Portable Inverter

DavidZ said:

Has anyone seen a portable power inverter for sale in DR. Something that's intended for 12v in and out...along these lines:

Amazon.com: Duracell DRPP600 Powerpack 600 Jump Starter and Emergency Power Source: Automotive

I've seen the smaller ones that are really designed to jump-start a car, but I'm looking for something that will stay in the house and can power a fan and a few lights over night and recharge a cellphone and laptop when the power's out.

I was also thinking of using a Battery Tender attached to a car (or inverter) battery, attached to a stand-alone inverter like this:

Amazon.com: BESTEK 1000w 12v to 110v inverter power supply 12v battery backup power charger inverter power solor charger battery boat power motor marine inverter power ac supply emergency power pack outdoor unit power source emergency charger power h

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive solution for people who can't afford a regular inline Inverter set-up.

Any thoughts?

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pricesmart has very something very similar... but it's mostly the car jump starter version.. It's not really a good option for laptop/fans/light etc since it only has an outlet or two and VERY little power. The price is like 7000 and for that price you can get a tiny inverter with 1 battery. They are hard to find but at some of the smaller ferreterias I saw the 1 battery setup, very cheap.

"DerFish", "Yeah!, and that "GUY" is now dead!
Radiation, explosion,"Tin Foil Hat" poisoning, too much "Sea Weed"???????
BUT, he was "OURS", and we miss him!
He really is in "Outer Space" now!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wonder who he calls himself now????
New IPS address for sure!
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DavidZ said:

........I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive solution for people who can't afford a regular inline Inverter set-up.

Any thoughts?

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What about a UPS? I have two smaller size units which work quite well. One unit I have my TV, modem, router connected to and when the power goes out everything continues to work. All depending on what you connect to the UPS will determine how long you will have stand-by power. Quite naturally the larger the unit you buy the longer you will have emergency power.

Amazon.com: CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD Intelligent LCD UPS 1500VA 900W AVR Mini-Tower: Computers & Accessories

What you need is a regular 12 volt car battery, a small solar panel meant for charging batteries, and a 400W inverter(The type you use in your car). May not run a fan, or if it did it wouldn't for long, but it would easily charge your laptop and phone and run a few lights. Inverter and solar panel on Amazon for $150, buy a battery at a hardware store for $100.

DavidZ said:

That's an option, but as far as I know, either due to the size of the batteries or the configuration, UPS's don't run very long, even with smaller items attached to them.

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Yes, you are correct to a certain extent. The more you spend the longer you will have stand-by power. You really won't get much by just spending a few hundred dollars. My guess you would probably have to spend in the $1000 or more range to achieve what you are looking for.

Just keep in mind the single 12v car battery still will not power much and won't last long either. Once the battery drains no more power. Main reason I mentioned the UPS was it was in the price range of the item you first mentioned. The UPS would keep a small lamp lit, run a small table top fan for a few hours but not much more. There is no way you will achieve stand-by power to run a few lights, a fan overnight, and charge your electronics for a couple hundred dollars.

Maybe those who have the full inverter set-up will chime in and give info on what they can power and for how long.

DavidZ said:

I'm thinking more like $200:

Deep Cycle 12v battery +/- $100
1000 watt Inverter +/- $70
Battery Tender +/- $30

The battery I would obviously get here, I'm hoping to find the inverter and possibly the Battery Tender here as well, but they can be shipped from the US reasonably inexpensively. But ideally I'd rather find a self-contained unit, similar in design to a UPS or the first item in my OP.

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My house came with an inverter and four batteries. It actually works pretty well. We loose power for about 8 hours a day, every day. During that eight hours it will run two fans, a hand full of lights, the water pump, and the TV/ computers. We typically don't know that we have lost power, unless you hear the inverter kick in. Batteries are $100 a piece. I am not sure how much the inverter is, but they have them at La Sirena

DavidZ said:

Well...I have a four battery inverter and I can run my fridge, all appliances, TV, lights, fans, computer, etc. for at least a day. I would think 1 battery could power a fraction of that output for a night.

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All except the fans he was talking about, maybe. I am limited knowledge about electricity, and I think the fans would be a problem because of the increased amperage required to start and run the motors.

I haven't been able to keep the fridge plugged in, the drains the batteries too quickly. My landlord just replaced the old batteries with new ones, so I am hoping it will work now.

DavidZ said:

I'm thinking more like $200:

Deep Cycle 12v battery +/- $100
1000 watt Inverter +/- $70
Battery Tender +/- $30

The battery I would obviously get here, I'm hoping to find the inverter and possibly the Battery Tender here as well, but they can be shipped from the US reasonably inexpensively. But ideally I'd rather find a self-contained unit, similar in design to a UPS or the first item in my OP.

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OK, now once you purchase all the parts what do you do with them? How do you connect them to your house wiring?

I was not aware you currently have a 4 battery inverter system in place so are you now thinking of a secondary back-up system?

Add up the watts of all the things you want to run and divide it by the volts the inverter will put out (110 AC)

i.e. Ten 40 watt light bulbs would be 400 watts, 400/110= 3.6. 3.6 is the amps. Batteries have amp hour ratings on them (Ah). If you have a 40Ah battery, then is would run those ten lightbulbs for 11 hours, 40/3.6. These calculation come from google, and my attempt a couple weeks ago to figure out how to run an AC pool salt chlorinator with a solar panel. I could be way wrong!

Got-cha, than definitely look into a UPS. Buy the largest size depending on how much you want to spend. Just keep it plugged in at your house and when needed pick it up and take it wherever it is needed. If necessary bring it back to your house the next day and charge it back up. If you check a computer store in your area they should be able to tell you what is available. To compliment the UPS buy a small table top lamp and a small table top fan. Like you say, it sure beats a blank.

The inverter, car battery, trickle charger is going to be a disaster. You would still need to provide electrical outlets, etc.

The "Inverter Unit" aize/capacity,does NOT dictate how "LONG" you will be able to run any electric device.
The size, and number, of Batteries hocked up to your "Invetor DO, however they in no way indicate the number of devices you can run.
Inverter size/capacity = how many devices you can run at the same time, the Batteries = for how long!
That said, here is the "Traditional Dominican Way".
Buy the biggest invertor you can afford for the # of things you want to connect at the same time.
Buy as many Batteries as you can afford,to have power for the longest time you need.
Icing on the Cake, but a generator,"Planta", that will run your house when the street power is "Lost" for a longer period of time than your Inveter/battery system can give you power.
With your "Planta",you will have power, AND be able to recharge your batteries at the same time, when your batteries are charged by you "Planta",turn off your "Planta", use your inverter/ battery system until it is depleted, then "REPEAT"!
You will need a really Great electrician, with DR1 References preferably, or you may end up with an electrical disaster,in your house.
A good electrician will hook up ONLY the electrical devices YOU WANT to be on your emergency power system.
All other circuits are connected in a separate circuit.
He will use a big "Breaker Box", to keep each circuit unique.
I have had the same graduate, at least he has the univ. ring, electrical engineer for 15 years!
He installed my "Trace", 3.6 K inveter in the first haose I rented here for 1 year, than moved it to my present home.
The inverter has stopped working 2 times in 15 years, both times he changed a "Board" for a few thousand pesos and I was back in business.
A Bad Electrician, can "F@#K Up" an expensive, great system!
Dominicans say,
"Lo Barato,Sale Caro"!!!!!
"Cheap", is EXPENSIVE!
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