Windshield Repair Forum

12 or 110 volts? that is the question.I am thinking of getting an inverter to carry in the van because I am noticeing that I have to by double of some power tools to operate at my stationary location and in a mobile environment.I am not to happy with these small battery drills in the cold weather up here and I still have to buy a light for p.d.r. and a few other pwer tools to go mobile.If I had an inverter I could just take my shop stuff with me and not have to worry about 12v.I may put an extra battery under the hood like diesels have.I hate redundancy.Any body else useing a voltage inverter??How do you like it?

hi toab...i use small inverter to run my laptop and printer..that said they do make good heavy duty inverters that would be more than enough for drills or light for pdr..my english friend in jersey always used an inverter for doing pdr and running his radio for tunes while sitting on his stool making money....inverters also have safety feature so as not to run battery dry..and yes the ding king in jersey also used a heavy duty marine battry hook up to do pdr with inverter ..i blew fuse when trying to use my small inverter to run my drill in h/l restoration

I use a small 12 volt invertor for my laptop and recharging my dremel batteries. I also use my pdr light as it is 12 volt also. I use my invertor for my hot glue gun also. I have been the 2 battery route and unless they are hooked up correctly with isolator and 2 new batteries installed at he same time the batteries will balance out. Also have to be installed correctly if alternator is going to recharge them both. Believe me it is a lot of problems this route.

The auto stores up here sell these isolaters and I might buy 1 for my truck to use with 12v with my truck camper.Havn't done it yet as most campsites have hydro and its not much cheaper for unserviced sites.Think I am going to head this way with the van though if I can fit a deep cycle batt under hood if the mobile end of business takes off more than the stationary site.I'm planning on 1 day a week mobile right now and 5 or 6 days at the shop to start out.Right now I'm just out of my residential garage by appt.

So I am guessing that inverters are not all that popular yet.It does sound like a good idea though to help avoid redundancy with our power tools.Is there more of you guys useing them for more than just your laptops??

I was looking for an alternate power source myself and found a Diehard Portable Power 1150 from Sears, it's a 22-amp Diehard Maintenance Free Battery it has up to 50 hours of 12 volt DC Power or 400 watt of 110 Volt AC Power. It has two outlets for DC Power and two outlets for AC Power, and a built in light. It's great for those repairs where there isn't power available or your set up and don't want to use the customer or your power source from your car, it also features jump start capabilites and a small compressor/tire inflator. Husky brand also makes a simular unit which can be bought at most Home Depots. Hope this may help some of you.

I have been running with an inverter for years for charging my dremal. I have a 400 watt but iam going to get a 1000 watt I think soon for running the buffer grinder so I do not need to carry a gen. in the truck.

I have 12 volt running to the back of the truck so I can run the UV light if I am close to the customer...

I am going to have one of them 40' retractable reels to run on 12 / 110 with adapters to switch back and forth.

Don D.

Cool ideas GTrepair..I think I am going to go with some of them.Thanks.

I have an inverter installed in my van for windscreen repairs and replacements and find it to be invaluable. It is one of the larger ones able to power not only the repair kit but vacuums,grinders and floodlights for when working in underground carparks or doing late night callouts.
A large number of customers are willing to pay a few dollars more to have their car vacuumed and interior cleaned quickly while waiting for the repair, or on completion of a replacement.

By allmeans invest in a inverter. It makes a great backup or for whatever.
I bought a small one at WalMart, forgot what I paid for it but try to get one as powerful as you can afford. You won't be sorry and you can always use it for other things like camping etc.