What is a Power Inverter and which inverter do I need? What does a power inverter do?

[@WaganTech]

What do you use your power inverter for? Let us know! Follow us on Instagram! instagram.com/wagantech/ 0:19 What is a power inverter? 0:45 What can power inverters run and who are they good for? 1:30 What are the different type of inverters? 2:47 Which inverter do I need? 4:16 What is Peak Surge?

[@marcosm102]

Hi I Wonder if you can tell me witch one I need if I'm going to plug my portable air compressor

[@WaganTech]

@@marcosm102 Is you air compressor powered via AC (110/120V) or DC (like the cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle)? If i has an AC (wall plug), let me know what the air compressor draws (should have a label on it that says the Amps (A) or Watts (W) that it needs)..

[@marcosm102]

@@WaganTech hi , yes it says 2.4 Amp, 90 w . And it's a twin stack portable air compressor 120 v

[@WaganTech]

@@marcosm102 2.4A @120V is 288W (watts). A 400W inverter would be more than enough as long as it doesn't have an inrush (surge) current that it draws on startup. What is the model and brand of the compressor?

[@marcosm102]

@@WaganTech that's great , it is a kobalt. Model 3320447

[@raulmolina1358]

Hi Friendly Electrician here, it's important to note that when looking at chargers for devices such as laptops or in my case power tools, you should check the charger's AC input rather than it's DC output. While the charger may say 60w, it could require 120v and 1.5A AC as an input. Meaning it consumed 180w from the wall outlet or the inverter.

[@WaganTech]

Yes, you're 100% correct. Thanks for adding that comment!

[@nmssis]

the burden of the knowledge of Inverters has been lifted off....thank you for doing this!

[@WaganTech]

Our pleasure!

[@Deepseablue372]

I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much in a five minute video 🤣thank you so much for all your help! I’m headed to Best Buy to buy one right now

[@WaganTech]

I appreciate your comment, thanks!! ♥

[@Michael-v8v4e]

Thanks for making it so,so easy to understand, I'll be checking you guys for my inverter 👍

[@dogbreathmints]

You broke down the information better than most. Thank you!

[@WaganTech]

I appreciate the compliment - Thanks for watching!

[@femispanish]

Perfect inverter crash course. Everything I need to know for Hurricane Prep.

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for your feedback! If you want to read more about hurricane prep, we have a few blogs on our site: wagan.com/blogs/news/hurricane-on-the-horizon

[@ryanmweber82]

Man Justin is so smart and is incredibly hansom. I feel like I can trust whatever he tells me about power inverters. Thanks for the video.

[@klancer]

I think its that scruffy grey beard that just screams trust... like your favorite teddy bear!

[@Flecha57]

Man, that was an awesome video. Straight to the point. No mumbo jumbo, or annoying back ground music. I have come out of the darkness... 🤗🤗🤗 Thanks!

[@WaganTech]

Thank you, I appreciate your comment! ♥

[@3duckit]

You should be a teacher. This video is great. Thank you!!!

[@WaganTech]

Thank you Mike, I appreciate that!

[@royreyes8422]

great help and thank you for sharing. this is the most important when it comes to understanding power.

[@WaganTech]

Thank you Roy!

[@williambob245]

I was thinking of installing a hard wired inverter with the purpose of running an electric pressure washe and and a carpet shampooer. This video really helped me, thank y'all!

[@WaganTech]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback!

[@halldorherm]

Very well explained. Thanks. I've been planning to get a hardwired inverter so I can recharge my drone and camera and also use my laptop to edit while off the grid at random locations huddled in a tent. So far I've just been hearing some jargon from people I ask about this and have procrastinated.

[@WaganTech]

Halldor, it's very easy to procrastinate on projects like this. It sounds like all you need is a small inverter to power your drone and laptop. You may be able to get away with one that simply plugs into the cigarette lighter socket inside your car as these can provide around 180W-240W (depending on your vehicle's fuse).

[@codyhawkins2771]

This was such a helpful video. I am still a little concerned about the peak surge of my power tools but now I at least have a basic knowledge of what's going on. Thank you so much!

[@WaganTech]

Cody, I'd be more than happy to help you figure out your set up! Shoot us an email if you have any Q's customerservice(at)wagan.com

[@robertlord1252]

This was an absolute enlightening video in such a short time. Thank you.

[@WaganTech]

Glad it was helpful!

[@InverterReview-qz9eg]

Thanks for explaining most of the basic things about inverters.......

[@WaganTech]

Glad it was helpful! We try to help others out there as much as we can!

[@jlinb7783]

Thank you ! Such clear explanation even a beginner can understand.

[@WaganTech]

Thank you for watching and your question too!

[@Stephanie-lb6tt]

Gosh, this info was a big help.. for the life of me I could not understand why One would need an inverter…. Thanks.

[@WaganTech]

Happy to help!

[@talori5417]

Ok the Dive into the video got me hooked! 🤣 My uncle gave me one of these things and didn’t know what to do with it. I like to travel in my truck a lot. Thanks fir the information.👍🏽

[@WaganTech]

My pleasure! Let me know if you have any Q's and thanks for watching!

[@christopherpoindexter6765]

Very informative and helpful 👍

[@WaganTech]

Glad we can help!

[@tomi210210210]

These things saved my life as a project car owner without a garage. I could just drive my car out to the middle of nowhere and use my power tools on my car.

[@WaganTech]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@konsueloramirez]

thank you for sharing! i love to watch van life videos and i always wondered what do they mean by inverter

[@WaganTech]

Glad I could help and thanks for watching! Let me know if you ever need help installing or selecting one for your use!

[@somaansa939]

Very well explained! Thanks!

[@WaganTech]

Somo, Thanks for watching!

[@saus675]

What a perfect video, thanks.

[@WaganTech]

Thank you for watching ♥

[@jchase1702]

Great explanation of what power inverters are. I wish you expanded to explain how they draw on vehicle batteries? Can it be connected to battery with vehicle not running? How much draw on vehicle battery? Do I need to start car once in awhile to keep battery charged? If so, how often. Does it greatly affect battery lifetime expectancy? Lots of questions, I know, regarding effect on battery. I would like you to use a typical 12v vehicle battery as an example. Thanks!

[@WaganTech]

It really depends on the load and the size of the vehicle battery. Hopefully this will help: wagan.com/blogs/news/customer-question-how-long-will-my-inverter-run-for

[@carol1505]

EXCELLENT video!! Thank you!

[@WaganTech]

Carol, thank you for watching!!

[@JaimeVizcarrondo]

Just the knowledge I needed! Thank you!

[@WaganTech]

@@JaimeVizcarrondo glad we can help!

[@sushidukesanji]

Great video. Do I have to car keep running while I’m using the inverter? Thank You

[@WaganTech]

Thank you and good question! You don't necessarily have to keep the engine running; it is dependent on a lot of factors including battery size, load, etc. In an average car, you don't need to keep the engine running for charging a laptop or other small electronics. If you're running a blender for just a few seconds, you wont have the engine running. If you plan on running a high-wattage item for a long period of time or a low-wattage item for a long time, then you'll need to run the engine a bit.

[@thechronic6708]

Great video, if i have a 500 watt inverter and im only using 100 watts, will my inverter constantly draw 500 watts from the battery or only what is being used?

[@WaganTech]

The inverter will only draw the power it needs to make the conversion. In your example, the inverter will only be pulling the 100 watts needed!

[@bobbybacon3478]

bro. So you're part Asian. Elaborate on that. Besides that, the way you dropped the knowledge, %100 useful and fully explains wattage and amps in a way that makes sense to anyone dealing with it. This video will be shared to more people than you intended.

[@Pindi44]

Very well explained, thank you

[@WaganTech]

Thank you for watching, I'm glad to help!

[@maq2347]

Thank you, it was an excellent tutorial video,

[@WaganTech]

...and Thank you for the feedback!

[@alnaharaimruiz1518]

Thank you Justin,

[@WaganTech]

You're welcome ♥!

[@إسميشكور]

Hi... I wondering is is this inverter can save charges just like powerbank??? Im planning getting one for oxygen concentrator just in case there's eletric blackout....

[@WaganTech]

Hi there! No, power inverters only convert DC into AC current. You have to connect a battery to them. You would need a portable power supply like our Lithium Cube - this has an onboard lithium ion battery with AC, DC, and USB power ports. wagan.com/collections/lithium-cubes

[@l.l.8022]

VERY informative, Thank you!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for watching!

[@meaww7373]

Very informative

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for your comment and for watching !!!

[@meaww7373]

@@WaganTech keep on update and educating ...🙏🙏👍

[@WaganTech]

@@meaww7373 We will! Thanks for watching!

