#WARNING Electro Technical Nerd Alert....#
I would be careful using a 12V lead acid battery to drive an inverter unless the battery is a "deep discharge" type. Most car starter batteries are not designed to withstand repeated deep discharges and their capacity can be reduced and they will fail if you let them run too far down too often not nice when you need all the power to crank a stubborn engine on a cold winter morning!
If you are going to run stuff from a car starter battery my advice is to use someone elses!
Lead Acid batteries come in several flavours: starting, motive deep cycle (wheelchairs), stationary deep cycle (e.g. UPS). The amount of energy you can get out the battery depends on its type, discharge rate, the temperature, how long you left it in the garage before you recharged it and a whole lot of other things.
All you even need to know about lead acid batteries can be had from
http://uuhome.de/william.darden/index.htm
Power supply question
Moderators: [nope] cartel, team nopesport
19 posts
• Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2
Thanks to all of you for the many helpful contributions on this question. I have bought a 600W inverter to try out at the next opportunity. I'm planning to run one laptop and one receipt printer so I should have power to spare. My battery is a 75Ah "leisure" battery designed for deep discharge; if it doesn't last long enough I plan to buy an identical battery and run them in parallel - I have read that this is OK.
By the way, I have also discovered a mains power meter (~£15 from Maplins) which fits between a 3-pin socket and 3-pin plug and gives readings of voltage, current or power in the circuit. I've bought one but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
By the way, I have also discovered a mains power meter (~£15 from Maplins) which fits between a 3-pin socket and 3-pin plug and gives readings of voltage, current or power in the circuit. I've bought one but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
- Mr Chips
- orange
- Posts: 110
- Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2004 6:14 pm
- Location: London
For all people looking for a cheap generator, there's an ALDI UK special buy next week (from 10th Feb):
Portable Generator each 69.99 GBP
Small, compact and lightweight portable generator. Ideal for
use in the garden, garage, camping or when boating. Simply
use a standard plug or the DC output socket for a continuous
power supply.
* Limited to 650 watt rated output with a peak power of
720 watt
* Two stroke, single cylinder petrol motor, with 64cc
displacement and maximum 1.3hp at 3,000 rpm
* DC/AC output
* Mounted on rubber feet to limit vibration
* Electronic ignition, recoil starting system
* Overload circuit breaker
* Noise level of 62dBa at 7 metres
* 4.5 litre fuel tank with an average fuel running time
of 5.8 hours
* DC power leads, DIY kit and oil included
* Manufacturer's three year warranty.
Portable Generator each 69.99 GBP
Small, compact and lightweight portable generator. Ideal for
use in the garden, garage, camping or when boating. Simply
use a standard plug or the DC output socket for a continuous
power supply.
* Limited to 650 watt rated output with a peak power of
720 watt
* Two stroke, single cylinder petrol motor, with 64cc
displacement and maximum 1.3hp at 3,000 rpm
* DC/AC output
* Mounted on rubber feet to limit vibration
* Electronic ignition, recoil starting system
* Overload circuit breaker
* Noise level of 62dBa at 7 metres
* 4.5 litre fuel tank with an average fuel running time
of 5.8 hours
* DC power leads, DIY kit and oil included
* Manufacturer's three year warranty.
-
o-a - white
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 11:52 pm
- Location: in the middle
19 posts
• Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2
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