newbie inverter question - Event Date: 15 Nov 2015 |
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Rockin the Pod
Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2015 Location: Southeast Utah Online Status: Offline Posts: 51 |
Calendar Event: newbie inverter question Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 12:42pm |
Howdy all, I'm hoping that you with experience in this area can offer some advice. About 80% of our camping is dry. We would like to be able to watch movies etc without having to fire up the generator. Would it be better to just replace the tv with a 12v or wire in an inverter. I have read here that a pure sine inverter is the one to get if that is the way I go. Any advice on brand, size of inverter, source to purchace from would be great. Also, any pros or cons that anyone can offer would be awesome.
Thanks in advance, Rod
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2016 180 HRE
2014 Tacoma Taylor 210 CSE Bose L1 Model II 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 1:44pm |
It's "best" to go with a 12v TV. that way it only draws what it needs from the battery bank. An inverter draws it's full rating PLUS "overhead" at all times. So a TV needing 45watts, will pull.. 45 watts. But that same TV plugged into say, a 200 watt inverter.. the inverter isgoing to draw 200 watts PLUS about 20% to run itself.. so 240 watts, vs 45watts...
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Rockin the Pod
Groupie Joined: 18 Oct 2015 Location: Southeast Utah Online Status: Offline Posts: 51 |
Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 2:25pm |
Thanks furpod! I knew there was a lot more to it than what I was thinking.
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2016 180 HRE
2014 Tacoma Taylor 210 CSE Bose L1 Model II 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 5:47pm |
Furpod, Not so. The inverter will pull the required wattage (45 watts in your example) divided by some efficiency number, plus some overhead wattage. The efficiency number is mostly circuit losses. So, at low levels, the inverter may pull 45 watts divided by, maybe 80%, or ~56 watts. Not 240 watts. The higher the inverter rating the higher the overhead so one should size the inverter to the required load plus some safety factor. That said, I do agree the 12V TV is the best solution. That's what I have. |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 5:55pm |
The inverter will draw what the load needs - for this example 45 watts - but only at 85-90% efficiency, so about 52 watts. Plus its own overhead, usually around 5 watts for a 150 watt inverter (typical size for a cigarette-lighter-powered inverter). Total 57 watts.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 15 Nov 2015 at 5:57pm |
Looks like Charlie and I were typing at the same time....
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 16 Nov 2015 at 5:13pm |
Interestingly, when I turn mine on, (admittedly, old, and modified sine) My surge remote shows two amps being pulled, drops the load when I shut the inverter off, and no matter what I plug into it, it shows a draw of 2A.. (200 watt Belkin)
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 16 Nov 2015 at 5:42pm |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 16 Nov 2015 at 8:52pm |
Bahh.. have only used it twice in 5 years..
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M0tl3y
Groupie Joined: 21 Sep 2014 Location: Utah Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Posted: 18 Nov 2015 at 12:06pm |
The others are right, the most efficient method is 12v, but you should also consider personal preference. I've wired in a 300W Pure Sine inverter (Morningstar Suresine). It's a more costly, and more work (initially), than just getting a 12v TV, but it offers a lot of versatility. You have more options with the TV, either to keep the old one, or pick a better upgrade later, when sticking with 110v and an inverter. It's also allowed me to recharge laptops and other small wattage devices. Ultimately you'll probably end up with an inverter anyway, even if you buy a 12v TV now, so factor that into your decision and decide how you'll use electronics in general.
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The 178 club
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