Car Camping - Powering Car Appliances
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มิ.ย. 2021
- This channel documents my journey living in a Prius. In this video I talk about how I power appliances while living in my car. We look at using in inverter and the importance of using a pure sine wave inverter to power things like refrigerators, microwaves, hot plates, and other devices.
Below is a list of the items that I used in this video. I did research and tried to find the best price available on Amazon. The item links are for my Amazon Associates program, so I get a small commission for every sale. Thank you for any purchase that you make!
Circuit Breaker
amzn.to/49VTUZ0
Make sure that the breaker is the right size for your inverter. A Google search can tell you how large of a breaker you needed, given the size of our inverter.
2/0 AWG Gaug Red + Black Pure Copper Battery Inverter Cables
amzn.to/48HRUm1
Make sure that the cables are large enough for the power rating of your inverter. A Google search can tell you how large of cables are needed, given your size of inverter.
Hook and Loop Tape
amzn.to/48zDLr7
BESTEK 1000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter
amzn.to/49Hsg23
You will need an inverter that can handle the maximum wattage of anything that you plan to plug in. Also, make sure that you use a "pure sine wave inverter". The reason can be found by doing a Google search for, "benefits of pure sine wave inverters".
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A couple thoughts: the way you have the ground clipped right next to the postitive line before the positive line goes through the breaker seems a bit needlessly dangerous to me... Also if your breaker is only being used as a switch you might consider just using a relay. That way you could have all this beefy wiring out of sight and just a small switch visible to this on and off. Or if the inverter has a switch you can open it up and connect your externally mounted switch to the same wire terminals. In other words you'd just be mounting the inverter's switch remotely.
That is really helpful feedback and information. Thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts. I chose the breaker, simply because it was quick and easy. It gives me a way to connect and disconnect both the inverter and the jumpstart battery pack without having to open up the back of the car and uncover the battery compartment. However, I will definitely consider your thoughts and recommendations, as I continue to make upgrades to my car. Thank you again for the post!
Thanks for answering so many questions so clearly and patiently. I read everything and learned a lot. Most people sound like they're speaking another language when they talk about electricity and electronics. It's so refreshing that you use plain English!
My question is simple. What kind of connectors do you use to hook the cables up to the posts on the battery? Are they simple ring connectors?
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video, and thank you for leaving a kind and supportive comment. To answer your question, I simply used the connectors that came on the cables, and (yes) they were ring connectors. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Watched this video half dozen times already plus all your others but this particular one is where I’m at with my Prius Gen 2, back and forth with portable power stations, aux battery with inverter choices with solar then I roll back to this choice because my car is a power station on wheels LoL.
Using your Amazon link to pull the trigger on the Bestek Inverter…thanks for the awesome informative content…cheers 🍻
Good luck with your Prius modifications. My best advice is to make sure that you think about all of the things that you want to power, and get an inverter that is powerful enough. If I did things over, then I would get a slightly more powerful inverter. My 1000 watt Bestek struggles to power my 1000 watt hot plate, so having something that could power more demanding devices (like a 1500 watt or 2000 watt inverter) would be nice. Also, don't forget to get a "pure sine wave" inverter. They cost more, but they will provide a higher quality source of power. Cheaper inverters could potentially damage (or ruin) some devices.
Thanks for taking the time to watch my videos, and thank you for your comment!
Prius's charge current that goes to the starting battery is not very much. It's limited to less than 10 amps I believe. The vehicle actually starts off the hybrid system unless the hybrid battery is low than it starts off the starting battery. I noticed the sag in voltage drop to 10.7 volts while that hot plate was on. That's a very heavy load being applied to such a small battery.
Thank you for the informative comment, and thank you for taking the time to watch the video. You bring up some very good points. Over the last year, I have learned a lot about my Prius and running different items, on different sized inverters, in different configurations. I recommend that anyone who plans to hook up an inverter in their car do a lot of research about how inverters work and the best way to hook them up to your specific make and model, before running any items off of an inverter. I have found the configuration that works for me, but every car and every inverter is different.
Prius inverter can deliver up to 100A at maximum load,so it shouldnt hurt 12v battery so much.But car must be in ready mode
@krystof is WRONG! It doesn't matter that the Prius hybrid inverter can do 100amps because the 12V inverter is hooked up to the 12V car starting battery THAT DOES NOT DO PASS THROUGH POWER FROM THE PRIUS INVERTER beyond the 10amps to CHARGE the 12v starting battery.
Great job thanks for sharing
Thank you for continuing to watch my videos. I have a 70 part series that I am creating, which will cover in detail all of the things that I have learned about living in a car. I will start posting those videos this week.
Great information and really well explained. I will be using your exact setup on my 2014 Prius. Wondering, do you have the engine on ready mode when using the inverter to keep the 12v battery charged? Also I saw many folks on the Bestek Amazon page saying they thought the cables provided by Bestek were too flimsy when using anything close to the 1000 watts and would get too hot. Wondering if you found any overheating issues of any of your cables when using your 875 watt hot plate...or if you have an opinion about that. Thanks !!
Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and leave a comment.
I do have the car turned on when I use the inverter. That allows the engine to kick on when needed to keep the battery charged. I haven't had any overheating issues with the Bestek, but I haven't used it with any high wattage appliances. Unfortunately, it turns out that the hot plate actually draws over 1000 watts, even though it is advertised as a 1000 watt device. I could never get it to work with my 1000 watt inverter, because it kept tripping the inverters internal breaker. So, I just purchased a 1,500 watt Kinverch pure sine wave inverter from Amazon, to power the hot plate and a microwave that I ordered.
After my experience, I would recommend that most people consider getting a 1,500 watt inverter, if you are going to power 750 to 1000 watt appliances. Appliances seem to draw more power than advertised. For example, the 750 watt Black and Decker microwave that I just bought from Amazon seems to actually draw around 1,050 watts when running, so it couldn't have run on my 1,000 watt inverter.
Definitely do your research before buying and installing an inverter. Make sure you understand how inverters work, why you might need a "pure sine wave" inverter, and how to install everything in a safe way that does not create a shock or fire hazard. It take a little time to research and learn about inverters, but there is plenty of information online. Good luck with your 2014 Prius!
@@livinginaprius Cool...Thank you again! Having a backup jump start does make sense. I plan to use a small 350 watt heater (not sure how effective that will be), a 350 watt rice cooker with steamer (cooks grains and veggies at the same time and keeps warm when done - $20), backup for my alpicool refrigerator - < 65 watts). Gonna return my 1000 watt hotplate. Hoping my 700 watt instantpot mini will be ok also.. Gonna try to make the 1000 watt Bestek PSW work since I already have it. Hoping if I use the same switch setup that you used and wire it as you have done I will be ok. I won't be full timing..mainly for a week or so at a time. Mostly I don't want to damage my car.
You made it so simple 👍 thank you I'm doing the same, just don't know 1000 watt or 1500 ? I'm sure I'll figure it out.
You shouldn't go over 1000w on the 12v battery
@@pilinke11 thanks so 1200 too much? 2010 Prius 800 Watt microwave
@user-sf9ck9yx2f yeah, a 1200w should be fine, but don't try to reach 1200w of use, probably 1000w as a microwave, I have read people have use the inverter around 750w for 9 hours straight without problems
@@pilinke11 thanks I'll be only be using it to warm things up 5 minutes
@user-sf9ck9yx2f you should be more than fine, also I'm misspelled the comment, I meant I have read on forum people have use it for hours WITHOUT problems 😅
What is the size of DC cable connected to battery? 10mm or what?
I used 2 gauge cable to go from the battery to the breaker, then I used the cables that came with the inverter to go from the breaker to the inverter. However, you should definitely do your own research, because I am not an expert and using the wrong size cable can cause the cables to overheat and possibly start a fire. I recommend doing a Google search for "choosing the correct cable size for inverters", to research the size of cables you would need for any inverter that you are planning to install. I hope that is helpful.
But wouldn’t you also need to setup another breaker at the front of the car if you use the inverter there?
That is a good point. A lot of people install inverters without using a breaker, so they are not necessarily needed. However, I wanted a way to turn off power when I wasn't using the inverter, so it didn't accidentally get turned on. For that purpose, you would install a breaker between the battery and the inverter, regardless of where your battery and inverter were located. By the way, I am not an electrical expert, so please do your own research on proper installation, before installing any electrical equipment in your car. Good luck!
Hi I have a few questions. Sorry I'm trying to build out my Prius, and I don't know anything much about electric components.
1. Why didnt you connect a parallel battery for extra power for your fridge?
2. How do you power lights internally in the car? I see some people using USB outlets.
3. What is the multiple plug there for if the inverter is 1000w and your hotplate is 800w?
Thanks for viewing my videos. To answer your questions:
1. Instead of connecting a second parallel battery, I purchased a camping battery/power pack. I got the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160, which has outlets built in for the fridge and USB devices. It is easier to install, cheaper, and more portable than a second car battery. See my video on 2021-07-21 for how I powered my fridge.
2. I looked at a number of different lighting options for internal lighting, but the overhead lights that are built into the car (in the front and back) are more than enough to really light up the inside at night. I could plug extra lights into my Jackery or inverter, if I wanted to, but I haven't found a need for more lighting.
3. The power strip with the multiple plugs is just for convenience. It also has a built in surge protector. The multiple plugs lets me do things like plug in my laptop, electric shaver, and other items, which I can charge at the same time.
The best thing about having a Prius is the fact that you have a gas power generator on wheels. That means that you can plug in items to use (or charge) at any time, and anywhere, by simply turning on your car. I choose to leave my car on all night, so the temperature stays at the level I set on the air conditioner. The car only turns on for about 3 minutes every half hour to keep the hybrid battery pack charged (while the AC is running), and that also allows me to charge my Jackery and any items that need recharging while I am sleeping.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
@@livinginaprius thanks for the prompt reply. I was wondering a little more about the security system, plus the inverter you bought. Is the inverter big enough for you? Would you recommend getting a 1000 inverter as well? Any inverters to recommend, especially on a budget? Also, do you think the security system is necessary? Thanks for answering my questions!
