Power inverters
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
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From: Virginia
It depends on the size of the power tool. My wife just bought me a small 3/8" chuck electric drill for christmas, and it draws around 5 amps. 5 amps x 120volts = 600watts. So give it a little headroom, and something around 800w + would work. Look at the tools you want to run, and do this same calculation, and that will tell you what you need.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Yes. And the wattage will be approx the same for the 12 volt side and the 120 volt side. So if I hooked my drill to the 120 volt side of the inverter, and it draws 5 amps(which at 120v equals 600w) on the 12 volt side it it will still be 600w, so 600w divided by 12 volts equals 50 amps. So when you are using the inverter with the 5 amp drill you will be using 50 amps from the 12 volt battery in the vehicle.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Originally Posted by ghunt
Damn.
Does that mean it would be unsafe to run something that pulled 10 or 15 amps off an inverter?
Does that mean it would be unsafe to run something that pulled 10 or 15 amps off an inverter?
I wouldn't do it. That is a 150 amp draw on the 12v system. The alternator won't even keep up. You would also have to use 0 gauge cable.
