Using an inverter for small loads

If you are worried about frying small batteries when charging them - don't be. It's no different to charging from a power point at home.

But what you are proposing is a VERY inefficient way of charging (12 > 240 > 12) so will suck plenty of life from the battery powering the invertor. Much better to carry spare batteries and charge the dead ones off your vehicle when it is running

G'day 4 runner
You can use a big invertor for that purpose but the bigger inverter has a higher threshold to turn it on.
While a small inverter will turn on the switchmode operation with low load eg camera battery charger, the big inverter may not turn on until it sees a few small items all connected at the same time.
The bigger inverter is made to provide a higher 240 current output and so it has bigger internals to operate the internal switching. Thisl means it will use more 12v just to begin operation and then the 240 load will increase the 12 amps use accordingly.

If the battery can take the load of big stuff then it will be ok on small items as long as it actually begins its switching operation to create the 240v output.
As long as it starts it will be just as good as a little one but may use a bit more amps from the battery.

Ross M

It's not a good idea to have an inverter hard wired into a vehicle.

While I do agree and understand that your primary use will be while camping, in the event of an accident there is the potential that the vehicle could become 'live' with 240V.
This could have fatal consequence for any rescuer. No second chance with 240V.

hey 4 runner, one thing you may need to be careful of is the length of your lead as at low current the plug in connectiones of the lead to the inverter and lead to the powerboard etc will create quite a bit of voltage drop and yoou may not end up with enough bang at the other end. Much better to just plug the powerboard into the vehicle at the inverter and charge from there.

Many will know I have a hobby horse about people being unaware of the dangers of portable souyrces of 240V AC.

Thus I strongly recomend against using inverters where they are not needed.

Almost all battery powered devoces can be charge direct of 12 volts.

A 12V Dc powered charger can be had for almst every battery powered device available.

mobile phones is a no brainer, 12v chargers for those are all over the place.

there are dedicated and generic dc powered chargers for lap tops

Lots of the latest phones and cameras cahrge via the USB connection and 12v powered USB chargers can be had or charge them from the lap top that is in turn charged from its DC supplied charger.

As for ya TV and lights, well Tv's that run 12V native are far from uncommon and if you arent running LED lights you have rocks in your head.

so you can power down that generator too.

many of the small item charges will be drawing less than the idling current of ya 1200watt inverter..so inefficient is the word there.

12 Volts, has realy come of age in the last couple of years, get with the programe and have a quieter, easier and safer time.

cheers