@@YJ-xg2pd The inverter is the right size for my use, because I only use it to run my refrigerator when my Jackery is charging and to run some other appliances that don't need more than 1000 watts (like the hot plate). The best approach is to figure out what AC (alternating current) devices you will want to power in your car, and then find out the peak wattage you will need. The peak wattage is the highest output of watts that you will be running at any given time.
Every device has a rating for the wattage it uses, so find out what item will use the most or what combination of things running at the same time will use the most. The wattage use of a device is usually listed in its online product description. There are a lot of inverters, so get the size that meets your needs and look for an affordable option for that size. Look at ratings and read reviews, to make sure that a cheaper product isn't junk. Also, make sure you get a pure sine wave inverter, because other (cheaper) types of inverters can damage things over long-term use.
By the way, I would recommend that anyone planning to live in their car on a limited budget create a meal plan that does not need refrigeration or heating. That eliminates a lot of expenses: power station (like a jackery), an inverter, and appliances (like a refrigerator, hot plate, toaster oven, etc.). That approach would only need a very small and cheap inverter to charge things like a computer. Otherwise, most electronics can be charged with a USB adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter, which you can easily find for less than $10 on Amazon.
In terms of privacy and security. The best thing that I did was get my windows tinted and install the blackout window panel system with the front window sunscreen to hide myself at night (see my video on 8/1 - starting at time 2:41). Using that system, I have never had anyone bother me or ask me to move at night, because I am invisible to anyone outside. With that system, the camera (security) system is valuable, because it still lets me see outside when the panels are installed. However, before installing the camera system, I would simply peak through the corner of a panel if I heard something outside, so (for me) the camera system is more of a luxury than a necessity.
Hope that is helpful information. Let me know if you have any other questions.
@@YJ-xg2pd The inverter is the right size for my use, because I only use it to run my refrigerator when my Jackery is charging and to run some other appliances that don't need more than 1000 watts (like the hot plate). The best approach is to figure out what AC (alternating current) devices you will want to power in your car, and then find out the peak wattage you will need. The peak wattage is the highest output of watts that you will be running at any given time.
Every device has a rating for the wattage it uses, so find out what item will use the most or what combination of things running at the same time will use the most. The wattage use of a device is usually listed in its online product description. There are a lot of inverters, so get the size that meets your needs and look for an affordable option for that size. Look at ratings and read reviews, to make sure that a cheaper product isn't junk. Also, make sure you get a pure sine wave inverter, because other (cheaper) types of inverters can damage things over long-term use.
By the way, I would recommend that anyone planning to live in their car on a limited budget create a meal plan that does not need refrigeration or heating. That eliminates a lot of expenses: power station (like a jackery), an inverter, and appliances (like a refrigerator, hot plate, toaster oven, etc.). That approach would only need a very small and cheap inverter to charge things like a computer. Otherwise, most electronics can be charged with a USB adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter, which you can easily find for less than $10 on Amazon.
In terms of privacy and security. The best thing that I did was get my windows tinted and install the blackout window panel system with the front window sunscreen to hide myself at night (see my video on 8/1 - starting at time 2:41). Using that system, I have never had anyone bother me or ask me to move at night, because I am invisible to anyone outside. With that system, the camera (security) system is valuable, because it still lets me see outside when the panels are installed. However, before installing the camera system, I would simply peak through the corner of a panel if I heard something outside, so (for me) the camera system is more of a luxury than a necessity.
Hope that is helpful information. Let me know if you have any other questions.
@@jasonvansickle thank you so much for the reply.
So if I understand correctly, the Jackery is plugged into the car 12V power supply during the night to charge up. Simultaneously, you are powering your fridge at the same time via the Jackery outlets. This way you have a continuous output and input into the Jackery at night.
During the day when the car is off, there is no input into the Jackery, and the Jackery powers your fridge through the day.
So when do you need to use the inverter for your refrigerator?
Thanks for all the help! Your setup is the best!
I'm also living in one
Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. I hope that your car living experience is going well. Safe travels!
Too complicated for me. I have the 500 watt and a 1000 watt jackerys, but I’m camping during the day and can watch as my solar panels do their work. Your working during the day makes it more complicated.
Keep it simple and do what works for you. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the great outdoors by camping. In my experience, Jackery is a great resource to have (for providing power) when camping.
Those Chinese circuit beakers are not good in quality apparently. Buy more expensive quality beakers that will actually protect you instead of cause a fire.
Thank you for the feedback. My breaker is only used to manually turn the power off when I am not using the inverter, and it has worked well over the last couple of years. However, you bring up a good point about using only quality parts.