Using plug sockets without mains power

Yes, an inverter will do the trick but only use for the stated amps on it. Obvious the greater the amps used the quicker the battery will discharge. We use it for phone and ipad charging also occasionally for sky box (the TV having its own dedicated 12v circuit) Never all on together though! often use the inverter in the cab cig socket when travelling for charging too. Our 150 amp is sufficient and has worked a treat for five or more years.

So sorry, should read 150 watts not amps, stupid me!

The solar panel is just charging the 12v batteries so not relevant to using 230v equipment. An inverter will run from any 12vdc supply(provided it is a 12v inverter) and that's the wattage figure that is important. Even the large domestic solar panels feed an inverter to produce 230vac for the householder to use. I bought a 350w inverter and have never used it. Only really got it to run the tv, 12vdc but uses a 230v 'wallwart' psu, but managed without it so far.

I meant to add Maplins have a range of small inverters on offer, as do other electronic and camping retailers! Prices are around £25-£40.

You will need quite a large inverter to run a hair dryer unless it is a very low wattage one? I would have thought it is not worth it for this job. One thing to watch out for is to check the output is a pure sine wave. For an iPad you may need this. Cheaper inverters are not a pure sine wave and electronic equipment like computers do like a pure sine wave output.

peedee

I think its okay to use a non pure sine wave for charging purposes and using whilst charging as long as the charge is via a transformer plugged into the invertor. I've used this method on laptops, apple notebooks and ipads with no ill effect.

With todays electronics pure sine waves are irrelevant, everything is transformed down and rectified from 240v AC to 12vDC and then regulated to 5vDC. the only things on 240vAC are motors, heating elements and some lights. The only ones interested in sine waves are AC motors