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Christmas Parade - Inverter

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SuperA-Tx

12-09-2006 10:38:53

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We have our Christmas parade at night and everyone uses lights on their stuff. Most people use gas generators for the power, real noisy too. I was looking thru a Northern Tool catalog and saw the inverters and was thinking this would be a simple solution for a strand or two of Christmas lights on a trailler. The one I am looking at says "Couninous output/surge 175w/350w". That one is suppose to power a 13" TV or a laptop.

Maybe I need a little bigger one?

Do yall see any problems with clipping it on a 12 volt tractor battery, on a Super A? Alt would keep up the charge?

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KEB

12-09-2006 19:27:41

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Depends on how many & what kind of lights you're using. The little miniature lights only use about 40 - 50 watts for a string of 100. Allowing for a little bit of inefficiency in the inverter, you could run a couple strings & still only draw 10 amps from the charging system.

Inverters in the couple hundred watt range are available all over the place. I bought a 400 watt one at Costco (I think) for about $30 a while back. Something like that would be plenty to run a couple strings of miniature lights.

As long as you don't draw more current than the generator/alternator is continuously rated for, there shouldn't be any problem. Alternatively, a decent size deep cycle battery could probably handle a several hundred watt inverter for an hour long parade without any problem.

Keith

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ChadS

12-09-2006 12:47:37

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Go to a larger truck stop,,,, they sell any size power inverter you can look for. Picked up a real nice one a while back for around $300. I can almost run my house on it!!! Thats the best route to go,, most catalog stores, sell that same model for 700!!!! For lighting,,, would not take a big inverter,,,, and no,,, I doubt it would fry anything,,, it hooks right to the battery,,,, Hope this helps,,,, Chad

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Brian in MO

12-09-2006 12:22:11

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

I have a 400 watt inverter that I have used for our christmas parade I usually just use a deep cycle battery on the wagon to run off of as the parade only lasts about 25-30 min. I also have hook the deep cycle battery (one the wagon) to the tractor battery in parallel (just like you were jump starting) with welding cable when I thought the battery might go dead before the parade was over that way the battery stays charged and the inverter is working off of the reserve of the battery. I have done this several years and ran 5-6 strings of lights, halogen lights, and cd and stereo equipment from them always worked for me. If in doubt hook it up and try it for a hour and see if your battery holds up. Hope all of this makes sense, Brian.

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SuperA-Tx

12-09-2006 17:41:35

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to Brian in MO, 12-09-2006 12:22:11

Brian,

Might try that second battery, I like that idea.

Most of the 12v string led lights dont have many lights. Interesting tho, Ill keep that in mind. Sure would be safer on the metal trailer.

I got side tracked looking at the LED effects under trucks and stuff. "Old Super" would sure look good with a "under glow" effect.

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Bob

12-09-2006 11:20:28

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Another option... I noticed WaldoWorld has some battery-operated light strings.

I'm NOT sure, though, how long the longest they have is.

If you could pick up a few of them, possibly connecting them in series, if they run on about 6-Volts each, you would eliminate the need for an inverter, an any hazards associated with have 120-Volts cords and wires running about the trailer and hitch.

Otherwise, there should be no problems with an inverter, used within it's limits.

I am working with some Christmas lights right now, and here's the "spec's", which I suppose are pretty typical of the minature light sets:

100 lamps, 24', 41 Watts... if that is at all typical of the minature light strings, it looks like the inverter SHOULD power at least 400 minature lights.

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Fromjb2

12-09-2006 11:15:57

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Allen is correct, I have known RV people that buy a 1200W power inverter connect it to their Ford or GM truck with a standard 60 or 100 Amp alternator, plug in about 1000 watts of load and have their alternator fry. The 1200 watt units require a high output alternator with about 200 Amp capacity.

JB2

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Fromjb2

12-09-2006 11:02:59

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Hi SA, I have a 200W that I plug into the cigarette lighter socket of my car to power my laptop. It uses about 20A at 12V. Bought it at auto parts store on sale for about $25. Works good.

So a 175W would use about 15A at 12V full load so alternator should be good.

Can't remember how many watts the old style incandescent Xmas tree lights required but the new LED strings use significantly less.

JB2

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Allan In NE

12-09-2006 10:51:22

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to SuperA-Tx, 12-09-2006 10:38:53

Yep,

Those inverters work really, really well right up until the time they cook the alternator.

Allan

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Bob

12-09-2006 11:22:58

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Re: Christmas Parade - Inverter in reply to Allan In NE, 12-09-2006 10:51:22

Allan,

Alternators (at least those in good condition) tend to be self-limiting in current output, which is why the don't need a "current regulator" section in their voltage regulators, like generators do.

WHY would you expect a small inverter to "cook" his alternator???

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