Our 4WD Inverter Setup Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter
In this 4WD build post we look at our inverter setup, our Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter. This is our first ever inverter as we never had one in any of our previous 4WDs so initially we were a bit unsure on which brand and size of inverter to choose.
When it came to brand, we ended up choosing Redarc as we have used their DCDC chargers previously and had never had an issue. On top of that we also use the Redarc Tow Pro Elite V3 electronic brake controller. Being Australian made and tried and tested in Aussie conditions we felt we would not be let down going with Redarc. Full disclosure here, we do have a great contact in the industry that is able to get us Redarc gear at wholesale prices so this did make this decision easier paying 30% or so less than retail, although you can still pick up other decent brands at prices below this.
The Redarc Gear in Our 4WD 12V Setup
Choosing the correct size was the next factor we needed to consider as you can get inverters from 200 Watts to more than 3,000 Watts. Size will of course depend on what you plan to plug into your inverter as well as the size of the batteries you have your inverter connected to as power draw is a big factor here. On top of all these decisions you need to remember than when it comes to Redarc you are paying at least $1 per Watt, so the bigger you go the more you will need to pay. Assuming you have enough battery power to run whatever inverter you choose; the size of inverter will depend on the type of 240 Volt gear you plan to run off it. We discuss all this and more below.
Why an Inverter for Our 4WD?
An inverter converts DC power (direct current power stored in batteries) to AC power (alternating current). AC power is the power that you have at home to use all your 240 Volt appliances. Most electronic devices need AC power to operate. This includes charging batteries for laptops, cameras, and power tools. Although you can buy 12V chargers for some of these devices now days, AC power will charge these far quicker. We use our Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter to charge batteries in our laptop, cameras, power tools and sometimes our electric toothbrush. There are some amazing 4WD setups out there that have all sorts of 240V devices connected such as coffee machines and electric cooktops. Depending on what gear you want to run will determine the size inverter that you need. The easiest way to work this out is to check the Wattage on the devices you want to run off your inverter.
For example, our Milwaukee cordless tool battery charger requires 350 Watts as a minimum. Coffee machines on the other hand have Wattages usually more than 1000 Watts. In hindsight we could have probably opted for a smaller inverter, but we never really know what we might do in the future, so we chose to go slightly bigger just in case we needed it in the future. Do not forget on top of having the correct wattage on your inverter you need to ensure that your battery has enough amps to deal with the amp draw of the device. A 1,500-Watt coffee machine will draw around 6.25 Amps.
Having the Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter in our 4WD dual battery setup gives us comfort knowing that we can be anywhere and still be able to power up any of the 240V devices we take along with us. This is not a necessity for a 4WD setup but will really depend on where you plan to go, for how long and what devices you want to take with you. If you do not need to charge a laptop and your camera is on your phone so you can use a USB port, then an inverter might be a waste of money for you. Just because you see Joe Blow on social media with a wiz bang 12V setup making a Nespresso out in the bush does not mean you need to do the same; we make great coffee with a manual coffee grinder and percolator. Inverters can be expensive so only fit one if you really need to. A lot of devices now days can be charged through 12V so double check this before spending the money.
Why a Pure Sine Wave Inverter?
Pure sine wave inverters ensure that power flows in even, arcing waves. This is compared to modified sine wave inverters where power flows in chunky, square waves. Chunky, square waves are where power is created by an inverter where the voltage goes straight up and then down. If shown graphically this would be shown as squares compared to a pure sine wave which would look like an even flowing wave. Modified sine wave inverters will work ok for certain types of electronics however some electronics will not run well or even run at all. On top of that electronic devices connected to a modified sine wave inverter will consume far more energy which is not a good thing in a 4WD dual battery setup. Pretty much all inverters you will find in the market should be pure sine wave inverters, if not stay well clear as you will more than likely run into issues and waste your money.
Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter Features
Our Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter can run any AC power devices up to 1000 Watts. Redarc say that the 1000W inverter can power coffee machines however be very careful here as all the coffee machines we have seen draw more than 1000 Watts. Here are some of the main features of our Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter:
- Designed to run any 240V electronics.
- Pure sine wave output so appliances will run smoother and more efficiently.
- Connected appliances will produce less heat and noise.
- Input and output are fully isolated.
- Multiple levels of protection including overload, short circuit and over temperature.
- Load controlled cooling fan to help reduce inverter temperature.
- Optional inverter remote switch which we have installed in our 4WD.
- Maintenance free.
- Easy to install.
- Lightweight at 3.26kgs.
- Model Number: R-12-1000RS
- Retail Price: $1,013.32
With our inverter setup we optioned up and purchased the Redarc inverter remote. This is a really good option if you plan on mounting the inverter somewhere out of the way where reaching the on off switch is difficult. The Redarc inverter remote wiring is about 8 metres long which provides you with ample cable length for multiple switch mounting options. We chose to install this at the rear of our 76 Series Toyota Land Cruiser where it is easy to access to turn the inverter on and off.
