Do I need an inverter?

[corconx]

What would I use it for ? I don’t know.

what do others use it for

Litter picker Colyboy

Possibly charge your electric bikes? Phones/laptops or electric toothbrush.
Carol

 

[Ian Bosman]

What would I use it for ? I don’t know.

what do others use it for

Litter picker Colyboy

Mine comes in useful (full sine wave inverter) for powering the laptops when off hook or charging my iPhone. Avoid the inverters which do not have full sine wave. I have a 300 watt inverter which copesxwell with my demands but higher power inverters gobble batteries if you are not on top of the demand

 

[Carado]

My inverter not only charges the electric bike whilst driving along the road but it also charges the Dyson vac in the garage second docking station bought on eBay £26

 

[Ian Bosman]

My inverter not only charges the electric bike whilst driving along the road but it also charges the Dyson vac in the garage second docking station bought on eBay £26

Curious to know how the inverter does the charging on the bike while riding along

 

[Carado]

The inverter supplies the 240 volt needed for the bike charger I have all the mains sockets in the van conected to the Victron inverter the bike charger is mains in and 36 volts out and while driving I am putting power to leasure batteries as well as engine battery and mains to the socket in the garage just as I would on EHU

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[CamperJack]

I've been thinking about it and I don't think I'll bother even if I'm going semifull time. (4 days to 2 or 3 weeks most likely).

When I ask myself what I plan to use that is 240v all I can think of is a toaster and a stick blender.

Do I really need to pay £200 or more for those two things?

Phone charges on 12V. So does my laptop. I have 12V roof vents, fans and lights.

Other than that it's just a drill charger. But how often will I use it while on the road? And if I do need to my mate who lives where I plan to spend a lot of time will let me charge it in his house or garage.

I'm not convinced they are really are needed but would be nice to have.

 

[Lenny HB]

My inverter not only charges the electric bike whilst driving along the road but it also charges the Dyson vac in the garage second docking station bought on eBay £26

Our Dyson came with a 12v charger

 

[Ian Bosman]

The inverter supplies the 240 volt needed for the bike charger I have all the mains sockets in the van conected to the Victron inverter the bike charger is mains in and 36 volts out and while driving I am putting power to leasure batteries as well as engine battery and mains to the socket in the garage just as I would on EHU

When I saw that you were driving, I understand it to be the bike which seemed not quite right

 

[CamperJack]

Our Dyson came with a 12v charger

Very posh, Lenny! I use a hand broom and an old rag or old dish cloth!

 

[Conrad J]

What would I use it for ? I don’t know.

what do others use it for

Litter picker Colyboy

I think you've answered your own question - no.
Best advice for new owners is to resist buying lots of things, go and use it and see what you need.

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[EuroTrotters]

My favourite is Victron

 

[martin2603]

I’ve had a 2500 watt inverter for over 5 years in 2 MH s. Hair dryer, hot brush, toaster, slow cooker on the move, Remoska , and as I use a Storage Compound , mains drill and polisher, but not for too long on the last two. If you don’t have one of course you can t use it. Cost from memory £220.00
Not to forget we have 2 solar panels and 2 leisure batts . So it tops up itself.

 

[busbuddy]

God invented inverters so women could use hair dryers when men folk camped far away from any amenities
Men folk fitted inverters to keep the ladies happy so they wouldn't notice all the other essential toys we wasted money on

 

[138go]

I've been thinking about it and I don't think I'll bother even if I'm going semifull time. (4 days to 2 or 3 weeks most likely).

When I ask myself what I plan to use that is 240v all I can think of is a toaster and a stick blender.

Do I really need to pay £200 or more for those two things?

Phone charges on 12V. So does my laptop. I have 12V roof vents, fans and lights.

Other than that it's just a drill charger. But how often will I use it while on the road? And if I do need to my mate who lives where I plan to spend a lot of time will let me charge it in his house or garage.

I'm not convinced they are really are needed but would be nice to have.

For you, perhaps, but I couldn't be without one. My greatest need is the electric blanket and electric toothbrush.

 

[VXman]

The only reason I can think of is my wife's hair dryer and tongs....I think she'can manage without!!!

Thing is - you need decent number of batteries and solar power to back those up. All of you saying yes - how may batteries do you have?

I have had one of these kind of things in the car for many years. I'm not sure it's hat the OP was thinking of but only £10

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[denisejoe]

If you need to ask the question probably not

 

[CamperJack]

For you, perhaps, but I couldn't be without one. My greatest need is the electric blanket and electric toothbrush.

You can get 12v electric blankets for as little as £16 on Amazon. About £25 if you want one with more features like temperature control.

Amazon product ASIN B005X9H8C6
You can also buy USB toothbrush chargers like this one for for Braun / Oral B for a tenner.

Amazon product ASIN B081PX74N9

 

[CamperJack]

The only reason I can think of is my wife's hair dryer and tongs....I think she'can manage without!!!

Thing is - you need decent number of batteries and solar power to back those up. All of you saying yes - how may batteries do you have?

I have had one of these kind of things in the car for many years. I'm not sure it's hat the OP was thinking of but only £10

View attachment 475751

150w Power Inverter DC 12v to AC 220v Car Outlet Voltage Adapterwith 0.5a USB TJ for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 150w Power Inverter DC 12v to AC 220v Car Outlet Voltage Adapterwith 0.5a USB TJ at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm considering something similar for the drill.

 

[Spriddler]

I think you've answered your own question - no.
Best advice for new owners is to resist buying lots of things, go and use it and see what you need.

But according to his Profile he's been at it (and presumably managed without one) for ten years!

 

[138go]

You can get 12v electric blankets for as little as £16 on Amazon. About £25 if you want one with more features like temperature control.

Amazon product ASIN B005X9H8C6
You can also buy USB toothbrush chargers like this one for for Braun / Oral B for a tenner.

Amazon product ASIN B081PX74N9

Thanks, we’ve tried them but don’t like them and anyway we use the inverter to charge the bikes, and for the mini food processor and the Remoska.

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[autorouter]

Curious to know how the inverter does the charging on the bike while riding along

Quite simple really. The bike has a 36V battery, and can travel at 10mph. The inverter applies 240V to the bike through a short mains extension cable. Since 240V = 36 x 6.7, the bike travels at 10 x 6.7 = 67mph, thus ensuring the bike can keep up with the motorhome effortlessly.

 

[Raymond Bonello]

it can give a good elecrical shockNew van expected soon , do I need an inverter? We have no electric kettle, coffee machine, no hair dryers, etc etc

litter picker Colyboy

It depend on your intensions. If you want to run anything on 230V then you need an inverter. ie TV, radio, mobile charging etc. However, I suggest that if you install an inverter, you also need a circuit breaker, as the circuit is capable of giving a good electrical shock.

 

[Reallyretired]

We use ours 1500w for hairdryer, kettle for tunnel and breaks when hot. slow cooker,, elec blanket, charging vac and window vac, toothbrushes shaver and beard trimmer. And a mains fan, better and cheaper than 12v ones.

 

[Clive Mott]

Yes. To run the microwave oven used to d3frost burgers from the freezer before they go on the gas griddle in the awning. Second task is charging the leccy bikes and third is powering the laptop.

 

[msyd]

We initially fitted an inverter to our Autotrail Delaware specifically for my wife's hairdryer, an absolute essential if we were going to enjoy wilding. Since incorporated (via energising all the onboard mains sockets), toaster, microwave, electric drill, electric toothbrush, but most importantly, coffee capsule machine - we never leave home without it. To install a big inverter is a serious investment, as you need very heavy cables and switchgear, grunty batteries, and serious solar panels if you're not driving a lot in between stops, however once the financial pain is forgotten, the benefits are huge - we wouldn't be without it now.

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[NASHMAN600]

We bought our first motorhome 4 years ago.
We purchased 2 electric bikes and asked each other what the most important thing to take each was. Nespresso coffee machine for me and a hairdryer for the other half.
I then installed 2x100 watt solar panels a Victron 1600 kva inverter, required fuse board and sockets etc and an extra leasure battery.
We only stay on Cl/CS sites, in four years we have never hooked up and I have only used the mains charger twice, as the Solar keeps the batteries topped up.
We now take a toaster and smoothie maker with us.
For us it is the total freedom the system gives you, while having all your home comforts available in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
Plus it has been free electricity for four years.
Yes it was a huge investment in both time and money, but worth it in every way for us.
My plans for our new motorhome will incorporate all that we have learned over the last four years, more solar and lithium batteries with more thoughts to where we need 240 sockets.
Inverters have come down in price, but you get what you pay for, Victron are expensive but designed to be used day in day out and last.
If you only stay on sites with EHU then all of the above is not needed and a waste of money and time.

 

[Jo662]

I have recently bought an Ecoflow solar generator, which you can use for most things like its on EHU. And the beauty of it is I can use it anywhere,plus if I change my Motorhome I can just take it with me.