Charging batteries, operating power tools and coffee machines from the back of your 4WD out in the bush? Surely not!
If you spend enough time on the tracks and away from civilisation, like I do, you really need to be able to take 240V with you out in the bush. Having the same type of power you are familiar with in your home, inside your 4WD means you can have a lot more of the creature comforts out in the bush plus be able to charge everything from laptops and cameras to power tools.
Having the ability to do this anywhere off the beaten track isn’t just a luxury for us, it’s completely essential. We simply wouldn’t be able to produce our 4WD Action DVDs in some of the most remote parts of the country if we didn’t have reliable 240V power inside our 4WDs. But it’s not all work, having the right power inside my 4WD means I can take some of the creature comforts from home, say, like a coffee machine, out into the bush.
Once we hit the road, we might stay out for over two weeks without coming anywhere close to a town, let alone a power point to charge camera gear and backup footage. So, it’s essential to have safe power on demand, no matter where you are travelling in your 4WD.
There are a few different options when it comes to having the same 240V power you have at home accessible in your 4WD. By far the easiest and most convenient method is by installing a Pure Sine Wave Inverter into your 4WD. The biggest benefit of a quality inverter is you can hard mount it in your 4WD out of the way and they take up very little space. When you want power, you simply plug your device into a power point like you would at home.
I’m using the REDARC Pure Sine Wave 1000W Inverter in both my Landcruisers and one of the clever little features these inverters have is an option to have a remote on/off switch, so I can literally mount my inverter into any space in my 4WD and still have full functionality, even if I can’t physically see it. Space is at a premium in your 4WD when you are serious about touring so anyway I can save some space in the back of my 4WD gets the big tick from me.
There are many kinds of inverters on the market and they range in price from very cheap right up to the other end of the scale. But when you’re choosing a Pure Sine Wave Inverter you do need to be very mindful that you’re dealing with 240V power and this is one area on your 4WD you should never compromise with quality.
There are two things you need to be careful about when choosing an inverter for your 4WD or camper and that is the quality of build plus what safety features it has and how it delivers power so it won’t stuff your expensive equipment that you want to power.
Stay clear of modified sine wave and always opt for Pure Sine Wave as this means your inverter will offer a smooth delivery of power like you would expect at home and will create less heat, is much safer and will allow you to use more appliances.
While I have chosen a 1000W inverter as that caters for all my needs in the back of my 4WD, and will allow me to charge any batteries, run some power tools and even a coffee machine. For those really wanting all the luxuries of home, in say their caravan or camper trailer, they can opt for a 2000W or even 3000W inverter which will allow them to run very demanding appliances like microwaves and heaters.
Oh, just one last little bit of advice. Try not to tell too many people you’ve got a coffee machine in the back of your 4WD. You’ll have a line-up of other campers outside your 4WD with empty cups first thing in the morning.
Cheers,
Shaun
