Power Tool Battery Inverters

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,992
4,098
50
Exeter
Anyone purchased or tested one of these Inverters that make a power tool battery a bit of a power bank?

1727812742239.png

1727812784396.png
 

bopdude

Full Member
Feb 19, 2013
3,040
237
59
Stockton on Tees
Just bought one, working away all week so won't get chance to use it until the weekend, my thinking was to have 3 batteries, one to use, and one charging the third and switch them around, unlimited power? This was for work but then I got to thinking of camps, 200w could do a lot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TeeDee

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,992
4,098
50
Exeter
Just bought one, working away all week so won't get chance to use it until the weekend, my thinking was to have 3 batteries, one to use, and one charging the third and switch them around, unlimited power? This was for work but then I got to thinking of camps, 200w could do a lot.
Good to hear - I'd be interested in your thoughts post weekend.
 

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,992
4,098
50
Exeter
Which manufacturer unit is it Bopdude? The one I've seen most advertised is the Sakerplus
Will need some testing but yep, for sure, I'll post up some pics and results, albeit slightly/mostly unprofessional
 

bopdude

Full Member
Feb 19, 2013
3,040
237
59
Stockton on Tees
That's the one I bought, for DeWalt batteries, tracking hasn't even kicked in yet, maybe I won't have it to play with, we'll see?
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
8,490
8,368
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
Just bought one, working away all week so won't get chance to use it until the weekend, my thinking was to have 3 batteries, one to use, and one charging the third and switch them around, unlimited power? This was for work but then I got to thinking of camps, 200w could do a lot.

Sorry bopdude, are you suggesting you'll be able to use one battery running the inverter to charge another battery? If so, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. An inverter will only be about 85% efficient, and the charger is probably about the same, so a 100% charged battery will only charge the second battery to about 70% capacity. Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick :)

A 5Ah 18v Lithium battery will give you a theoretical 90wh power availability - so will run a 60w load for about 1.5 hrs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bopdude

bopdude

Full Member
Feb 19, 2013
3,040
237
59
Stockton on Tees
Thanks for letting me know buddy.

Sorry bopdude, are you suggesting you'll be able to use one battery running the inverter to charge another battery? If so, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. An inverter will only be about 85% efficient, and the charger is probably about the same, so a 100% charged battery will only charge the second battery to about 70% capacity. Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick :)

A 5Ah 18v Lithium battery will give you a theoretical 90wh power availability - so will run a 60w load for about 1.5 hrs.
No you read it right, I was hoping to charge one to another, I'll have to experiment, no great loss of it doesn't do what I want, I'll still get use of it if on site, thanks for the info though.
 

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,992
4,098
50
Exeter
Sorry bopdude, are you suggesting you'll be able to use one battery running the inverter to charge another battery? If so, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. An inverter will only be about 85% efficient, and the charger is probably about the same, so a 100% charged battery will only charge the second battery to about 70% capacity. Apologies if I've got the wrong end of the stick :)

A 5Ah 18v Lithium battery will give you a theoretical 90wh power availability - so will run a 60w load for about 1.5 hrs.
You got any thoughts on these things Broch?
 

Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,616
1,410
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
Just bought one, working away all week so won't get chance to use it until the weekend, my thinking was to have 3 batteries, one to use, and one charging the third and switch them around, unlimited power? This was for work but then I got to thinking of camps, 200w could do a lot.
Eh? You can’t make infinite power.

I think you would be better off with ‘normal’ power bank. A power tool battery is anything from 1.5ah to 5ah (probably bigger units). In the scheme of power banks, that’s not much really. My main power bank is 20000mah and is less bulky all round.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
8,490
8,368
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
You got any thoughts on these things Broch?

You need to convert everything to 'power' = Watts = Volts x Amps, then see if the device gives you what you want/need. A lead acid vehicle battery is typically 75 to 100Ah. So at 12v a 100Ah battery will give you 1,200wh - that will run a 60w mains load for a theoretical 20 hours; inefficiencies will reduce that to nearer 15 probably.

Taking Stew's point, a typical power bank is around 20Ah, but that's only at 5v, so only give 100wh.

Convert everything to power, then compare :)
 

Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,616
1,410
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
You need to convert everything to 'power' = Watts = Volts x Amps, then see if the device gives you what you want/need. A lead acid vehicle battery is typically 75 to 100Ah. So at 12v a 100Ah battery will give you 1,200wh - that will run a 60w mains load for a theoretical 20 hours; inefficiencies will reduce that to nearer 15 probably.

Taking Stew's point, a typical power bank is around 20Ah, but that's only at 5v, so only give 100wh.

Convert everything to power, then compare :)
Aah, yes - 5v!

It definitely depends on what is being powered as I can cope with that for most out and about stuff.
 

bopdude

Full Member
Feb 19, 2013
3,040
237
59
Stockton on Tees
I suppose the only real benefit is that it’s an inverter rather than 12v.

What are you wanting to run that needs 240v?
Nothing in particular it has been bought as an experiment to see what it can do, I watched a few YouTube videos of guys powering various things and thought it interesting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TeeDee

demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,762
786
-------------
I have a thing that goes on the top of my De-Walt cordless tool batteries.
They're either 5 Ah (at 18 volts) or 9 Ah (again at 18 volts) and I've used the 5 Ah one to provide 5 volts DC and charge several phones when at a festival.

Wasn't an inverter though, they give out alternating current
 
  • Like
Reactions: bopdude

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,992
4,098
50
Exeter
I have a thing that goes on the top of my De-Walt cordless tool batteries.
They're either 5 Ah (at 18 volts) or 9 Ah (again at 18 volts) and I've used the 5 Ah one to provide 5 volts DC and charge several phones when at a festival.

Wasn't an inverter though, they give out alternating current
Yes seen those and I know DeWalt make that one - no Three/Two Pin plug outlet however.
 

bopdude

Full Member
Feb 19, 2013
3,040
237
59
Stockton on Tees
I have a thing that goes on the top of my De-Walt cordless tool batteries.
They're either 5 Ah (at 18 volts) or 9 Ah (again at 18 volts) and I've used the 5 Ah one to provide 5 volts DC and charge several phones when at a festival.

Wasn't an inverter though, they give out alternating current
Yeah have had one of those for years, very handy as you say for charging phones, also small task lights when I'm on site, charge whilst using them.
 

cbrdave

Full Member
Dec 2, 2011
586
201
South East Kent.
I bought a cheaper version on ebay for dewalt 5ah battery, has the two USB on it and a torch, does the job when I'm away from a vehicle or 240v, charged the phone well and a torch, ran a little air pump and battery still had plenty of charge.
 

Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
28,221
3,199
63
~Hemel Hempstead~
I bought a cheaper version on ebay for dewalt 5ah battery, has the two USB on it and a torch, does the job when I'm away from a vehicle or 240v, charged the phone well and a torch, ran a little air pump and battery still had plenty of charge.
Have you got a link to it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: cbrdave

Kadushu

If Carlsberg made grumpy people...
Jul 29, 2014
944
1,024
Kent
Lead acid batteries are only supposed to be drained 30% or so, more for a deep cycle leisure battery. So a 100Ah battery might only give you 30Ah of useable juice. Lithium batteries are better, ~90% for LiFePo IIRC. It's worth bearing this in mind to avoid disappointment and ruining batteries by draining them too far.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE