Posted by NCLisa on 1/9/07 7:18am
Msg #169972

Inverter Questions. (Mobile office)

I'm getting ready for the mobile office. My laptop is on its way, got a printer, now I need an inverter (pure sine). What size inverter do I need, and where can I get one installed.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 1/9/07 7:46am
Msg #169973

Can be installed at a stereo installation shop.
You need to get one that supports the combined amount of amps
the hardware will use. That information can be found in the specs of the
hardware, and in some cases, right on the back of the equipment.

Reply by PE on 1/9/07 7:48am
Msg #169974

I have a Aims 2000watt pure sine inverter, I had it installed at a local electronic shop and the added a extra fuse to the battery

Reply by Becca_FL on 1/9/07 9:04am
Msg #169984

IMO, you need at least a 1000 watt inverter. I found my inverter on Ebay and paid around $200. Like Misty said, find out the specs on your equipment and check your local stereo shops for installation. Circuit City would not install the inverter for me, but referred me to a local shop that would. I paid $210 to have my inverter installed.

Here's a link to a good inverter source. Good luck!

http://www.invertersrus.com/

Reply by Margaret_FL on 1/9/07 9:59am
Msg #169989

I have a 3000 watt inverter and I had it installed at Sound Advice. I have a battery isolator also installed so it runs off its own battery and does not run off my car battery. If you accidently leave it on when you come home, your car battery can go dead by morning. Been there, done that. I have a lot of equipment hooked up to mine. I charge camera batteries, flashlights, large all-in-one laser printer. My printer alone
can use 900 watts by itself. It all depends on what you are running. If its just a laptop and printer, your laptop does not need very much at all. I have a 400 watt inverter that just plugs into the cig lighter and my laptop runs off of it up front.

Reply by NCLisa on 1/10/07 10:34am
Msg #170140

My car has a 350 watt inverter built in, so I can run the laptop off that. I've got a laser printer/scanner/coper that I'd like to run on the inverter, and buy some rechargable batteries for my digital camera and charge them on it. I also keep a air compressor in my car that I'd like to keep charged.

Reply by GRF on 1/9/07 2:49pm
Msg #170040

I am also setting up a mobile office and have been using this site for great info. I am looking at the 2000 watt AIMS pure sine inverter and car audio shop that will install. Can you tell me more about the battery isolator, I am having trouble searching for this specific info? Is there a separate battery and isolator or is the isolator also the second battery? Are there any special specs for these part(s)? Any recommendations of vendors for purchase?

Reply by Gary_CA on 1/9/07 3:46pm
Msg #170047

An isolator...

A common gizmo on motor homes, limousines and cars that dance...

It is used between the alternator and two batteries (it doesn't include the second --or more battery--it's just a little box)... it allows the alternator to charge both batteries but does not allow the two circuits hooked to the two batteries to drain each other...

So you have your standard car battery doing what it always did...

Then a second battery and all your "stuff" hooked to it... be it a mobile office, limo lights tv, etc. or hydraulics to make your car dance (in which case you probably have a trunk full of batteries.

Both batteries get charged but the stuff can't run the car dead.

Some isolators have a switch that hooks them together in an emergency, basically allowing you to jump your car with your stuff battery without any cables.

I've got a bud who owns a limo service... when I get ready for a mobile office (coming soon) I'll be talking to him about installers and vendors... even if I didn't have a bud I'd call a local big-ish limo for source tips for all this... They have to have lots of electric stuff, but they're in it to make money so they don't like to overspend (unlike the kids with the dancing cars that are gonna send you to the priciest shop in town, as long as they're the coolest)

Reply by Gary_CA on 1/9/07 3:49pm
Msg #170049

If you understand plumbing...

an isolator is an electricians equivalent of a check valve.