Community Forums

twinbubba · 04-02-2007, 03:11 AM

I have been thinking about getting an inverter for some time now and due to a generator problem that I may not be able to get fixed before my hunting trip this coming weekend, I was wondering what wattage of inverter I would need to run a 17 LCD TV w/Sat receiver and/or my coffee pot. The need for the TV/Sat. is so I can watch the Mavs game Fri. night.
Due to the way/place I will use it, I don't want to hardwire it into the FS wiring system. I will be using it outside mostly and it would also be nice to carry it to my hunting lease on those trips where I don't haul the TH. I would like to use it in the bed of the truck from time-to-time when working around the ranch for power tools.

So any recommendations on wattage/MFG.
Does some MFG make a good one with gator clips to attach directly to my batteries?

TB

twinbubba · 04-02-2007, 03:11 AM

I have been thinking about getting an inverter for some time now and due to a generator problem that I may not be able to get fixed before my hunting trip this coming weekend, I was wondering what wattage of inverter I would need to run a 17 LCD TV w/Sat receiver and/or my coffee pot. The need for the TV/Sat. is so I can watch the Mavs game Fri. night.
Due to the way/place I will use it, I don't want to hardwire it into the FS wiring system. I will be using it outside mostly and it would also be nice to carry it to my hunting lease on those trips where I don't haul the TH. I would like to use it in the bed of the truck from time-to-time when working around the ranch for power tools.

So any recommendations on wattage/MFG.
Does some MFG make a good one with gator clips to attach directly to my batteries?

TB

56Nomad · 04-02-2007, 05:42 PM

TB,

I wouldn't go less than a 1500 watt inverter.....

Here is a great deal for a very dependable unit: Click here

They also supply the #4 cables you'll need from the battery. You will not be able to use gator clips with this one...

twinbubba · 04-04-2007, 03:18 AM

Thanks, that is the wattage I was thinking about and the price looks good from what I have seen in a couple of stores here. I won't have time to order it and get it before this weekends trip but I came up with a solution Monday evening. I have a Coleman Powermate 1000 protable gen and I set up all the sat. epuipment outside the TH cranked up the little gen and it worked great. The Coleman will only run about 2 1/2 hr. on a tank full so I will fill it up again during halftime of the Mavs game.
Looking forward to this first trip of the year in the TH. Just my luck the Onan takes a dump a week before my trip. I ran it for about a 1/2 hr. three weeks ago without a problem. Also the weather people are predicting rain for most of the weekend which dosen't go real good with turkey hunting.
As the saying goes..."if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all".

TB

sjseng · 04-08-2007, 04:59 AM

I have a Xantrex 1200 watt running a 17" LCD and a satalite reciever. That is more than enough. If you look at your TV's plug, it is only using something like 14 volts. LCD's use very little power in comparison. My parents use a 600 watt and run a 15" traditional TV, reciever, DVD player, and another small TV for grandkids with VCR. And it does the job well.

Also, it doesn't hurt much to get a big inverter. They only pull the amount of power that is needed. The only thing that I can say is DO NOT plug any type of charging unit into the inverter unless you have a Modified sine wave inverter. They are at least 3x's the cost.

Trvlngnrs · 04-08-2007, 02:48 PM

Try looking on the back of the TV. There should be something that tells the wattage used. It may be on the plug also. I have a 20" TV that uses 75 watts in my WW.

www.donrowe.com has good prices. i just intalled a Xantrex 1200+ I purchased from them.

Steve