Radio off a Inverter

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 15:03

ThreadID: 34506 Views:1919 Replies:7 FollowUps:6

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Shane (QLD)

Does anyone know if you can run a 240v Radio/Cassette ( Panasonic) off a 12v /240v modified synewave inverter on AM without interferance or do you need a pure wave inverter ? Have tried to run it off a Bunnings special 850w but only get feedback from the genset which makes it impossible to listen to (No I'm not investing in a Honda or a set of batteries). I noticed that it will run OK on FM but unfortuneately that does not apply to where I will be. Thanks in advance !

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Reply By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 15:15

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 15:15

Any inverter (pure sine wave or not) will probably cause problems with AM radio reception.

Mike Harding

AnswerID: 176137

Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 16:37

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 16:37

Oh, a genset AND a radio cassette. Bet you're popular at most campsites ;-)

AnswerID: 176148

Follow Up By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 16:42

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 16:42

BTW, I would have thought that it was a function of how far away the receiver was from the inverter. Otherwise would a supressor help?

FollowupID: 432186

Follow Up By: Shane (QLD) - Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 07:57

Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 07:57

By the way I shoot pigs & don't have the time to enjoy the benefits of a campsite as you apparently do. The radio is for weather forcasts & a bit of company. I'm popular with the dingo's.

FollowupID: 432271

Reply By: MartyB - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 17:08

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 17:08

Shane,
I have been looking at a radio/CD player at the Warehouse group (Solleys).
It is 240v plus runs off 8 D size batteries.
8 * 1.5v batteries is 12v.
I have been thinking about buying one of these and just soldering a 12v lead to the battery connections.
Only costs $29 so it is worth a go.

Marty.

AnswerID: 176158

Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 19:19

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 19:19

Huh ...anything from Sollys would have to be silly and one would be silly to waste 29bucks on shiiit that's made in china , that's my opinion , if thats what you want then go for it....................

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FollowupID: 432220

Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 21:10

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 21:10

You'd be surprised how many radio cassettes took 8 C or D cells.

I've got an old Sanyo that I did that to. It works a treat. Ditch the generator and you won't have to turn the radio up so loud.

Besides the power under the bonet (aux battery) is cheaper than fuel at $1.50 a ltr for the generator.

I did the same thing at one stage to a cheap 12v cordless drill. 8 foot of lead and a set of battery clips on the end from some cheap jumper leads. Very handy.

Dave

FollowupID: 432238

Reply By: Ray Bates - Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 20:49

Thursday, Jun 01, 2006 at 20:49

I run my radio off a genset but use about 100' of extension lead. I don't get any interferance on AM

AnswerID: 176207

Reply By: Shane (QLD) - Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 08:06

Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 08:06

Thanks for your answers ! The general concensus is that I am running just the radio off the genset. Not the case, it is also running 3 x 150w lights plus a 40 ltr Waeco at night + charging a battery.

AnswerID: 176268

Follow Up By: MartyB - Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 08:58

Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 08:58

Shane,
My idea is to run the radio off the 12v.
This means you don't need an inverter plus the generator should not interfere with the radio.

from Marty.

FollowupID: 432283

Reply By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 09:44

Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 09:44

The interference does not come down the power line. It comes through the "air".

I have a 500W Pure Sine Wave invertor in the vehicle and on pretty much full time, and have no interference on the AM radio - although admittedly the aerial is outside the vehicle.

So, a little bit of distance from your inverter and you should be fine.

Ciao for now
Andrew.

AnswerID: 176283

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 10:44

Friday, Jun 02, 2006 at 10:44

Also depends on the rating and type of load you are running from the inverter. If it is just switched on or running a light load then with an external aerial and a car radio (which will have internal circuitry to reduce noise) you may well get away with it. Connect a 500W motor to your inverter and I'll bet you hear it on the AM band.

I wonder how many inverters have CE approvals for emissions? Not many I suspect :)

Distance is a factor as the energy generated decreases with the square of distance (iir theory correctly) but depending upon the load you may need a considerable distance.

Shane mentioned he was also running a fridge (may have a switch mode PSU inside it which is generating noise) and lights - if the light are fluorescent they will produce noise too and if the gen set is a GMC type the distortion in the sine wave output will add to the whole thing. Personally I have a small Sony radio which I run off 4 AA cells and as it's usually the only electrical thing operating for miles I don't have a problem.

Mike Harding

FollowupID: 432316