Inverter question: To SINE WAVE or not to SINE WAVE

Mo_Mike · 10-27-2017, 01:43 AM

I think I already know the answer to this question, but is it worth the money to get a FULL SINE WAVE inverter (ie: Freedom XI) , or save some money with a MODIFIED SINE WAVE inverter (ie: XM 1800)?

I am wanting to be able to have refrigerator run on AC instead of PROPANE when driving, plus be able to have TVs and laptops run without the generator (during quiet times)

Any opinions, or suggestions are welcome

**16ACE27** · 10-27-2017, 01:55 AM

Since you won't be running any AC motors off the inverter then the MSW inverter is fine. If you had a residential refrigerator the answer would be different.

Hickorybill · 10-27-2017, 02:07 AM

I think it depends on what you are running.

laptops are really just charging the battery, so a dirty signal isn't a big deal.

TV would be more sensitive.

And the fridge will pull something like 30 Amps per hour DC, so it will work on either inverter, but it will suck your batteries down pretty quick.

I think the Vegas 25.2 has about 40 Amp Hours of usable power for each house battery, so you will only get 2 hours of usable run time at best per battery. If your fridge is running 25% of the time, you will 8 hrs best our of each battery.

**16ACE27** · 10-27-2017, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hickorybill

I think it depends on what you are running.

laptops are really just charging the battery, so a dirty signal isn't a big deal.

TV would be more sensitive.

And the fridge will pull something like 30 Amps per hour DC, so it will work on either inverter, but it will suck your batteries down pretty quick.

I think the Vegas 25.2 has about 40 Amp Hours of usable power for each house battery, so you will only get 2 hours of usable run time at best per battery. If your fridge is running 25% of the time, you will 8 hrs best our of each battery.

The OP wants to use it while traveling so the Alternator will be supplying the load.

And there is no such thing as "Amps per hour". Amps are not divided by time, they are multiplied by time. Amps is the measure of current regardless of time. If you run a steady 30 amps for one hour you have used 30 Amp-Hours (30 times 1) of capacity/

gmc · 10-27-2017, 02:36 AM

Since fridge use is 'while driving', the alternator will be charging the batteries... So duration shouldn't be an issue.

For laptop, easiest and more efficient is an adapter to run directly off 12v....

**16ACE27** · 10-27-2017, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc

Since fridge use is 'while driving', the alternator will be charging the batteries... So duration shouldn't be an issue.

For laptop, easiest and more efficient is an adapter to run directly off 12v....

Except most laptops require 19 VDC.

gmc · 10-27-2017, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

Except most laptops require 19 VDC.

Why I said an adapter..
Targus and others make them... I've found them cheap at times... See them for $50 too. Will try to find links to the one I have. Works great on multiple HP laptops I've tried it on... As long as they make a compatible tip to plug in to laptop.

More efficient to just step up from 12v than converting to AC and back to DC....

Hickorybill · 10-27-2017, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tfryman

The OP wants to use it while traveling so the Alternator will be supplying the load.

And there is no such thing as "Amps per hour". Amps are not divided by time, they are multiplied by time. Amps is the measure of current regardless of time. If you run a steady 30 amps for one hour you have used 30 Amp-Hours (30 times 1) of capacity/

I missed the part about driving, how many amps does the alternator put out?

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