150W Invertor Socket

I realise that you can only use certain things like chargers etc in the 240V (150W) plug socket in the T6 Ocean but I was wondering if it's possible to fit an invertor that could handle any item like a normal 240V socket can so you could be totally off grid without any worries?

Richard Hurst said:

I realise that you can only use certain things like chargers etc in the 240V (150W) plug socket in the T6 Ocean but I was wondering if it's possible to fit an invertor that could handle any item like a normal 240V socket can so you could be totally off grid without any worries?

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Any number of pure sine wave inverters available to plug into the 12 socket, the standard one in the cali is a bit rough and can cause problems with some applications.

Running anything with any heavy power requirement is going to drain you battery pretty quickly.

It is possible but you are still limited by the capacity of the leisure batteries. I have a Victron pure sine inverter that I intend to fit which is 500VA so allowing for efficiency is about 400w continuous and 900w startup.

I use this currently in the car to power sensitive business equipment. I do however only run is for a few hrs without the engine running.

I would use it in the cali for the above plus charging e bike battery.

ArunAlec said:

Running anything with any heavy power requirement is going to drain you battery pretty quickly.

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And possibly melt dome wireing...

The inverter plugged into a most powerful socket in cali (20amps behind left seat) will handle 240watts max (on paper..)
The socket design is pretty flawed and hardly holds 10amps 120watts for prolonged uses without overheating.
You will have to connect the inverter to the battery directly, which isn't for all.

The important thing to understand that most appliances don't use 240v directly. For example, laptops are usually 19volts. So converting 12v to 240v and then 240 to 19 with power supply is a huge waste.
You can find or make 12v power supplies for most devices by using voltage up-stepper.

Another thing to understand is power. You can read power consumption on most appliances for example 2200watts for the electric kettle. Which you can forget using in a van
Even a lithium battery I am currently installing to California which is equivalent to around 3-4 cali leisure batteries put together will power such cattle for just 30-35 mins.

P.S. in short don't expect to power anything higher than 100-200 watts for prolonged times.
We use two 100watts slow cookers and 120watts thermos teapot that cover most of our travel cooking needs. Two2 50l freezers 50-90watts each. Laptop charger 90watts.

Off-grid means understanding each small part consumption and conserving energy.

Thank you everyone. The missus is keen to be able to use her nespresso mini even on a day trip but i think it could be too much

Richard Hurst said:

Thank you everyone. The missus is keen to be able to use her nespresso mini even on a day trip but i think it could be too much

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Boil a kettle and use this.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M4J94WY/?tag=eliteelect-21

Or this one. Has a rechargeable battery to heat water.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DC51DN2/?tag=eliteelect-21

We’ve tried one of those but didn’t find it that great. We also have a Bialetti which is great if your not going anywhere but if you want a quick cup and go you can’t really as the thing gets too hot to handle and needs to cool down, pain also to clean

Richard Hurst said:

I realise that you can only use certain things like chargers etc in the 240V (150W) plug socket in the T6 Ocean but I was wondering if it's possible to fit an invertor that could handle any item like a normal 240V socket can so you could be totally off grid without any worries?

Click to expand...

It can be done. I built an off grid Campervan that had a 1500w inverter and a twin 120V outlet that was rated at 1500W total. There was a single 200Ah battery but 300watts of solar. Importantly, the inverter was connected directly to the battery with 2 gauge cables, those are like thick jump leads. I could run power tools, blenders, coffee machines or hair dryers for a short period. I would definitely want some way of monitoring the battery voltage (more reliably than the overhead panel).

In an Ocean, you would need to upgrade the cables between the two auxiliary batteries and fit a pure sine wave inverter somewhere where it can cool, maybe in the locker above the gas bottle. Connect the inverter to one of the auxiliary batteries. Then Plug your device directly into the inverter. It will work fine for a few minutes to run a Nespresso machine.

Or make a large flask in the morning and have a brew any time through the day ;-)