what can i run with a power inverter?

motomedic · Aug 7, 2013

If air is what you are after, I once had an 87 GMC 1 ton that the engine had been swapped and the A/C pump was still on the motor, not connected to anything. Futzing around one day I powered the clutch and the thing turned and pumped, so I hose clamped a coupler and a gauge to it and with 50 ft hose used it to air up at the races. I knew that the closed loop a/c system had the lube for the pump circulating, and figured that without that the pump would not last long, but what the heck, might as well use it till it quit! Used that to air up all sorts of tires for years and never had a problem other than without a tank or pressure switch, the thing would quickly build to +200psi and blow the line off the pump if I let it. So many times I have missed that truck for it's air, but have not been willing to render the A/C useless on my last few trucks. Anyhow, it was a cheap way to have lots of air.
As for the Inverter idea, i would like one to power cordless tool chargers, and very possibly an electric motor of some sort, and was not aware of the issue with the cheap units. Thought the square wave would be fine for tools and such. Thanks for the info everyone!

wcampbell47 · Aug 8, 2013

farmall 55a case said:
Hi everyone I was wondering if I could run a small air compressor of a 12v power inverter? For airing up tires and taking wheels off of equipment ect?

I opted to put a Honda powered air compressor in the back of the truck. Seems I need to air up a tire on one of the trailers about once week, sometimes more often. Twice I have stopped to help out travellers with tire issues. I start the Honda, pull out the air over hydraulic bottle jack, air hose and impact wrench and let them go at it. One small trailer with a blow out had a pallet of grass on it. I am a fool for good tools - never believed that a cheap tool was the answer.

sd455dan · Aug 8, 2013

motomedic said:
If air is what you are after, I once had an 87 GMC 1 ton that the engine had been swapped and the A/C pump was still on the motor, not connected to anything. Futzing around one day I powered the clutch and the thing turned and pumped, so I hose clamped a coupler and a gauge to it and with 50 ft hose used it to air up at the races. I knew that the closed loop a/c system had the lube for the pump circulating, and figured that without that the pump would not last long, but what the heck, might as well use it till it quit! Used that to air up all sorts of tires for years and never had a problem other than without a tank or pressure switch, the thing would quickly build to +200psi and blow the line off the pump if I let it. So many times I have missed that truck for it's air, but have not been willing to render the A/C useless on my last few trucks. Anyhow, it was a cheap way to have lots of air.
As for the Inverter idea, i would like one to power cordless tool chargers, and very possibly an electric motor of some sort, and was not aware of the issue with the cheap units. Thought the square wave would be fine for tools and such. Thanks for the info everyone!

That worked well for me to, on a Jeep J10- used the factory (York) pump and a standard replacement cut in/out switch to control the clutch (switching 12vdc instead of 240vac) . Installed a 7 gallon tank and pressure regulator with quick connects , and installed a pressure gauge .

Used it to run air impacts, air nailers (put in several thousand feet of fence ) Very Very handy

Now you got me thinking about adding another pulley or longer belt and adding this style set up to my tractor.

One other thing about the York- running at 2000 rpm would put out as many cubic feet per minute as my 5 hp Ingersol Rand 60 gallon 240 vac compressor... I also have one of the Harbor freight 2000 watt cont. 4000 watt peak 120volt Inverters but have only used it for back up lighting and to run the fan on our wood stove- during power outages thought about mounting it on the tractor, but being outside I'm sure the weather would destroy it.