Can you run a blender off a car battery?

Modern technology has made it possible to have portable blenders within our reach. These blenders can fit into handbags while we enjoy our smoothies on the go; but what do you do when they run out of charge?

Can you run a blender off a car battery? Yes, you can run a blender off a car battery, but it depends on so many factors with the most important being the power capacity of the blender.

Most handheld or portable blenders do not require much power to function, but the conventional tabletop blenders would say otherwise. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a means to power your portable blender on the go, your car battery would do just fine.

How long will a car battery power an inverter?

Contents

There is no standard time a car battery can power an inverter since a lot of things comes to play such as the size of the car battery in question, how long the battery has been used, the amount of charge left in the battery, and most importantly, the power demand placed on the inverter.

Supposing all the factors listed above are ignored and the battery is assumed to be in perfect condition, a car battery can power an inverter for about 60-minutes even without the engine running, but it is unlikely to exceed the 1-hour limit.

Deep-cycle batteries will last longer since they are designed for heavy-duty uses; however, they too have their own limitations but it is they should be preferred to car batteries since you would have to recharge your car batteries before they can be used to start your car.

How to run a blender with a car battery

Running a blender with a car battery is almost a straightforward process, but you would need the following below to see you through.

A car battery or preferably a deep-cycle battery
An inverter such as Invertertek 500W Car Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 110V Car Adapter with 2A USB Ports . Anything more than 600watts may drain your battery quicker, except you are using a deep-cycle battery then you can consider Schumacher PC-3000 DC to AC Power Inverter with 120V AC Outlets and USB Ports – 3000 Watts
Battery connectors such as alligator cables
And of course your blender!

Disclaimer

Kindly note that continually using your car battery for this process may significantly reduce the overall lifespan of your car battery; to play it safe – if it is something you are likely to do more often – get another battery – preferably a deep-cycle battery since these batteries are not only capable of carrying your blenders, but other appliances such as lights and other things you might need for a pleasant camping experience.

Step 1

Disconnect your car battery from the engine

Remove the cables connecting the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the batteries. However, note that this may reset certain dashboard functions such as the radio amongst several others. To avoid certain surprises, do well to read your car manual for more clarity.

Step 2

Connect your inverter to the battery

Remove the inverter from its cartoon and get your connecting wires ready. Connect the black (negative) wire to the negative portion of the inverter and ensure it is properly secured before repeating the process for the red (positive) section of the wire.

Once you are sure of your connection on the inverter, connect the negative wire to the negative terminal of your battery by using the alligator clip and repeat the process for the positive terminal.

Step 3

Plug your blender into the inverter

After thoroughly inspecting your connections, plug in your blender in the outlet designed to accommodate the plug on the inverter – your blender should be functional by now.

If you notice your blender isn’t working as it should, then it means you might want to get a larger battery that can accommodate a larger inverter; but as stated earlier, you shouldn’t face such problems with portable blenders.

Step 4

Dismantle the setup once you are done

When you are done with what requires blending, unplug the blender from the inverter before anything else. After unplugging the blender, remove the positive terminal from the battery, then proceed to remove the negative; then you can now remove the connecting wires from the inverter and store them properly.

What size inverter do I need to run a blender?

When it comes to inverters and what should run on them, it’s always important you choose inverters that are at least three times bigger than the demand being placed on them.

Average blenders would generally have a power capacity that ranges from 300 to 500-watts which means you would need at least an inverter of 1000-watts if you intend to get anything done. If you have the alternative to get a higher model, I would advise you to use it for a better result.

Are car power inverters harmful to car batteries?

No, they aren’t, but it depends on how you use them. Car power inverters are fast becoming the go-to when it comes to getting the most of your car, but there have been fears from car owners that it places a lot of demand on their car batteries thereby causing them to last a lot lesser than they should.

While there is some truth in this assumption, the fact remains that the strain felt on car batteries are more when the engine is off – but as long as the engine is running, you have literally nothing to be afraid of as long as you are within the boundaries specified by the car power inverter.

Below are ways you can maximize the use of your car power inverters without necessarily harming your car batteries in the long run.

Avoid using your car batteries when the engine is not running

One common habit car owners will uniformly agree they have is leaving their phones plugged in on the car power inverters even when the engine is off – this habit will only shorten the lifespan of your battery if not properly curtailed.

It doesn’t end with phone chargers, some car owners are also fond of not switching off their headlamps or stereos for a long duration. Car power inverters will only impact car batteries negatively if they are used, not only for long hours after the engine is turned off but when the load being plugged in is heavy such as blenders as discussed earlier.

As earlier suggested, if you feel you would need a portable power source more often than not, then I strongly suggest you get a mobile generator or a deep-cycle battery to accommodate your power needs.

Avoid plugging appliances that demand much power

Items like blenders and high-performing laptops amongst several others will place unnecessary load demand on your car battery, especially if the car power inverter is of a low quality. If you feel the need to use high-power demanding appliances on your car batteries, ensure you don’t do it often and use only high-quality car power adapters to reduce the damaging effect they are likely to have on your car batteries.

Go for only power inverters with moderate IV (input voltage)

Power inverters come in different input voltages, so you must only choose the one that’s well suited to your car batteries. Car power inverters can come in output voltages ranging from 12V-48V only pick the one that fits exactly with your car battery’s capacity, better still less since it won’t be placing much demand on the battery – it shouldn’t be more for the sake of longevity of the car battery.

High-power inverters are the best if you have lots of things to do with power such as car refrigerators and air conditioners, but ensure your battery is well-suited to the demand that would be placed on it.

Use car power inverters in ventilated areas

Car power inverters are best used in dry and wet ventilated areas. Avoid placing any items on them as they could get damaged as a result. They should be handled with care and caution.

Can you use a car battery for power?

Most people who are updated on the latest DIY hacks know that you can use a car battery for power. All that’s needed is just a power inverter and your 12-volts car battery can be converted to a 120-volt current source which can be used to power simple electronics.

How many volts is a car battery?

A car battery that’s fully charged should have at least 12.6 volts if measured. This number can increase to about 14.7 volts if the engine is running. The multimeter is can be used to give you a more accurate reading, but in its absence, you can start your car engine and turn on the full headlights – if it is fully charged, the lights will be very bright and vice-versa.

Can I run a hairdryer of a car battery?

You are not advised to run a hairdryer of a car battery since it consumes more power. Instead, use a deep-cycle battery for the best result possible.