Is there an inverter on the market that can handle 13,500 watts vs. a generator?

Answer 1

I'm assuming you are looking to convert from 12 V dc to 120 V ac. If so, let's look at the numbers.

13500 watts @ 12 V dc = 13500 / 12 = 1125 amps

In order to feed the inverter, you'd need to have 12 V cables good for 1125 amps. This would require thee sets of 500 MCM copper cable. This is cable that is about the diameter of a quarter. The wires inside the inverter would also need to handle 1125 amps. The inverter would need to be huge to allow for the bending radius of the large cables. It would also be VERY heavy (100's of lbs) I doubt there is a commerically available product to meet your needs.

Even if you did find (or build) such a product, your vehicle's alternator is probably only putting out around 100 amps. A heavy duty alternator might get you up to 200 amps.

If you did have such an inverter, you'd need to be rev-ing your engine to help offset the drain on the battery. In the end you'll still end up with:
a) a dead battery
b) a burned up alternator
c) melted wiring in the car
d) all of the above.

A generator that can put of 13.5 kW is pretty big for a reason. And that device is generating at 120/240 V, not 12 V.

Answer 2

Not for use with 12 dc source voltage, for the reasons stated above. Our radio station has an inverter that runs 5KW for the UPS but it is powered from 48 volt battery bank. Higher power inverters run from higher DC voltage sources, so once you are up to 100 volts, you might as well use DC rated appliances in the first place.

i don't know the dc voltage on submarines, but they do not use wires, but solid metal buss bars to carry the current.

Answer 3

I'm sure there could be but it would be a big ol' hardware to handle over a hundred amps, Think about an inverter at each point requred and the dc delivered to that point.

Answer 4

Yes there is, Naval Nuclear Submarines use them to convert D.C. for their batteries to A.C. for the rest of the boats loads. I'm sure that if you go to www.nukeworker.com you can ask those old salty dogs more information about them and who makes them but I'd imagine that you'd be better off going with a generator because there probably pretty pricey.