Making the Blender Go -- using a power inverter?

santa · Post by **santa** » August 24, 2003 11:01 am

So in the quest to have frozen drinks, the first choice would clearly be a generator. I don't have one and it's not in the budget for this year (but it *will* be next year!).

I saw some dc -> ac power inverters yesterday. $50 for 700 watts (should power a blender) and $90 for 1000 watts. They clip onto the vehicle battery.

I don't know anyone that owns one... so, if you have one or have seen one in action, any thoughts?

I drive a SuperDuty pickup truck, so I'm not worried about the power, just if the device works as advertised.

Thanks!

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » August 24, 2003 11:36 am

I used one on a cross country trip in a UHaul that didn't have a tape deck to listen to Buffett on my stereo. It worked well except for a little buzzing. This was 8 years ago and the inverter was probably at least 10 years old at the time, so I'm sure with the new inverters you won't have any problems. Go ahead and buy it! Do you mind if I stop buy and turn my rocks Margarita into a frozen?

santa · Post by **santa** » August 24, 2003 11:53 am

nycparrothead wrote:I used one on a cross country trip in a UHaul that didn't have a tape deck to listen to Buffett on my stereo. It worked well except for a little buzzing. This was 8 years ago and the inverter was probably at least 10 years old at the time, so I'm sure with the new inverters you won't have any problems. Go ahead and buy it! Do you mind if I stop buy and turn my rocks Margarita into a frozen?

Consider yourself invited. Hopefully I'll be finished with the bar by tomorrow and "The Bald Parrot" will be open for phriends on Thursday/Saturday!

In fact, just realized we should test it out on Tuesday night, just to make sure, of course

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » August 24, 2003 12:17 pm

santa wrote: In fact, just realized we should test it out on Tuesday night, just to make sure, of course

Well of course! You can't have a virgin bar at GW! It'll get all nervous and stuff!

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » August 24, 2003 12:46 pm

the inductive load of a blender motor may be way too much for the inverter. if you do buy one, get the biggest one you can get. i'd recommend trying it out before you rely on it at the concert. make sure the inverter has some kind of overload protection on it so you don''t fry your truck's electrical system if the inverter fails. you can minimize the electrical load by starting the blender and then adding ice.

santa · Post by **santa** » August 24, 2003 12:59 pm

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:the inductive load of a blender motor may be way too much for the inverter.

That's my main concern. So far I have found the "average" blender to be between 300-500 watts and they roughly need 2-3x load to get started. So I figured a 1000 watt inverter with a 2000 watt peak load would do the trick.

But frying out the trucks electrical system would certainly cause me to cry

Hopefully I'll get it figured out in a day or so.

hogs · Post by **hogs** » August 24, 2003 1:44 pm

I used one at bristow (700W), but it did not work that well. All it did was really stir. I had to run the car when I used it because the battery did no run it alone.

santa · Post by **santa** » August 24, 2003 1:54 pm

hogs wrote:I used one at bristow (700W), but it did not work that well. All it did was really stir. I had to run the car when I used it because the battery did no run it alone.

What brand did you get? I found a 700W unit yesterday at BJs (like a costco,sam's club, etc) for $45. Have to wire it directly to the battery.

I would be okay with starting the truck to run it; when you ran the car... did it work okay? Or not really.

Bottom line, will you bring it next year?

I'm wondering if I shouldn't try to find a generator to borrow or rent.

hogs · Post by **hogs** » August 24, 2003 5:23 pm

I got it from circuit city. I think next year I will do the portable drill blender, it did not work that well to do again.

Cribiansol · Post by **Cribiansol** » August 24, 2003 5:24 pm

I saw some dc -> ac power inverters yesterday. $50 for 700 watts (should power a blender) and $90 for 1000 watts. They clip onto the vehicle battery.

I have been wondering about the use of inverters myself. How nice do they actually work? I am looking forward to hearing everyones input on this.

What are some other methods of mixing up your drinks besides forking out the cash for one of those gas powered jobs?

