Electrical Outlets Not Working - What to Use to Charge Laptop/iPhone etc. Use blender/coffee grinder

bikegirl

Hey everyone,

I didn't realize that when you run on battery for power that the outlets don't work. 

I have devices to charge and I have a blender that I use and a coffee grinder. How do you use any of that? How do you recharge devices etc.?

@pthomas745 it was your old post I saw when you asked about the power outlets. What do you do?

Thanks!

P

ChrisandAlexis

@bikegirl , here is a discussion about using inverters to power on the devices that need AC to run  https://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/85068#Comment_85068

pthomas745

Yeah, that blew me away, too!

I have this 300 watt small inverter for laptops and small things like camera battery chargers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3Q8YAI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It will plug right in to the 12V plugs in the Tab, and you plug your electrical toys into the inverter. (Note:  those plugs are very close together.  Search for one foot extension cords that will give you more room when plugging in more that one device).

All inverters have to be able to survive an initial power surge to devices that have strong motors, or things that produce heat.  A coffee pot, for example.    A 300 watt inverter might be too small to run a blender, so you would need to test it.   The small coffee grinder would probably work.  As a test last weekend, the 300w inverter could not run a 10 cup Cuisinart, even though the bowl was empty. 

In case of bigger power needs like that, I have 900 watt inverter.  I usually leave it in the tow vehicle, and attach it directly to the battery when I need to use it.  It will successfully run a 3qt Instapot.  There are still many threads on the web concerning pure sine wave inverters, but I haven't come across any device that will not work in these ordinary and inexpensive "modified sine wave" inverters.

There are many different styles and power levels in inverters.  A friend of mine just bought a 3000w inverter, which is about the size of a big loaf of bread.  She is going to use a hairdryer no matter what!

For my laptop, I have a 12V car charger:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JGCJWFW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can also just plug in the regular power supply for the laptop right into the inverter.

And something like this ( I don't have this model).  When you want to plug in more than one 12v plug:

https://www.amazon.com/MEIDI-3-Socket-Cigarette-Splitter-Smartphones/dp/B01CL27AZW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515821623&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=avantex+3+socket+power

There are many of these types of devices on Amazon/Ebay.  Truck stops and auto supply stores have lots of 12v accessories if you need something right away.

PS:  I do plug things into the Tabs outlets, but my feeling is the "big" battery up in the battery box should be reserved for important Tab functions.    I carry an extra 35AH battery in a small battery box that I use inside the Tab when working with the laptop...my laptop uses about 3 amp hours an hour, so it can run the laptop for about 5 or 6 hours, depending on what I'm doing with it.  I use one of these to use that small battery with the 12V adapters and plugs. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JOY6U7U/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

bikegirl

Thanks @ChrisandAlexis and @pthomas745

My Nutri Bullet is 900 watts and my coffee grinder I think would be 100-200 watts. I only use both of them for seconds at a time and only once every 4 or 5 days.

I was about to purchase a Cuisinart Convection Oven and it is 1800 watts and I suppose out of the question when I'm not using shore power. I would have that on for an hour. 

If my Nutri Bullet is 900 watts then I'm guessing I would require an inverter that is much more than that for it to even power up?

The disconnect I have right now is how do you figure out how many amp hours each of my small appliances use based on their watts? Or is that even the right question?

Thanks!!!  

Luckyj

Many of those items you are taliking about can be had in manual operated.  Coffe grinder can be found manualy operated, blender as well, saw a post somewhere here or on the tagy your it facebook.

some items that you want to charge, could have 12 volts charger that works with your device.

coffe maker, then would be propane of your choise of electric. Or hot water and press type or cowboy style.

you have options if you do not want to go with a converter. I even ounce saw a blender that was modified to work with compresses air from a dremel type tool.  Coudl work with a coffee grinder too.  Lol

dsfdogs

RV Education 101 on Youtube has been very helpful to me and this is a short video on living on 30 AMPs and the formulas to calculate volts/watts/AMPS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXiQhZkurL0&t=14s

pthomas745

@bikegirl, look back in the other solar thread and read ScottG's post about how to determine amp hours.  After that thread the other day I went back and relearned some things.  The calculation is pretty basic.

The question on appliances with motors is the inverter's capacity to handle the "surge" or "peak" power requirements of the motor in the appliance, and the wattage number may not be a good guide.   I'm guessing the grinder (I'm thinking the smaller grinders, not the larger grinders I use with my espresso machine in my kitchen) might work fine.  But, you need to test it.

The other thing to remember is the blender's 900 watts is the "maximum" amount of power it could use.  It may not need 900 watts all the time.  And, yes, that is a big amp hit on your battery, but you are only using it for a short period of time.  My small Instapot is rated at 700w, and runs on my 900 watt inverter.  While the unit is heating up, it is using a lot of power, but once it reaches pressure, the usage goes almost to nothing.  But, even though the "heating" time is maybe 5 to 10 minutes, my battery went from full to 70%.  That is when I learned about the Peukert Effect:

 https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/peukert-s-law-a-nerds-attempt-to-explain-battery-capacity.html

As Luckyj points out, there are non-electric alternatives.  I could use a stovetop pressure cooker.  I have a Javapresse manual coffee grinder that works pretty well, and I've even used it with the cordless drill I use for the stabilizers to grind coffee with no effort!

Marceline

Luckyj said:

Many of those items you are taliking about can be had in manual operated.  Coffe grinder can be found manualy operated, blender as well, saw a post somewhere here or on the tagy your it facebook.

some items that you want to charge, could have 12 volts charger that works with your device.

coffe maker, then would be propane of your choise of electric. Or hot water and press type or cowboy style.

you have options if you do not want to go with a converter. I even ounce saw a blender that was modified to work with compresses air from a dremel type tool.  Coudl work with a coffee grinder too.  Lol

And then there's this (I have a friend who had one).
http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas-Powered-Blender/

Luckyj

@Marceline, naah, a gas power blender need handlebars.

gas powered blender for sale

Luckyj

@Marceline. Naah, a gas power blender needs handle bars.
https://www.thegreenhead.com/2008/12/gas-powered-party-blender.php

and a battery drill operated coffe grinder is a good idea.  I am sure that a blender could also be operated by a battery power drill.  Hum!

Luckyj

I have no clue how he use the control panel.  But I thnik I would simply go with a die grinder and a used blender jug.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WpWLywH-muY