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Spreading the word

pterrydactyl

New Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2021
Messages
32
Location
Ceres, CA
Someone on the RV Quilter FB forum asked about using a solar generator and sewing with a Singer Featherweight sewing machine. The group now knows about you, this forum and your book. It’s 110-100 volts, 25-75 cycles and DC 0.4 Ampere. Doable with a solar generator.
 
Yes. The sewing machine is only drawing 0.4amps (400ma) so pretty much all solar "generators" (I hate that name) will provide that at their AC outlet. If they get a moderately expensive solar "generator" that will provide 10amps or more on the AC outlet they can use it for other things, like a TV, radio, or laptop charger, but 10a is not enough for heaters or hair dryers. Electric heat sucks down the battery power really fast though so I would not plug anything into a battery pack that makes too much heat.

Also make sure they get one with a proper cold weather cutoff. Freezing weather can damage some types of batteries. I think it damages LiFePo. Don't quote me on that.

The amp rating on an outlet is the MAX amps the outlet will provide before the outlet shuts off, or the fuze blows. The fuze is there because internal components are only rated for 10 amps and the manufacturer would rather have the fuze blow than have internal components blow.
 
pterrydactyl, welcome to the forum.

Don't tell my mom about the RV Quilter FB forum! She'll want to bring her quilting kit with her when I invite her to come camping with us.
 
pterrydactyl, welcome to the forum.

Don't tell my mom about the RV Quilter FB forum! She'll want to bring her quilting kit with her when I invite her to come camping with us.
Mums the word!
I’ve been watching Wills evaluation/teardown videos and and for the life of more I can’t see if there’s an acceptable 500-1000 watt unit he really likes.
 
Mums the word!
I’ve been watching Wills evaluation/teardown videos and and for the life of more I can’t see if there’s an acceptable 500-1000 watt unit he really likes.

Since I built my own system, I didn't watch many of Will's solar generator videos. I thought there was at least one that he liked, but it wasn't cheap.
 
There are a couple that he recommends but then you’ll heard him say something that can be taken as derogatory. I’m thinking of 500-1000 watts will suffice.
 
... I’m thinking of 500-1000 watts will suffice.
...It’s 110-100 volts, 25-75 cycles and DC 0.4 Ampere.

It also depends on the inrush current for the motor, which can be quite high, say 20x the normal draw. I'm
a little confused by .4 amps DC and 110V (usually 110V is rated with AC current). But, .4 A x 110V = 44 watts.
44 watts x 20 = 880 watts. So anything that allows a surge of 880 watts is probably good (more important
should it be AC than DC, most DC batteries don't have problem with short surges).
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Good detail and humor in that article. I thought most solar generators used LiFePO4 batteries, not lead acid or gel. Apparently I need to get out more.
 
Hmmm... didn't see anything on inrush current in the article.
 
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