Hey, Paul,
Sorry so long- been enormously busy.
Well, It worked! Last Friday afternoon I picked up the Harb. Frt. Wagan inverter (I had to- I had 24 hours to get this project going, a catalogue discount for the Wagan, and the Xantrex model they had didn't have any leads. I figure if I burn it up, I'll bring it back.), loaded up the family, the e-15, and all the lumber, lights, tools, signs, and warm clothes we had and headed for the Cambridge, MN Snowflake parade.
It took us several hours working at a feverish pace in falling temperatures and a rising wind to build the float on an 8x8' cargo trailer. We built up a 2x4 framed high hitch on the back of the e-15 to level the trailer, hooked up the inverter as the snow really began to fall, flipped the switch, and then there was light! Two 25' strings of lights, a halogen "Happy Holidays" sign, three 23 watt compact flourescents for spot lights, and a stereo for Bing, Burl, Perry, Andy, and Nat King Cole to sing Christmas songs on, all powered by the tractor, which also pulled the float! My wife had my 6 yr old in the barber's chair, and my oldest boy dressed up in the Fantastic Sams mascot costume, and off we went just as the blizzard hit. And what a hit we were!
Thanks again, Paul, for your help and advice, you really helped me figure this out. I was concerned about having enough power, but even after all that, the power guage was barely down. Next time, LOTS more lights! I'll send pictures when I get them...
Steve Anderson
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