Looking for advice on powering an ice cream cart with an inverter or battery setup to avoid using a generator for 8 hours, any suggestions?
Asked by Carlos Steward 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 14, 2024
Hey there! I’m not an expert on electrical stuff, so I’d really appreciate any help you can offer. We’re gearing up to open an ice cream cart during the summer months. I’m trying to figure out the best way to power a glass top freezer in my Ford Ranger without using a noisy generator. Ideally, I’m looking for a battery-powered solution that can last about 8 hours. Any suggestions on using a deep cycle battery setup would be awesome. Thanks in advance for your help!
I recommend an inverter with a continuous rating of at least 500 to 1000 watts. Keep in mind that you will need to keep the truck running or the battery will die in about an hour. When it comes to the type of battery supply, the question is, can you recharge it overnight before heading back out?
How about connecting a deep cycle battery and inverter, Peter?
Ken, Watts = volts X amps. At the low end, 270w / 120 volts = 2.25 amps per hour. On the other hand, the inverter will pull around 27 amps per hour from the battery based on the online calculator. Basically, you can only use about half of the amp hours listed on the battery. So, you’ll have roughly an hour and a half of run time.
Ken, your battery will likely be dead in an hour or two if the truck isn’t running.
Is assuming the new battery is fully charged. Otherwise, it will have less power.
Is absolutely right. Run the generator.
Regarding deep cycle batteries, they may last a bit longer but you need to know the battery’s reserve capacity. I believe it’s based on a 20 amp draw.
A small 1800 watt inverter generator can run for 11 hours at 50% load and is very quiet. It’s only about $500 online. However, it’s not practical to run it off the truck.
Will use approximately one gallon of gas.
200ah battery and 400 watt solar panels