I am going to install an electric heater in my 94 mustang. I have already deleted the heater tubes, hoses, and core. The car has a PA Performance alternator that makes more than 130 amps, and a red top Optima. The heater will only be used while the engine is running and the main purpose of the heater will be to quickly defrost the windshield on cold winter mornings. Other benefits include: being warm on my way to work, less items under the hood that get in the way and look bad, and finally keep my wife and two small girls warm if I ever manage to get my mustang car show worthy again.
I have a cheap "comfort zone" ceramic heater that I am going to harvest the heating element out of. It makes a ton of heat. Now I just need to figure out how large of an inverter I need. The problem is that I am not sure if the 1500 watt rating on the heater is peak power or constant power. See the links below for more information on the heater.
Ceramic Heater
CZ442 Ceramic Electric Portable Fan-Forced Heater, Black | Comfort zone
http://comfortzone-us.com/temp/CZ442_manual.pdf
I have been looking at the Cobra Inverters seen below. The 800 watt inverter is listed as 800 watts continuous and 1600 watts peak power. If the heater is 1500 watts peak and 800 watts or less continuous power then I think this would be a great set up. The 800 watt inverter is pretty cheap and I don't have any worries about it overworking my alternator or battery causing premature failure of any of the components.
However, if the heater is 1500 watts continuous power then I assume I would need the 1500 watt inverter listed as 1500 watts continuous power and 3000 watt peak power. The 1500 watt inverter is quite a bit more expensive. It is also quite a bit larger and might be harder to find a place to install it. I would also be worried that my alternator and battery could not support that large of an inverter.
Inverters
Cobra | Professional Grade Power inverters & Supplies
Any thoughts please. Thanks!
Ron
I have a cheap "comfort zone" ceramic heater that I am going to harvest the heating element out of. It makes a ton of heat. Now I just need to figure out how large of an inverter I need. The problem is that I am not sure if the 1500 watt rating on the heater is peak power or constant power. See the links below for more information on the heater.
Ceramic Heater
CZ442 Ceramic Electric Portable Fan-Forced Heater, Black | Comfort zone
http://comfortzone-us.com/temp/CZ442_manual.pdf
I have been looking at the Cobra Inverters seen below. The 800 watt inverter is listed as 800 watts continuous and 1600 watts peak power. If the heater is 1500 watts peak and 800 watts or less continuous power then I think this would be a great set up. The 800 watt inverter is pretty cheap and I don't have any worries about it overworking my alternator or battery causing premature failure of any of the components.
However, if the heater is 1500 watts continuous power then I assume I would need the 1500 watt inverter listed as 1500 watts continuous power and 3000 watt peak power. The 1500 watt inverter is quite a bit more expensive. It is also quite a bit larger and might be harder to find a place to install it. I would also be worried that my alternator and battery could not support that large of an inverter.
Inverters
Cobra | Professional Grade Power inverters & Supplies
Any thoughts please. Thanks!
Ron