BONUS1 EnergyFromYourCar
BONUS 1
LEGAL DISCLAIMER The authors and publishers both disclaim liability regarding any loss or risk incurred as a direct, or indirect, consequence of the application and usage of any of the contents within this guide.
COPYRIGHT Those who have received or purchased the guide are neither authorized nor permitted to transmit copies of this guide to anyone without written permission. Giving away copies to people who haven’t paid for them is illegal under international copyright laws and will submit you to possible legal action. Therefore, the utilization of this file is limited to personal use only.
T E R M S & D I S C L A I M E R By using, viewing, and interacting with this guide or the Peak10Publishing.com website, you agree to all terms of engagement, thus assuming complete responsibility for your own actions.
The authors and publishers will not be held liable or claim accountability for any loss or injuries. Use, view, and interact with these resources at your own risk.
All products from Peak10Publishing.com and its related companies are strictly for informational purposes only. While all attempts have been made to verify the accuracy of information provided on our website and within the publications, neither the authors nor the publishers are responsible for assuming liability for possible inaccuracies.
The authors and publishers disclaim any responsibility for the inaccuracy of the content, including but not limited to errors or omissions. Loss of property, injury to self or others, and even death could occur as a direct or indirect consequence of the use and application of any content found herein.
Also see: http://peak10publishing.com/terms.php
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR CAR 4 BEFORE WE GET STARTED…. 5 INTRODUCING THE INVERTER 5 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 6 BUYING AN INVERTER 7 PICKING AN INVERTER OF THE RIGHT SIZE 7 THE PLUG-IN INVERTER 9 DIRECT BATTERY HOOK UP 10 THE HARD WIRED INVERTER 10 Installing a hard wired inverter: 11 USING YOUR INVERTER 12 IN CLOSING 12
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
3
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
INTRODUCTION Did you know that you have a virtually limitless form of power generation sitting in your driveway right now, that with a few modifications could enable you to survive the next power failure with ease? That’s right – we’re talking about your car or truck. No matter what make or model of vehicle you drive, you already possess the platform to which a single piece of simple gear can be added that will turn your car into an energy powerhouse.
ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR CAR Before we get into any modifications to your car, let’s talk a little bit about how your car produces electricity in the first place. First and foremost, cars need electricity to run, which they produce themselves. This electricity is used to power vital systems like fuel injection computers, sensors, and other control systems, as well as comfort items like radios, navigation displays, and power seats and windows. The trend in automotive electricity consumption is growing greater and greater, with cars having increasingly robust charging systems that are very conducive to alternative power generation. Let’s look at a simplified sequence of how a car produces electricity: The car’s battery is used to turn the starter, which turns the flywheel and the crankshaft, initiating internal combustion. Once the engine is running, the car’s alternator is spun via the belts on the engine and begins putting out AC (alternating current) electricity. The car cannot use the AC put out by the alternator directly, and thus it is put through a rectifier, and converted to DC (direct current) electricity, which the vehicle can directly use to power all onboard systems.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
4
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
The DC electricity from the rectifier goes through a charger, which charges the car’s battery, keeping it topped off. In this manner, a vehicle produces essentially limitless electricity for its onboard needs. We say limitless, because there are really only two main limitations to this power – firstly, the power is dependent upon sufficient fuel to power the engine, and second, the ability to store some of that power in the car’s battery for later use is dependent upon the condition of the battery itself. Given sufficient gasoline and a fresh battery, the car should be able to produce power for half a decade at least.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED…. Before we get started on using our car’s electrical charging system to produce power for us, there are some maintenance issues we need to consider. Since the vehicle’s onboard charging system is going to be doing some heavy lifting, we need to make sure the car itself is ready. Here’s what to do: Make sure the battery is relatively new and has lots of life in it. If you are working with a battery that is over three years old, you might want to consider replacing it. Make sure your battery terminals are clean and that the posts and cables are well covered with white lithium grease for maximum conductivity. Check the condition of the alternator belt and make sure that it has plenty of life left in it. Not only will your car not function if you snap a serpentine belt, you also won’t be making any power either.
