Electric golf cart inverter, DC to 120v AC

[JethroB]

I’m considering about a 2000 watt inverter ($300) that will convert 48 volts to 120 volts for my EzGo golf cart. I see a lot of potential backup energy sitting under that seat in those four 12v 105 amp hour batteries. Wired in series to get the 48. Has anyone had experience doing this?

Thanks

 

[5030]

A 2K watt pure sine wave inverter pulls quite a bit of amperage, keep that in mind.

 

[ddgood]

Only about 2 kw-hr of usable energy after efficiency losses and available power from lead acid cells.

What are you planning on running with this inverter?

 

[5030]

I have one (3K PSW) in my RV and I have to be watchful about battery levels when using it and I have Battle Born batteries in it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive used inverters on a single truck battery in my work van for years..to run microwave oven for warm winter lunches. They can run down a battery pretty fast. Got to where i let engine run while using so i would not be stuck.

 

[JethroB]

Only about 2 kw-hr of usable energy after efficiency losses and available power from lead acid cells.

What are you planning on running with this inverter?

I expect to use it just during infrequent power outages to squeak by. It depends on the expected duration of the outage. A couple of LED lights, TV, StarLink internet setup, small fan, maybe a mini fridge. I’m not sure how much juice the golf cart batteries can provide.

 

[ponytug]

I expect to use it just during infrequent power outages to squeak by. It depends on the expected duration of the outage. A couple of LED lights, TV, StarLink internet setup, small fan, maybe a mini fridge. I’m not sure how much juice the golf cart batteries can provide.

Back of the envelope calculation here.

A typical golf car battery fully charged is about 200Ah, new, under defined load conditions. Typically, you would like to keep the draw to about half that for longevity, so call it 100Ah. At 12V, that is 1.2kWh. Times four is 4.8kWh, less ten percent in inverter inefficiency, and you are looking at 4.3kWh. Low amperage draws will give you more run time, high draws less, but the inverter itself has a fixed draw, as well as the 90% efficiency.

If you want to run electronics, I would highly recommend one of the "pure sine wave" inverters, and read the fine print. I have seen a few recently that advertised themselves as "pure" sine wave, and they weren't.

FWIW: Starlink specifications are currently that the Starlink hardware will use 50-75W under normal use. (I suspect more in snow melt mode.) That is 1.2-1.8kWh/day.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

Using a 2000W inverter since 1990 in my service van… also have a retractable drop light with outlet to make it easy.

Later I added a second battery so no fear of running down starting battery and also high output alternator rated for ambulance service.

Added a solenoid to hook both batteries in parallel as I found sometimes need all the power possible.

Use it for Bosch Rotohammer, sidewinder Skill Saw, Spartan Cable Snake… plus microwave.

I don’t have sine wave model and my cordless tool battery chargers don’t like the power output…

Worm Drive Skillsaw too much for it…

 

[ultrarunner]

One hack I found with my older inverter is to keep a small load continuously on when using it to power my corded tools.

I have a 50W light bulb turned on which prevents the inverter from going into standby or sleep mode.

Not an issue for small loads but was an issue snaking lines with my cable machine.

 

[Cyclehead]

I’m considering about a 2000 watt inverter ($300) that will convert 48 volts to 120 volts for my EzGo golf cart. I see a lot of potential backup energy sitting under that seat in those four 12v 105 amp hour batteries. Wired in series to get the 48. Has anyone had experience doing this?

Thanks

I had exactly the same thought. All that capacity in a mobile cart. I can use that! So, I just finished mine yesterday. I bought a male socket for the charger plug on the golf cart. (Safe access to hi amp 48v) Wired it to a 1000w “pure sine wave“ inverter, with a piece of old generator power cord. The golf cart charger port is labeled “20 amps”. Total cost was about $150 with amazon pieces.
I drilled two holes to hold some hose clamps for strain relief.
I trimmed the hedges last night using the golf cart headlights, and the inverter running the hedge trimmers. Everything worked perfectly.