stick blender usage December 30, 2010, 03:30:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119270I now have a stick blender. The underwriting info on the side says it draws 100W 60Hz KB 1 minute. My rig has 2 100W solar panels,2 Trojan 6Vs and I use a small 400W inverter. Can I use the blender while boondocking? If so, for how long. This seems to me to be one of those dreaded thought problems from school. I currently use my solar system for lights, computer and TV. Happy New Year to you all. Beverly "07 TK
Re: stick blender usage Reply #1 – December 30, 2010, 04:14:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119271Well, Beverly, the "KB 1 minute" doesn't seem relevant. But, if the stick blender needs 100 Watts and the inverter can provide a lot more, you're in good shape. Provided you don't use the blender for hours on end that is. The sun will let you recover the energy you've used perhaps in the same number of minutes you've used the stick blender. The blender uses almost 1 amp at 120 Volts. So, about 10 Amps from you solar panels will keep up with it (i.e. not run down the batteries at all). Move the switch on your solar panel controller to "Charging Amps" to see what the sun is doing for you. If it's reading less than 10 Amps, it will proportionally take longer to recover the energy. So, if it reads say 5 Amps, it will take twice as long for the sun to recover the energy you've used in a given time of using your stick blender.Alex Rutchka, SE #4 '05 MB
Re: stick blender usage Reply #2 – December 30, 2010, 05:41:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119272Quote "I currently use my solar system for lights, computer and TV."Beverly "07 TK Beverly I have to take issue with you on that statement. The solar system has only *one* function, that of charging your batteries, nothing else. Your batteries, in turn, power everything in your coach that requires 12v, i.e. fridge, water heater, lights, furnace and, yes, even the TV, providing it's a 12v set or is connected through an inverter. As long as you have a sufficient charge on the batteries all systems are go. It would appear that if you are powering your 100w stick blender through your 400w inverter that should be okay. The best way to know for sure is to try it and see what happens.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: stick blender usage Reply #3 – December 31, 2010, 11:45:32 am Yahoo Message Number: 119292wrote: QuoteI now have a stick blender. The underwriting info on the side says it draws 100W... --- I replied to this message privately, but wanted to offer an additional source of information which I've found to be useful: http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.htmlI think that any problem with running the stick blender from the inverter (in this case, a 400W inverter) would be the *start-up (surge) power requirements* of the appliance. The blender may draw 100W while operating, but it very likely draws much *more* than 100W, possibly more than the 400W inverter can handle, when it fires up.Joan
Re: stick blender usage Reply #4 – December 31, 2010, 12:06:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119294On 12/31/2010 10:45 AM, jctaylor1941 wrote: QuoteThe blender may draw 100W while operating, but it very likely draws much*more* than 100W, possibly more than the 400W inverter can handle, when it fires up. This could be particularly true if the inverter is plugged into a 12-volt outlet rather than being wired directly to the batteries. When plugged into a 12-volt outlet, you won't have the entire 400-watts available to you...maybe only as little as 150-watts (the Owner's Manual that came with the inverter should say).Linda Hylton http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: stick blender usage Reply #5 – December 31, 2010, 12:50:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119296Most inverters can handle a startup surge; that's a common situation and they're designed to take it in stride. However, it's true that when plugged into a 12V outlet, an inverter--regardless of its rating--can't deliver more than about 120W due to the limitations of the outlet and its associated fuse. Overall, though, my guess is that a 100W stick blender will probably work OK in the situation described. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: stick blender usage Reply #6 – January 03, 2011, 07:30:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119363QuoteI have to take issue with you on that statement. The solar system has only *one* function, that of charging your batteries, nothing else. Steve, this is actually not true. Suppose you have a solar array and charge controller capable of putting out 20 Amps. If your batteries are not heavily discharged, they will only accept a small portion of the available charge current, perhaps 2-5 Amps. OTOH, if you want to power up a few appliances during the middle of the day, the panels can provide the charge current needed AND supply plenty of current to power those appliances, an inverter, etc, TOO - without reducing the charge current delivered to your batteries. Part of the beauty of a solar array is that it works most effectively if it can power your energy needs during sunny weather, without depleting your battery charge.Steve (B)
Whole House Inverter Reply #7 – January 03, 2011, 07:50:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119368I have wanted to install one of these since we bought KoKo. I just can figure out how to wire the AC side into the existing power panel.This write up on the Born Free forum is good as far as it goes. http://www.bornfreervclub.org/bulletin_board/viewtopic.php?t=2140Relay's leave me cold. I need a diagram that is almost connect the blue wire to the red wire.Oh gee, look at how pictures and drawings are included in the post.
