Generator or Power Inverter

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Jerseydaze

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Ok let here some opinions. trying to decide between the two I mainly would run a drill or two recharge batteries I might run a 1300W pvc bender.Its not something I need for a specific job Im just building my stock of toys
 
The inverter is much more portable and would be best for the smallest of jobs, however you will be limited in power output.

Like boats and motorcycles, whatever you end up getting, you always wish you had the next size bigger.
 
Plus, inverters are a lot quieter and less smokey. (Hopefully! ;))

I have a 2500w cont. inverter that runs my Bosch SDS-Max rotary hammer just fine.
 
Tiger Electrical said:
I don't know much about inverters, but it occurs to me that with an inverter you're limited by your batteries. With a generator you're only limited by the quantity of gas you bring.
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If you think about it, the inverter is really limited by gas, too. The gas in the tank of your truck, that is.
 
LarryFine said:
If you think about it, the inverter is really limited by gas, too. The gas in the tank of your truck, that is.
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yeah but with the inverter it can be hard on battery unless you have a deep cycle battery which it can withstand the " beating " on the battery and also make sure your electical system in your vehicle is beefed up.

one of my service truck i have monster sized alterantor to charge up a bank of deep cycle battery when i run in inveter mode.

Merci, Marc
 
Jerseydaze said:
Ok let here some opinions. trying to decide between the two I mainly would run a drill or two recharge batteries I might run a 1300W pvc bender.Its not something I need for a specific job Im just building my stock of toys
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I have a 300 continuous / 600 peak watt inverter for small stuff like charging batteries etc.

But an inverter to run a 1300 watt PVC bender is going to take additional batteries and probably an upgraded alternator.

A 120 VAC, 1300 watt load run from 12 VDC is going to draw 'about' 108 amps off of the battery which a single battery could provide for only very short periods of time. Even if you install a 150 amp alternator it will have to run well above idle to put out that much power.
 
inverters operating at or near full loads of 300 watts or more are restricted to the normal battery set up in a vehicle. the cost of beefing up a vehicles battery system exceeds the cost of a small gasoline powered generator. more important, think of the damage that can be caused to the equipment you are powering as the battery drains and the voltage continues to drop!!! i have an inverter to charge my portable batteries and my wire pulling radios which operates only when my truck is underway. i have a 2000 watt honda gasoline powered inverter for power tools. this 28 pound power source provides computer quality power with a single pull of the cord!! and it is portable -- during an emergency outage i one time powered the radio repeaters for the fire department for a large metro city with it!!!
 
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