Plug in 300 watt inverter

[garyb1st]

Anyone using a small plug in inverter to watch tv or compute?  The max load will be about 100 - 150 watts.  If so, which brand and pure or modified sine wave?   

 

[grashley]

One I have seen suggested here was the      AIMS 1200 Watt  PWRIX120012S unit.    The cost is quite reasonable - under $200 and it includes an auto transfer switch.  If I could afford one right now, it would be my choice.

Note that this 1200 Watt only draws 100 amps.  Watts = volts  X  amps.  It requires 100 amps at 12 volts to provide 1200 watts of power.  1200 watts at 120 volts provides 10 amps of power.

 

[Isaac-1]

I would suggest determining your actual amp draw and pick an inverter from a reputable company that is rated at about double that amount.  Bigger is not better in the case of inverters as the larger the inverter the higher its idle draw will be (assuming equally efficient designs)

These days most flat panels TV's under about 40 inches will have a typical amp draw of around 20-25 watts, and a max draw of 50-60 watts (that would likely be with the volume turned up all the way).  Very few current notebook computers have power supplies that draw over 90 watts, and most that have been built in the last couple of years have power supplies that draw a max of only 35-50 watts.

As to what to buy I would suggest something like https://smile.amazon.com/Victron-Power-Inverter-Phoenix-350VA/dp/B01EW5ZA94 if trying to stay under the $100 price point, if you don't mind spending more then maybe https://smile.amazon.com/Samlex-PST-30S-12E-Inverter-Continuous-Voltage/dp/B00B1UA198

Or if you find you can live on 150 watts you might also consider this one https://smile.amazon.com/Samlex-15S-12A-DC-AC-Inverter/dp/B003FWPU5K though it does come with a hard wired lighter socket cord.

 

[John From Detroit]

YOur subject line says 300 AMPS not WATTS.. I have done so in the past but no longer (Have a 2000 watt inverter now)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DP9JE18?ref_=pfb_7cjn83mbhhbn2j5238bc62nj32e2&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=pfb-P11-V01-O5-7l4ezu-FIS8JP

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Inverters, especially smaller ones, are pretty much a commodity these days and there are numerous off-brands available that are both inexpensive and reasonably reliable.  Brands such as Aims, Bestek, Go-power, etc.  The price differential between Modified sine and pure sine has come way down, so I'd opt for pure sine unless least-cost is a major parameter. There is a good assortment on Amazon, or shop an online store such as   
https://invertersrus.com/

If you want a name brand, pure sine inverter, something like the Xantrex Prowatt SW 600 would serve.
https://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-806-1206-PROwatt-600-Inverter/dp/B002O5P8BA

 

[garyb1st]

Sorry for the confusion.  I meant 300 watt inverter.  Just installed a 1000 watt pure sine inverter but was thinking usually all we need is a smaller 300 watt unit.  Since the smaller unit uses less energy, we could get more usage out of a charge. 

 

[Lou Schneider]

That's OK, Gary.  I fixed the subject.

Your Aims 1000 watt inverter uses less than 0.4 amps at idle and is 95% efficient at 1/3 power (300 watts).

By comparison, a 100 watt load draws 8.3 amps at 12 volts.  The inverter overhead only adds another 5 - 10%.

A smaller inverter may cut the idling current in half, but that's peanuts compared to the total power consumption. 

If your "big" inverter was 2500-3000 watts and had a higher idling current you would gain some efficiency by using a smaller inverter instead of the big one.  But that Aims is pretty efficient at low power levels, so I don't think using a smaller inverter would gain enough to worry about.

 

[garyb1st]

Thanks Lou.  Maria's concerned about tripping over extension cords while navigating to the toilet in the dark.  So we think the plug in type would solve that problem.  We used an old Kensington Inverter (probably 120 watts) to power a fan in the bedroom and it got pretty warm.  Hopefully a 300 watt inverter will solve the problem. 

 

[mel s]

Anyone using a small plug in inverter to watch tv or compute?  The max load will be about 100 - 150 watts.  If so, which brand and pure or modified sine wave? 

garyb1st
We use a Vector Maxx SST 400 Watt DC to AC Inverter VECO24 to power a flat screen TV, a DirecTV receiver and 2 computers when boondocking and when overnighting with no electric.
https://www.ebay.com/p/Vector-Maxx-SST-400-Watt-DC-to-AC-Inverter-VECO24/1101759053?iid=283213225806&chn=ps&thm=4000

 

[garyb1st]

Mel, can that be plugged into the dash 12 v socket? 

 

[John From Detroit]

My 2000 watt is wired in. The only power is to outlets. how many varies from day to day (I have a few outlets on a manual switch they only get inverter power when I want them to have it)

But anywhere there is a 12 volt accessory outlet in my RV. there is also a 120 volt outlet nearby.. SO no extension cords.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Mel, can that be plugged into the dash 12 v socket? 

Highly doubtful. The typical dash 12v outlet is fused for under 10A, often as little as 7A. That's a max of 120W (10A) or 84W (7A).  Even less once you allow for inverter efficiency loss of about 10%.  I've seen the typical 12v power outlet literally melt if used to provide a steady 5A-7A for more than several minutes.
For any reasonable amount of power, plan on wiring direct to the battery or a major 12v distribution point (20A-30A capability). Even 30A won't let you use the full power of a 400W inverter, but it gets you close.

 

[Isaac-1]

Gary, for at least the last 18 years Ford pickup trucks have been using 20 amp fuses on their lighter sockets, I don't know if it is the same on Ford chassis motorhomes, by contrast Chevy and GMC have been using 15 amp sockets.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Those sockets are connected to the starting battery, you'll have to see what the coach manufacturer provided for the house sockets.

The 12 volt socket in a Winegard antenna wallplate is rated at a maximum 8 amps.

 

[John From Detroit]

12 volt accessory sockets, as they are not called (No more lighter) can be 10 or 20 amp Last I checked GM used 10's and Ford 20's.  The additional sockets I've put in are all 20' no matter the fuse size.

 

[mel s]

Mel, can that be plugged into the dash 12 v socket?

garyb1st
It can, but I hardwired it, (with 10ga wire and 20A fuse inline), up/into the overhead entertainment cabinet where my DirecTV receiver is located.

 

[garyb1st]

Mel, I've thought about that.  Your 14 ga wire is pretty light.  How close to the batteries is the inverter? 

 

[mel s]

Mel, I've thought about that.  Your 14 ga wire is pretty light.  How close to the batteries is the inverter?

garyb1st
I used 10 gauge wire for both hot and ground.
The power wire is about 6 feet long and runs FROM where I connected it the 8 gauge house battery power wire on the back of a fuse panel on the front firewall TO the inverter.
I misspoke in my earlier message.
Sorry

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I'll take your word for the fuse ratings, but do those 20A sockets have 12 gauge wire feeding them?  Not on any vehicle I've ever owned!  In any case, 20A x 12v is still 240 Watts.

On class A coaches and trailers, the "power point" is installed by the RV builder.  Class B's and C's are the only ones with a dashboard equipped by Ford or GM or other vehicle manufacturer.