I often get asked about inverters for charging mobile devices - what is the best way? 12v adapters or use an inverter and just plug in the original charger.
If the device is a usb device - phones etc, then fitting 12v USB points is quite easy, they look pretty swish when compared with festoons of wires from cigar plug adapters. Many Hymers have small 12v sockets that look like small cigar sockets, but in fact are quality Hella 12v sockets, and if these are conveniently placed you can use these with USB adapters.
But for anything else that isn't USB, and comes with a black 240v charging block, then it's usually easier to use a small inverter.
Inverters are fine when in use, but they do have the disadvantage that they consume a small amount of power, when switched on doing nothing. You can minimise this by buying a top quality one such as a small Victron. Their entry level 180w model consumes 2.6w under no load, but still on and ready. This is equivalent to 0.2ah which means that leaving it on overnight for say 10 hours, will consume 2ah of your battery, which isn't that bad.
But some of the big Chinese inverters are shocking in this respect - they don't even quote a zero load figure - you have to measure it. I have seen big inverters chewing away through an amp or more, just when switched on doing nothing. On a cloudy day of wildcamping this would be a serious amount of usable power, lost for no good reason.
You simply don't need a 1000w inverter in a van, unless you actually intend to use it - ie a mixer, toaster or hairdryer - and in this case you have to back it up with battery and cabling capable of delivering 100amps! Small inverters are much more efficient, and the Victron is the most efficient for the money. Their 180w model will power a laptop, games consoles and as many phones and pads as you want.
I do keep banging on about Victron inverters, but they are the best for the money. Here is the datasheet.
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Phoenix-Inverter-180VA-1200VA-EN.pdf
If the device is a usb device - phones etc, then fitting 12v USB points is quite easy, they look pretty swish when compared with festoons of wires from cigar plug adapters. Many Hymers have small 12v sockets that look like small cigar sockets, but in fact are quality Hella 12v sockets, and if these are conveniently placed you can use these with USB adapters.
But for anything else that isn't USB, and comes with a black 240v charging block, then it's usually easier to use a small inverter.
Inverters are fine when in use, but they do have the disadvantage that they consume a small amount of power, when switched on doing nothing. You can minimise this by buying a top quality one such as a small Victron. Their entry level 180w model consumes 2.6w under no load, but still on and ready. This is equivalent to 0.2ah which means that leaving it on overnight for say 10 hours, will consume 2ah of your battery, which isn't that bad.
But some of the big Chinese inverters are shocking in this respect - they don't even quote a zero load figure - you have to measure it. I have seen big inverters chewing away through an amp or more, just when switched on doing nothing. On a cloudy day of wildcamping this would be a serious amount of usable power, lost for no good reason.
You simply don't need a 1000w inverter in a van, unless you actually intend to use it - ie a mixer, toaster or hairdryer - and in this case you have to back it up with battery and cabling capable of delivering 100amps! Small inverters are much more efficient, and the Victron is the most efficient for the money. Their 180w model will power a laptop, games consoles and as many phones and pads as you want.
I do keep banging on about Victron inverters, but they are the best for the money. Here is the datasheet.
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-Phoenix-Inverter-180VA-1200VA-EN.pdf