INTRODUCING THE INVERTER So what’s the device that magically makes power for us during a survival situation? It’s known as an inverter. An inverter is a device that takes the abundant DC power made by your car, and converts it to AC power like the kind you have in your wall plugs at home. Here’s how it works in your car: The inverter draws voltage directly from the car’s battery, whether through a direct connection or through a cigarette style plug.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
5
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
The inverter then converts DC voltage from the car battery into AC voltage such as that used in your home. Inverters have wall plug style outlets built in so that you can plug your appliances right into them. The car’s DC charging system keeps the battery good and charged, essentially providing a limitless source of energy that is basically only gasoline dependent.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Essentially, with an inverter, you have the ability to use your car’s robust charging system to keep the car’s battery topped up, and from there, feed an inverter, which produces AC power that you can use to run a number of appliances. In essence, what you are doing is turning your car into a rolling power generator, one that is efficient and available. Consider that a car equipped with an inverter is superior than a generator in many ways: An idling car is far quieter than the vast majority of gasoline powered generators. A car carries a much greater on board fuel supply than a generator, meaning it needs to be refueled less often and can run for a longer period of time. You probably already own a car or truck, and therefore the investment you make purchasing an inverter will be less than purchasing a generator. Your car is portable and can go wherever you go for the most part. Some larger “portable” generators are not very portable at all, weigh hundreds of pounds, and must be moved in a pickup truck. From a tactical perspective, a car is extremely inconspicuous and commonly seen in front of most every home or in a driveway and will not arouse suspicion. On the downside, however, an inverter equipped car does have some drawbacks when compared to a purpose built generator: A purpose built generator comes in large output sizes that top anything that you can add to your car. A generator can generally use inferior and lower grade fuel compared to the
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
6
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
equivalent vehicle. Most generators have a greater number of wall plug receptacles (4-6 wall plugs versus about 2 for your average inverter) and can handle more devices plugged in. Over all, however, we feel that an inverter equipped vehicle is a fantastic option for power generation in a pinch, and is something most people are capable of installing.
BUYING AN INVERTER Before you run off to the store, you need to have a little inverter knowledge so that you can make the right decision about which one to buy. First of all, inverters are rated in watts, and this rating is not always as easy to understand as simply reading the sticker on the box. There are two terms you need to acquaint yourself with when looking at inverter specifications: Peak Watts or Peak Power: Rated in watts, this number is essentially the maximum wattage the inverter can deliver for surge or momentary applications. The reason why inverters have this rating is because some devices have a spool up or spike voltage when they start. Take a refrigerator for example – it has a momentary spike in power consumption when the compressor first starts running. Then, it levels off to its normal power consumption. Inverters are built to accommodate this sort of momentary load, but unfortunately unscrupulous advertisers will often brand the inverter with this measurement such that an inverter that has an 1800 watt sticker on it, for example, will only be able to produce 1800 watts for a few moments to accommodate a spike. Continuous Power: This is the number you really want to look at, and it will often be around 75% of the peak power rating. The continuous rating is the wattage the inverter can, in theory, run at indefinitely. Also, it is the number that you should use for your own planning purposes when selecting an inverter. Anything above the continuous rating should be considered a bonus!
