Mad Chemist

How 'bout it? Anybody with electrical know-how think it'd be worth trying to build your own power inverter to have 110V in your vehicle? What would it require?

Bob_98SR5

Mad Chemist,

While I'm not 100% sure, but I think by the time you researched, sourced, and built the thing, you'll have probably gone over the cost to actually purchase one. Some of us here bought an inverter from Sam's Club for about $30.

I finished hooking up my inverter to a fused distribution box (a la Corey w/ advice from just about everyone on this board). I'll probably finish the writeup over the holiday weekend.

Bob

Mad Chemist

Yeah, I thought that might be the case, but was curious if anyone had thought about giving it a shot.

Robinhood150

If dandeman can make an arc welder from a microwave, anything is possible. I don't think it should be too hard, you can probably figure it out from the internet somewhere. It sounds like a typical project one would do in a beginning or intermediate electrical engineering class. It probably won't be cheaper than if you buy one, so you'll have to do it for the fun of it.

midiwall

At $70 for 1000w, you'd be hard pressed to beat that considering time, the cost of the high-powered SCRs and the case. The case is INCREDIBLY important because in all high powered inverters, it acts as a heatsink. Heat is the worst enemy of going from DC->AC.

But, if you really want a project, then one or more of these may help

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/555dcac.html

http://www.i4at.org/lib2/inverter.htm

http://www.intersil.com/data/an/AN9611.pdf

http://powerdesigners.com/InfoWeb/forums/conv/


Mark

Mad Chemist

Thanks for the links Mark. I ended up buying a coleman 400/800 W at Target for 30 bucks. It gets me in the door for cheap, and is good enough for running my laptop and speakers- I'm planning on watching "Spaceballs" while camping this weekend.

midiwall

LOL! There ya' go man!

I got my 1000/2000 wired in last weekend and have "confirmed" that it drives the blender Just Fine!


Have fun!

Ravenslair

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/inverter.htm

Weasy2k

any good online places to buy some high powered inverters? i have a 160 one but its not good enough....

midiwall

Dunno about online, but do are there "warehouse stores" in Canada like Sam's Club or CostCo? That's where a lot of great deals are to be found fo stuff like this. I got my 1000watt (continuous!) there for US $70.

Weasy2k

oh yea forgot about costco....should check them out...thanks!