Welcome to this page on how to use a 12 volts Inverter for 110 or 240 volts from a car or deep Cycle battery in a Power Cut or Natural Disaster.
1). I set this page up to show you how a simple and cheap 12 Volt Inverter can supply emergency power to run things like lights or any form of communications devises in an emergency and a lot more things.
2). Inverters are often used in things like Campers, Motor homes or boats they can be used any where you would need 110 or 240 volts to power mains devises from a Car battery or Deep Cycle Battery's.
3). In a disaster often the power is cut out and the lighting system will not work this page is set up mainly to give power to a light just using a 12 volts battery and inverter, The 12 volts converts the power from the car or deep cycle battery and steps it up to 110 or 240 volts depending in which Country you are in.
4). The cost of 12 volt inverters is as low as £20 or less it depends on the amount of watts you need to power your devise also know as a load.
5). On this page we will be using a 20 or 30 Watt Energy Saving bulb this will use less power from the battery and prolong the lights on time depending on the batteries mAh.
6). Now the good thing about Car batteries they are often fully
charged just take it out of your Vehicle and connect the Red Wire from the
Battery to the Red connecter on the 12 volts Inverter,
7). Now with the Black wire connect it to the Black connecter on the Inverter.
8). Now if you would like to know more about 12 volt or 24 volt Inverters Then Click Here.
In the Photo above this is the version I use it cost £20 this version has lost
of protection built in to it, I my self use this version 300 Watts, I also use a
1000 watt version by the same makers.
Go for this model it has the following protection below.
300w Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter
Low Voltage Input Protection
High Voltage Input Protection
Overheating Protection
Short Circuit Protection
Over Battery Voltage Protection
Reverse Polarity Protection.
What
is meant by the terms "continuous-2000 Watts" and "peak
surge-4000 Watts" is that some appliances or tools, such as ones with a
motor, require an initial surge of power to start up ("starting load"
or "peak load").
Once
started, the tool or appliance requires less power to continue to operate
("continuous load").
Helpful
formulas Ohms Law and more.
To
convert AMPS to WATTS:
Multiply:
AMPS x 240 (AC voltage) = WATTS
This
formula yields a close approximation of the continuous load of the appliance
To
calculate approximate Start-up Load:
Multiply:
WATTS x 2 = Starting Load
This
formula yields a close approximation of the starting load of the appliance,
though some may require an even greater starting load.
NOTE:
Induction motors such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and pumps may
have a start up surge of 5 to 10 times the continuous rating.
Most
often the start-up load of the appliance or power tool determines whether an
inverter has the capability to power it.
For
example: If you have a freezer with a continuous load of 2 Amps, and a start up
load of 6 Amps:
2
Amps x 240 volts = 480 Watts continuous
6
Amps x 240 volts = 1440 Watts starting load
You
would need an inverter with peak-surge rating greater than 1440 Watts.
To
convert AC Watts to DC Amps (for 12V system):
AC
Watts divided by 12 x 1.1 = DC Amps
This is the size of the vehicle alternator you would need to keep up with a specific load; for example, to keep up with a continuous draw of 1000 Watts, you would need a 91 Amp alternator or a 100A/H battery to run the equipment for 1 hour
You can buy 12 Volts inverters for 110 Volts or 240 volts from most Camping suppliers
or on UK Ebay
here USA
Ebay Click here. I would recommend going for no less than a 300 Watt version
or higher.
9). You may like to know most 12 Volts inverters can charge your mobile phone with a current of 500 mAh at 5 volts grate in an emergency.
10). Now as this version of Inverter can also charge your mobile phone in an Emergency this keeps your communications open it is also useful if you need to connect your laptop PC to your mobile phone for it to connect to the internet to Send & Receive Data.
11). I would recommend you use a USB connecter for this if your Mobile does not have a USB connecter then you can buy one on Ebay Click here
12). In the Schematic below you can see how simple it is to set up with the help of the block diagram below.
13). Now when you come to your Battery or if your buying a new one for this project go for the highest mAh on the battery you can afford this could be any Vehicle or Deep Cycle battery just make sure it is 12 volts most Inverters can work with 24 volts but to keep it simple just stay with 12 volts.
14). Now if you want to do this project and don't have a Vehicle all you need to do it buy a Vehicle battery you can get them from any garage or auto store, You will also need a charger only go for a Smart Charger UK Click here. USA Click here. or get them from your own Country.
They will fully charge your battery and then trickle charge it this is keeping it topped up at full charge no need to remove it just have it connected 24 Hours a day 7 days a week the power it will use is so low but you will all ways have a fully charges up battery in an Emergency.
15). Now you have connected your 12 Volt inverter all you need to do is put in a 20 or 30 Watt low Energy Bulb in to a table lamp connect the plug to the Inverter and switch it on you should have Light.
16). Now the Light should say on for a few hours it depends on the Watts of the bulb and the Batteries mAh size also the inverter use.
Now any Problems please do email me I am all ways happy to help anthony@anthony-dacko.net