invertor wattage

gmopar59 · Post by **gmopar59** » Fri Jan 15, 16 12:48 pm

i want to run a 700w (3 amp) angle grinder of the car battery with a power inverter. Do i need a 700w or higher/lower rated inverter? I know nothing about electricery. Thanks

Glen63 · Post by **Glen63** » Fri Jan 15, 16 1:44 pm

You will need a much bigger one, it is the startup surge with electric motors that takes out inverters, a 700 watt inverter would be fine for powering a laptop or something electronic, not motors that have spikes of load on start.

We have a 1200 watt continuous, that handles 2400 watt surge for start up on our houseboat. It works fine for my Bosch power drill, but hated the cheap Tescos vacuum cleaner and would always trip out on startup. Works a full size domestic fridge fine now, but I had to move it nearer the batteries and up rate cables and batteries.

You also need to bear in mind that you need a lot of 12 volt amps to run for any length of time. We now have a pair of 6 volt Trojan batteries in series to get back to 12 volt and they have a very serious capacity of Amp/Hours

http://www.trojanbattery.com/product/t-105-re/[/url]

gmopar59 · Post by **gmopar59** » Fri Jan 15, 16 2:22 pm

Thanks Adrian, i think i'll scrap that idea and bring the panels home and do it in the back garden, although the missus is not going to like it. I sense a row coming on.

Glen63 · Post by **Glen63** » Fri Jan 15, 16 2:59 pm

Or you could think about a small petrol generator ? a lot on ebay, but not to small, as same thing applies about startup surges, but you do have to worry about batteries. or the wife !!

Trigger_Andy · Post by **Trigger_Andy** » Fri Jan 15, 16 3:52 pm

Just got an old ole going myself.

5.5hp Chinese copy of a Honda Engine. Ran my Chop Saw and Leaf blower no bother.

Glen63 wrote:Or you could think about a small petrol generator ? a lot on ebay, but not to small, as same thing applies about startup surges, but you do have to worry about batteries. or the wife !!