Inverter - Is This Normal?

[centerline]

Which is why I pulled my inverter and gave it away.

I agree....
for every 120volt device one needs or would like on their boat, there are 12v equivalents that use power from the batteries much more efficiently.... as handy as an inverter may be, it is the "un-informed" mans way of using the power from the system....
all the larger truckstops carry 12v coffemakers, 12v toaster ovens, 12v microwave ovens, 12v TV sets, 12v dvd players, 12v hair dryers, ect.. the list of 12v gadgets they carry goes on. if you want it, they probably make it in a 12 volt version.
and for ladies curling irons, there are very efficient butane models that work as well as any 120v one does... but how often do you need to dry and curl your hair on a boat

unless you have a very large boat with very high power demands, inverters and generators are inconveniences that are better left at home, and the proper equipment brought onboard.... such as solar power and 12v appliances.... unless the boat is a dock queen and has no need to be conservative on its power consumption....

 

[NotCook]

I agree with centerline on several points. Mainly, in my experience, once you turn off the device, the voltage reading will soon rise back up and you can see what you really consumed.

With respect to inverters, we try to use ours for power hungry appliances only when we are getting good output from the solar panels, both for reducing the draw on the batteries themselves during use, and topping them back up afterwards. Inverters are real handy to have.

Regarding the 12 volt appliances in truck stops: we tried a $50 12v coffee maker - what a waste of money! Likewise for the hair drier. But, yeah, radios, CD players, even TVs, all make sense.

 

[GorillaToast]

Regarding the 12 volt appliances in truck stops: we tried a $50 12v coffee maker - what a waste of money! Likewise for the hair drier. But, yeah, radios, CD players, even TVs, all make sense.

Gotta agree with you here. I had one and threw it away after 1 use. Took almost a half-hour to make 2 cups of coffee.

 

[centerline]

Gotta agree with you here. I had one and threw it away after 1 use. Took almost a half-hour to make 2 cups of coffee.

I wont disagree entirely.... there may be better quality stuff found elsewhere, but the point is, there are 12volt appliances available that will allow much more efficient use of the available power from the batteries, than you can ever get by running the power thru an inverter first....

 

[centerline]

Gotta agree with you here. I had one and threw it away after 1 use. Took almost a half-hour to make 2 cups of coffee.

I wont disagree entirely.... there may be better quality stuff found elsewhere, but the point is, there are 12volt appliances available that will allow much more efficient use of the available power from the batteries, than you can ever get by running the power thru an inverter first....

 

[druid]

Gotta agree with you here. I had one and threw it away after 1 use. Took almost a half-hour to make 2 cups of coffee.

Electricity (especially 12 VDC) is NOT the best energy source for heat. Burn something! (Like propane, alcohol, diesel...) I have a stovetop coffeemaker that sits on my propane stove in my camper and it works pretty well. But I still prefer either a percolater or French Press, both of which just use the stove.

druid