240V-12V Inverter
Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 01:51
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John Russell
I have a 240V-12V Inverter ( I think this is what it is called) to run a 12V BushBoy fridge/freezer when I'm near mains supply and was wondering if I could use it to power my Digital Camera 240V battery charger whilst we are away.
With its current fittings I can only use it run my fridge from 240v mains, and not knowing anything about matters electrical, thought with adaptor plugs I may be able to do the reverse.
So if anybody can impart some knowledge, I would be greatful.
Reply By: David N. - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 06:02
Reply By: paul - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 09:40
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 09:40
The reply is correct
John , what you have is actually a rectifier (rectifies a 240v AC supply to a 12v dc supply) and what you need is an inverter (which does the reverse).
AnswerID:
36985
Follow Up By: Pauly - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 23:10
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 23:10
A rectifier only changes the ac to dc it does not step down the voltage to do this would be a step down transformer primary 240 secondary 12
im pretty sure this is right but i could be wrong.
FollowupID:
26815
Reply By: basecamp15 - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 10:51
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 10:51
I bought a 300 W Digitor Inverter from Dick Smith on special for 100 bucks. It charges my Video camera up from the lighter socket while I'm on the move and works a treat. Now I have it I'm thinking of buying some 240 Volt fluoros to run around the
camp to throw better light than the 12 volt ones I already have.
Cheers, Mark.
AnswerID:
36991
Follow Up By: David N. - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 13:35
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 13:35
If you're buying 240v lights, there are a couple of small traps.
1. If using a conventional 20 or 40 watt flouro, remove the capacitor from them first -if fitted. (These are not fitted in all 240v flouros- they are used for "power factor" correction. Don't get confused with the "ballast" which is required.)
2. Some electronic compact flouros don't like the "modified square wave " which these cheap
inverters produce. - best bet is to
test them ie:"try before you buy" so's they can be returned if not suitable.
If you follow the above it works fine. Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Pauly - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 23:15
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 23:15
David im pretty sure that every 240v fluoro has a capacitor (when manufactured any way) western power would not allow them to be used other wise.
FollowupID:
26816
Follow Up By: David N. - Sunday, Nov 16, 2003 at 13:01
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003 at 13:01
Pauly
You can still buy flouros without a power factor correction capacitor.
They are usually labelled as LPF ie: low power factor.
And the reason it's important to remove these is that they don't like "modified square wave" or "modified sine wave "
inverters. ie: the cheaper ones most people (including me) buy.
FollowupID:
27144
Reply By: paul - Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 16:42
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003 at 16:42
I bought a cheap $10.95 double flouro 12v light from whitco's (marine chandlery) and the light was terrible so i forked out the $80 or so for a 12v versalight you buy in camping and 4wd shops. Much better.
Then the surprise. I dug out the double flouro to put up in a tree to deter possums from eating my leaves and had it hooked up to a battery and solar panel to recharge it each day. I used the double el cheapo version cause if it broke i'd throw it away and more importantly i could turn on one or both tubes. So the tubes lasted a few nights only, junk. so i went out and bought new tubes from Mitre 10. a few bucks each, and wow, like triple the lumens output. In fact, i believe the two tubes on the el cheaper unit with the aftermarket $6 flouro tubes gives out the same output as my $80 versalite. hmmm ....
AnswerID:
37023
Reply By: John Russell - Thursday, Nov 13, 2003 at 19:13
Thursday, Nov 13, 2003 at 19:13
Thanks one and all for your responses, I will investigate which inverter I need to buy,in order to suit my needs for a laptop and digital camera battery charger.
AnswerID:
37221