Adding a 2nd inverter for outdoor use?

Graunke · 08-05-2018, 06:12 PM

Here is my dilemma.

I enjoy coffee, and I enjoy breakfast on a skillet. I do not enjoy the sound of a generator.

Has anyone installed a 2nd inverter, for the exterior of the unit that can handle the draw of either a coffee maker or a skillet? How many watts do you think would be required? I would assume it has to be 20 amps as well.

Is this doable? Or is it a Unicorn?

Grumpy · 08-05-2018, 06:15 PM

It's doable if you have enough battery capacity, which would be a lot..

Graunke · 08-05-2018, 06:28 PM

Can you elaborate? I've added a 2nd battery to my house, if that helps.

I don't mind running the generator later on during the day after the rest of the camp is up. I just don't like firing ti up when people are still sleeping, and ruining my and others quiet mornings.

WeRJuliian · 08-05-2018, 06:31 PM

Had you ever considered a little propane hob?

Graunke · 08-05-2018, 06:52 PM

I have looked at propane skillets, but they all have a drain and no lip on the front, so it wouldn't work for the breakfasts I cook. I need sides all the way around?

Grumpy · 08-05-2018, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graunke

Can you elaborate? I've added a 2nd battery to my house, if that helps.

Coffee pot and skillet are high wattage items. You probably need at least 4-6 high amp hour batteries.

Graunke · 08-05-2018, 07:06 PM

This is what I was afraid of.

Maybe my best solution is to invest in a cast iron skillet, and use a propane grill. Damn.

Menchie · 08-05-2018, 07:08 PM

I run a BUNN coffee maker and an electric skillet no problem with two 100AH 12v Lithium Batteries and a 3000w inverter. Never ran out of power so far. I imagine I could also run a portable induction cooktop with no issues.

RoyBraddy · 08-05-2018, 07:32 PM

I use the CUSINART GRIND AND BREW coffee maker on my 2KW generator when camping off-grid. This only requires 120VAC for about 5-minutes to make 10-cups of coffee. Then it pours up into a thermos carafe... After it makes the coffee it turns completely off...

Google image

I have three Power inverters in my setup. One is a 1500WATT PSW that I can plug the shore power cable into it. I very seldom have used this but having all the 120VAc receptacles seemed like a good idea one time... This would really eat up my battery bank...

Another one I have is my workhorse 600WATT PSW which I run two extension cords from it to the back of a cabinet top in both ends of my popup. This runs special items like the home entertainment items and a few other low wattage 120VAC items we find we need to use every now and then. This is always ON in my trailer. I very seldom excede 300 watts or so of power needs. Then my truck also has a 350WATT PSW Power inverter to use for whatevers.... This is great for grinding coffee beans and running outside lights sometimes... This used to be a MSW Power inverter but you always had to watch what you was plugging in and I burned up a couple of things so now I only use PSW type Power Inverters... Never have to worry about this. Just plug in a run with it...

My battery bank was rated at 255AHs and I never ran out of power. I would have to recharge the next morning most of the time which took a three hour 2kW generator run time during breakfast....

This battery bank has worked great since being installed in 2008 and just finally used up the batteries a couple of season back. I am now working on a 450AHbattery bank using two groups of two GC2 6VDC batteries is series.

We like to camp off grid most of the time...

Roy Ken

**Mustang65** · 08-06-2018, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graunke

This is what I was afraid of.

Maybe my best solution is to invest in a cast iron skillet, and use a propane grill. Damn.

2X

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

JesseS · 08-07-2018, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graunke

This is what I was afraid of.

Maybe my best solution is to invest in a cast iron skillet, and use a propane grill. Damn.

That would certainly be the most cost effective. We have a whole house 2500 watt inverter that runs both the coffee pot (Keurig) and electric fry skillet, one at a time of course. But we also have 200 amps of LiFePo4 batteries, which supply a heck of a lot of power. We can make 4 cups of coffee, and cook breakfast in the skillet without pulling the battery down past 70% DOD, this after watching TV the night before. Recharge time on solar 3-4 hours @ 30 amps, or 1-2 hours on genset or alternator @ 45 amps. Not for everyone, but we boondock a lot.

You may also like: