Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: petski2 on May 29, 2014, 07:56:28 am

Title: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: petski2 on May 29, 2014, 07:56:28 am
Hi all Iv been looking into power for our gutter vac when we have no access to customers electricity.
I was looking at gennys but my mate said to get an inverter.
Apparently they convert 12v into 240 v.
Does anyone on here use one as I would prefer to get one of these than a noisy heavy genny.
Cheers

Pete
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: Ian101 on May 29, 2014, 08:03:45 am
Im no expert but if this is possible then surely we would all have cheap energy for life i.e. more out than in  ;)
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: Nathanael Jones on May 29, 2014, 08:10:58 am
Inverters work great - but a guttervac will drain a leisure battery in about 8 minutes! You'd need a bank of 20 - 30 batteries connected together to make that idea work!
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: andyM on May 29, 2014, 08:15:17 am
You would need a 200 amp battery to power a 2400 watt vac through a large inverter.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: C o z y on May 29, 2014, 09:36:14 am
Had one fitted on a truck when I was driving for a mate. To run a 1000w microwave oven, I still had to run the motor at the same time. Will power a portable TV for hours off the battery, but anything over 200w, you need the motor too. A decent gni will cover 2000w, and only use about 1 ltr of petrol every couple of hours I think.
My point is, an inverter won't do the job alone mate.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: petski2 on May 29, 2014, 03:52:55 pm
The inverter iv looked at converts 12v into 240v and has continious output of 2500w,my vac is 1500w so would this be ok for say 15 mins use as thats all it takes me to do an average house.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: Ashley Brothwood on May 29, 2014, 04:05:30 pm
Have you got a link to the inverter you were looking at?

I'm only asking as sometimes they list it as 2500w but they put somewhere that's max and the rated power or sometimes classed as rms would probably be around the 1500w mark.

Have a look on eBay for a Honda generator. Possibly a 6.5hp one, I picked one up for about £90 I think and would power like a 1500w vaccum all day  and you wouldn't have to worry if you had a few jobs in a row or on the same day.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: AuRavelling79 on May 29, 2014, 04:26:33 pm
Get a generator. End of. If it only takes 15 mins per house then what's the prob?

I got mine from Lidl/Aldi only £180 new - 2.2kw. Guttervac = 1600watt.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: petski2 on May 29, 2014, 07:11:21 pm
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLINV2500ST.html (http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLINV2500ST.html)
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: petski2 on June 02, 2014, 08:43:58 pm
Cracking piece of kit ;D
Just had gutter vac running for 25 mins off a battery that has been used all day and no signs of battery dying down.
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: Rhino dave on June 02, 2014, 09:26:30 pm
Is that your van battery or leisure battery.
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: petski2 on June 02, 2014, 09:32:04 pm
Leisure battery 120ah  :)
Title: Re: Inverter vs Generator
Post by: Rhino dave on June 02, 2014, 09:46:57 pm
Cheers Petski, I was wondering if it would be better wired to the van battery so if you had to run your vac for a long time you could keep the engine running to keep the battery charged.