12v inverter

[Wadey]

I wanna get an 12 to 240 inverter wanna be able to run a grinder if i get stuck and I'll be running the charger for my 24 v Batteries so I'm looking at 800w ish?? Iv not got mega monies to spend there are loads of cheap ones on eBay anyone got one they can recommend or hane had experiences with the Chinese ones ?

[chris72a]

Be careful of the ones off Ebay the wattage they say it is, is often way off the mark if you need 800wt then I;d be looking at 1500wt with a 2000peak output, I have a 1500 with 3000 peak pure sine wave inverter and can't even run a vacuum cleaner off it without it tripping out.

Cheers
Chris.

[invernessguy]

Buy a battery grinder?
I have milwaukee kit, 18v grinder bare is about 150 quid... Can get cheaper on the bay, plus you need battery and charger, but that can power other tools too.
Best tool I ever bought!

[Airthies]

Second on the battery grinder. I bought one to suit my hitachi drill set I had. Bare grinder was ~£60 about 6 yr ago.
Would be lost without it.

[Airthies]

Ps if you go bat grinder way you only need a wee inverter to charge the batteries an there cheep as nowadays.

[ShaunT]

You also got to think about the efficiency of the inverter won't be great so lose a lot of power through conversion with some around 70% efficient. If it's just for a grinder then probably be cheaper as previous posts said and get a bat grinder. Also the motor might require pure sinewave which will up costs again if went down inverter route.

Lastly if you say 12v then 800 watts at 12v is 66amps so make sure you get correct cable size if you do.

[mjsroofing]

I've got 240 in my van, simple set up, intelligent 70amp split charge relay, a battery same size as van battery so fits under the passenger seat, a 3000watt peak, 1500 watt running inverter and jobs a good un.
I bought my inverter off eBay about 8 years ago and it still works.
Not as good now I don't think but will still power s grinder.

[Wadey]

I don't use a grinder that much to the point I need to buy a battery one I was only using that as an example as something that would take a fair wack to run i also want to charge the batteries for my impact gun and drill as well as running the charger for my 24v batteries has anyone got any recommendations that they have or hane used without breaking the bank

[Airthies]

I've been using maplin inverter (600w cos it was on a deal) and charge everything from it. Drill/grinder bats impact gun grease gun laptop and sometimes more than one at a time. If you've got a maplins somewhere close it makes it easy if you have any problems (had to take smaller one back but straight swap there an then).
Never thought I'd use a grinder much before I got my battery one but one of the best things now use it all the time.
Risk is if you're ever going to end up on a H&S conscious site they likely won't let you use 240v power tools (or even your own 110v tools ) but never battered an eye when told all stuff is cordless.
You can get decent inverters for less than £50 and spend the rest you would of spent on cordless gear?

[VanBooter]

I have cordless tools if and when needed and a small cheapo inverter, I also have a 240v Kawasaki generator to fall back on but I can't remember the last time I used it

[mjsroofing]

So you have choice between spending out on an inverter set up or cordless set up.

My inverter set up cost me around £200.

The only thing my inverter set up doesn't do is boil a kettle. Which is a bit gutting.

[knobby1]

The only thing my inverter set up doesn't do is boil a kettle. Which is a bit gutting.

Take a thermos with you...I do all the time if I happen to be working away from the workshop...have had the same old dented thermos for ~20years, the missus does it for me...keeps coffee, tea or soup hot for many hours. Nice to have warm cup of chicken or vegetable soup for lunch in the middle of winter..!

Lord Knobrot

[mjsroofing]

The only thing my inverter set up doesn't do is boil a kettle. Which is a bit gutting.

Take a thermos with you...I do all the time if I happen to be working away from the workshop...have had the same old dented thermos for ~20years, the missus does it for me...keeps coffee, tea or soup hot for many hours. Nice to have warm cup of chicken or vegetable soup for lunch in the middle of winter..!

Lord Knobrot

We have customers making us tea most of the time, other wise there always a cafe nearby.

[knobby1]

We have customers making us tea most of the time, other wise there always a cafe nearby.

You lucky bugger..! Unfortunately I'm not always working close to any beverage "facilities", I often get called out to do"urgent repair" or parts replacement work on turbine powered helicopters and they can be out in the middle of nowhere sometimes.... so taking my own guarantees I'll at least have something.

Lord Knobrot

[Wadey]

I'm a commercial mechanic very rarely do I work on building sites so the 240 won't be a problem Iv got all the cordless things i need and a cordless set won't charge themselves without 240 and that still won't keep my jump batteries charged either ! I didn't think of Marlins though !thansks