PICKING AN INVERTER OF THE RIGHT SIZE First and foremost, before you select an inverter, you should decide what you are intending to run with the unit. As stated before, a car equipped with an inverter will not be able to run everything. Keep in mind that the continuous rating of the inverter is across all the outlets on the unit as well. This means that if the inverter is rated at 1500 watts, and it has four outlets, the sum total of all the devices plugged into the unit cannot exceed 1500 watts!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
7
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
Here are some common appliance wattages to help you pick a unit:
As you can see from the chart above, the general average of most household devices seems Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
8
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
to hover around the 1000 watt mark, well within the power abilities of most inverters. Additionally, keep in mind that you may elect to use your car inverter to recharge other sources of power, which it is very capable of doing. Consider that a power pack of just about any wattage is easily charged by a 1500 watt inverter (or higher wattage), and this power pack can be taken inside the home to supply power to other devices as well, so it’s a self perpetuation cycle. Car inverters can also be used to refresh rechargeable battery systems such as AA, AAA, C, or D size cells commonly found in flashlights, cameras, and other devices. You might also want to purchase some additional devices that are purpose built and properly sized for a power failure. As an example, you could use a decent sized car inverter (1500 watts and up) to power your home’s refrigerator, but that is an undue waste of power; it makes the inverter work harder and for longer periods of time. In this case, you’d be far better off purchasing a compact fridge. These little fridges are small dimensionally, comprising some 4-5 cubic feet of storage space, and when running, use about 90 watts of electricity per hour, about the same as an incandescent light bulb. In this case, it would make far more sense to take essential items, place them in a mini fridge, and then power that mini fridge from an inverter than it would to try and power your regular fridge, even if your inverter can handle it.
THE PLUG-IN INVERTER The simplest, most inexpensive type of inverter is the kind that requires no installation whatsoever. Simply remove the inverter from the package, plug it into the 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle in your car, and immediately enjoy household power in your vehicle – to a degree. On the plus side, these inverters are remarkable inexpensive, with some units retailing for $20 or less. On the negative side, these inverters often have low wattage outputs (usually a maximum of 350 watts). The reason the outputs are so low has less to do with the inverter and more to do with the vehicle itself. The 12 volt power receptacle used to power these inverters are connected to the car’s battery with extremely light gauge wiring that is inappropriate for heavy electrical loads. Sure, you just plug and play, but you can’t really do a whole lot with these inverters.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
9
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
DIRECT BATTERY HOOK UP Some intermediate size inverters (500-1500 watts) come with alligator type clips that allow you to connect the inverter directly to the posts of your car’s battery. On the plus side, inverters like these allow you to quickly hook up to any car battery, meaning you can take the inverter with you for instant power anywhere. On the down side, these inverters don’t pump out the sheer wattage that the permanently installed ones do, since you need a hard wired connection for maximum power. Also, they need to be used with the hood of the car open to accept the cables, which is a bit of a nuisance. Installation of direct battery hookup inverters is a snap: Pop the hood of the vehicle, make sure the car is off. Attach the red alligator clip to the positive terminal of the battery. Attach the black alligator clip to the negative terminal of the battery. Don’t attach the black cable to a grounded piece of metal such as the frame or engine lug. You want the maximum conductivity and least resistance for the best performance of the inverter, and that means a direct attachment to the battery post. Place the inverter somewhere in the engine bay where it is stable, and its associated cables do not interfere with fans, fan belts, or pulleys. Start the car, plug in the devices you want, and power away!
THE HARD WIRED INVERTER For the maximum amount of power for your home appliances, you will want a hard wired inverter. These can be installed by either yourself or by a professional, and the method of installation is not unlike installing a conventional stereo amplifier. In essence, the inverter is mounted somewhere convenient in the vehicle, somewhere in the car where it will be easy to access the outlets so you can plug the devices you want into the unit easily. Then,
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
10
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
heavy gauge wiring is run directly to the car’s battery such that the inverter now has a direct connection to the car’s 12 volt system. Using a hard wired installation, and since the inverter has access to plenty of power, the wattage that the inverter can handle goes up. There are 2500 and even 4000 watt inverters out there for sale, with most units commonly being in the 1000-1200 watt range, more than enough to run most any household appliance.