[@MikinessAnalog]

One thing I would like to add is, with a 12 volt system in a vehicle you want to run a household appliance on, get the amperage rating the appliance draws. While inverters are NEVER 100% efficient, it is a general rule of thumb whatever the appliance wants will be ten times that from the battery. (Think going from 12 to 120 volts, of course it would be).

[@WaganTech]

Mikiness, I get what you're saying and I agree that no inverter will ever be 100% efficient. Going from 12V to 120V is not a linear scale and won't draw the power from the battery in the same manner.

[@blessingsjoelssen2499]

Man you're beautiful..!! And I'm not talking about your likeness or your voice... It's your knowledge my good Sir... Thank you for your help...!! Learned a lot...!!

[@WaganTech]

I'm happy that I could help! Thank you for the kind words!

[@DJdoublevision]

Very good info ,thank you very much ..I knew a bit ..but this vid covers the simple math and has really helped me to decide to go over the top and probably go with 4000w ..so I have a good range of scope ..even on peak low power (60 w) it should cover it

[@WaganTech]

Thank you very much for your comment and for watching the video; I am glad it was helpful to you. If you have any other Q's, certainly let us know!

[@rayblade6383]

Excellent video... Very well explained.

[@khantshu4463]

Thanks for the explanation. One question how do I calculate how long can I run a 500 watts laptop with 1000 watts inverter?

[@WaganTech]

You can conceivably run a 500W laptop forever as long as the battery (power source) will supply the power. If you know the battery size that you have, I can tell you how long it will sustain a 500w load with a 1000w inverter - shoot me an email at [e-mail] ... and thanks for watching!

[@ceecee3271]

I have some questions. I've been watching various bus conversion videos. I've noticed that lots of builds utilize inverters. I watched several people cut a switch on/off to a light switch, mini split AC, refrigerator and mention the inverter, what exactly are they doing? Also, I will be doing a conversion build of my own in the future and would like to know about the purpose of the batteries pertaining to solar and the inverters... how do they coincide? Can you please explain or direct me to a source of information? I am a visual and kinesthetic learner. Thanks for any advice/suggestions that you give.

[@WaganTech]

Hi Cee Cee, I would love to be a part of your build knowledge! I am not sure what your first question is referring to- can you show an example? In regard to your second question, usually people will have a dedicated battery bank that powers their needs while the vehicle isn't running (when it is running, the batteries will be charged from the vehicle's alternator). The solar panel has a solar charge controller that is placed in-line between the panel and batteries to regulate the electrical current flow from the panel. Our inverter is down-stream of that and draws power from said battery bank to provide power to your electronic devices.

[@thebase4243]

Great videos, I have a Mackie Thump 15 loudspeaker 1000 W, which inverter would you recommend on your website

[@WaganTech]

For speakers, I always recommend Pure Sine to avoid any humming noise that may be generated! If your speaker is drawing 1000W, I would recommend getting a PSW inverter that is 1200W or larger like our Pure Line 2000.

[@unburriedtalents599]

Thanks for your help. I'm trying to decide if I should get an inverter instead of a solar generator. I really just want power accessible incase the power goes out but sounds like the inverter needs a car so not good at home, correct?

[@WaganTech]

Our Lithium Cubes are a great alternative if the car isn't nearby. With a Solar panel, they are a true solar generator too! kzbin.info?search_query=lithium+cube

[@BillyGeorgeWilliams]

when plugging in an inverter into the car battery, will it drain the battery and how much?

[@WaganTech]

It really depends on the load and the size of the vehicle battery. Hopefully this will help: wagan.com/blogs/news/customer-question-how-long-will-my-inverter-run-for

[@texmex2338]

I’ll be going camping this summer 🏕️ my question is will a Milwaukee 18 volt 175 watt inverter power up my cpap machine ??

[@WaganTech]

That should work fine since most CPAP machines will only require 75w. But, check with Milwaukee for details.

[@jassimkandah303]

Thanks , very well information.. my question.. is a good for track and how many watts needed for track thanks..

[@WaganTech]

What do you mean "is it good for track"? What is track?

[@Dr.Randy.Butternubs]

Gotta get that pure sine wave 🌊

[@WaganTech]

It's the one I prefer too!

[@InLawsAttic]

Do we need something between the inverter and battery to keep from draining the battery, to tell us if we need to recharge the battery? Thanks!

