Posted by Ndwa on 12/7/06 5:51am
Msg #164469

Mobile office safety...PLEASE READ

It seems to be the trend now that many are opting for the cheap and short way to mobile capability without knowledge of the danger in dealing with electricity. For your own well being, I beg that you think twice, research, or atleast get professional opinion before doing anything different than what I point out below.

Using a modified-sine instead of a pure-sine inverter will ruin your printer and is a potential electrical (fire) hazard in the long run. The printer (transformer/power supply) basically have to work twice as hard (run hotter) to correct the irregularity of the modified-sine to meet the specified need of critical parts like the fuser and laser formatter.

Using 14 gauge house wire to connect a printer to the inverter and between the battery (without a fuse/breaker) of a car is like having a time bomb ticking ticking until KAA-BOOM. This was from a post I read on another forum where an SA flatterly outlined how he did it for fraction of the cost from an actual set up. Try comparing what's inside a light bulb and how many watts it takes to lit one as apposed to ~600w on a 14 gauge wire.

In short, an electrical journeyman spent as much time in school and apprenticeships as a doctor would before s/he is granted the license.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 12/7/06 5:57am
Msg #164470

Excellent words of advice. No such thing as a short-cut. n/m

Reply by PAW on 12/7/06 7:19am
Msg #164478

No such thing as a short-cut ... just a short circuit! n/m

Reply by LawrenceOK on 12/7/06 7:19am
Msg #164477

I found out the hard way, (to the tune of $750.00) NOT to install these yourself! I now have the RoadPro RPPI-1500 (professionally installed) and the HP 1320 mounted in the Van. Also, be sure to start your vehicle if you are going to print a full set of docs. This sure saves on the battery.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 12/7/06 7:43am
Msg #164485

Lawrence! Dig-out frm/the snow yet? n/m

Reply by LawrenceOK on 12/7/06 8:36am
Msg #164496

Re: Lawrence! Dig-out from/the snow yet?

Yeah, I finally went out Monday and shoveled a path to the mailbox. Of course, just as soon as I did, it all started melting. Its all almost gone now, except for where it piled up in the drifts.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 12/7/06 8:06am
Msg #164489

Excellent advice , and further, get a cell modem for....

a lap top, downloand dox while driving, take lap top
and printer into customers house, plug into socket and
sign dox as they come off printer.
High speed Cell modem is $100 or less and servcie is 20 -40/ month

Reply by Gerry_VT on 12/7/06 12:55pm
Msg #164580

The advise about professional installation is excellent, as is the advise about not using 14 gauge wire from the battery to the inverter. However, 14 gauge should be fine between the inverter and the printer. The reason is that to deliver 600 watts at 120 volts, you need 5 amperes, which 14 gauge wire can handle. But to deliver the same power at 12 volts, you need 50 amperes, which is too much for 14 gauge wire. A professional installer will know this, and also know what safety factors to put in.