INSTALLING A HARD WIRED INVERTER: First, you need to choose an appropriate spot to house the inverter. Ideally, this is a well ventilated spot that doesn’t interfere with the foot space within the vehicle. Typically, you would install an inverter in the same sorts of spots you would put a stereo amplifier, such as under the front seats, rear seats, or vertically in the trunk on one of the bulkheads. Keep in mind that unlike a stereo amplifier, which is often hidden, you will need access to your inverter in order to plug appliances directly into it. Usually, under the front seats is an ideal location. You will need to run a positive and negative battery cable from the inverter to the battery posts. Often, these cables are not included in the inverter kit and must be purchased separately. There are two things you need to worry about where it pertains to the cables: 1) the cables will need a crimped ring end on one side so that they can connect to the inverter terminals, and 2) the cables will need battery post ends on the other side so that they can attach directly to the battery posts. The red (positive) battery cable will need a fuse installed. This fuse should be located no more than 12 inches away from the positive battery terminal. The gauge (thickness) of the cable and the amperage rating of the fuse will be specified by the inverter manufacturer in the owner’s manual. Route the cable from the battery to the inverter, and secure the cable from coming loose as well as screw the inverter down with sheet metal screws. That’s it!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
11
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
USING YOUR INVERTER Once you pick an inverter, and have it installed, it’s time to consider using it to power your household devices during an emergency, camping, or on family outings. Here are some tips: Know the wattage of the device you are trying to power. When in doubt, look at the device. Every plug in device has a placard that states the wattage it uses. Sometimes, this placard is on the wall plug transformer. Never exceed the wattage of the inverter. Your inverter runs directly off the car’s battery. As such, you can power some devices without having to start the car, but keep an eye on the battery drain as an inverter has the potential to drain your car’s battery to the point where it will not start. If you are not plugging a device directly into the inverter, then use only heavy gauge extension cords that are in good condition to bring the power to where you need it. When idling your car to run the inverter, keep an eye on fuel levels, and make sure the car is positioned in such a way that exhaust fumes are properly vented and go downwind of where you are. Never idle a car inside of a closed garage. Aside from using an inverter as mentioned above, keep in mind you can charge your cell phone with a cell phone car charger. Just be sure to buy the right charger before you actually need it. This is a great emergency item to keep in your car in case you are stranded and need to keep your cell phone charged.
IN CLOSING An inverter is a fantastic tool to create energy from your car, and is inexpensive and relatively maintenance free. It’s easy to install in any vehicle with common tools and very basic automotive knowledge, and it can help you maintain a modicum of civilization through even the worst power failure. If you want to create virtually limitless power directly from your car, look into an inverter!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
12
LEGAL DISCLAIMER The authors and publishers both disclaim liability regarding any loss or risk incurred as a direct, or indirect, consequence of the application and usage of any of the contents within this guide.
COPYRIGHT Those who have received or purchased the guide are neither authorized nor permitted to transmit copies of this guide to anyone without written permission. Giving away copies to people who haven’t paid for them is illegal under international copyright laws and will submit you to possible legal action. Therefore, the utilization of this file is limited to personal use only.
T E R M S & D I S C L A I M E R By using, viewing, and interacting with this guide or the Peak10Publishing.com website, you agree to all terms of engagement, thus assuming complete responsibility for your own actions.
The authors and publishers will not be held liable or claim accountability for any loss or injuries. Use, view, and interact with these resources at your own risk.
All products from Peak10Publishing.com and its related companies are strictly for informational purposes only. While all attempts have been made to verify the accuracy of information provided on our website and within the publications, neither the authors nor the publishers are responsible for assuming liability for possible inaccuracies.
The authors and publishers disclaim any responsibility for the inaccuracy of the content, including but not limited to errors or omissions. Loss of property, injury to self or others, and even death could occur as a direct or indirect consequence of the use and application of any content found herein.
Also see: http://peak10publishing.com/terms.php
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR CAR 4 BEFORE WE GET STARTED…. 5 INTRODUCING THE INVERTER 5 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 6 BUYING AN INVERTER 7 PICKING AN INVERTER OF THE RIGHT SIZE 7 THE PLUG-IN INVERTER 9 DIRECT BATTERY HOOK UP 10 THE HARD WIRED INVERTER 10 Installing a hard wired inverter: 11 USING YOUR INVERTER 12 IN CLOSING 12
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
3
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
INTRODUCTION Did you know that you have a virtually limitless form of power generation sitting in your driveway right now, that with a few modifications could enable you to survive the next power failure with ease? That’s right – we’re talking about your car or truck. No matter what make or model of vehicle you drive, you already possess the platform to which a single piece of simple gear can be added that will turn your car into an energy powerhouse.
ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR CAR Before we get into any modifications to your car, let’s talk a little bit about how your car produces electricity in the first place. First and foremost, cars need electricity to run, which they produce themselves. This electricity is used to power vital systems like fuel injection computers, sensors, and other control systems, as well as comfort items like radios, navigation displays, and power seats and windows. The trend in automotive electricity consumption is growing greater and greater, with cars having increasingly robust charging systems that are very conducive to alternative power generation. Let’s look at a simplified sequence of how a car produces electricity: The car’s battery is used to turn the starter, which turns the flywheel and the crankshaft, initiating internal combustion. Once the engine is running, the car’s alternator is spun via the belts on the engine and begins putting out AC (alternating current) electricity. The car cannot use the AC put out by the alternator directly, and thus it is put through a rectifier, and converted to DC (direct current) electricity, which the vehicle can directly use to power all onboard systems.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
4
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
The DC electricity from the rectifier goes through a charger, which charges the car’s battery, keeping it topped off. In this manner, a vehicle produces essentially limitless electricity for its onboard needs. We say limitless, because there are really only two main limitations to this power – firstly, the power is dependent upon sufficient fuel to power the engine, and second, the ability to store some of that power in the car’s battery for later use is dependent upon the condition of the battery itself. Given sufficient gasoline and a fresh battery, the car should be able to produce power for half a decade at least.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED…. Before we get started on using our car’s electrical charging system to produce power for us, there are some maintenance issues we need to consider. Since the vehicle’s onboard charging system is going to be doing some heavy lifting, we need to make sure the car itself is ready. Here’s what to do: Make sure the battery is relatively new and has lots of life in it. If you are working with a battery that is over three years old, you might want to consider replacing it. Make sure your battery terminals are clean and that the posts and cables are well covered with white lithium grease for maximum conductivity. Check the condition of the alternator belt and make sure that it has plenty of life left in it. Not only will your car not function if you snap a serpentine belt, you also won’t be making any power either.
INTRODUCING THE INVERTER So what’s the device that magically makes power for us during a survival situation? It’s known as an inverter. An inverter is a device that takes the abundant DC power made by your car, and converts it to AC power like the kind you have in your wall plugs at home. Here’s how it works in your car: The inverter draws voltage directly from the car’s battery, whether through a direct connection or through a cigarette style plug.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
5
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
The inverter then converts DC voltage from the car battery into AC voltage such as that used in your home. Inverters have wall plug style outlets built in so that you can plug your appliances right into them. The car’s DC charging system keeps the battery good and charged, essentially providing a limitless source of energy that is basically only gasoline dependent.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Essentially, with an inverter, you have the ability to use your car’s robust charging system to keep the car’s battery topped up, and from there, feed an inverter, which produces AC power that you can use to run a number of appliances. In essence, what you are doing is turning your car into a rolling power generator, one that is efficient and available. Consider that a car equipped with an inverter is superior than a generator in many ways: An idling car is far quieter than the vast majority of gasoline powered generators. A car carries a much greater on board fuel supply than a generator, meaning it needs to be refueled less often and can run for a longer period of time. You probably already own a car or truck, and therefore the investment you make purchasing an inverter will be less than purchasing a generator. Your car is portable and can go wherever you go for the most part. Some larger “portable” generators are not very portable at all, weigh hundreds of pounds, and must be moved in a pickup truck. From a tactical perspective, a car is extremely inconspicuous and commonly seen in front of most every home or in a driveway and will not arouse suspicion. On the downside, however, an inverter equipped car does have some drawbacks when compared to a purpose built generator: A purpose built generator comes in large output sizes that top anything that you can add to your car. A generator can generally use inferior and lower grade fuel compared to the
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
6
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
equivalent vehicle. Most generators have a greater number of wall plug receptacles (4-6 wall plugs versus about 2 for your average inverter) and can handle more devices plugged in. Over all, however, we feel that an inverter equipped vehicle is a fantastic option for power generation in a pinch, and is something most people are capable of installing.