[@WaganTech]

You don't need to add anything else to the system except a fuse when using our inverters as they have a low-battery alarm (around 10.5V) and an automatic off feature (at around 9.5V) to help keep your battery from over-discharging and becoming irreparably damaged.

[@quianadumas3550]

Great video! I have a question tho. I am looking to buy devices for my families homes in case of a power outage. I've been looking at portable power stations, but then I saw power inverters which seem to power up higher wattages than the stations, yet they are cheaper than power stations. Why is this? And which device is best for a power outage, inverters or stations? Thank you!

[@WaganTech]

Quiana, great question! Power Inverters convert DC (like your car's battery) power into AC power (your home wall outlet). They are great for powering small appliances and everything else including your entire house. Like anything requiring power, the limitation is the battery (or battery bank) that is supplying the power. For powering devices/appliances close to a battery power supply (like your car), inverters are ideal. On the other hand you have devices like our Lithium Cubes. They have a built-in power inverter (and of course: USB, DC, etc.) and are great for activities away from the car or situations where you don't want to deplete your car's battery (like camping). Their limitation is the internal battery; a trade-off for ease of use and portability. Like anything, it depends on your needs and use-case. You are looking for something to supply power in case of emergency at home. Our Lithium Cube 1200 is perfect for that as long as you don't need to run a lot of big appliances (refrigerator, air Conditioning, microwave, etc.). If you need to power those items, an Inverter with a large battery bank is ideal. If you just need to power lights, a tv, fan, recharge your phone, etc., the Lithium Cubes are perfect!

[@quianadumas3550]

@@WaganTech Okay understood. Thank you so much for clarifying that for me!

[@WaganTech]

@@quianadumas3550 it's my pleasure! If you have any more Q's, feel free to ask!

[@nwabisajordan8463]

Thank you for the video. Doe this mean when I have a 4000 watts inverter, I may connect and run a 3000 watts vacuum cleaner?

[@WaganTech]

First off, thanks for your Q and for watching! If it is one of our inverters that you own, then the answer is YES!

[@nwabisajordan8463]

@@WaganTech certainly your product here in South Africa 🇿🇦. Should I start each motor gradually to run full 3000 watts on the 4000 watts pure sinewave inverter. I am learning how this works as I just started a pressure washing business with intentions of adding gutter cleaning using a vacuum cleaner with a 12v batter 100ah and a 4000 watts inverter.

[@shelbybublitz5825]

Very clear, thank you!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for watching Shelby!

[@MsNZgal]

Great advice. One dumb question. my camper van has a 800w inverter which is overkill for what I want to use it for. My laptop only requires 12 w. Can I still plug in my laptop to my inverter safely or will this blow it out? I don't think it will harm it if it is a sinewave but I just want to make sue.

[@WaganTech]

Bron, it is hard to say without seeing your laptop set-up. Most laptops require 19V to charge - a 12V to 19V step-up (or "up-converter") charger can be a solution to your needs IF your laptop meets those requirements.

[@65plusfabulous56]

Hi Justin what type of temporary portable battery source is best for running a small microwave or refrigerator in a van? Thanks

[@WaganTech]

Hi! Microwaves draw a huge amount of power (like around 1100 watts), a small dorm fridge will only draw about 70 watts. You'll need an inverter that can handle that load as-well-as a battery that can feed that power (for the microwave). I can help you select the right size battery if that helps?! I just need to know the expected run-times between charges (or driving).

[@guerrag0411]

very well done video, thnks man.!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for your feedback Francisco, I appreciate it!

[@bayleymassey]

Hi!! So to run a small fridge and/or a coffee machine, which sine would I need :). Great vid- super helpful

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for your positive feedback, I appreciate it! For either of those appliances, you could use a Modified Sine Wave. Appliances like the coffee maker (or anything with a heating coil: personal heater, hair dryer, etc.) will make a noticeable "humming noise" when using a MSW Inverter.

[@jahjoeka]

I love how he just comes out of nowhere.

[@WaganTech]

:)

[@amyhu3868]

Lol

[@Diego-vw7kn]

tell me how to use them in a hurricane situation in FL. can they run a fridge? how big, how long? I was told to turn on fridge for 1 HR for 4 hrs of rest

[@WaganTech]

Diego, that's a very good question! Ideally you'll want to have a car nearby to power the inverter when needed. If it's a newer style refrigerator, they generally run in the range of 250 to 400 watts, you'll want to check the specs of the refrigerator to see what its running wattage is. When you're concerned with power, you'll want to open the refrigerator as little as possible to keep the cold inside. Refrigerators only run as needed, so they're actually quite power efficient in that sense.

