitimate/quantifiable reason how I can use this inverter to it's potential. Thanks for being the voice of reason. It's just that it is soooo cool.

Here are a couple of pics that I call "putting it in perspective"

[robmir]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

So far, no one has given me a legitimate/quantifiable reason how I can use this inverter to it's potential.

IF Powering your 600 Watt microwave oven IS NOT A LEGITIMATE/ QUANTIFIABLE REASON ENOUGH FOR YOU, THEN I GIVE UP MAKING SOME SENSE ON YOU ? LOL

May be if I you let me explain them to your other half, she will get to you and tomorrow it will be listed on ebay

[619TOY]

Hey, I thought you said I could power a 1200 watt microwave with this thing. What gives

Actually the other half couldn't understand how the ability to run nothing more than two hair dryers at once was any big deal

Edit: are you intersested if I put it up for sale?

[Brian Macgyver]

I've used my 2000 watt to run a table saw, chop saw, etc. It should run a small microwave easily, but I haven't tried that yet. I mostly put it in for power tools, but am not above making camping and wheeling more comfortable. If I want to drive up to the snow for the afternoon, why should I eat cold food?

[robmir]

Originally Posted by 619TOY

Hey, I thought you said I could power a 1200 watt microwave with this thing. What gives