What is the most effective and innovative way to use a 300 watt inverter

Hi Jo,

My question would be why do you need a 300w inverter when you don't have any appliances. Sometimes bneing primitive means not using it at all even if you have it with you at the time. LOL

Andrew

Hi, Jo. I have a small inverter that I use for recharging phones, cameras and things. Lights also are in your range of tasks. Obviously, larger appliances will draw far too much for things like jugs, hair dryers, heaters, but should cope with a small fan.
If you rnverter is 300W, than this is the Max output at 240v. If you assume the inverter is 80 percent efficient, then it will pull 375W at 12v out of your battery at full load. With a 'normal' battery for a 4 cyl car, (say 60AH), you would get around an hours running max before its time to recharge the car battery.
But I have not yet mentioned the curly question of whether your inverter is a true sine wave inverter or not. If not, then there's big issues of risking your appliances, chargers etc. and especially lap tops, from trying to run them off inverters. Plenty of advice on this on this and other sites!!
There are safer options for recharging phones and running laptops, like 12v chargers/adapters that plus into the cig lighter, without puts to suit (Jaycar sell these).
Does this help?

With your engine running or while you drive, you will be able to power any small power tools, battery charger for the (new) auxilary battery, bigger 240V light, or other stuff too for as long as you like. 500W you could bake a loaf of bread in a bread maker (PSW only).
Just check the PSW Vs MSW issue first.

Cheers,
Peter

I use mine to recharge batteries for torches, laptop, run a very bright fluro light, sometimes I run my mozzie zapper if needed and if it's hot I plug in the pedestal fan as well :)

The most innovative way is to buy a bathroom Infra red heater globe 275w and use it as a heater from your invertor.

This can be used to project heat in windy conditions and used for pain relief.

There are different versions , common ones put out a lot of light as well , whereas better ones are deeper red , and got from chemists etc (sunbeam replacements).

Hi Jo

An effective way to make your inverter as efficient as possible is to keep your cables as short as possible between the inverter and battery and maybe even increase the wire diameter if later you intend to increase your loads. Do not use alligator clips and keep it cool as possible. I store mine when not in use in a large plastic food container as the transformers hate moisture. Cheers, Dave

The cheapest way to use it is to leave it in the back of the car.........you're going camping.....if and when you get an aux battery, then buy things that run off 12V....

Laptops will run off a battery......phones and lights will charge off one as well.....

My camera needs 240V to recharge ( haven't found an adaptor yet ), but thats the only thing.....try and limit the things to use off one ...don't try and increase the options ????

Just about all the toys mentioned above can be purchased in 12v dc configeration.
If you bye a 12v laptop charger supply you will find it is far more efficient than using an inverter.

DC to DC is much easier on the battery and charges DC items better.

How about running a washing machine. I used a Powertech 380 watt sine wave inverter the other day to put a load through a washing machine. It is a Fisher & Paykel. Surprised me it handled it. Seemed to handle it pretty easily.

We had a blackout the night before and I wanted to see what it could do.