FL2 TD4: Power inverter: What can I use with it?

[Buel10]

Hi all.
I have bought one of these:
Amazon product

It works via the boot port but don't really understand electrics so what sort of thing can I use with this? In a perfect world I would like to use a toaster or mini grill to save a fortune on buying food for my children when we go off for days out (sandwiches work but are losing their appeal. Lol) but would like to have an idea of what to use? (see below)
Have I tried a heater and blown the fuse on the 12v socket already? Yes, I am a fool so would appreciate knowing which fuse I need to change? Doh!!!

 

[Nodge68]

I have bought one of these:

One of what?
There's just a blank space in the post.

In a perfect world I would like to use a toaster or mini grill to save a fortune on buying food for my children when we go off for days out (sandwiches work but are losing their appeal.

If you want to run anything with a heating element, you'll need a suitable inverter, and an auxiliary battery that is capable of powering the inverter for long enough for you to cook what you need.

As a rough guide, you'll need 1 Amp at 12 Volts, for every 10 Watts of mains load. So a 1200 Watt grill will require a battery and cables capable of supplying 120 Amps at 12 Volts.

 

[Buel10]

One of what?
There's just a blank space in the post.



If you want to run anything with a heating element, you'll need a suitable inverter, and an auxiliary battery that is capable of powering the inverter for long enough for you to cook what you need.

Eh? It shows in my post? Hang on....

 

[Buel10]

BESTEK 200W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V 240V Dual Socket Car Voltage Converter Transformer with 4 USB Car Charger

Amazon product

 

[Nodge68]

BESTEK 200W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V 240V Dual Socket Car Voltage Converter Transformer with 4 USB Car Charger

Amazon product

That's a toy, pretty much, and as such will basically power a laptop.
It's incapable of powering anything for cooking food, except maybe a slow cooker, which isn't really much use in a fast n tasty snack situation.

 

[Turboman]

BESTEK 200W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 230V 240V Dual Socket Car Voltage Converter Transformer with 4 USB Car Charger

Amazon product

That is nowhere near running any kind of cooker.

Why not get a small Calor Gas cooker and a gas bottle?

 

[Nodge68]

As a rough guide, you'll need 1 Amp at 12 Volts, for every 10 Watts of mains load. So a 1200 Watt grill will require a battery and cables capable of supplying 120 Amps at 12 Volts.

To cook food with electric in a vehicle needs a big inverter, and the battery that powers it will also be big, as big as the vehicles starter battery.

There's a reason camping folk use gas, as its easy, cheap and energy packed.

 

[Buel10]

Thanks for this. Would a bigger / better inverter help?

 

[Turboman]

Thanks for this. Would a bigger / better inverter help?

Not really. Because you will also need a bigger battery, some very thick cables, and to run the engine all the time at a fast idle while you are using it.

 

[Nodge68]

Is this it?

If so, then it'll charge a laptop, maybe 2.
The power sockets on a Freelander are rated at 120 Watts maximum, so you can't pull enough power from them to power this 200W inverter at full power.
The 10 Amps is the limit of that design of socket, so anything plugged into them will be very limited, definitely not capable of cooking anything.

 

[backinblack]

Looks like the 200w is the AC current which is just under 1A. I have one in my boot just in case I need to charge my laptop when out and about.

 

[mbrokof]

here are some bits https://www.petromax.de/en/products/bbq-outdoor-cooking/ that be better.

 

[Buel10]

Thanks for this. Please can someone lend a hand as to which fuses I would need to locate and change for 2 of my 3 12v sockets? And where are the fuse box?

 

[Nodge68]

And where are the fuse box?

There are 3 fuse boxes.

Which fuses do what depends on the age of the Freelander.

The owners handbook will tell you which fuses do what.
On my 2008, the front power socket/cigarette lighter is fed from engine bay fuse box F45 which is a 15 Amp fuse.

The rear socket is fed from the rear (under the boot floor) fuse box, and is fuse FA6, again 15 Amp.

 

[Buel10]

Ah, I see. It is also 2008.

 

[pwood999]

Changing fuses is a really really BAD idea. The car wiring will be rated for just above the fuse current, and is designed for the lighter or other low power devices. It's fine for phone chargers, etc. but in general most car lighter sockets are only good enough for 100W to 120W maximum. Also the contacts are not designed for continuous use and will probably overheat with prolonged use at full power.

I have a 500W Ring Inverter, but that comes with battery clamps rather than ciggie lighter plug. Even then the clamps get quite hot running at 250W.

 

[Buel10]

Changing fuses is a really really BAD idea. The car wiring will be rated for just above the fuse current, and is designed for the lighter or other low power devices. It's fine for phone chargers, etc. but in general most car lighter sockets are only good enough for 100W to 120W maximum. Also the contacts are not designed for continuous use and will probably overheat with prolonged use at full power.

I have a 500W Ring Inverter, but that comes with battery clamps rather than ciggie lighter plug. Even then the clamps get quite hot running at 250W.

It's OK, I will not be running anything else from there - I now understand the issues, thanks to you good people. I genuinely need to change the fuse to get the 12v working to charge my phione in the cab / front.
Where is the fuse box, please?

 

[Nodge68]

Where is the fuse box, please?

I told you in post #14 yesterday.

 

[Buel10]

I told you in post #14 yesterday.

DOH!!!!!!!