Hello All,

I need to run 120V power in the mini. The device I want to use takes a 1200W load. I only need to use it 10 mins a day even if that.

Any suggestions? Pics or links would be great.

Thank in advance.

Long

 

1200 watts is a lot. May I ask what it is? Walmart has one for 112 dollars, but that is alot of power from the small Mini battery.

 

Wow, 1200w is a big chunk of power. You can purchase something like this:

http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/cu...kc=PW1500-4AWG

But I can not say if the MINI can or should be handling that extra load. I personally would never try to get 1200w @ 115v AC out of a 12v DC power supply.

 

I am doing an extended 4 week camping trip and was wondering about running some things from the car. Possibly a radio, coffee machine and other stuff.

Is it safe to get 1200 watts out of the little mini battery?

If not I will grab a little Honda generator. I will post some more info about the trip as March ends.

Cheers

 

Honestly, If I was you, I would get the generator. Imagine how much more you would spend if your cars electrical system got messed up by that inverter.

Yes, you could run all those things, but I wouldn't.

p.s. I am an electrician. . . .

 

If you install an inverter your run two main risks:

1. If the car is off you will drain the battery, no idea how fast though

2. If the car is running you risk frying the alternator.

That said, another used Pimpedout97x runs several very large amplifiers for a sound system in his mini (2x 3k watt RMS I think) and he hasnt blown his alternator yet AFAIK. Assuming you could get an inverter that was 100% efficient you would need 100 amps of current from the alternator to power the inverter.

 

I'd use a gas stove to make the coffee. Its a lot more efficient to make your heat by directly burning something than burning it in an inefficient engine, turning that into electricity then using that to heat water. If you didn't have the electric coffee maker I'd guess you'd need a lot less juice.

Also as radios go, there's one in the MINI.

 

I've run a 400W inverter while camping many times. It will easily run a small desk lamp, mp3 players and a laptop in a tent or shelter for several hours. I haven't tried using a coffeemaker, but it should handle that OK. Never had a problem killing a battery or damaging anything else. I've used it with my MGB and Lexus; tried it in the MINI to make sure it works but haven't had a chance for any extended use yet (NOT camping weather here in Canada yet!!).

One tip, though: my inverter has 2 power connecting cords, one for plugging it into a power socket in the car, and another much heavier duty cable for clipping directly to the battery posts. The battery post connection is much preferable when using it at a campsite - - much more stable, cleaner power and no blown fuses in the car power circuit (the inverter has its' own internal fuses and overload/short circuit protection anyway.).

I tried to post a picture of the one I have - it wouldn't upload for some reason. It was regularly about $60 CDN @ Canadian Tire, but I got it on sale for about $35 bucks.

 

I have rum my 3000 watt power inverter in many type cars and trucks... I don't think I would ever hook it up in my MINI, but if I did, I would hook it directly to the batt terminals. jumper cable size cables. Keep them as short as posible. no more than 1 foot. and start the motor before turning on the power inverter.
I can run a really massive PA off my inverter.

Music is the silence between the notes,
MPB

 

Thanks for all the advice guys and gals. I am going to take a look at the Honda EU2000 protable generator this weekend to see if that would be a good alternative.

The one risk I don't want to take is fry my mini on a 4 week road trip.

 

I have an inverter from London Drugs... it runs my 65W laptop just fine. Anything with a heating element is going to have high wattage... like you say, a portable generator or a simple butane campstove would be more suitable for what you have in mind.

I liked that the Vibe has an inverter built in... though, I suppose, it's not a HUGE hassle to pull my inverter out of the glovebox. And I guess it's one less thing built into the car to go wrong...

 

you can flip through the products on this page to get a better idea of different things out there, I have used a few in the past for camping and in the garage depending on what I needed

http://www.xantrex.com/products.asp

 

Recreational Vehicle shops sell Grills, stoves, toaster ovens, & coffee pots that all plug into a cigarette lighter. Back when I was on tour with the Grateful Dead I used to own all items listed above.
But, you know what would be COOL!!! Get a solar panel, and a deep cycle marine battery. put the solar panel in the window or your car while your driving, charge the DCM and it should be fine for the 10 or 15 minutes a day you mentioned wanting to be able to use it.

Regards,
MPB

 

1200W is 100 amps out of your 12V battery. The starter motor takes more
than that when cranking, but it's a bit much to ask from a small car battery and
a 105 or 120 amp alternator.

 

Yes, it will be over 100A! You need a dedicated battery to do this or you will be calling a tow truck.

 

You don't need an electric coffee maker to make coffee. Pick up a french press, boil your water, and pour it into the french press and the coffee tastes 10 times better. You could even pick up a manual coffee grinder, I have one for power failures.

 

+1 to that.

If you're going to be camping, you need to leave a lot of the things that need electricity behind. That's part of the point of a camping trip.

A good, simple 2-burner camp stove, some (non-stick!!) pots, pans and utensils, a kettle for boiling water is about all you really need. Leave all the electrical appliances at home and go "minimalist", that's my advice. Enjoy your outdoor setting, and leave all the junk behind.

That being said, however, SOME electrical things are a plus. Small low-power plug-in lamps for inside the tent are a godsend and make life much more enjoyable (reading, not tripping over things, or whatever). I usually bring my laptop and a couple of movies - for those rainy/miserable days or nights when you want to stay inside (because a group of people in a tent with nothing to do can get old really fast!). Maybe a PSP or Gameboy for the kids - - see above comment re: rainy days.

These few things are easily powered by my 400W inverter for a couple of hours every day if necessary. Now, the MINI has a really tiny battery, I haven't done the camping thing with it yet and can't definitively say how it would work over the course of a few days or more. I can say I've never had a problem with several other vehicles used in this way. I think it should be OK if you're careful.

Enjoy!!