Batteries not included....

[56Nomad]

I can't find the string about a volt meter

Vette Racer
Posted July 10, 2005 12:24 AM

"No, I got it at Sam's Club. Appreciate the input and please check the voltage. I'll be real interested in what you get. In the mean time I think I'll go back and have them replace it to see what happens. Thanks"

We'll Tom, I went to Radio Shack and got their
digital voltage meter. I was just about to use it
and decided to read the directions.

Ouch...... I need a **** specialized battery for
it, which has to be purchased separately.

Looks like tommorrow.

We're waiting from a special post from King
Salami and Sandy

[56Nomad]

I can't find the string about a volt meter

Vette Racer
Posted July 10, 2005 12:24 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">"No, I got it at Sam's Club. Appreciate the input and please check the voltage. I'll be real interested in what you get. In the mean time I think I'll go back and have them replace it to see what happens. Thanks" </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We'll Tom, I went to Radio Shack and got their
digital voltage meter. I was just about to use it
and decided to read the directions.

Ouch...... I need a **** specialized battery for
it, which has to be purchased separately.

Looks like tommorrow.

We're waiting from a special post from King
Salami and Sandy

[FatDog]

did i read this correctly??
a special batt for a digital volt meter?

what happened to the ~20 models that Sears Craftsman has that take a 9V ?

[SandyFeet]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by FatDog:
what happened to the ~20 models that Sears Craftsman has that take a 9V ? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, FD, Sears still has 'em -- but Radio Shack is 3.1 miles CLOSER to Howie's house than Sears.

[FatDog]

alright,... we got a real situation here ....

[Vette Racer]

Well, never fear. The testing continues and to heck with that other thread.

According to the instructions, you know, the ones you never read until everything else fails. Well, they claim that since this inverter puts out a modified sine wave your digital meters won't read accurately, about 10-20 volts low. However, I took the other one back and got a new one, this one reads correctly and is putting out 118-124 volts depending on the load, on my digital voltmeter. Puts out appprox 107-no load. So, so much for the instructions. Just had a bad inverter.

Now I'm running a test to see how long my two batteries in the Jeep will run the ice maker and how much ice it will produce before power out status. Do you'all realize that a 1500 watt inverter under full load will pull 300 amps? WOW, no wonder those leads are so big. I can weld with less than that.

Ok, Update: Ice maker ran 6 hrs and made 7 lbs of ice in 90 degree heat before succumbing to a low voltage alarm. Jeep still starts at that battery voltage so that won't be a problem. Next we'll see if a trip of around 75 miles will charge the batteries back up fully, ie..to town and back. Then we'll see if it can go another 6 hrs.

Doesn't take much to entertain me!

[56Nomad]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Vette Racer:
Well, never fear. The testing continues and to heck with that other thread.

According to the instructions, you know, the ones you never read until everything else fails. Well, they claim that since this inverter puts out a modified sine wave your digital meters won't read accurately, about 10-20 volts low. However, I took the other one back and got a new one, this one reads correctly and is putting out 118-124 volts depending on the load, on my digital voltmeter. Puts out appprox 107-no load. So, so much for the instructions. Just had a bad inverter.

Now I'm running a test to see how long my two batteries in the Jeep will run the ice maker and how much ice it will produce before power out status. Do you'all realize that a 1500 watt inverter under full load will pull 300 amps? WOW, no wonder those leads are so big. I can weld with less than that.

Ok, Update: Ice maker ran 6 hrs and made 7 lbs of ice in 90 degree heat before succumbing to a low voltage alarm. Jeep still starts at that battery voltage so that won't be a problem. Next we'll see if a trip of around 75 miles will charge the batteries back up fully, ie..to town and back. Then we'll see if it can go another 6 hrs.

Doesn't take much to entertain me! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Tom,

I returned the volt meter to Radio Shack and
picked up a Craftsman digital meter that uses
a regular 9v battery

My XPower 1500 Xantrex inverter puts out 115 volt
with no load. I didn't test it under load.

My bank of (3) 12v deep cycle batteries puts out
12.73 volts.

Glad you found the problem.

[Vette Racer]

Thanks Howie

Sorry about making you go get a voltmeter but now that you have it you can keep a check on things.

Appreciate the voltage check. I think this inverter is called "power on board". Said something about soft start and three stages of power inversion. Probably about like all the rest. Stays consistent at 124 volts under load right down to low voltage alarm time. Its suppose to shutdown before it runs the battery down too far to start the vehicle and it did.