[@joeygonzalez9930]

What watt inverter do u recommend for a 750 w microwave for semi? I had a 1500 watt and it will turn on 3 seconds n beep n shut off.

[@WaganTech]

Joey, we have tested many microwaves sold by 18 wheeler supply companies and have found that some microwaves do not like modified sine wave inverters. I suspect that you're inverter is a modified sine wave inverter. Also double check to be sure that your microwave is only pulling 750 Watts; that inverter is double the stated microwave wattage requirement, so it should have been good - wattage wise.

[@gbjacks2]

This was sooo informative!! Thanks!! Plus you’re funny!!

[@WaganTech]

LOL, Thanks for watching!

[@briizcustoms9543]

Can this be hooked up straight to a battery that’s not under the vehicles hood? You have videos on this?

[@WaganTech]

Yes, you can connect straight to any battery that is the appropriate voltage. You should always fuse the cable between the battery and inverter. We have an excellent blog here: wagan.com/blogs/news/how-to-connect-a-large-or-small-inverter-to-a-battery

[@davidsequino4774]

Got a primordial question please, do you need a battery to use the inverter ? Or can the inverter itself be charged with electricity And second question, if you need a battery to use it, how do you charge the battery ?

[@WaganTech]

David, Yes, you will need a battery to use with the inverter as it does not have a way to power itself. There are several ways to charge the battery: You can use a standard automotive battery charger, you can use a solar panel, or you may opt to charge it using your vehicle's alternator (the very same way that your vehicle charges its starting battery. Take a look at my blog here: wagan.com/blogs/news/what-is-a-power-inverter-more

[@gaderzlyrics8197]

I wanted to buy since I usually don’t have light but how long will the b3 last and how do I get the battery charged

[@WaganTech]

Remember that inverters only convert the power from DC to AC and doesn't have any battery storage. You would have to rely on the battery source you're powering from. If you want an easy solution, you can use Wagan Tech's Lithium Cubes: wagan.com/collections/lithium-cubes

[@haveyoueverwondered23]

Very informative. Thankyou. Would I be able to run a 300w PA system from one of these?

[@WaganTech]

Indeed you can as long as you get the appropriate size inverter to handle it. A 400W+ Inverter would handle it with ease - I recommend our Elite 400W Pro or the newer Pure Line 400.

[@wubob4069]

Do you jave to keep engine running while using power inverter? What does DC-DC in car charger do with inverter? Thanks

[@WaganTech]

Depending on the load and the run-time, you may or may not have to keep the engine running. For instance, if you're powering a laptop off of the inverter, then you'll likely get several hours before needing to run the engine (which will recharge the vehicle's battery). On the other hand, if you're running a microwave/hairdryer/blender or other high-wattage device for an extended amount of time, then you'll definitely want to have the engine running. A DC to DC charger simply monitors and regulates the power going to a battery to ensure it charges correctly. They can be used alongside most inverters with no issue.

[@neb7851]

Could I mount it somewhere like the passenger footwell and leave it hardwired the whole time?

[@WaganTech]

Yes! As long as it gets airflow it's not a problem.

[@day1tech]

Very helpful thanks

[@paultcchan5341]

Hi, fantastic explanation, Thanks !. May ask what about batteries - what type or capacity battery should I use, say for a small 200W inverter ? You see, I am trying to DIY a simple power backup for my home router and WiFi which draw a total of 30W. I used a 200W inverter and a fully charged 12V 40Ah battery. Unfortunately it didn't work and the error indicator on the inverter says Low Battery. In fact, I used it on a 18W LED lamp and it didn't work either - it keeps blinking. Is a 12V 40Ah battery not good enough for a 200W inverter?

[@WaganTech]

The 40 amp hour battery should be good enough to power your devices for a fair amount of time. I suspect that the battery isn't new or is not able to put out the required power of around 12 volts. I would start by putting a multimeter to the battery to see what the voltage is at. The size of the battery that you'll need is dependent on how long you intend to run that load for. Can you give me an idea of how long you would want to run that load for in the event of a power down situation?

[@paultcchan5341]

@@WaganTech Thanks for the reply. I am hoping to achieve about 4 hours on the backup power. What battery would you recommend? Thanks in advance.

[@WaganTech]

@@paultcchan5341 the 40Ah battery you have (if new and working properly) would provide over 12 hours of run-time at 30W load. a 15Ah battery would be just enough to provide you the required 4 hours at 30W.

