Best 12 volt socket inverter for 200/300 watts mains power? (1 Viewer)

[Kups]

I have a 10 amp 12 volt socket that I'm wanting to use to drive my Starlink system (75 watts, I think) and having tried a Go Outdoors 12 volt hair dryer (rubbish) SHMBO's travel hair dryer (150 watts).

The Halfords 12 volt 200 watts output at £44 looks good and reliable make. Although there are several 300 watts Chinese makes on Amazon much cheaper such as this Lvyaun.

Any recommendations? I don't need to hard wire one into the battery compartment as the 12 volt socket is closest to the bathroom mirror, key consideration

 

[headlight]

I have a 10 amp 12 volt socket that I'm wanting to use to drive my Starlink system (75 watts, I think) and having tried a Go Outdoors 12 volt hair dryer (rubbish) SHMBO's travel hair dryer (150 watts).

The Halfords 12 volt 200 watts output at £44 looks good and reliable make. Although there are several 300 watts Chinese makes on Amazon much cheaper such as this Lvyaun.

Any recommendations? I don't need to hard wire one into the battery compartment as the 12 volt socket is closest to the bathroom mirror, key consideration

A 300 watt inverter wants a supply rated at about 30amps DC so your 10 amp 12v socket won't be up to it.
As to inverters Sunshine Solar do a 300 watt pure sine wave for about £69 iirc.
I used one for 2 years with no problems and I've just fitted one in my sisters motorhome.
They're a UK based company and good to deal with.

 

[Kups]

A 300 watt inverter wants a supply rated at about 30amps DC so your 10 amp 12v socket won't be up to it.
As to inverters Sunshine Solar do a 300 watt pure sine wave for about £69 iirc.
I used one for 2 years with no problems and I've just fitted one in my sisters motorhome.
They're a UK based company and good to deal with.

Hmm, thanks. Looks like Plan B! The power calculation appears to be 1 amp of DC power converts up to 10 Watts AC power. Which will only drive the Starlink unit.
or connect directly to my 120Ah hab battery instead.

 

[headlight]

Hmm, thanks. Looks like Plan B! The power calculation appears to be 1 amp of DC power converts up to 10 Watts AC power. Which will only drive the Starlink unit.
or connect directly to my 120Ah hab battery instead.

Yes connect direct to battery.
Personally having had several cheap modified sine wave inverters fail I would pay a little more for a pure sign wave model and as you're only looking at a 300 watt inverter a branded one won't be that expensive I wouldn't have thought.

 

[BikerGraham]

I have one of these and it’s works fine. Use it mainly to power my laptop when not in EHU.

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[Kups]

I have one of these and it’s works fine. Use it mainly to power my laptop when not in EHU.



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thanks that is also on my shortlist, good make.

 

[DBK]

10A at 12V is 120W so if the Starlink is genuinely 75W it should work. However, drawing 6A or so from a cigar lighter socket for a long period may cause issues with the contacts in the socket getting hot if the connection isn't perfect. This softens the metal and it slowly gets worse. This was my experience with a coolbox drawing only 3A. I solved it by changing to a different type of socket designed for the job.

But I'm fairly sure the Starlink will want a good power supply so you need to look for inverters giving a pure sine wave output. All the cheap ones are modified sine wave which may damage it.

Given the cost of Starlink I would get an inverter properly wired in.

You will also need the battery capacity if you are going to be running the Starlink for long periods.

 

[Kups]

Given the cost of Starlink I would get an inverter properly wired in.

Thanks and yes Starlink uses 50 - 75 watts so within the limits of these smaller units, I am going to buy a pure sine wave inverter. The main issue is installing cable runs within the mh to the Starlink router. My 120Ah lithium battery is at the front of the mh and the Starlink kit and mains +12v sockets are all at the back. Starlink use would be around 3 hour session I guess. So probably not too harsh on the socket. Prefer this method of 12v powering the Starlink rather than the other 12v kit described at length elsewhere.

