Voltage converter vs. generator ??

[01_el_tiburon]

Have been thinking of adquiring some pit equipment, and was thinking of buying a generator, but came across those voltage converters for the car that hook up to the lighter or battery. Do you have to have the car running ? Anybody used or tried em ? I have an air compressor, so i thought i could hook it up to a voltage converter thing and later get the CO2 tank i was asking several posts before. I know the CO2 tank is portable, but i thought i could kill 2 birds with one stone, Voltage converter = lighting and air equipment for pits...?

any input would be great..

thx

omar

[picone]

I think you are talking about the voltage convertors that you can buy at pep boys that have a 110 outlet??? They are cool for charging your camera, sno-cone machine, blender and other basic neccesities for the carthey will kill your battery real quick if you are running flood lights or any type of power tool. Last I checked the 400 watt inverter was about $175. The power inverter will kill your battery (if it even has enough power for your equipment) real quick if you use a tool off of it. They are nice to have but don't count on it to run an air compressor.
.................................................
Here you go, bids tomorrow:
3500 watts for $400
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2595427219&category=12 68
or
5200 watts for $495
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2595420358&category=41 490
wait and find one near your house and then just go pick it up to save on shipping.

[Wayne_Nosala]

Voltage inverters are not powerful enough to run a
compressor, they use lots of battery power to get little
120 vac power. I would not waste my money on one.

[BlueCoyote]

Those voltage conveters are fine for TV's and laptops, but thats about it. IT would take a huge converter to provide enough power to run an air compressor. And one that big would cost more that a decent generator. A 5hp air compressor will use about ~ 3300 watts. ( If I recall 1hp = 647watts) Per ohms law watts = volts x amps. So to get ~3800 watts with only a 12 volt source you will need about 275 amps - ouch. You would need a BIG alternator to produce that. My math may be off a bit but you get the idea.
I do run a small 150w conrerter in chase truck for powering a floresent yard lite. For low wattage lites it is okay.
My suggstion, but a decent generator. FYI, Home Depot has a 7500 watt electric start for $1000, or a 5500 watt for about $500. Thats US $, but you may be able to 'borrow' one from you friends in the US....

[ntsqd]

Blue, that ole' lexdisia is getting to you http://www.race-dezert.com/vb3/attachments/old/images/graemlins/smile.gif
746 watts = 1 HP.

5HP = 3730 watts

3730watts/12volts = 311 amps (Think starting motor current)

FWIW we were loaned the use of a 4" angle grinder & 110V flux-core welder after our generator successfully resisted any attempt to start at the LV 200. They ran them off of a converter in their purpose built service bodied diesel chase truck. They found it easier to go that route than to tote a generator around. They also had the $$$ to buy very LARGE converter and the battery bank (2+ Aux batteries) that it would take to run those tools. West Marine would be the first place I'd look for a converter that large.

[01_el_tiburon]

So im a cheap bastard, what can i do.....?
Trying to save the money i still dont have...

el tiburon

p.s. conclusion: im a cheap bastard, ill get the CO2 this month and the power plant will have to wait, maybe for the 1000.