12 Volt-110 Volt Power Inverters

[SkyPup]

I just installed a new 2,300 watt 19 amp 12 Volt power inverter in the Kubota L-3130, sure is great for operating the Bosch power drills and grinders when fencing out in the woods!

Sure beats hauling the PTO generator around with me too. Just a flip of the switch and I've got power to spare:

http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/customkititems.asp?kc=PBI2300-2AWG

 

[bczoom]

Skypup,

Pictures of the installation???? Where did you put it?
I have a similar setup but kept mine portable (marine battery box with invertor mounted on top) so I can use it on a particular machine or remove altogether.

Are you running off the OEM battery or swap for a deep-cycle or run 2 batteries?

Brian

 

[SkyPup]

No pics yet, right now I've got Blue Optima battery with a reserve capacity of 155 minutes @ 25 amps.

 

[slowrev]

Bczoom makes a good point about the battery. A 2300 w inverter will draw a LOT of current at max and will make a standard starting batterys life be very short. Even with less current draw starting batterys are not designed to be run down, a few didcharge cycles can ruin some batteries. also at heavy current draws the alternator will not keep up.

With that said, inverters are wonderful little devices, thinking about a tv on my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The satelite dish would not last long on the rollbar though.

Ben

 

[have_blue]

Nothing like 110v juice out in the boonies.

My tractor shed has no electricity, so I put up a 40W solar panel, a 115Ah trolling motor battery, 1500w inverter, and a little Morningstar charge controller. It keeps my battery hot, and I run a 2hp air compressor, a big shop vac, hand drills, angle grinder, etc. Having no wiring is not even a handicap now. It's truly hassle free.

I am now thinking of putting my 1500 watter on my tractor and getting a bigger one for my shop.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With that said, inverters are wonderful little devices, thinking about a tv on my tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The satelite dish would not last long on the rollbar though. )</font>

I mounted the dish UNDER the ROPS and haven't had a problem. Seems that they work mounted upside down. Pointing the tractor in the right direction can be a bit difficult though... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Highbeam]

Did you really need 2300 watts?

The math tells us that the 2300 watt draw (really more due to inefficiency) pulls nearly 200 amps from your tractor. Your tractor is only equipped with a 40 amp or less alternator so you are sucking your batteries down quickly IF you use anything more than 500 watts or so.

Maybe that's no big deal. The standard 4.5 inch disc grinder does not need much power nor does the drill. I would guess that the money you spent on that macho inverter could have better been spent on a 1000 watt inverter with the leftovers spent on beer. The price falls down quickly as the wattage goes down.

If you need more than 1000 watts which is 1.34 horsepower then you should pick up a generator.

Just think, if you run your batteries down too low in the field you could plug your 110 volt battery charger into the inverter and charge the batteries back up..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Jagmandave]

Don't you mean 2300 watts @ 110 V = 20 amps, not 200?
I would think 20 amps is sized about right for his usage.

 

[SkyPup]

Yes, it is only 20 amps from the 2,300 watt inverter, not 200 amp service, although I do have my 100 amp PTO generator I could always plug it into.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

But in reality, I simply got the 20 amp inverter so that I do NOT have to tote around the 100 amp PTO generator all the time, unless of couse I take the 20 cubic foot freezer out in the woods with me filled with ice cold beer! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( unless of couse I take the 20 cubic foot freezer out in the woods with me filled with ice cold beer! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

The invertor can handle that... Don't ask how I know. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BGL990]

2300 watts out = 2300 watts in, assuming 100% efficiency. In reality it will be somewhat worse than that. Let's just say 2500 watts in.

power = voltage x current

On the input side:

2500W = 12V x current, or
current = 2500 / 12 = 208A

So, yes it's only 20A out, but will be over 200A from the battery under full load. Battery won't last long at that rate. Of course it would be very rare to need that much power continuously and the extra capacity doesn't hurt in case you need to start up something inductive like a big motor.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[bdog]

Ever seen the pto genereators? I saw them in the northern catalog. They put out like 20,000 watts, but they are pricey. Seems to pretty cool if you need it. For waht I need the inverter works great, but I like the idea of being able to power up a whole construction site with a tractor.

 

[SkyPup]

We can power quite a bit with our 100AMP PTO generator on a trailer, but for general purposes way out in the lower 40, the simple convient inverter works great. Rarely do I need or want more than 10-20 amps of 110 power to get the job done at my remote sites.

The Optima battery handles it without a whimper too.

 

[TruChaos]

I recently installed a battery switch and accessory port on my tractor. It's breakered at 120 amps. In reality, it takes a bit more than 120 amps to trip a breaker of this size.

The battery switch allows me to completely disconnect all power to the tractor so that no electrical shorts can start a fire, etc. Also, it prevents youngsters from starting the tractor.

The accessory port allows me to plug in a charger or an inverter without opening the hood. I have a 2500 watt unit ($89 at Costco) which I NEVER use at it's rated capacity.

See that attached pictures

 

[TruChaos]

See attached picture of the accessory port protuding from under the edge of the hood.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks Brad for defending my math. It's not the 20 amps AC that is the problem here. It is the 200+ amps needed from the tractor. Just sizing the wire for 200 amps will tell you that this is a big deal. My lincoln welder welds 1/2" plate in one pass with 230 amps, this is mucho current.

The last couple of pictures demonstrate the right way to install the 12 volt side of the system. You need a macho circuit breaker, macho wiring, and a macho connector, all rated for the high amperage you plan to use. I hope you have a good welding supply house for this heavy gauge equipment. Now if you really only intend to use a small part of what the inverter can produce then the 12 volt side can be limited with a smaller fuse at the battery and then the whole system can be downsized.

I really like the way the disconnect is wired in there. Great idea.

This is not unlike wiring in a winch to a pickup truck. In fact, the wiring can serve dual duty if you want to use it for one of those receiver hitch mounted winches. Also the connectors can be utilized to jump start your tractor if the battery ever dies from the inverter use. Might not be a bad upgrade after all.

Just don't make the mistake of underestimating the current required from the battery and realize that you can burn up the wires/tractor without appropriate fuses.

 

[shaley]

My 1000 watt inverter draws 100 amps at 12v. Had to use 2Ga. wire from the battery and keep it less than 10ft. Do a google search on "Peukert's equation" and you will find that inverters are very limited at high power but they are great for running drills and grinders.