BUYING AN INVERTER Before you run off to the store, you need to have a little inverter knowledge so that you can make the right decision about which one to buy. First of all, inverters are rated in watts, and this rating is not always as easy to understand as simply reading the sticker on the box. There are two terms you need to acquaint yourself with when looking at inverter specifications: Peak Watts or Peak Power: Rated in watts, this number is essentially the maximum wattage the inverter can deliver for surge or momentary applications. The reason why inverters have this rating is because some devices have a spool up or spike voltage when they start. Take a refrigerator for example – it has a momentary spike in power consumption when the compressor first starts running. Then, it levels off to its normal power consumption. Inverters are built to accommodate this sort of momentary load, but unfortunately unscrupulous advertisers will often brand the inverter with this measurement such that an inverter that has an 1800 watt sticker on it, for example, will only be able to produce 1800 watts for a few moments to accommodate a spike. Continuous Power: This is the number you really want to look at, and it will often be around 75% of the peak power rating. The continuous rating is the wattage the inverter can, in theory, run at indefinitely. Also, it is the number that you should use for your own planning purposes when selecting an inverter. Anything above the continuous rating should be considered a bonus!
PICKING AN INVERTER OF THE RIGHT SIZE First and foremost, before you select an inverter, you should decide what you are intending to run with the unit. As stated before, a car equipped with an inverter will not be able to run everything. Keep in mind that the continuous rating of the inverter is across all the outlets on the unit as well. This means that if the inverter is rated at 1500 watts, and it has four outlets, the sum total of all the devices plugged into the unit cannot exceed 1500 watts!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
7
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
Here are some common appliance wattages to help you pick a unit:
As you can see from the chart above, the general average of most household devices seems Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
8
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
to hover around the 1000 watt mark, well within the power abilities of most inverters. Additionally, keep in mind that you may elect to use your car inverter to recharge other sources of power, which it is very capable of doing. Consider that a power pack of just about any wattage is easily charged by a 1500 watt inverter (or higher wattage), and this power pack can be taken inside the home to supply power to other devices as well, so it’s a self perpetuation cycle. Car inverters can also be used to refresh rechargeable battery systems such as AA, AAA, C, or D size cells commonly found in flashlights, cameras, and other devices. You might also want to purchase some additional devices that are purpose built and properly sized for a power failure. As an example, you could use a decent sized car inverter (1500 watts and up) to power your home’s refrigerator, but that is an undue waste of power; it makes the inverter work harder and for longer periods of time. In this case, you’d be far better off purchasing a compact fridge. These little fridges are small dimensionally, comprising some 4-5 cubic feet of storage space, and when running, use about 90 watts of electricity per hour, about the same as an incandescent light bulb. In this case, it would make far more sense to take essential items, place them in a mini fridge, and then power that mini fridge from an inverter than it would to try and power your regular fridge, even if your inverter can handle it.
THE PLUG-IN INVERTER The simplest, most inexpensive type of inverter is the kind that requires no installation whatsoever. Simply remove the inverter from the package, plug it into the 12 volt cigarette lighter receptacle in your car, and immediately enjoy household power in your vehicle – to a degree. On the plus side, these inverters are remarkable inexpensive, with some units retailing for $20 or less. On the negative side, these inverters often have low wattage outputs (usually a maximum of 350 watts). The reason the outputs are so low has less to do with the inverter and more to do with the vehicle itself. The 12 volt power receptacle used to power these inverters are connected to the car’s battery with extremely light gauge wiring that is inappropriate for heavy electrical loads. Sure, you just plug and play, but you can’t really do a whole lot with these inverters.
