| Author | Message | ||
| T. Gold (Zinguvok)
Registered Member Username: Zinguvok Post Number: 13 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 66.8.219.155 Rating: N/A |
Still working on my shiny "new" van... not quite a bus, I'm saving that for when I go back to the Mainland. Anyway, I'm getting ready to install my power converter -- not an inverter, no, but a 1960s-vintage 12v -> 120v converter. Anyway, the outlet on it is a 2-prong polarized outlet... I was considering buying one of those adapters that has a 3-prong female outlet and a 2-prong male outlet with a lead that you're supposed to tie to ground on it, and tying the ground to the vehicle body. Thoughts? Should I just chuck this thing and drop a C-note on a real inverter? I have to admit, the persistent buzz from the vibrating element seems like it could get to a guy after a while...  | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 212 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.226.105.227 Rating: N/A |
I used to live there...worked for Hawaian Western Steel...in Ewa beach....I have no idea what a '60's inverter would be like ...main thing you need to think about is 'how much' 120v you will need...what you are going to run on it..T.V. ,computer.., refrigerator ? I bought a 60.00 one ..on sale for 30.00 at Harbor freight...you probably don't have Harbor fr. over there,but,mainly I bought it for my house refrigerator,for the few days that I am away from power pole elec.& it's doing a fine job. it DOES have a high speed fan,that really turns up some rpm & in a small space ,like a van,might annoy ya' some, it's in one of my bays & I can't hear it while I'm in the bus...I am running 6 car batteries to it....but,that depends on how much use you plan on it doing. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.80.150 Rating: N/A |
Hello T, What you have IS an inverter by definifinition (they make AC out of DC.) Converters make DC out of AC. Yours uses a vibrator to make 12 volt DC square wave, which it sends through a transformer to make 120 volt SQUARE WAVE. Shore power, generators, alternators and sine wave inverters all are SINE WAVE. Obviously the less expensive inverters are MODIFIED SINE WAVE (MSW). Some electronic equipment doesn't operate properly on msw. Sine wave voltage is rated by 'root mean square,' which is .707 of peak to peak. So, 120 volt power is 120/.707=155 volts peak to peak. Square wave's effective value is much higher. My electronics degree is 34 years old now, but I know there isn't an rms value for square wave. Also, there isn't anything like frequency control in your antique. It will run 40+ year old brush type motors, (which are rated AC/DC) like corded drills, etc. and vibrating electric shavers, coffe cup heaters, etc. I guarantee it will destroy new electronic equipment in minutes. A proper ground is a good idea, however, not with an appliance that was not originally intended to be grounded. There is a good chance that one side of the transformer may be grounded, which would cause tremendous problems. Sorry to take up so much board space, but do yourself a favor, recycle it, and buy a new solid state device! George | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1697 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.82.163 Rating: N/A |
The vibrators in these old units, like used to be in 6/12 volt radios, are very prone to failure and I strongly suspect are no longer on the market. Richrd | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 680 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
Boat Anchor that old Inverter... Kinda sounds like one of the old Tripp-Lite clunkers?? ( before they re-invented transistors?) Get one of the newer and more reliable all electronic ones. No transformer hum and much more efficient. | ||
| T. Gold (Zinguvok)
Registered Member Username: Zinguvok Post Number: 14 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 66.8.219.155 Rating: N/A |
Thanks very much, guys! George, I thought that might have been the way it worked. Thanks for the confirmation. I will buy a new inverter for this project and save this for something else. Portable lighting, most likely. | ||
| herman Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.239.180.145 Rating: N/A |
George Todd: The peak voltage is not 155, but 170. For a square wave, the RMS and peak voltages are the same; in this case it would be 120. |