SKarosser Copy Scratch Home build?????

[zildjian]

Good,
weather is improving so that should help motivate.
I think there are some truck microwaves that run off 12v though in fairness I couldn't find any and had to look out the smallest
mains model to run when hooked up somewhere, did try a small inverter with some success and I expect like everything else
they've probably progressed in leaps and bounds since
will be interested to see what you come up with

[wonkywheel]

The inverter has arrived today

Its only a cheap one (£82) off ebay and is supposed to be a full sine wave output but at that price I doubt it.
I wanted one to run a microwave, (the biggest power draw i will use) so this is 1000w continuous. I intend an 800w microwave.



Eager to test out my new toy I rushed up to the camper with it. Bloody cold so I took advantage of the Chinese diesel heater to warm things up. Still works great although I did notice when I connected the inverter it was only showing 12.5/12.6 volts with the glow plug lit up in the heater.
The battery connections on the inverter are crocodile clips but I will put in permanent heavy duty cables when i've decided where to position it.



I need to fix the TV/monitor to the bracket before I test it driven by the inverter. There is a possibility that the inverter will cause some interference and the TV position is fixed but I can move the inverter about at this stage. So there was no testing of the 240v output. That will follow when I have cleared some space.



With the sun out, even at the low angle it is at the minute, The inverter was showing a healthy voltage. and the heater was still ticking along nice and comfortable.
With it being a cheap model its not all that efficient. The conversion rate is 80%, so according to their calculations an 800w microwave should run:-
12v x 220ah x 0.8 x 0.9/800 = 2.376 hr
Those figures I consider might work once but could destroy the batteries. (possibly obtainable with a lithium battery as they have more usable power)I only intend its use for short periods so that hopefully will not be a problem. I am also hoping that the solar feed, if the sun is out will keep things going nicely.

[wonkywheel]

A bit more testing today.

I took a Bush 24 inch TV up to the camper to try.
It worked very well, with no problems. I ended up watching a part of "The Flight of the Navigator" which was on a DVD I must have left in it.
I'm not sure how long I could run it as the sun was out and although the initial voltage was 13.7v it did fall to 12.7v during the 20 minutes I sat watching.


I had intended positioning the inverter in the clothes wardrobe where the solar controller is but after some recommendations from users on the sister site I have changed my mind. That was to position the inverter as close to the batteries as is practical with beefed up cabling to avoid voltage drop.
I have the battery box as a step under the table an my first thought was to put in there with the batteries. I perhaps foolhardily have never completed venting the batteries to the outside. It didn't seem a problem with no source of ignition close to, but if the inverter was in there with them high amp switching could potentially cause sparks.
I have a lower step in front of the battery box, there to stop my short legs dangling while sitting at the table. This is both tall enough and deep enough to accommodate the inverter allowing isolation and the ability to have cooling air circulating around it. Simple It also has the benefit of only needing about a foot of heavy gauge cable to hook it up.
Any longer wire will be 240v fly lead so not so susceptible to voltage drop.

I had installed an outdoor WiFi extender aerial on the outside of the house some time ago and was surprised and delighted that the smart TV asked for my WiFi password to log on. That's great when you consider the camper is behind the shed in line of site and about 90ft
away.
That means I will be able to log on with my Raspberry pi computer when I use the TV as a monitor.
A good successful day in the sunshine and no chemotherapy until tomorrow.

[zildjian]

Think I only thought about an inverter so as to be able to use a MW, think just about every other item is 12V battery friendly,
not sure what the long term effect on a battery is though as you say its only for occasional use