Re: stick blender usage Reply #8 – January 03, 2011, 09:09:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119378"OTOH, if you want to power up a few appliances during the middle of the day, the panels can provide the charge current needed AND supply plenty of current to power those appliances, an inverter, etc, TOO - without reducing the charge current delivered to your batteries."QuoteSteve (B) Then would that hold true if I were to disconnect the batteries from the circuit under those conditions? ? ? ? Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: stick blender usage Reply #9 – January 04, 2011, 12:36:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 119384QuoteThen would that hold true if I were to disconnect the batteries from the circuit under those conditions? ? ? ? The charge controller needs the batteries connected in order to judge state-of-charge and thus operating mode. The way it would function with the batteries disconnected would depend on design - and may be unpredictable. In the case of a well-designed 3-stage charge controller, it might infer the batteries are fully charged, and thus put out a set voltage of about 13.6V, with full current compliance to operate whatever. However, if the design expects a few milliamps to be consumed by a fully charged battery, it might go to a fault mode. The simplest designs are a 'dumb' shunt regulator, which switches the panels off when the output exceeds 14.3V. This would cause very erratic and voltage-variable operation if you tried to operate appliances with the batteries disconnected. However, bigger loads would work better than smaller ones. Assuming you have the Heliotrope MPPT controller, chances are it would work fine with the batteries disconnected. I don't see the likelyhood of any adverse problem were you to try the experiment. My controller is different, so my results would not apply to you.Steve
stick blender Reply #10 – December 30, 2010, 06:02:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119273"Your batteries, in turn, power everything in your coach that requires 12v, i.e. fridge, water heater, lights, furnace and, yes, even the TV, providing it's a 12v set or is connected through an inverter." I think my fridge runs off either propane or 120v hookup. Am I wrong in assuming this?Cindy '09 FD Sylvia icy Northern Nevada[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: stick blender Reply #11 – December 30, 2010, 06:18:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119274On 12/30/2010 5:02 PM, C Simmers wrote: QuoteI think my fridge runs off either propane or 120v hookup. Am I wrong in assuming this? Those are the two modes used for cooling. However, no matter what mode you're cooling in (AC or propane), the "brains" of the outfit runs off 12-volt power from your battery.Linda Hylton http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: stick blender Reply #12 – December 30, 2010, 09:26:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119278Cindy, You are correct . . . usually. There are 3-way fridge models available but LD hasn't used them for years (if ever?). The 12 volt option adds to the cost of the fridge and in most cases isn't practical except while travelling. However, if one has a larger inverter, it's both possible and sometimes practical to power the fridge with 120 volts AC from the inverter. DC current draw is 30 amps when the fridge is "on", and this would come from the battery bank or the alternator if going down the highway. I have a larger solar array that gives me up to 25 amps. So I power the fridge with the inverter while traveling. If I pull over for an hour or two, I'll leave it powered this way, and accept the 5 amp deficit will be made up from the batteries.bumper
Re: stick blender Reply #13 – December 30, 2010, 10:29:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119279Quote "I think my fridge runs off either propane or 120v hookup. Am I wrong in assuming this?"Cindy Cindy No, you are correct... however, without 12v your fridge will not work!Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: stick blender Reply #14 – December 31, 2010, 09:27:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 119309Thanks!Cindy '09 FD Sylvia cold Northern Nevada[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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