whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
03-06-2006, 10:41 AM
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whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
i just installed a 1200 watt inverter and was wondering if it will power a small a/c unit like 5 or 6k btu's while under way. anyone else doing this? thx, rm
03-06-2006, 12:39 PM
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Re: whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
I just ordered a 5K unit and have looked into doing the same thing. I was told I needed a 2K inverter that surges to 3K to run it. Of course the batteries will only last a few hours before they are dead unless you have an extra 400-500 amps hours to spare overnight. The better option is to spend $1K and buy one of those 2k Honda portable gensets. (I'll be buying the genset in a few weeks.)
03-06-2006, 12:45 PM
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Re: whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
Sorry, didn't mean to sound rude...
A 1200 watt inverter will not start an air conditioner of any kind. Just doesn't have the oomph. I know, I tried it... I have a tiny little a/c unit on my old Trojan. Plugged it in, and turned it on, fan only at first. It would barely turn the fan. Then switched on the a/c. Throws the overload switch every time. I even tried it with a Honda 1000 generator. No way. It would take at least a 3k inverter and a ton of batteries.
The Honda 2000 will do it. Nice unit. I'm looking at buying one too.
Jim
A 1200 watt inverter will not start an air conditioner of any kind. Just doesn't have the oomph. I know, I tried it... I have a tiny little a/c unit on my old Trojan. Plugged it in, and turned it on, fan only at first. It would barely turn the fan. Then switched on the a/c. Throws the overload switch every time. I even tried it with a Honda 1000 generator. No way. It would take at least a 3k inverter and a ton of batteries.
The Honda 2000 will do it. Nice unit. I'm looking at buying one too.
Jim
03-06-2006, 03:59 PM
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Re: whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
My father has a 1000 Watt (2000 watt peak) inverter on his cruising boat. I am not sure what the BTU of his A/C is, but it was probably the smallest he could find. It is just barely enough to start the A/C. He has a very large 12V house battery (size 4D?) and it will run the A/C for a few hours (enough to get through the night and be comfortable). He is planning on getting a 2000 watt Honda in the future.
03-06-2006, 10:15 PM
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Re: whos running power inverters and how many watts is your unit
It seems like you always need double and triple the watts inverter to do what power you need....even if the wires and connections are bigger....and with nothing charging batteries...forget it.there are bigger units with bigger altenators..they will do the job...people are geting used to this small stuff on market these days....there is some big stuff that can run lots of things...40 lb wt.....175 amp alt..after it is in there....no big deal...no gas...fumes.....dockside is dockside
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