12v with an inverter wiring question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

djugurba · #1 06-05-2007, 11:12 PM

Each year my friends and I meet on Cape Cod for the 4th of July. We typically enter the Sandwich Boat Parade, which is an old-fashioned contest of chinese-lantern-decorated boats embellished in one way or another. The assembled spectators on shore (where a band plays on the waterfront of the pond) vote with cheers. We've won the thing 3 times in 8 years, but we're no longer content with our standard entry, and are planning something special this year.

So... I want to rig some flourescent light fixtures up to some sort of array of batteries and an inverter to provide 20-30 minutes at the most of lighting while we're underway (powered by trolling motor). I will also have a fog machine which will be used for some general effect. All the juice must come from batteries- We've got some good marine batteries sitting around, but I need to know how to determine how much power I'll need, and how to make sure that I get it when the time comes.

The mechanical rigging for this boat is going to take some creativity as it is, so I'm hoping that powering the stupid thing is going to be easy. Somebody here with a camper or boat surely can be of assistance...

Help!

Thanks,
Kevin

300EVIL · #2 06-05-2007, 11:45 PM

Easy! Figure out the wattage of the florescent lamps ballasts and fog machine your going to be running. Get an inverter rated for a little higher than that number (operating, not peak current) and test the system on a set of charged batteries and see how long it lasts. The fog machine is going to be the biggest concern as it uses lots of current for the heating element. You may want to use large floating smoke bombs. I believe marine supply stores sell them.

ASaltyDog · #3 06-05-2007, 11:47 PM

This may not fit your plans, but ever think about 12V portable florescents? Plenty around. As is a 12/24V smoke machine. As far as the special entry, you may want to fill a few baloons with natural gas, maybe a tick of helium and if you're brave enough some O2. Get it WAY up in the air, like 100ft or better, and eventually one of the candles will get the best of a balloon and ka-boom!

Now look, I don't have to tell you to be carefull with this sort of stuff, like keep it a LONG way away from anyone? Remember, liquor always skews your distace judgment and it's rarely on your side.

Just a lot of noise of course, but fun to look at anyway.

Last idea - smear cylume all over everything. You can get it anywhere

300EVIL · #4 06-06-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASaltyDog

This may not fit your plans, but ever think about 12V portable florescents? Plenty around. As is a 12/24V smoke machine. As far as the special entry, you may want to fill a few baloons with natural gas, maybe a tick of helium and if you're brave enough some O2. Get it WAY up in the air, like 100ft or better, and eventually one of the candles will get the best of a balloon and ka-boom!

Now look, I don't have to tell you to be carefull with this sort of stuff, like keep it a LONG way away from anyone? Remember, liquor always skews your distace judgment and it's rarely on your side.

Just a lot of noise of course, but fun to look at anyway.

Last idea - smear cylume all over everything. You can get it anywhere

I can add to the balloon thing. Get a guy with an oxygen acetylene welding rig to fill your balloons with a perfect mixture. Can you say ............ KABOOM!

mpolli · #5 06-06-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

Easy! Figure out the wattage of the florescent lamps ballasts and fog machine your going to be running. Get an inverter rated for a little higher than that number (operating, not peak current) and test the system on a set of charged batteries and see how long it lasts. The fog machine is going to be the biggest concern as it uses lots of current for the heating element. You may want to use large floating smoke bombs. I believe marine supply stores sell them.

This answer is correct. What is the total wattage you need to power? A big question is what batteries do you have, how many, and what condition are they REALLY in? If you answer these questions then I can give you a rough answer but you will still have to test to be sure.

Mike

Medmech · #6 06-06-2007, 12:46 PM

Rent one of those Yamaha mini generators.

cmac2012 · #7 06-06-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

I can add to the balloon thing. Get a guy with an oxygen acetylene welding rig to fill your balloons with a perfect mixture. Can you say ............ KABOOM!

Careful there. My welding teacher told us a story about 3 sons of a welding shop owner who were putting acetylene into garbage bags and setting them off. Pretty impressive so they decided to up the ante and mixed oxygen in. When they set it off, it blew out all the windows of the welding shop, and they were outside.

Dad gave 'em a whooping of some sort.

300EVIL · #8 06-06-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

Careful there. My welding teacher told us a story about 3 sons of a welding shop owner who were putting acetylene into garbage bags and setting them off. Pretty impressive so they decided to up the ante and mixed oxygen in. When they set it off, it blew out all the windows of the welding shop, and they were outside.

Dad gave 'em a whooping of some sort.

How about a well sealed refrigerator box filled for 5 minutes!

Cops everywhere for the rest of the day.

djugurba · #9 06-06-2007, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the help. I'll do some research on the questions asked and see if I can get good responses.

I will not be using explosive gasses in balloons for this endeavor. Fireworks are prohibited (we've been disqualified in the past for such daliances). Last year, however, we did manage to almost kill off the crowd with four military-sized smoke bombs (in the 4 smokestacks of the titanic, our theme last year) I'll see if I have a pic...