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Subject Topic: Power generators what to buy ?
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PersonGrampian91
11/8/2017 at 7:12pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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An inverter is a VERY inefficient way to charge a mobile phone etc.

Your wasting energy converting a lower DC voltage to a higher mains AC voltage and then converting an AC voltage back down to a lower DC voltage. Very wasteful.

An inverter maybe as low as 60% efficient, wasting upto 40% of the power you have.

A DC-DC converter like a car charger for your phone will be upto 98% efficient.

Mains powered lighting, you can get an LED lamp from the £ shops that looks like a household bulb, but runs off 2 or 3 AAA batteries (design varies) but they run for a week even with cheap £ shop batteries.

No need for mains items.


Personsjray
12/8/2017 at 7:51pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Cabanon Andorra Rotunde + 96 Previa View sjray's Profile View Profile   Reply to sjray Reply   Quote sjray Quote  
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An inverter may be inefficient but it is very convenient!

I started off using battery powered LED lights and them dimming after a couple of days, replacing batteries, recharging phone/camera locked in the car from the cigarette lighter. Then an electrician friend suggested an inverter and worked out how long it would take the battery to run down using an energy saving bulb. Bought an inverter and tried this at home parked on the drive - it worked great and I could use ordinary consumer bits and pieces - like making my own light from a bulb holder, plug and a few metres of cable.

I now use LED bulbs and an Ikea extension lead with 2 built-in USB sockets - it works great with no batteries to replace (just have to start the car every couple of days to be sure).


PersonGrampian91
12/8/2017 at 11:11pm
 Location: Midlands
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But the battery would last longer without the inverter. Why use mains power when you can run directly off the battery?



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