2009Batteries/Power forum
Powering battery chargers remotely using ATV or snowmobile batteries
17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- An inverter allows AC-powered chargers to run from a 12V ATV or snowmobile battery, but most inverters have automatic cutoffs to prevent complete battery drain.
- Converting DC to AC through an inverter and back to DC for charging is inefficient compared to using a small portable generator.
- Small portable generators with built-in inverters can power battery chargers and are compact and relatively quiet, making them suitable for remote locations.
- A vehicle cigarette lighter inverter provides an inexpensive way to charge batteries from a car battery if the vehicle is accessible on location.
- Audio and video production typically use ATV or car batteries as primary power sources rather than for recharging other batteries, and they carry multiple batteries to avoid downtime.
Depends on
- Most commercial inverters include auto-cutoff features that prevent full battery discharge, limiting usable capacity.
- Portable generator output specifications must be checked to ensure sufficient power for the intended charger.
- This discussion does not specify which types of professional batteries are being charged or their power requirements.
- The cost estimates provided are from 2009 and may not reflect current pricing.