OT: School me on 'power Inverters"

Can anyone explain to me about Power inverters? Do they work OK? Do you have to rev the engine up to get any type of voltage out of them? will they run a buffer or drill? what wattage would i need to run small hand tools?
Thanks
JimV

 

A buddy of mine has one. (1500w) We used it a month ago to get some parts for fitzee, 200' off the road. Two 100' cords and the truck on regular idle out by the road.
Used a recip saw and a 4 1/2 grinder as needed to cut control arms and frame sections...worked GREAT!

I'm just waiting for them to go on sale...LoL

 

I had a small one that fit into the cup holder in my pickup.I used it to charge the batteries for my work tools on the way to the jobs.Worked fine.

 

my work van has a 1800watt inverter and it runs a sawzall or my 3.5hp vacuum just fine, but it is wired directly to my battery with 4 gauge.

 

Excellent point! If you run a high wattage inverter off of a normal 12v power socket you might be asking for trouble with blown fuses and such. If you need a high watt inverter (and it sounds like you do) I'd run a fused circuit directly to the battery.

 

There used to be kits that made the alternator produce 115v that would run brush style motors that required a certain RPM but inverters don't. Now if you are taking more out of the battery than is coming in you will have a run down battery.

 

Yes, good point made there...the 1500w we used was set up to tie directly to the battery.
The owner had short cables attached and I THINK used vice grips or some other clamps to attach it to the battery with the hood left up.
(I didn't see it get hooked up...I was IN THE WOODS checking out the relics! )

 

If you want to do anything more than charge batteries, then don't get the little ones under 500 watt. Power tools will draw much higher wattages, and you need a inverter that will supply 1200 w. or more. You also need to be sure your alternator will charge enough to keep up, or risk running your battery down if using the inverter while the engine is off. Short periods wont run the battery down, but extended use sure will!