|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
12v with an inverter wiring question
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
__________________
Cannondale ST600 XL Redline Monocog 29er 2011 Mini Cooper Clubman 2005 Honda Element EX www.djugurba.com www.waldenwellness.com |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
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.
__________________
Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Mike
__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine) 1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow) Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Rent one of those Yamaha mini generators.
|
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Dad gave 'em a whooping of some sort.
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Current Stable: 01 ML55 AMG 92 500E (a few mods) 87 300E (lots of mods) 00 Chevy 3500HD Diesel Box Truck 68 18' Donzi Marine 06 GT i-Drive7 1.0 Mountain Bike (with GPS!) PREVIOUSLY OWNED:83 300SD, 87 420SEL, 88 420SEL, 90 420SEL, 86 560SEL, 86 190E 2.3-16V AMG, 94 E320 |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
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...
__________________
Cannondale ST600 XL Redline Monocog 29er 2011 Mini Cooper Clubman 2005 Honda Element EX www.djugurba.com www.waldenwellness.com |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Whoa, I'll bet THAT was loud. What was left of the fridge?
__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|