How do I do this

[h2ojocky]

I want to get a inverter so I can brew coffee in the morning or watch TV at night while boondocking and not running my generator. How big of a inverter do I need and how do wire it to just run these devices?
I have 2-6v 225 amp hour batteries. TIA

[twindman]

I have the same battery setup as you. I have an inverter for my cpap. I could only go about 24 hours if I am careful - when at 8400 feet elevation. Night time temps are probably in the 40's or one time lower 30's. The furnace sucks about 7.5 amps per hour,as it runs about 75% of the time. So if you run it 10 hours (8pm-6am) you have used a good portion of your batteries. Remember deep cycle batteries are only supposed to be drained to 40-50%, so 75 amps is over half that. Lights and other things suck more.

So, on my first trip, my inverter alarm went off at 5 am because the voltage was too low. Had to start the truck and hook it up for an hour. Next time I didn't use much in the way of lights until 7-8 pm, vs mid afternoon the previous time. So the second time, my lights started dimming at 5 pm. So with 2 attempts I never made it thru 2 days. (Of course 2 years ago I had a generator and was set. Wellll, it was raining about 80% of the time all night and the next morning, so we left early!!!)
p.s. My boondocking is in the Big Horns of Wy.

[AZ Traveler]

Russ,

You can get by with a 1000 watt or slightly smaller inverter to run the TV and Dish. On my previous rig I had a 600 watt inverter that would handle my TV and Dish.

An electric coffee maker can be a real power hog depending on the type. A Keurig draws a lot of juice for a short period and will knock a small inverter offline while the older style Mr Coffee uses less power over a longer period.

I have a 3000 watt inverter that will run the Keurig or microwave but not both together. I have 4 golf cart 6v batteries for power.

Another option is to use your gas stove to make coffee.

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Russ,

Another option is to use your gas stove to make coffee.

How do you program your stove to turn on at a certain time so you have fresh coffee made when you get up?

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

...

Another option is to use your gas stove to make coffee.

Originally Posted by jeffba

How do you program your stove to turn on at a certain time so you have fresh coffee made when you get up?...

LOL. I can't help with the second one, but we have a gas drip coffee maker.

Makes drip coffee, and actually does a pretty good job making good tasting coffee.

We just fill it up with water, filter, and coffee the night before, and in the morning turn it on first thing. Not the fastest brewer in the world, but gets the job done...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-O...xoCqJIQAvD_BwE

[Jeff n Susan]

You need to determine the wattage required to run each of your appliances. Total them up for a total wattage draw, then make sure your inverter will handle the load. For example, you have a total draw of 1800 watts. I would probably go with a 3000 watt inverter to make sure I have enough current. Coffee brewers love wattage!
The time under the load (How long it will support the load)depends on the amp hours of your battery bank. Hope this helps!

[h2ojocky]

Thanks for the tips. How do I get the power from the inverter to the coffee maker or TV? Do I use extension cords?

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by jeffba

How do you program your stove to turn on at a certain time so you have fresh coffee made when you get up?

Set the wife's alarm for the time you like.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by h2ojocky

Thanks for the tips. How do I get the power from the inverter to the coffee maker or TV? Do I use extension cords?

Recommend you run additional wire through the rig. Hire a professional if you are not comfortable doing it. Long extension cords are a recipe for trouble.

[DutchmenSport]

Wife is an avid coffee drinker. I'm not. We've had every kind of imaginable coffee pots ever manufactured looking for the better mouse trap.

A few years ago, we cleaned out and gave away all our old "primative" camping equipment, including the coffee pot we use to use over a fire pit. We had only an electric drip coffee maker when the entire campground power went out before breakfast!

I scrambled to boil water on the propane stove and put a coffee filter in a cooking funnel filled with coffee and poured the water through the funnel.

Four hours later we returned from a store where we purchased another old-style fire-pit peculator, and we've had it ever since. It works so well, my wife eventually purchased an electric old fashion style peculator. That's all she uses now.

If no electricity, she fixes coffee on the stove top. She says that metal pot makes the best coffee from anything she ever used. Plus, it's a throwback memory of my childhood when Dad made his coffee in a stove top perculator.