[@paultcchan5341]

@@WaganTech thank you, for your kind advice. Happy New Year to you.!

[@WaganTech]

@@paultcchan5341 Wishing you a great 2022 as well!

[@Mordred478]

This video was very instructive when it came to inverters, but either I missed it or he didn't mention how much power could be stored in a battery connected to the inverter.

[@WaganTech]

The amount of battery power stored depends on the battery size, chemistry and other factors. You can essentially use any size battery/bank to power the inverter as long as the battery voltage matches the inverter's capability. You could have a massive battery bank of 5000AH + with no issues.

[@theroyalone7588]

Can I charge the inverter from a regular wall outlet ? Or just only can work with cigarette outlet ?

[@WaganTech]

Hi! Inverters don't have batteries, so they can't be charged. The power inverter is primarily to take your car's DC power and turn it into useable AC power (regular wall outlet). If you buy a portable power pack that has a battery and an inverter built in, those can be charged from a wall outlet, car socket, even solar power: wagan.com/collections/lithium-cubes

[@lydianyarkoh363]

Good evening sir. Please i just watched yr video now. It was really helpful. But please i also have a question can a blender of 220v work in a place where the voltage is 110v?

[@WaganTech]

Lydia, the only way to use a 220v appliance on a 110v outlet is to use a voltage converter. A power inverter can only convert DC voltage (like from a car battery) into AC voltage (like your blender).

[@lydianyarkoh363]

Thank you so much sir. And God bless you sir

[@WaganTech]

@@lydianyarkoh363 My pleasure! Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!

[@wendywilson-granger3176]

Hi Justin, can I use a 12v battery to power a 1000 watt hot plate using a WAGAN slimline 1250 watts MSW Inverter?

[@arniet1]

Thanks for the great info! I have a question though. If i have one hardwired into van, and i use a jump starter with 1000A peak power, would i have to disconnect the inverter?

[@WaganTech]

Arnie, thanks for the comment - I appreciate it! If the Inverter is wired as it should be (downstream of the battery), there should be no reason that it would be affected by jump-starting a vehicle. I would urge you to turn off the inverter and anything that draws power (radio, lights, etc.) prior to jumpstarting a vehicle.

[@robertgrlic6505]

What are the advantages of wagan inverters that use Neutral to ground bonding vs floating neutral?

[@WaganTech]

Some appliance require a neutral bond, vs many electronics don't need it. We include it as an option for some of our inverters in those cases.

[@bingosunnoon9341]

Do you have any videos that show the waveforms of these inverters under load?

[@WaganTech]

We currently do not have any videos on their waveforms, but it sounds like something we should do! Check back soon!

[@stevetorres5942]

Would it work best for me if I am in a semi and I park for the night would it power a heater or ac unit for the night without killing the batteries in the truck

[@DoItWithDaisy]

Ty so much for the content!

[@WaganTech]

TY for Watching, Daisy!

[@skincha3187]

Question, with this type of invertor does the car or vehicle have to be running in order to use the invertor?

[@WaganTech]

The answer is dependent on the load and the size of the car's battery. If you're powering a laptop in an SUV, then the engine need not be running. If you're using a microwave in the same SUV, then yes you should have the engine running. When running high-wattage appliances, or if powering from a smaller battery, you should keep the engine running. If you give me your vehicle type and load-requirements, I can better answer this for you.

[@sacvibe]

Excellent!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for watching!!

[@leonardomoreira4886]

Awesome video bro 😎

[@WaganTech]

Thank you, I appreciate it!!

[@stephenhogg6154]

what's better for charging devices, power inverter or car charger?

[@WaganTech]

Hey Stephen, What do you mean by a "car charger"? A power inverter is great for converting your car's 12V DC power into household type 120V AC power.

[@stephenhogg6154]

@@WaganTech It works the same way - plugging into the lighter socket - and has usb and c slots for charging devices.

[@WaganTech]

@@stephenhogg6154 oh, gotcha. Those type of devices are perfect for charging your tablet and your phone. If you want to charge something like your laptop or power your 120vac appliance, that's when you would want to use a power inverter.

[@willie90210]

Due to the over 100 heat weather in Ca, We lost power twice in a week. Do you think is safe to run a home refrigerator using a 2000 watt car power inverter?