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
9
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
DIRECT BATTERY HOOK UP Some intermediate size inverters (500-1500 watts) come with alligator type clips that allow you to connect the inverter directly to the posts of your car’s battery. On the plus side, inverters like these allow you to quickly hook up to any car battery, meaning you can take the inverter with you for instant power anywhere. On the down side, these inverters don’t pump out the sheer wattage that the permanently installed ones do, since you need a hard wired connection for maximum power. Also, they need to be used with the hood of the car open to accept the cables, which is a bit of a nuisance. Installation of direct battery hookup inverters is a snap: Pop the hood of the vehicle, make sure the car is off. Attach the red alligator clip to the positive terminal of the battery. Attach the black alligator clip to the negative terminal of the battery. Don’t attach the black cable to a grounded piece of metal such as the frame or engine lug. You want the maximum conductivity and least resistance for the best performance of the inverter, and that means a direct attachment to the battery post. Place the inverter somewhere in the engine bay where it is stable, and its associated cables do not interfere with fans, fan belts, or pulleys. Start the car, plug in the devices you want, and power away!
THE HARD WIRED INVERTER For the maximum amount of power for your home appliances, you will want a hard wired inverter. These can be installed by either yourself or by a professional, and the method of installation is not unlike installing a conventional stereo amplifier. In essence, the inverter is mounted somewhere convenient in the vehicle, somewhere in the car where it will be easy to access the outlets so you can plug the devices you want into the unit easily. Then,
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
10
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
heavy gauge wiring is run directly to the car’s battery such that the inverter now has a direct connection to the car’s 12 volt system. Using a hard wired installation, and since the inverter has access to plenty of power, the wattage that the inverter can handle goes up. There are 2500 and even 4000 watt inverters out there for sale, with most units commonly being in the 1000-1200 watt range, more than enough to run most any household appliance.
INSTALLING A HARD WIRED INVERTER: First, you need to choose an appropriate spot to house the inverter. Ideally, this is a well ventilated spot that doesn’t interfere with the foot space within the vehicle. Typically, you would install an inverter in the same sorts of spots you would put a stereo amplifier, such as under the front seats, rear seats, or vertically in the trunk on one of the bulkheads. Keep in mind that unlike a stereo amplifier, which is often hidden, you will need access to your inverter in order to plug appliances directly into it. Usually, under the front seats is an ideal location. You will need to run a positive and negative battery cable from the inverter to the battery posts. Often, these cables are not included in the inverter kit and must be purchased separately. There are two things you need to worry about where it pertains to the cables: 1) the cables will need a crimped ring end on one side so that they can connect to the inverter terminals, and 2) the cables will need battery post ends on the other side so that they can attach directly to the battery posts. The red (positive) battery cable will need a fuse installed. This fuse should be located no more than 12 inches away from the positive battery terminal. The gauge (thickness) of the cable and the amperage rating of the fuse will be specified by the inverter manufacturer in the owner’s manual. Route the cable from the battery to the inverter, and secure the cable from coming loose as well as screw the inverter down with sheet metal screws. That’s it!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
11
Bonus 1 - Energy From Your Car
DIY ENERGY
USING YOUR INVERTER Once you pick an inverter, and have it installed, it’s time to consider using it to power your household devices during an emergency, camping, or on family outings. Here are some tips: Know the wattage of the device you are trying to power. When in doubt, look at the device. Every plug in device has a placard that states the wattage it uses. Sometimes, this placard is on the wall plug transformer. Never exceed the wattage of the inverter. Your inverter runs directly off the car’s battery. As such, you can power some devices without having to start the car, but keep an eye on the battery drain as an inverter has the potential to drain your car’s battery to the point where it will not start. If you are not plugging a device directly into the inverter, then use only heavy gauge extension cords that are in good condition to bring the power to where you need it. When idling your car to run the inverter, keep an eye on fuel levels, and make sure the car is positioned in such a way that exhaust fumes are properly vented and go downwind of where you are. Never idle a car inside of a closed garage. Aside from using an inverter as mentioned above, keep in mind you can charge your cell phone with a cell phone car charger. Just be sure to buy the right charger before you actually need it. This is a great emergency item to keep in your car in case you are stranded and need to keep your cell phone charged.
IN CLOSING An inverter is a fantastic tool to create energy from your car, and is inexpensive and relatively maintenance free. It’s easy to install in any vehicle with common tools and very basic automotive knowledge, and it can help you maintain a modicum of civilization through even the worst power failure. If you want to create virtually limitless power directly from your car, look into an inverter!
Copyright © Peak 10 Publishing LLC
12