So far I have resigned myself to drinking everything with cubes instead of crushed ice. I really need to get my act together for next years Alpine....

ParrotDroppings · Post by **ParrotDroppings** » August 24, 2003 7:27 pm

I went to Radio Shack on Thursday before I left for the concert to pick up a Power inverter for my Blender to make frozen Margaritas in the parking lot. Lucky for me the inverters were on sale. I told the sales person that I needed the inverter to power my blender. He took me to the inverters, placed the appropriate one in my hands and said it would work. I was fool enough to believe him.

At the concert parking lot tailgating, I set up my Margarita Bar and started to make my drinks. Plugged it all in, and NOTHING! Hmmmm! Started the van, and got a few rotations every 30 seconds, certainly not enough to make frozen Margaritas. After a few minutes, the inverter fried and never provided any power after that. This inverter I was given provided 140 watts of power, my blender I find out requires 400 watts. So in the future I'll know a few things.... Get the biggest inverter available to avoid any problems, and NEVER go back to Radio Shack!

You've got questions? Radio Shack has no frickin' clue!

PD

ATLparrothead · Post by **ATLparrothead** » August 25, 2003 8:55 am

I'm not an expert on this, but my dad brings an inverter when we tailgate and he brings a separate battery to hook it up to. We drink our margaritas on the rocks so we havent tried the blender thing but it runs our huge CD player well.

MelliJellyBean · Post by **MelliJellyBean** » August 25, 2003 9:01 am

We had a 200 W inverter last year...Coleman brand. It worked but it occasionally blew a fuse.

this year we had a 400 W Coleman Inverter and it worked pretty good. We would turn on the truck while we did it and although it worked a little slower than it does at home, we had perfect margaritas!

Found the 400 W at Target for $30

santa · Post by **santa** » August 25, 2003 10:21 am

Since I continue to try to research this, it turns out I can rent a 2000W generator from Home Depot for $45 for a 24 hour period (Thursday AM to Friday AM).

Might be the best bet?

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » August 25, 2003 10:31 am

just checked a couple of my catalogs and spec sheets for aircraft inverters. For a 28VDC to 115 VAC 50/60Hz, 1000 watt inverter the required input current is 42 amps.... tough on a battery without the car running. I'd rent the generator....

santa · Post by **santa** » August 25, 2003 10:33 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:just checked a couple of my catalogs and spec sheets for aircraft inverters. For a 28VDC to 115 VAC 50/60Hz, 1000 watt inverter the required input current is 42 amps.... tough on a battery without the car running. I'd rent the generator....

I did some "googling" yesterday and came up with similar results. To be able to pull that sort of power is going to strain the system, which necessitates it being engaged. If I'm going to run the motor anyway, probably easier to use one where the whole purpose is to provide that sort of power.

Then I won't risk any damage. Meantime, I'll be saving up for next year

thetacoman · Post by **thetacoman** » August 25, 2003 10:43 am

Try www.harvestessentials.com

All you need is the ice and the fixins

You know the rest...Enjoy

thetacoman · Post by **thetacoman** » August 25, 2003 10:54 am

Update: You can find it in the index under Waring Tailgater Blender (AC/DC). The link takes you to their main page.

LaTda · Post by **LaTda** » August 25, 2003 10:57 am

Ahh, cool thread, pun intended

if anyone can't fit a generator into their Metro like me & goes the inverter route, eBay has the best prices & yes, get the bigger, dual outlet, fused ones with circuit protection.

santa · Post by **santa** » August 25, 2003 11:23 am

LaTda wrote:Ahh, cool thread, pun intended

if anyone can't fit a generator into their Metro like me & goes the inverter route, eBay has the best prices & yes, get the bigger, dual outlet, fused ones with circuit protection.

Ah, the advantage of a pickup truck with an 8' bed

BuffettNews.com

Making the Blender Go -- using a power inverter?

Making the Blender Go -- using a power inverter?

Re: Making the Blender Go -- using a power inverter?