Largest inverter into cig lighter?

[imbuggin]

I use an inverter incase of a power outtage for my fish tank in the house. My question is if anyone knows how large on an inverter you could still plug into the cigarette lighter instead of directly to the battery without issues of blowing a fuse or roasting something.


I am using a 800 watt inverter now.

Thanks

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[joesfiddy]

why dont u buy a small generator thats what i use for my fishtank if the power goes out.

 

[imbuggin]

why dont u buy a small generator thats what i use for my fishtank if the power goes out.

My old one was to small and annoying. The inverter is a temp solution until I get a backup generator for the entire house. Since my garage is near the tank, it is easier than dealing with a generator I may use once in a blue moon. The last generator I had would be a pain in the ass to get running every time I had to use it. My tank is a 300 gallon reef and uses alot of power. Plus the inverter is 1 20th the price of a generator

 

[Dana]

you'll be limited to the fuse/circuit breaker size for the lighter circuit. i'm guessing no larger than a 15 amp fuse in that one, so amps X volts = watts or 15 X 12 = 180 watts

some inverters stop working when the input voltage drops below a certain threshold.

You're going to have to find a different way to power that one. You'll need at least 65 amps continuous for 800 watts, if i remember correctly.

 

[01Cobra]

Could go with a UPS. pricey though for long run time assuming an 800 watt load.

http://www.apc.com/products/resourc...sku=SMX1000&full_sku=SMX1000 + (3)SMX48RMBP2U

The chart

http://www.apc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm

 

[imbuggin]

yeah those UPS backup suck I have tried. They do not last for long. At that point I would just deal with a generator.


Would I have an issue if it was attached directly top the battery with the car running, just as iff I were jumping another car?

 

[imbuggin]

incase anyone did care, if you go direct to the battery there is no issue. Tried an 800 watt and 1500 watt.

 

[Aron]

Makes sense, if you were to go through the cigarette lighter you are pulling all that power through the wiring, and that is where you run into trouble. If you go straight to the battery, there is no wiring to add resistance, so you're better off doing that.

 

[FirstPlaceOils]

1500 watts continuous power 1800 watts continuous power 15 min. 3000 watts peak power

http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=image&resnum=7&ved=0CFwQ8gIwBg#

 

[imbuggin]

1500 watts continuous power 1800 watts continuous power 15 min. 3000 watts peak power

http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=image&resnum=7&ved=0CFwQ8gIwBg#

looks nice, but I prefer the $30 I paid vs $450! I hope to never use the thing.