Tailgating power source options?

[Mean And Ang-a-Ree]

Last year, our cheap little generator kicked the bucket and now we're exploring other electrical source options. I'd really rather use an inverter and a deep cycle battery as opposed to buying a new, expensive, loud, big, gas guzzling, generator with tons of exhaust. Does anyone have experience with a battery/inverter setup?

We'd basicly need it for our stereo, and maybe a crockpot on occasion. Any advice is much appreciated.

[redzone21]

I would say the inverter and battery should do fine!

[biggdogg]

just make sure you get a large enough inverter (watts) the crock pot will take its toll pretty quick on one deep cycle but a radio would play for hours.

[Mean And Ang-a-Ree]

Thanks...We tested the crock pot and it takes a huge pull. We figured we'll need roughly 20 amp/hrs. Just need to make sure we've got the right setup spec-wise..and that the battery can get low and then be re-charged OK.

[biggdogg]

as long as it is deep cycle it can be fully drained and recharged many times i would imagine any brand would be fine in your situation. sams club has a great gel cell that wont spill but it is a couple hundred dollars.

[The Bengal Thing]

NOt sure if this will help or not..... but I asked a similar question in this thread. I want to pump up some jams at the tailgate party

http://boards.bengals.com/showthread...highlight=pump

[Life in the Cheap Seats]

I'm not sure how many amps your crock pot pulls, I think most crock pots only draw 1-2 amps. I'd recommend a honda EU1000 generator. It'll crank out around 8 amps 120v power and the things are very very quiet and only weigh around 30lbs. I'm not sure what you'd spend on the inverter set up, but I saw one of these generators on ebay for $300 (Item number: 260272769161)

[Who2Dey]

have you guys ever seen the guy at longworth that powers his tailgate with a stationary bike...lol. Someone is on bike duty while the rest party.

[The Bengal Thing]

Originally Posted by Who2Dey

have you guys ever seen the guy at longworth that powers his tailgate with a stationary bike...lol. Someone is on bike duty while the rest party.

WHAT!!!???

You cannot be serious

[Who2Dey]

Originally Posted by The Bengal Thing

WHAT!!!???

You cannot be serious

yea, he has some kind of convertor and peddles his butt off. I saw him once 2 years ago, and then stopped going to Longworth when they tried to jack the price up to 60 dollars.

[The Bengal Thing]

Originally Posted by Who2Dey

yea, he has some kind of convertor and peddles his butt off. I saw him once 2 years ago, and then stopped going to Longworth when they tried to jack the price up to 60 dollars.

$60!!!!

You must have been getting 2 spots right!? I never pay more than $30

[THEBURG]

Originally Posted by Who2Dey

have you guys ever seen the guy at longworth that powers his tailgate with a stationary bike...lol. Someone is on bike duty while the rest party.

He needs to get Jeremy Johnson to ride the bike.

[Who2Dey]

Originally Posted by The Bengal Thing

$60!!!!

You must have been getting 2 spots right!? I never pay more than $30

no not kidding at all. I believe it was the '05 or '06 year...and I want to also say it was a Thursday night game vs Indy maybe?....It was prime time though. They had it at 40 in '05 then one game raised it to 50. Then said game the guys were collecting money sitting on a new Jaguar with a cigar in his mouth next to a sign that said, "Due to excessive trash clean up we must now charge $60 dollars"

Before then everybody pretty much took care of their trash, or at least bagged it....you should have seen it after that game. My group along with everyone else in the lot was irrate and trashed the place. No need for garbage bags, throw it on the ground...we were after all paying for it too be cleaned. I'm talking busted Ketchup up bottles...the whole nine. Needless to say after that week they dropped it back down to 40, but I never went back...those guys make me sick, and I let em know it face to face, before trashing their lot. Told em, "Good thing you charged for cleanup, cause I'm feeling extra messy today."....I think they got the point that all hell was about to break loose.

[The Bengal Thing]

Originally Posted by Who2Dey

no not kidding at all. I believe it was the '05 or '06 year...and I want to also say it was a Thursday night game vs Indy maybe?....It was prime time though. They had it at 40 in '05 then one game raised it to 50. Then said game the guys were collecting money sitting on a new Jaguar with a cigar in his mouth next to a sign that said, "Due to excessive trash clean up we must now charge $60 dollars"

Before then everybody pretty much took care of their trash, or at least bagged it....you should have seen it after that game. My group along with everyone else in the lot was irrate and trashed the place. No need for garbage bags, throw it on the ground...we were after all paying for it too be cleaned. I'm talking busted Ketchup up bottles...the whole nine. Needless to say after that week they dropped it back down to 40, but I never went back...those guys make me sick, and I let em know it face to face, before trashing their lot. Told em, "Good thing you charged for cleanup, cause I'm feeling extra messy today."....I think they got the point that all hell was about to break loose.

I do vaguely remember that.... I didn't park in LongWorth then, but I do remember them changes prices and a sign about trash

[BigJohnWC]

For power, do a GOOGLE search for a new one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-802-19...8599893&sr=8-2

Highly recommend it. I used mine last year to power a blender and the HiFi with no problems. Just tested adding an LCD TV to the mix yesterday and hit 4 hours before I said "good enough."

They've recently started making them again, so look for a newer model.

ONE TIP: When charging it, leave it plugged in constantly. Basically, plug it in the day after tailgating and don't unplug it (if you can) until you leave for the next game.

WHO DEY!

[Mean And Ang-a-Ree]

Originally Posted by BigJohnWC

For power, do a GOOGLE search for a new one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Xantrex-802-19...8599893&sr=8-2

Highly recommend it. I used mine last year to power a blender and the HiFi with no problems. Just tested adding an LCD TV to the mix yesterday and hit 4 hours before I said "good enough."

They've recently started making them again, so look for a newer model.

ONE TIP: When charging it, leave it plugged in constantly. Basically, plug it in the day after tailgating and don't unplug it (if you can) until you leave for the next game.

WHO DEY!

Wow-that thing looks like it'd be right on the money. We used to use something like it (not as heavy duty), but when it ran low, the initial pull to turn the stereo back on (1.5 amps) was too much for it. This looks like it could work though. Thanks!!

[The Carson Shuffle]

Although many of these may be too big for some of you, I bought a generator from http://www.contractorsdirect.com

and havent looked back. Theyll match any price on the web, so do some research before you go to them.

Of course, theyre local to me, so that helped. I just had it shipped to their warehouse, so I could tell them I didnt want it if I didnt like it.

[thrill51]

Check this site out http://www.wildfiremotors.com//index...hk=1&Itemid=39

I have this generator and it works great. I run all kinds of stuff off of it when I tailgate for NASCAR, coffee maker, TV, Radio, and it runs great. It will run about 8 hrs on about a gallon of gas.

Just a suggestion.