[@WaganTech]

You can as long as the battery can handle the load. We're in CA too, today is going to be a scorcher - stay cool!

[@willie90210]

I need your recommendation for an inverter to charge two 10ah 48v e-bike batteries at the same time. Thank you

[@WaganTech]

What is the power consumption of the e-bike battery charger? On the back of the unit it should say what it is. If you're using two at the same time, double that number and then add 20%. That is the ideal inverter for your needs.

[@willie90210]

@@WaganTech Li-ion Battery Charger INPUT:AC110-240V 50/60Hz-2. OA OUTPUT:54,6V 2.0A

[@WaganTech]

@@willie90210 it looks like those chargers take about 110 watts each (54.6v x 2.0a). Added together, you get about 220 Watts and then with the addition of 20% it is about 262 Watts. For this application I would recommend a 400 watt pure sine wave inverter.

[@willie90210]

@@WaganTech I really appreciate your quick response.

[@Basskingdom7]

I feel like if power goes off at your house, you would use generators for big appliances and other circuits. I would use power inverters for only small applications such as phone and laptops correct? By the way, it was a fun video:)

[@WaganTech]

For the average person in suburbia, you are correct. This is (in relation to people living in houses) geared more for those with solar panels or off-grid cabin needs. If you already have the solar panels mounted to your roof, then a battery back-up system is way more discreet, requires no "fuel", produces no fumes, and is quieter than a generator. If were talking strictly power outages, then a generator is probably the better bet.

[@JIBMONEY]

If hooked up to my trucks battery, should I turn on the engine before using the inverter?

[@WaganTech]

If it is possible, then yes. While a surge won't hurt the inverter, it is best to start the engine prior to using appliances.

[@sanjaysam6220]

Can i use power inverter for home appliances 24*7 ?

[@WaganTech]

Yes you can with our units!

[@wendywilson-granger3176]

Hi , I bought a slimline 1250 watt unit. I had a fuse installed on the positive cable. My inverter made a beeping sound after I used it for a while and shut off. I learned that the fuse was blown so I changed it. It began working again but began beeping after powering a 60 watt bulb for a while. Then it shut off. How can I fix this? Thanks

[@WaganTech]

Please email us at [e-mail] and we can see how we can help you with this. Thank you!

[@daadyunes5878]

It's a very helpful video! Thanks a lot!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks for watching and your comment!

[@donnalynnnagel4422]

Hi, when in use of the inverter, does it have to be connected to the power source ? I am looking to power my dye sublimation printer on the go for my Photobooth business without have to plug-in to nearby outlet with an extension cord attached to it. My printer specification is 100-240V, 50-60hz, 4A. Could you please help recommend a solution for portable inverter or power station that can last throughout my Photobooth sessions of at 5-6 hours? I need an expert to give a recommendation. Thank you

[@WaganTech]

Donnalynn, a power inverter needs a power source - most commonly it is a car-type battery. If you have a car nearby, you can use the car's battery to provide power. As for what size inverter you need, I would require a little more specific info as the supplied info looks to be from the printer's power supply brick. Guessing it is a standard 120V brick and drawing 4A, then your printer is consuming around 480 watts (120V x 4A = 480 Watts). With that said, we offer 3 solutions. If you don't have a battery nearby: our Lithium Cubes are the ideal solution as they have an inverter (PSW) and battery built-in to one lightweight unit. Inverter 1: Pure Line 700 is a Pure Sine Wave Inverter which is the best option for your set-up as long as you have a power source for it. Inverter 2: Slimline 800 inverter is a Modified Sine Inverter and a less expensive option that should* work with your set-up. *Modified Sine Waves are known to be finicky and may/may not work with printers

[@ricardorivera2836]

Are we talking about input or output in order to calculate watts?

[@WaganTech]

Usually you calculate output watts to determine your power draw your device(s) needs. If you don't have the watts, you can calculate it simply by Amps * Volts = Watts. Hope that helps!

[@tof3275]

Hi Justin 😎 Now subscribed 🤓 How will I find out "Peak Surge" 😲😲😲 I have a bank of 20 Li-lion 3.7v 5000mAh rechargeable batteries I want to run certain appliances, either altogether or one or two at a time. 1) Desktop 500w psu no more 8 hours 2) Microwave 900w twice a day no more than 10 minutes 3) Panasonic TV 31w no more than 6 hours 4) Sky Set-top box 30w standby daily 5) Fridge - Freezer 195kWh pa = 22w per day ( I think ) 6) Kettle periodically 1500w UK Voltage 220v 50Hertz I have tried working out the wattage but failed miserably.🤐🤐🤐 So what size PURE SINE WAVE inverter do you think I will need🤔🤔🤔

[@jimburke697]

I've gone down the rabbit hole of dual battery power systems for camping. If I have a coffee machine that is 15 amps x 120 volts does that require an inverter of 1800 or greater?

