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Power inverter

4K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  justjeff 
#1 · (Edited)
I did a search but didn't come across a topic.
I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this so please move it if not.

I want to add a small 120 volt invertor to my 2016 KLR.
I'm in Southern California where I do all my riding and mostly in fair weather so I'll never be using heated grips or gloves but I need to know what the stator capacity is so I can figure out what size inverter I could get by with.

Thanks

Dan
 
#2 ·
#4 · (Edited)
Yes 140 watts on low beam. You lose 55 watts with the high beam and about 35 watts with the radiator fan.
For a stationary application (not ridding) you could pick up another 55 watts by disconnecting the low beam, but the fan would be running a lot.

You can save some power by converting to LED lighting all around. And for short periods of time you can gain some more power by pulling some from the battery. You could even install an extra deep cycle battery.

What is your application that requires 120 VAC?
 
#5 ·
Just a heads up in case yor ideas involves charging other things. I use inverters at work to charge tool batteries up when there's no power on the job site. Many new types of chargers don't seem to work when plugged in to inverters. I think it has something to do with "dirty electricity", if that makes any sense. Just make sure whatever you're planning on plugging in gets along with inverters before you lay out a bunch of coin.
 
#7 ·
Mostly I just want to charge phone, cam batteries, little stuff like that. I would set it up on a relay so it can only run while engine running if that's needed so battery doesn't get drained.
Good point about some devices not liking inverter power and thanks for mentioning. I have a similar problem sometimes with that using the old 2500 watt inverter I have in my service van.

So...not alot of "spare" capacity from the stator it sounds like. I'll have to look into the LED bulbs.
Is there a tried and liked H7?

Thanks a lot for the input so far!
 
#10 · (Edited)
Mostly I just want to charge phone, cam batteries, little stuff like that.
If that's all you have in mind, dan filipi, I refer you to a lithium jump-start battery.

These electrical wonders, about the size of cell phone, can start your bike with 200 cold cranking amps, when necessary. Further, at any time, these little auxiliary power packs can charge any and all the devices you mention with the wiring harness and connectors included.

Further, the battery itself can be charged from the 12 VDC on your bike (automobile lighter plug included).

Did I mention the LED flashlight, strobe, and SOS modes?

Get yourself one of these little wonders, and you won't have to fool with inverters and stuff like that:

https://www.cyclegear.com/jump-boxes

The auxiliary battery might come in handy, fetched from the glove compartment of your daily driver sometime, too!

Summary of features of one model (many similar):

Features:
• Dimensions: 6.75” L x 3.25” W x 1”H
• Weight: 15.25oz
• 200 Amp- 400 peak amp jump starting ability
• 12000mAh of power
• Jump start port
• 19v port for laptops
• 12v standard port for all 12v accessories
• 5V/1A USB charging port
• 5V/2A USB charging port
• Hi-power LED flashlight with 3 modes: flashlight, strobe, and S.O.S
• Battery level indicator
• Built-in over-charge and over-discharge protections for long battery life
• Automatic shut-off when not in use

Includes:
• Micro-Start XP-1 Unit
• Simulated leather carry case
• Mini jumper clamps
• Universal Cable with 8 different detachable tips to fit all the different brands of laptop charging ports
• Universal Cable for all 12v accessories such as mobile DVD players, or other 12v accessories
• 4-in-1 USB cable with Micro USB, Mini USB, Apple 30 pin and Apple Lightning 8 pin connectors
• Wall outlet charger
• Cigarette lighter charger

FULL DISCLOSURE: No financial interest in Cycle Gear; this is the model I own (now on SALE!):

https://www.cyclegear.com/accessories/pod-x1-backup-battery

Have started V-6 with it; oughta handle V-8s as well.

-------------------

EDIT: Oh, yes! 10 % off EVERYTHING at my friendly local Cycle Gear; today only! :)
 
#8 ·
I tried some H7 LED from a couple of different manufactures as well as some H7 HID and didn't like any of them in the stock fixtures. Non matched the shape and size of the H7 incandescent elements and the reflector sent the light everywhere -in the trees, in the ditch, off the road.....

I am back to H7 incandescent bulbs. I now use some LED spot lights with matched elements and reflectors for extra down road light.

For GPS and phone charging I use a 12 volt USB charger.
 
#9 ·
Aren't inverters quite inefficient, too? If, arguably, you've got 140 watts available and the inverter is 50% efficient, then that's 70 watts of power at 120V. About half an amp. Then whatever is plugged into the inverter is inefficient as well.

I'm not sure what you can do with half an amp at the inverter.
 
#12 ·
Right!

Or, . . . you COULD get a power inverter, and charge the jump-start battery from the power inverter . . . :)

I jest!

My li'l ol' jump start battery has come through for me, in numerous situations.

Just this week, I answered a distress call from a neighbor . . . to give him a jump for his HYBRID PRIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I laughed all the way; without a hefty 12 volt DC source, a Prius ain't goin' nowhere! Doesn't matter how much juice is in their BIG battery; the car won't move unless the circuitry is enabled by a hot 12-volt battery.

So, I enjoyed a bit of schadenfreude (pleasure at someone else's misfortune), having listened to all the flaky propaganda about how GREEN hybrids are . . .

The beast kicked off immediately, after the merest kiss from the jump-start battery.
 
#14 ·
Or.....charge the jumper box from the bike, and power the inverter from the jumper box. That way if I do have something that has to plug into 120 that's covered. It's like adding a second battery to the bike.
 
#15 · (Edited)
If you MUST have 120 VAC, an inverter powered from your bike battery makes sense, given sufficient wattage available (as pointed out by Tom Schmitz above).

If you only want to re-charge your computer/camera/phone batteries, the jump-start battery might be a more convenient and effective approach, with the advantages of jump-start current, flashlight, etc.

Inverter powered by jump-start battery? Another way to get 120 VAC; your preference remains the driver!

--------------

I have used an inverter, powered by an automobile battery, to in turn power a soldering iron to solder connections on my KLR650.
 
#17 ·
In the early years NASCAR outlawed a propeller driven generator on the front of a Smokey Yunic built race car. Smokey felt that the additional drag vs the gain in available engine horsepower was a worthwhile trade off. Apparently NASCAR thought so too so they outlawed it!
JJ
 
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