Inverters?

[LanceMagnum]

I agree that to run a coffee maker or grill you should go with 1500 to 2000 watts.

I did this exact project a couple years ago and I found the key was an inverter that has an all solid state output stage, kept the unit a manageable size. At the time my choice was a Samlex 2000 watt, about $340:

It's mounted in the back and I use it every time we camp.

It runs off of a house battery mounted in the cargo area storage tub, if you're going to run it from the vehicle battery check your wire sizes, can draw over 150 amps.

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[sourdough]

I am very capable when it comes to assembly from plans but I'm not an engineer of any kind. I highly recommend getting a system engineered for your needs rather than just winging it. Proper cable sizing, fuse size and location along with inverter and battery bank sizing makes a happy camper around a campfire vs

 

[entropy]

I got a ticket here in California for using a propane stove last year during fire season. I was on completely open desert land...

No open fires mean no open fires I guess?. I continue to safely use my propane equipment as I take this event as a bizarre one time thing.

 

[Sydwaiz]

I got a ticket here in California for using a propane stove last year during fire season. I was on completely open desert land...

No open fires mean no open fires I guess?. I continue to safely use my propane equipment as I take this event as a bizarre one time thing.

Did you have a campfire permit? https://www.blm.gov/programs/public...on/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions
My wife always makes sure to get one before we go camp on BLM land.

 

[entropy]

Did you have a campfire permit? https://www.blm.gov/programs/public...on/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions
My wife always makes sure to get one before we go camp on BLM land.

No I didnt. I didnt have a campfire I was just heating up some water for coffee.

They didnt even tell me I could get a permit. Thanks. They just gave me a ticket and told me to turn everything off.

 

[AZJeepGuy]

I got a ticket here in California for using a propane stove last year during fire season. I was on completely open desert land...
No open fires mean no open fires I guess?. I continue to safely use my propane equipment as I take this event as a bizarre one time thing.

That's exactly my concern. I went and bought my stove. I'll bring peanut butter and bagels just in case.

 

[OSCAR II]

@OSCAR II cool setup but you missed an opportunity there.
If you'd used an old radio flyer it would have been functional AND retro!

The undercarriage is from a wagon (I still have the tub) https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_208007_208007

Makes it easy to maneuver and keep facing the sun. Its all plastic and I changed the hardware to stainless. Originally built with flooded L/A batteries I wanted no problems with corrosion, then there was the odd chance of something shorting out.. plastic no problem. Wheels were changed to marathon run flats. The originals lasted a few years but then it seemed like every day a tire was flat.

 

[OSCAR II]

In the end trying to do electric isn't a bad idea but much more expensive than buying a small propane stove. I just thought I could use stuff I already have but didn't consider the implications of a large inverter drawing down my battery. I think it is OK to make a pot of coffee and two minutes for a George foreman to warm a couple brats but more than that would be a problem.
I've decided that to do electric a generator is the way to go. I looked at that Honda generator but $1,200 is a lot to make a simple meal. I'm more in the Harbor Freight range:
https://www.harborfreight.com/generators-engines/generators.html?current=1&order=price-low

I think it's just easier to buy a small propane stove at Walmart for $50. I'm sure someone already mentioned this though.

Like others have said, heat will require a larger inverter and be your biggest drain on your battery (s).

Can't speak for the harbor freight gennys... it is harbor freight. The Hondas are tough! We've ran those things 9-10 hours a day full load for months on end, never a problem. Usually only burning a tank of gas a day.

Something else, Pure sine wave inverters were mentioned... ever priced one? The Hondas have a PSW inverter in them that actually makes them cheap. No idea whats in the other brands.

 

[Zandcwhite]

No I didnt. I didnt have a campfire I was just heating up some water for coffee.

They didnt even tell me I could get a permit. Thanks. They just gave me a ticket and told me to turn everything off.

We keep a current camp fire permit in every vehicle. You still want to check current restrictions. Tier 1 fire restrictions are open fires only, propane fire pits and stoves are still allowed. Rarely they do go to a full flame ban but it does happen. Even still we will use a small burner to make coffee and just keep an ear out for visitors. It’s only illegal if you get caught.

 

[J0E]

For the last coulpe weeks I have been converting a passenger van for sleeping and cooking. It came OEM with a second battery isolated from the starter battery for powering accessories. So, I installed a $260 1000w Renogy inverter with thoughts of powering a $40. electric water kettle , or $80. 700w RV microwave or $40. 700w heater, not all at once. With a new $200. deep cycle Renogy 125ah battery, the inverter would shut down in seconds. As recommended by Renogy, I added a second matching battery and the same inverter runs any of them beautifully. After all was done, everything was just under a grand. Yes burning propane would have been much cheaper, I already owned the gear for that, haha.

With a new $200. deep cycle Renogy 125ah battery, the inverter would shut down in seconds. As recommended by Renogy, I added a second matching battery and the same inverter runs any of them beautifully.

What was the voltage at shut down? Where did you get a 125Ah AGM for $200? Using my 2,000 inverter with one of my 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Batteries, I can put a 1,500 watt load on it without shutdown long enough to cook or boil water. I run two LiFePO4 to the pure sine wave inverter. The 2K cheap inverter is feed with it's own AGM battery.

I have dual propane tanks so the inverter primary runs my refrigerator.

 

[J0E]

my 1000w inverter. However the two AGM Renogy's have the power equall to your one and now work excellent.

You might want to read about LiFePO4 vs LA in voltage range, that would explain your LA not being a voltage source at high amps

BTW, Nice JLR haha. Mine looked the same when stock.

Ha ha indeed, mine never looked like yours's on 35's, I'm on 37s.

 

[FulThrotl]

I'm in Arizona and soon open fire bans will be in place. I was thinking an alternative might be to have an inverter. For a weekend trip I can pack the inverter, a small coffee maker and a George Foreman grill in a tub. The dog could care less if his burger is cooked on an open fire with mesquite chips and at the end of the day neither do I.
A 1,000 watt unit would either the grill or coffee maker for about $100. About $150 for a 1,500 watt unit.

How much would these pull the battery of my jeep down before I can't start the thing?
Recommended brands?

i'm an electrical contractor, and have a fair bit of experience with some of this stuff.

that being said, here is what i did....
370 amp 14.8V DC Power alternator.
genesis dual battery tray with odyssey group 25 batteries.
#2 copper fine stranded from a 250A. fuse on the Aux Battery to a 3kw full wave inverter in the back of the jeep on drivers side.

start the engine and idle it for three minutes till the genesis control connects both batteries together.

there is an 1100 w. microwave and a induction cooktop in the back of the jeep. you can run both at once. there is also a 15 gallon polyetheline water tank inside a zarges case, with a 12v. pump, and a electric hot water heater that is 120 volt, so with the engine idling, you can get a hot shower. that is on the ragged edge of what that 3KW inverter will do.

there are some excellent lithium iron 100AH that will charge at 50 amps, and output 100 amps, and two of those will let me do this with the jeep not idling, placed next to the inverter to minimize voltage drop. they will charge nicely going down the road. i'm not doing solar.

they are also $1,100 each, and are not currently available. so, for the time being, i idle. my wife wants to make sure she likes this enough to justify the cost before dropping $2k on batteries.

 

[AZJeepGuy]

Great post, appreciate it.

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