You can get one at WalMart, or ANY camping store, or on-line.

Here's what I'm talking about: Click here

Now television? That's a different subject. Plug in a small 400 watt inverter into the cigerrate lighter plug in your camper, where your power booster is, and plug in the television into it. We use to run an electric cooler in the camper this way a few years ago in another travel trailer.

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

...

Four hours later we returned from a store where we purchased another old-style fire-pit peculator, and we've had it ever since. It works so well, my wife eventually purchased an electric old fashion style peculator. That's all she uses now.

If no electricity, she fixes coffee on the stove top. She says that metal pot makes the best coffee from anything she ever used. Plus, it's a throwback memory of my childhood when Dad made his coffee in a stove top perculator.

You can get one at WalMart, or ANY camping store, or on-line.

....

I'm a coffee drinker as well, and over the years, have kind of become a mild coffee snob. I like my coffee to have taste, but I'm not into the super dark roast coffees.

At any rate, the buddies that I go rough camping and motorcycle riding with have one of these. Easy, doesn't take up a lot space, and just works. It is coffee, but it's not the best coffee. You have to be fine with getting a few grounds now and then too... LOL!

[PNW Fireguy]

I am a coffee lover and for the safety of those around me I make sure that I have plenty of it wherever we are regardless of hookups or boondocking.

[PNW Fireguy]

...and powered by....

[CADman_KS]

Originally Posted by PNW Fireguy

I am a coffee lover and for the safety of those around me I make sure that I have plenty of it wherever we are regardless of hookups or boondocking.

LOL! Now, that's a TRUE coffee lover there!!

[Twopetes]

Just my take but the TV is about 400 watts and the coffee maker is around 2000 watts so that's 2400 watts - I would say a 3000 watt inverter. 2400 watts @ 110vac is 200 amps at 12 vdc. So I would say your 225 amp hour batteries should last approx 45 minutes of steady draw ( figure 60% of total capacity), but the coffee pot should run no more than 15 minutes and then the TV could run for a couple additional hours.

total wattage / 12 volts = amps from battery - 6 volt in series (we avg the battery amp/hour capacity( - 2-6vdc @ 225 = 12 vdc @ 225 amp hr. w/ 60% drain allowed = about 135 amp hr available. Or 15 minutes of full draw with coffee pot and TV and then 2-1/2 hours for TV - assuming regular lead acid batteries

I am sure someone will dbl check my numbers but I think I am close. But I have done this calculation for my res. frig and a TV.

Steve

[PNW Fireguy]

For those Victron lovers out there it is worth noting that the Multiplus 3000 inverter charger only provides about 2400 watts continuously. The 3000 va rating is surge rating.

[rames14]

We wanted exactly the same thing, so when we bought our Montana we had a 2000 watt Xantrex pure sine freedom installed with 4 golf cart batteries. I have a Bogart meter so I know exactly how many amp hours are left. We also use a coffee maker with a thermal carafe - no heater. Once the coffee is brewed, it shuts off. This setup allows a few hours of TV at night, a few hours in the morning, coffee and we are usually about 60% battery in the morning. Remember to stay above 50% battery level. Hope this helps.

[JamesD]

I think my Hamilton Beach Flexbrew coffee maker is supposed to draw 600 watts

[catch up with the zzzz]

check out a solar generator. like blueti a little pricey but there are other brands. Just a little less. But you don't have to mess with any wiring or inverters just move it to where you need power and plug in coffee pot or tv.

[DebNJim B]

[QUOTE=DutchmenSport;1184021]


If no electricity, she fixes coffee on the stove top. She says that metal pot makes the best coffee from anything she ever used. Plus, it's a throwback memory of my childhood when Dad made his coffee in a stove top percolator.

We have one of these vintage 50's stove top pots we picked up at a garage sale that we just keep in a cupboard in case we don't have power. DW says it's the best coffee and it sure fills the room with the aroma.

Once when power went out at home I ran to the camper and fetched it and brewed the coffee on the gas grill.