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S. King Co. Inverter Calculator

What Size Inverter Do I Need For a TV/VCR?

We usually recommend the 300 watt inverter for a TV/VCR combo up to 13". The 300 watt inverters can be used with a cigarette lighter up to 150 watts. If the equipment or appliance you intend to operate requires more than 150 watts of continuous power, the 300 watt inverter should be connected directly to the power source. Failure to do so may result in serious damage to the power cord or to the cigarette lighter socket wiring or end up blowing the cigarette lighter circuit fuse. For greater than 150 watts, the inverter will require more than 15 amps of current and you will need to connect the inverter to a circuit that can handle up to 30 amps, since most cigarette lighter circuits are able to handle at most 15 amps. If the TV/VCR is larger you may need the 500 watt inverter because of the startup surge created by the TV tube. Power equipment and appliances which operate with motors or tubes require an initial surge of power to get them up and running. This power surge is referred to as the “starting load” or “peak load.” (By comparison, electrical devices such as standard light bulbs do not require a starting load). Once the equipment or appliance has been powered up, it settles down to a slower pace and requires far less electrical power to operate. This lower power requirement is referred to as the “continuous load.” The 500 watt inverters will need to be directly wired to a circuit that can handle up to 50 amps.

You may need to determine how much power your TV/VCR, equipment and/or appliance you plan to operate. Power consumption is rated either in wattage or in amperes and information regarding the required “watts” or “amps” generally is stamped or printed on most appliances and equipment. If this information is not indicated on the appliance or equipment, check the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer. If the power consumption is rated in amps, multiply the number of amps by 110 (AC voltage) to determine the comparable wattage rating.

To determine how much current the Inverter will draw from the battery divide the wattage that the equipiment requires by 10.

When the engine is off, most batteries will provide an ample power supply to the inverter for one to two hours. The actual length of time is a function of several variables including the age and condition of the battery and the power demand being placed on it by the equipment being operated with the inverter.

If you are using the inverter while the engine is off, we recommend you start the engine every hour and let it run for  approximately 10 minutes to recharge the battery. We also recommend that the device plugged into the inverter be turned off before turning over the engine.