Who can recommend a good, cost effective portable power generator. I am looking to get one for when I am on a job, and need electric for power tools, but no where near a outlet.
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Who can recommend a good, cost effective portable power generator. I am looking to get one for when I am on a job, and need electric for power tools, but no where near a outlet.
I got a Generac 5000 watt off of craigslist and it's been good so far. The 240v comes in handy for running the air compressor and plasma cutter.
I saw some type of cutter (don't remember what kind) in an add for harbor freight. Another tool I need to acquire.
I do admit, I use craigslist for a lot of things, but for this, I would want to buy it brand new, but thanks for the tip. Will keep it in mind.
Where did you buy it from?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris Kringle
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=583328
Might also check here, mine's a little small but it runs my old sawzall ok, It won't run Snodleys new sawzall, must be more amps. It is nice cause I can plug in a 50 ft. cord and reach most cutting jobs. Like I told Filthy, get a bigger inverter for just a few dollars more that way your not working it to death. If your not running up against the amp limit all the time it will run cooler and last a lot longer. I think he used some heavy stereo power cable and added clamps to hook to his battery, that way it's easy on easy off. I can run my saw for about an hour before I have to start it to charge up.http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...inverters.html
That 5000 looks like a real bad-ass inverter, mine's closer to a 1500 that's why it's a little light. All depends on what all you want to run at a time.
Just a little input on what I have and use:
1,000 watt (continuous, can't remember what the surge or peak power is) inverter mounted in truck. Will run power tools like sawzall, grinder, drill, 500W halogen flood lights, etc.
400 watt inverter mounted inside the truck (runs laptop computer phone chargers etc)
1500 watt generator- small but very portable, can't handle much more than the inverter but is cheaper to use than idling the truck and more portable. Can carry it into the woods to cut something up if need be.
I also have a slew of cordless power tools that I think are great, the mobility and freedom they allow is spectactular and the longevity of use is limited by the battery life, but I can charge them on the go as well. They save a lot of time and hassle of dragging out extension cords and tripping over them, dealing with the tangles they get inevitably, and the grab n go convenience is great!
I mean't to also ask everyone, but what are your generators powered by? I mean, you just flip a switch and they are on, or they run on gas, or what?
I know there is some (the real big ones, that do run on gas) but the smaller ones you guys been showing me, what do they run on?
The small ones run on rabbit pellets.
George...your gonna have to start sharing that s hit...pass it around. Small ones run on gas, larger ones for back up power at home can be rigged to run on propane or natural gas.
Regarding to Georges question "What do they run on?" The Inverters connect to your auto aux. or Battery, the Inverters convert your Auto DC -to- AC current. I'm not sure if thats what you were refering to George.
Yeah, I was trying to find out what they use to run. I know the bigger ones that you would use say at a job site that has no electricity to it, would use gasoline.Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenTruckR
However, I didn't know what the smaller ones would be used for...that you would just used for your corded power tools.
I just know it will be nice to get one that i can have in my truck and not have to worry about electricity being on the job site if I need to pull a tool out for any situation.
So, the ones that scrappers use to tote around in their trucks to plug in power tools run on gas?Quote:
Originally Posted by KZBell
Yes, and like MDG said often times larger ones run on Diesel, like the ones at construction sites. Now an inverter is just converting 12v power from your car/truck battery to 110 ac so you have to be careful not to drain the battery too much that it won't start your truck.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeB
Not what I was wanting to hear, but more a less what I expected.Quote:
Originally Posted by KZBell
Guess I know what I will be shopping for after Christmas.
I subscribe to Family Handyman. This article came up recently. It should answer everything about how to set up an inverter.
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Pr...to-a-generator
Which part? Draining the battery? Wire in a 2nd battery and put an isolator in. Refer to link I just posted.Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeB
That's a nice set up. Few different options there depending on funds, I'm sure you could figure out a way to add a solar panel too to help with keeping the extra battery topped off.Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
The generators taking gas. I knew that would be the most likely answer though.Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
Thanks for the link, will look into doing that as well. Might come in handy, versus toting around smelly gas all the time.
Just glanced thru the article. I recall the magazine having more instructions/detail. Maybe it didn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
Here's a source for inverters.
http://www.donrowe.com/
He comes recommended by a few from another forum. Never dealt with him so I can't say if he is any good.
There is a small item can be added to your battery system that monitors the condition of your battery and when it gets down to a dangerous level, it will shut off the appliance and sound a warning whistle. It'll leave just enough juice in the battery to start the vehicle. Or buy one of those small jumpstarters to haul around just in case. I think their called a battery monitor, and they used to sell them at camper dealerships; probably get a better deal on the 'net now. I could run 2 florescent lights and a drill or sawzall for around an hour before I'd have to start the car.Quote:
Now an inverter is just converting 12v power from your car/truck battery to 110 ac so you have to be careful not to drain the battery too much that it won't start your truck.
M88...I think the battery isolator is in charge of making sure your battery still has some juice left.
Nowadays, most of people find gas powered portable generators. Because they are more easy and anywhere to use. Today, the DuroMax XP4400E 4 is one of the best portable generator available in market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper
Isolation Switch. protects main battery from draining. If you tow an RV your truck maybe already equipped. The wiring schematic will vary from the one below to keep the trailer battery isolated from main.
To get a picture in your minds eye, replace inverter with trailer battery which is only present when the trailer is hitched and plugged into the trucks brake and marker lights which also has a charging circuit which includes and isolation relay.
2nd battery does not have to be mounted under the hood, I used this same circuit to keep my winch battery fully charged on my car hauling trailer. The battery is located on the tongue near the winch.
http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/z..._TRUGEN_02.jpg
You want to go real cheappppp? Get yaself a lawn mower. Rig any old car alternator using a belt to run off the pulley. The old big gm were easy to wire up. One wire to hot to energize it and charging. Now hook any battery and a invertor.
Now you got yaself essentially free genny that can do anything from jump a car on 12v to power your tools. Only cost is the inverter. 1000 watts for like a 100 or less will power most any tools except plasma cutter.
Great thing is a 5 hp mower is perfect and wont cost you more than a gallon or 2 of gas in a 8 hr period running continuously.
I figured this out when I was like 10 years old. Watched the mobile diesel mech come up to get dads truck going. He was otr and hurt bad for a few weeks.n Truck was parked at house and batteries froze. Anyone knows a diesel requires a huge amount amps to start.
Well the mech had a old power washer with the pump removed. Pulley bolted on and alt attached via 1/4 angle iron. Then he ran jumper cables straight from the charging pole of the alt to the truck. Then he had to hook his van up as well to get the truck enough amps to run.
Trust me works and essentially free if your a true scrapper and save any good stuff.
Yea I just purchased a similar inverter 2500 / 5000 watt max, wondering of I did the right thing by ordering the Pure Sine Wave Inverter over Modified Sine- thoughts anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kris Kringle
The manufacture claims using the pure sine inverter your tools will run cooler extending operating time. Is this BS or does their claim have any truth to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuit
Pure sine inverter right or wrong arrived this afternoon.
http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/100_5976.jpg
Line or generator power is actually fairly distorted or dirty when compared to the Pure Sine Wave Inverter output. This distortion is made up of high frequency waveforms which could affect the efficiency of motors. Now, I would want to see some test results to see if the decreased efficiency would be noticeable. More significant and like Kris Kringle says, you can run anything with a Pure Sine Wave Inverter - you can't run everything off a Modified Sine Wave Inverter though. A SCR type dimmer or speed control, for example, will not work properly with the sharp polarity changes of a Modified Sine Wave Inverter. So I would say you made the better choice.Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuit
http://www.harborfreight.com/800-rat...:referralID=NA
how about one of these from harbor freight. super cheap. super portable. been thinking about one for my boat and a cheap charger incase the batteries die while i am tied to the rig fishing as i ruan a couple of lights and a radio.
Yes I feel that I made the right choice, research told me that modified sine would not operate tools with digital speed controllers amoung many other digital devices.Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
The inverter is much larger than I actually needed none of my electrical tools draws more than 12 amps but I figure having that extra aperage in reserve wont hurt the inverter.
Scrapped off the decal from the top plate to make it less desirable to a theif, no Pawn shop would want to buy it now.
I'm going to install 2 more battery's in the crane truck with a battery isolator.
Maybe you can get help from this website where provide silent type, open type, trailer type, portable diesel generator and container genset. Power range is from 25KVA to 3125KVA.