 

[Sandancers]

You can get 20A 12v sockets from RS components for about £13.
A 275w Victron inverter pure sine wave can found for £76.

 

[headlight]

You can get 20A 12v sockets from RS components for about £13.
A 275w Victron inverter pure sine wave can found for £76.

That would mean wiring the new socket in though as the existing wiring (and fuse) is only rated at 10 amp so you couldn't just replace the 10 amp socket with a 20 amp one.

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[Kups]

Thanks for the conversation. I've decided to stay low wattage with a Bestek 300 W pure sine wave inverter from Amazon. Adequate for Starlink and toothbrush recharge but not for the hairdryer. We mainly stay on EHU so job done.

 

[Sandancers]

That would mean wiring the new socket in though as the existing wiring (and fuse) is only rated at 10 amp so you couldn't just replace the 10 amp socket with a 20 amp one.

I might have missed where the OP mentioned the size of his existing wire can you point it out ? Also, as long as his existing fuse holder can take it all he needs to do is put in a 15A fuse.

 

[DBK]

That would mean wiring the new socket in though as the existing wiring (and fuse) is only rated at 10 amp so you couldn't just replace the 10 amp socket with a 20 amp one.

You don't have to draw 20A, just put in a 10A fuse to protect the wiring, which will be capable of carrying much more than 10A. The rating will be the current it can carry without getting too warm.

 

[headlight]

I might have missed where the OP mentioned the size of his existing wire can you point it out ? Also, as long as his existing fuse holder can take it all he needs to do is put in a 15A fuse.

In the OP's opening post he said he had a 10amp 12v supply in the back of his van hence my comment.

 

[headlight]

You don't have to draw 20A, just put in a 10A fuse to protect the wiring, which will be capable of carrying much more than 10A. The rating will be the current it can carry without getting too warm.

Yes he doesn't have to draw 20amps but why fit a 20 amp plug and 10 amp fuse to existing wiring that was rated to supply 10 amps ?

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[BrochMike]

I've decided to stay low wattage with a Bestek 300 W pure sine wave inverter from Amazon. Adequate for Starlink and toothbrush recharge but not for the hairdryer

Yep - as per the caveat in the product description (covering their backs)

"If the rated input of any connected AC devices exceed 150W, please use battery clamps to directly connect to your vehicle's battery as most vehicles 12V ports are rated and fused for 150W"

 

[Sandancers]

In the OP's opening post he said he had a 10amp 12v supply in the back of his van hence my comment.

The circuit could be rated at 10A because of the fuse or the socket, that doesn't really prove the size of the cable.

 

[headlight]

The circuit could be rated at 10A because of the fuse or the socket, that doesn't really prove the size of the cable.

Fair enough.

 

[Kups]

The circuit could be rated at 10A because of the fuse or the socket, that doesn't really prove the size of the cable.

It is so I'll be sticking to the 300 watt max. Thanks.

 

[LostInSpace]

Thanks for the conversation. I've decided to stay low wattage with a Bestek 300 W pure sine wave inverter from Amazon. Adequate for Starlink and toothbrush recharge but not for the hairdryer. We mainly stay on EHU so job done.

Good choice, I think.,

We have ours permanently connected (via fuse) to the lithium leisure battery. We use it for the computer and toothbrush charger. Very pleased with it.

As you say, Job Done. Although, it is not the quietest cooling fan I have heard. But easily replaced.

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[treblid]

Although, it is not the quietest cooling fan I have heard. But easily replaced.

I changed the cooling fan to a Noctua NF-A4x20 FLX, Premium Quiet Fan. It's now silent.

 

[Guzziando]

I have one of these and it’s works fine. Use it mainly to power my laptop when not in EHU.



View attachment 890629

Kups I have one of these which I want to sell. Never been used, but now fitted a hard wired inverter. If you are interested, let me know.

 

[Kups]

Kups I have one of these which I want to sell. Never been used, but now fitted a hard wired inverter. If you are interested, let me know.

Thanks for the offer but I bought one from Amazon a couple of days ago.