Adding inverter

[5030tinkerer]

I haven't tried it out yet, but I bought a small inverter to power the charger for my cordless tools. The inverter capacity (continuous) is about twice the rated draw of the charger.

This seemed simpler than a brute force, hi amperage inverter for AC tools and its a lot cheaper.

I'll be curious to hear whether your inverter can run your cordless tool chargers. Most of these chargers need the "digital pure sine wave" inverter instead of the "modified sine wave" provided by most inverters. The digital sine inverters are more pricey and less expensive, but nicer to your electric motors than the modified inverters. A good writeup can be found at TheInverterStore.com - Welcome!.

 

[California]

I'll be curious to hear whether your inverter can run your cordless tool chargers. Most of these chargers need the "digital pure sine wave" inverter instead of the "modified sine wave" provided by most inverters.

Now I'm curious too. It's Modified Sine Wave, but the container states 'compatible for power tools (with battery pack)' and there's a nice picture of a cordless drill just like my 18volt Ryobi.

I have two Ryobi chargers and they cost about $20 on Ebay, so it won't be a disaster if I smoke one finding it won't work.

I guess I'll have to try it and report back here.

 

[shaley]

I have the Xantrex (Statpower) 1kw modified sine. I have used a DeWalt 18V charger and a HP Laptop and a Sears charger as well without any problems. Fullsize window fans small fridge, coffee maker, microwave all work.

 

[Volfandt]

I modified a 65 amp Delco 3 wire alternator that puts out around 110vDC @ 3600rpm.
I originally did this to make a handy mobile low power stick welder but it's proven to be quite handy in providing mobile power for some of my hand tools.
Granted since it puts out DC that it's limited in what it'll power but thus far it's had no problems powering a hammer drill, std drill, grinder, radial saw, hedge clippers and a string of 5 60w lights.
If all one needs to power is tools with brushes that this may be all you need.

I'm on the lookout for a portable generator with a blown engine that I can pickupon the cheap

 

[slowrev]

I am currently rewiring my tractor and am running 1/0 cables to a high current jack on the rear. This will be for inverter (not permanently mounted) and for a winch. Also not permanently mounted. I am also upgrading to a 70 amp alternator and high capacity battery 130 AH.
I had been using an inverter to run a halogen light to illuminate a work area at night. I will have a couple of brackets on my anti roll device for lights when I mount it. And a place to bungee the inverter on there.
It is an anti roll bar thingy, Industrial grade. It extends out over the rear tires on each side to prevent rollover, the tractor just flops on it's side at worst.

I would not recommend permanently mounting an inverter on a tractor because I don't think it would last long. The environment is too harsh. dust, caught in the rain, vibration, etc...

However as to the cost. HF has been selling a 2,000 watt one for $180 or so on sale.
I paid $25 for a 500W one at sams.

Ben

 

[California]

I'll be curious to hear whether your inverter can run your cordless tool chargers. Most of these chargers need the "digital pure sine wave" inverter instead of the "modified sine wave" provided by most inverters.

Ok, I tried it. The inverter powers the 85 watt Ryobi charger fine.

Wagan 150w Inverter

 

[Soundguy]

Anyone here have an inverter on their tractor. I was thinking about adding one to run lights,drills etc.What size do you use?.

I have a 150w and a 500w unit I have used on my tractor. The 500w job runs a power drill decently well.

I have also used those inverters to run lamps and xmas tree lights on my trailer when i do hay rides.

Typically I set a surplus car battery on my trailer, and then hook the tractor charging system to the aux battery.. I then wire the trailer flashers and running lamps up. Works great. I'm sure the tractor gen may not be keeping up with the full drain the lmaps are using.. but heck... It's a diesel.. and don't care...

For anything real big.. I have a pto genset.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I'll be curious to hear whether your inverter can run your cordless tool chargers. Most of these chargers need the "digital pure sine wave" inverter instead of the "modified sine wave" provided by most inverters. The digital sine inverters are more pricey and less expensive, but nicer to your electric motors than the modified inverters. A good writeup can be found at TheInverterStore.com - Welcome!.

Any triac or 'switching' type power supply should handle modified sine wave fine. Heck... they should handle stepped or square wave fine.. ( motor's won't like it.. ). many of the smart chargers are triac based.

If you have a low current electronic device that does not like the output of your modified sine wave interter, then purchase a 1:1 isolation transformer. The ones I've sued are about the size of a coffee mug.. they will have a 120v input, and a 120v output.. efficiency is not 100%.. so Iin does not equal Iout. The 2 transforemers in there will beat that modified sine wave into a pretty decent looking sine wave, due to the inductance of the coils.

Soundguy

 

[schmism]

you might also check the output voltage of those cheep inverters.

ive seen more than one that was outputting 90V AC on 14V DC input.

hardly 110-120V AC

 

[Soundguy]

What were you using to check it with? A digital vom or an analog VOM. Check your digital VOM input rating.. many of them only read correctly on pure sine wave, and/or a certain frequency... though I'm pretty sure freq control would be right on, even on a cheapy unit.

Also.. were you checking the unit under load? many units have a load monitor, and open circuit output is clamped... Some also have power savings mode.. considering that inversion is inherently ineficient, some units will drop into a low power mode when there is no load present.

Soundguy