Heavy-Duty Power Board
We would also highly recommend using a heavy-duty power board if you plan on hiding the inverter away. Having a good power board gives you better access to the 240V plug outputs. When we looked for a good power board, we found the best option was a server rack power board. They come with mounting hardware and the one we purchased off VFM Group in Brisbane has a strong aluminium shell powder coated black. It is a great power board and works perfectly in our setup.
This is the power board we purchased from VFM Group in Brisbane.
Redarc 1000W Inverter Specifications
These are the specifications of our Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter obtained from Redarc:
- Weight – 3.26 kgs
- Dimensions – 372 mm x 200 mm x 83 mm (L x W x D/H)
- Max input current – 119 Amps
- Output waveform – Pure Sine Wave
- Recommended Fuse Size – 175 Amps
- Recommended Fuse Type – Mega Fuse
- Cable Size – depends on length of cable so refer to user manual but ranges from 54 mm2 to 68 mm2
For more detailed information check out the Redarc inverter manual here on their website.
Inverter Wiring
Wiring up the Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter is super simple. You just need to connect positive and negative cables from the inverter directly to your battery. You need to ensure that the cable length is a short as possible however you do not want to install the inverter in the same compartment as the battery. Redarc recommend that the inverter is installed at least 300 mm away from the battery. The positive cable must have a fuse between the battery and inverter. The fuse for the Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter must be at least 175 Amps and must be a mega fuse. The fuse should be installed on the positive cable from the battery as close to the battery as possible. The earth or negative cable that is connected to the battery must be earthed against the 4WD’s chassis. When wiring up your 12V setup in your 4WD you should have connected your dual battery’s earth to the chassis already.
Mounting the Inverter
When choosing a location to mount the inverter you need to ensure that it meets a bunch of different requirements to ensure that the inverter operates correctly. You of course need to ensure that is mounted in a location that is going to stay dry. So, if you plan on doing river crossings you probably want to make sure you have the inverter mounted higher up in your setup if you have any water leaks through your door seals. The inverter needs to be mounted in a cool location where the ambient air temperature is between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius. The cooler the better. You also need to ensure that the inverter is well ventilated so that the internal fan can keep the inverter as cool as possible while operating. It is recommended that the inverter has at least 25 mm of space around it from other objects. As the inverter has an internal fan while operating, you want to make sure that it is kept away from dust where possible. Keep the inverter at least 300 mm away from the battery.
The Redarc 1000W pure sine wave inverter comes with four mounting points on the side of the inverter. This makes mounting the inverter extremely simple. Once you have found the ideal spot to mount the inverter you can use screws or bolts, depending on what you are mounting too, to secure the inverter. We have mounted ours on the side of our rear drawers using four large screws with our heavy-duty power board sitting just above it for easy access to multiple plugs.
18 Months On
After more than 18 months of having our Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter in our 4WD setup we have not had any issues while using the inverter. We should have gone slightly smaller as we do not see that we will ever need to plug in a 240V device that is anywhere near 1000 Watts.
It has been great to be able to quickly charge our camera batteries, especially our drone. We can charge our drone batteries through 12V, but it does take a lot longer. As we need to do work on the road at times being able to run our laptop without having to worry about the battery usage is a big comfort. We also like to take our electric toothbrush with us so on those longer trips we can easily keep this fully charged overnight while we sleep. Sometimes we like to carry a few battery-operated tools like our small electric chainsaw and small blower to get rid of dust. Being able to charge these batteries quickly does make life a whole lot easier on the road. As all the devices we plug into our Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter have low wattages we have not noticed a large amount of draw on our second battery. Of course, if we were running bigger appliances like a coffee machine then this would be far more noticeable. But as we are constantly driving while touring on the road our second battery is usually full charged every day, so this is not an issue for us. Through all our uses we have not seen the inverter getting too hot and the fan only runs every so often. Having the inverter remote switch has been great as it does make it far easier to turn the inverter on an off. The inverter on light is also great as it does remind you to turn it off when it is not being used.
In summary you would not be disappointed if you choose to go with a Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter. But remember to only install one if you really need to, double check whether there are 12V charging options for the devices you would like to charge. If you do require an inverter, make sure you work out what 240 Volt devices you are going to use and then find out their wattages to ensure you get the correct size inverter. Remembering that if you chose to go with Redarc you are paying at least $1 per watt. There are other great quality brands out there so do your research as these inverters are not cheap.
For more information on the Redarc 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter you can check it out on their website here. If you would also like to see the inverter remote that we had installed in our 4WD electrical setup you can see it here.
To see our other posts on our 4WD 12V electrical setup you can see them all here. Join the 4WD Adventurer community for more regular updates and access to product discounts and more.
This is not a sponsored post. We purchased this gear and is an honest opinion after more than 18 months of use. Thanks for reading legends.
The thoughts of Peter.