[@WaganTech]

Jim, yes you have it correct! I would recommend an inverter of 2000W as we suggest a buffer of +15% over what's needed.

[@mrreddy120]

Am I understanding correctly when I say that there are inverters that create modified sine waves and pure sine waves?

[@WaganTech]

This is correct. You have a choice between Modified (MSW) or Pure Sine (PSW) wave output in choosing an inverter.

[@mrreddy120]

@@WaganTech thank you sir/madam

[@SoloMotherTrucker]

How do you keep it from draining your batteries tho

[@WaganTech]

Amy, the no-load current draw is very small when the inverter is idling. If you are worried about the parasitic draw, you can turn the inverter off using the power switch.

[@kjstarr2893]

Can I use a basic inverter to charge my cordless dremel when on the road? The wattage on the charger says 120v.

[@WaganTech]

Yes you can!

[@apostlelouismrs.larhondaco4712]

what's a dremel🤷‍♀️🤔

[@dansullivan7547]

120v is the voltage "v", not wattage. Still need to know how much amps / watts

[@WaganTech]

@@apostlelouismrs.larhondaco4712 it is a "rotary tool" that is used for a myriad of projects!

[@WaganTech]

@@dansullivan7547 You are correct Dan, thanks for sharing! Most Dremels use around 175 watts, therefore you'll need an inverter around 210 watts.

[@randy007]

Great job!

[@WaganTech]

Thanks Randy ♥!

[@christianianmarcos3739]

Hi there.. great video.. would like to ask if for an equipment like a 1200W vacuum cleaner and larger sized motorized equipment.. is 20% buffer still applicable? Tnx..

[@WaganTech]

Hi Christian, Yes the buffer is applicable, even more so with larger appliances! I would certainly recommend the 20% buffer on higher wattage appliances.

[@chrisoo8998]

I want to put one in my semi truck can u just hook it up straight to battery?

[@WaganTech]

Technically you can, but make sure it's on your auxiliary battery and not your starter battery. Feel free to see here for more info: wagan.com/blogs/news/how-to-connect-a-large-or-small-inverter-to-a-battery?_pos=6&_sid=cdd5aaabf&_ss=r

[@willywonka9613]

So if you got one that had lots of wats like 750w would that be better just so you know you don’t overdo wats

[@WaganTech]

River, you can get an inverter as big as you want, but then it comes down to efficiency. Let's say you were to buy a 5000 watt inverter but you only had a 200 watt load that you'd apply to it. The inverter would work fine, but it would not be efficient and use more power than it would need to. Generally we recommend sizing the inverter so that it will be using 70 to 80% of its power range while in use; this will provide the maximum efficiency for your setup.

[@willywonka9613]

@@WaganTech thank you very much!

[@WaganTech]

@@willywonka9613 my pleasure! Feel free to reach out if you need more info!

[@DeryckThompsonChasingtheDream]

what happens if you use a much bigger inverter than you need.? ie:- 1500 watt and my appliances are 800 watts maximum

[@WaganTech]

Good Question! There are no detriments to using an inverter that is too large.... the only thing that will suffer is efficiency as inverters should be outputting around 80%+ of its capacity to be the most efficient. At 800W , a 1500W inverter would be running at 53%+ efficiency which would be just fine.

[@apostlelouismrs.larhondaco4712]

Please PLEASE 🙏🙏 answer my question as I need to make a decision asap. what is the BEST INVERTER for a home refrigerator and fan? also how many batteries would I need?

[@WaganTech]

Contact our customer service with the amperage (or wattage) draw of both devices and how long you intend to run them (hours). [e-mail]

[@adedoyinatiroko9962]

Does a water pump has a peak surge wattage apart from it's running wattage? If yes, what will be my water pump peak surge if it has a 750 running watts?

[@WaganTech]

That's a very good question, unfortunately I can only answer the first part of it. The water pump will have a peak ( or in-rush) surge current on startup. You will have to look at the water pump label or contact the manufacturer to find out what that inrush current is as it can be up to eight times the running wattage.