the real truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about inverters...

[circusboy90210]

can we get a conclusive answer about use of inverters for power once and for all in one location. There seems to be lack of cohesiveness about this subject.

[buswarrior]

Get a generator, and thank me when you have no problems making money.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Stormcloud]

No!

[Tenor]

"You can't handle the truth!" - Jack Somebody 

I just finished putting my Xantrex 4024 in - and I think it's sweet!  What do you want to know?

Glenn

[buswarrior]

How to run an ice cream truck using an inverter.....

sorry, you asked....

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Sean]

You say you want an "answer," but you did not ask any specific question(s).

The subject is really too large to cover in a couple of posts, but there is plenty in the archives.  There are also several good web sites on the topic, and even some books.  Lastly, the manufacturers all have pretty good, if biased, web sites.

There is no single "right" answer when it comes to inverters.  Lots depends on what you want to use it for, whether you need integral charging, what, if any, motor loads you will have, and whether you live mostly on- or off-grid.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[PADoug]

can we get a conclusive answer about use of inverters for power once and for all in one location. There seems to be lack of cohesiveness about this subject.

You mean kinda like a 3-ring circus? I'll worry about that when I get my bus.

Right now, I have one of those power-robbing things in my car. It's a mini-450 Watt if you must know, and I wouldn't trust my laptop to it, even for recharging the battery. Did fine for my cell phone, but that was for an emergency.

What I do know is this: I need a pure sine inverter if I want to be absolutely safe with all of my products. Not every product needs pure sine, but why not stick to the standard? My dad was a well respected engineer for Westinghouse Electric (Before they got mismanaged by a group of MBA's-NOT engineers!), and that was his advice.

As far as all the other options and uses and how they work together in a bus are concerned, I'll check the archives. If I can't find it, then I'll ask someone like Sean. 

I'm not sure how an ice cream truck is related to a bus or motor-home though...can somebody explain that to me? 

[WEC4104]

can we get a conclusive answer about use of inverters for power once and for all in one location. There seems to be lack of cohesiveness about this subject.

Sure, in fact, I'll give you four conclusive answers:

1) Topeka, Kansas

2) A silver umbrella rack

3) October 17th

4) Wooley Mammoth

I'm not sure what they are the conclusive answers to, but then I'm not sure what your question is either.

[bobofthenorth]

The answer is 42.

[Van]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverter

[boogiethecat]

I find that inverters are kinda like stereo speakers.  You can't ask someone what is best because everyone hears differently!
With inverters, lately I give the same advice as I do if asked what speaker is best:

If YOU love it, whatever it is, it's the best thing in the world for you, regardless what I or anyone else thinks!

Personally, I have two inverters on my bus but not how or why you'd think.  One is a dedicated 2KW pure sine chinese cheepo from ebay that I built into my 110v AC style summit refrigerator (and it gets turned on and off by the fridg's thermostat) so it's now a wonderful 12 volt DC fridge that only cost me a song, runs happily on three solar panels on the roof, and ended forever my hassles with ammonia based units-
And the other is a tiny 100W pure sine that I keep alive 24/7 for folks including me who need to plug little stuff into when we're on the road, like cellphone chargers etc. Oh, and my sweet little Dell computer that I use for GPS.

I would recommend from personal experience that pure sine units will give you fewer headaches in the long run... but whatever you think is best probably is!!!

Cheers

[Singing Land Cruiser]

Can Vanna buy this guy a Vowel? and the answer is? Hey Bob, It is 42. Go fig. M&C

[Lee Bradley]

The answer is 42.

Yes but you're going to need a bigger computer to figure out the question. Say something as big as .... the earth.

[PP]

I forgot what I was going to say, sorry.
Will

[Len Silva]

can we get a conclusive answer about use of inverters for power once and for all in one location. There seems to be lack of cohesiveness about this subject.

A lack of cohesiveness?