OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Instead of buying a generator, how feasible is it to just get a power inverter and hook it up to the car. All the power i need is to keep the furnace lit and the sump pump rolling. i know an idling v-8 is going to use some fuel but could an idling 4 cyl be pretty comparable to a generator? just wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I have wondered this myself. I am sure it wont be efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 seems like it would put a lot of strain on a vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 About as efficient as using a garden hose in the exhaust to heat your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Quick search shows it to be a pretty common practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinwebb Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 it would have to be a pretty massive inverter and even then, you would need the car to run and not idle to get higher amps. I just dont see this being a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 As i research, people use a regular car battery as a sump pump backup all the time, just one i looked at will run a pump non-stop for 6 hours or 4 days intermittenly. Am i wrong to think by only running my pump and furnace that i would not have to idle or run the engine of the car continuously, maybe a couple hours a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye1647545503 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 Could be done but would be very hard on the alt and given the nearly 200 dollar price tag to replace plus the possible $100 tow bill if it fails away from home I would just spend the 200ish on a used generator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 why would i be running an inverter off the car for my sump pump away from home? lol i'm not rworried about the crown vic altinator it has the big cop one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 A generator can pay for itself time and time again when it saves from losing all the food in your fridge and freezer, keeps your basement from flooding, and pipes from freezing. The initial cost may suck but for the piece of mind, it is worth having a generator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye1647545503 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 why would i be running an inverter off the car for my sump pump away from home? lol i'm not rworried about the crown vic altinator it has the big cop one The added strain on the alt most likely will not kill it rite then it will wait till it is raining cold and you loan the car to your wife with the kids in the back and your at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 what is a good generator that wont let me down and is reasonable then? as i work for honda i'd like to buy one of there's but they are just too expencive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 You get around 33% off from Honda as an employee. My buddy (also a Honda employee) just got me one for my dad.... Go compare and you may just think they're worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 You get around 33% off from Honda as an employee. My buddy (also a Honda employee) just got me one for my dad.... Go compare and you may just think they're worth it. it's only 10% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1647545493 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 The cost of an inverter big enough to safely do what you want its going to be expensive. Also make sure your furnace blower motor is 110v and not 220v if you go the inverter route. I hate Harbor Freights junk (except for the hand tools) but a few friends bought their 5000watt generator and they have been working great. I believe the generator was under $500 and then they made a manual transfer switch so you don't back feed the power company or when the power comes back on send a surge of power to your generator. Put a good battery backup on your sump but I don't recommend running your furnace off an inverter. If you use a generator you can run your furnace, fridge, a light or two, TV/Radio.. If you get a big enough generator you could even have the wife run the vacuum and cook ya dinner while you sit back and watch porn!! This might help you figure out what generator would fit your needs best. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/generator/sizing.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 You aint gonna lose power. So why bother? Buy a generator. As mentioned, your car isnt going to put out the amps needed to run a furnace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheezle Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 An inverter big enough to run those two things would be more than the cost of a decent generator. Get a generator and have someone wire it up correctly (Installing a sub panel for the generator), so you can basically plug the generator in to an 220v outlet and run most of what is needed for daily life. This saves you from running a bunch a extention cords all over the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakotart Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I ran a sump pump at my sisters on an 800 watt inverter hooked to my car. This was just one time during the ice storm for about 20 minutes. I had to power cycle the inverter to bump it to 1600 watts boost just to get the sump to kick on. It did work, but was very temporary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 A modified alternator can do what you want but not at an idle. My modded 70amp GM alternator puts out 110v at around 2200RPMs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 If it were easier and cheaper, everyone would do it instead of buying a generator. Buy a generator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky31186 Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 A friend of mine (some may have seen him at cars and coffee) has the black SRT ram. His generator was on order for his house when he lost power. He let his truck run, and ran his generator with no issue. Powered his sump, fridge, and other odds and ends. Would I do it? No.. But I also don't have a generator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRE Posted October 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 I have to agree after a bit of research that it is not an economical idea, because as you guys mentioned the 1000w $70 or 1500w $130 inverters are not enough to do what i need. i'll pick up a generator. i'd like to stay under $1000. I really dont want one from harbor frieght. but a honda is over $1000 for a small 2000w unit. Would like suggestions on a happy medium.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankis Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 My dad went with the larger 3000 watt Honda generator, it will run his camper easily (including A/C), and for an outage at the house will keep the furnace blower running if needed, and can cycle the fridge on and off to keep things cold. The hondas are expensive, but reliable and the most quiet by far. They also have the best service/parts availability. As far as second best, I've heard decent things about the Yamaha units as well as Champion. There are a million knockoffs from harbor freight, northern tool, tractor supply, etc., but I'd stay away from them. Expect a lot of noise regardless of what non-honda unit you buy, and don't plan on buying one any time soon as the whole eastern U.S. has already bought them all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted October 29, 2012 Report Share Posted October 29, 2012 As the New Jersey mayor just stated in his news conference regarding "alternative" methods of producing power. "If it looks stupid, it's stupid" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted October 30, 2012 Report Share Posted October 30, 2012 The article concerning this has been up on Jalopnik at least the last couple days. (Jalopnik is currently down since last night, however.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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