Battery Jump Starter/Inverter needed for my vehicle

[guiri]

Guys, I was going to buy myself an inverter for all the junk I keep in the car including laptop and all that but then I thought, why not just get one of them jump starters/boosters that have a 110v outlet. Wouldn't that be better plus, if it's not connected to the truck all the time, there's no risk of a power spike when starting the truck up and less risk of any of my equipment getting fried, right?

If this is the case, then how do I know how many watts they put out before I decide?

Ie, say I want an inverter that puts out 1000w continuously, how do I know what battery I need?

PS, KEEP IT SIMPLE please!

Thanks

George

 

[core]

I'm not sure I'm following the question.

If this is the case, then how do I know how many watts they put out before I decide?

They will say what they are rated for right on the box. i.e. "400W inverter". Just be careful because they like to put the peak in big bold letters but the continuous rating may be hidden elswhere.

Ie, say I want an inverter that puts out 1000w continuously, how do I know what battery I need?

Battery? You don't need to worry about what battery it takes because it is inside the unit. Also, 1000W continuous is pretty steep for such an all-in-one device. I'm not sure you're going to easily find one that puts out that kind of power.

If it were my equipment, I'd just grab a regular inverter. Your laptop is far more likely to be fried by the mains voltage coming out of your house. I doubt even a spike of 18V would fry your inverter, and even less likely that anything would make it through to the DC side of your laptop brick. If anything funny happens your inverter is likely to simply shut down.

Either way I doubt you are going to get 1000W continuous without some heavy cabling to the battery. Definitely not through the cig lighter, and "probably" not from any smallish jump starter. Not any that I've seen anyway.

 

[guiri]

Yeah, I saw that the bigger ones hook straight up to the battery. I even called on one that needed TWO batteries

So, just go with a straight inverter then 'cause I already have a more normal sized battery jumper/booster.

As for the question, you were following it just fine

Thanks

George

 

[GLOCK18]

I don't think you will find a Jump Starter / Inverter with a 1000 watt inverter built in, the biggest battery I've found in one of those Jump starters is a 1700 mah, I just installed a 3000 watt inverter with 4 batteries and a 300 amp alternator. If you need 1000 watts continuous find and inverter with 2000 watts, one thing to keep in mind 1000 watts equal 10 amp, even a blue to Optima battery is only 55 AH so you basically need to have the motor running to use a 1000 watt continuous inverter. I a have 2000 watt inverter in my truck with one main battery of 150 AH and 2 blue top Optima battery. Anything over 12 amp or 1200 watts shuts down the inverter. I used 1 ga wire to hook up the 2000 watt inverter and O ga on the 3000 watt inverter.

 

[guiri]

Ok, so what to get for computer, portable printer, scanner and some other gadgets? How much do I need?

 

[TorchBoy]

Each device or power supply for the device should have its power consumption printed on a label. One other thing to consider is (I think) the more powerful the inverter the more current it draws when turned on but standing idle.

 

[guiri]

Each device or power supply for the device should have its power consumption printed on a label. One other thing to consider is (I think) the more powerful the inverter the more current it draws when turned on but standing idle.

So, just add that? Nothing for overhead so to speak?

What if I turn it off or something, will that quit it from drawing power or what do I do and what's the deal with it drawing power? Will it wear the battery down, cause the engine to run harder or something?

THanks

George

 

[TorchBoy]

As an approximation, yes, just add them. But I'm not sure if those figures are start-up loads or continuous.

Yes, if you're not using the inverter turn it off, especially if the vehicle isn't running. If the vehicle is running and you don't mind using the small amount extra fuel then I guess it's not a problem. (Any extra load on the alternator will cause the engine to run harder.)

 

[guiri]

I assume to turn off you just turn off the button that also turns off power to the devices, right or do I need to put a switch that'll disconnect between the unit and the battery?

Thanks

George

 

[TorchBoy]

My inverter has its own on/off switch. I presume most do, with the main exceptions probably inverters 75-150 W, can-sized or smaller. My inverter has a 20 Ah battery built in, permanently connected apart from that on/off switch.

 

[guiri]

Is that normal that they have batteries inside?

 

[TorchBoy]

Most inverters don't have a built-in battery. Most jump starter units don't have an inverter. My one is an all-in-one unit that also has a couple of fluoro tubes and an air compressor as well. What sort of device are you looking for? An inverter only? An all-in-one unit?

 

[guiri]

Well, i don't need a compressor but inverter and starter would be once so I don't have to bring two units with me.

 

[core]

Is that normal that they have batteries inside?

Well, i don't need a compressor but inverter and starter would be once so I don't have to bring two units with me.

You can't have a starter without a battery inside. Otherwise, where does it get its power? Certainly not from the battery that you need jumped.

 

[guiri]

Yeah, I've got a starter but I thought I could find one that is also an inverter so I don't have to drag around two units in my car.

 

[TorchBoy]

Two words: Duct tape.

 

[guiri]

Or just nail them together with some 6 inch nails

 

[TorchBoy]

Make sure you don't pierce the battery though - leaking sulfuric acid could do bad things to the electronics in the inverter. And if you pierce and short out the two battery main power leads the inverter won't get as much power as it should.

 

[guiri]

Hmm, I don't know much about this stuff but I was pretty sure I knew the answer to that one