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Padlin's avatar
Padlin
Explorer
Mar 05, 2017

Choosing an Inverter

If I'm in the right place...

Looking for an inverter that will run a 1875w +/- hair dryer, 700w microwave (which really takes 1100w), and both sides of an electric blank, the controllers say 180w. I've been told electric blankets need PSW.

Question, if I were to install a 2000 watt inverter, would it run the hair dryer, just at a reduced heat output, or am I asking for problems? The inverter I'm looking at, Xantrex Prowatt SW2000, states a max continuous output of 1800w .

Any suggestions for reasonably priced brands other then the Xantrex Prowatt?

36 Replies

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  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Mar 05, 2017
    Padlin wrote:
    If I do my math right, running a hair dryer once every 3 days for 10 minutes is 25A. If we run the MW at all, it'll be for maybe 10 minutes a day, or 15A a day. Another 20A for misc for 130A every 3 days, I have enough solar and batteries.

    A*H= AH, not A.

    And, - sorry to disappoint you but you math is wrong. Read on Peukert effect. 1875W drier will need 160-165A @13V, considering inverter losses. At this current the battery will probably lose more than 60AH in 10 minutes. Depends on battery type and size. This is a non-linear effect. You can't just use a school arithmetic. There are spreadsheets to calculate the actual AH draw with Peukert.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2017
    I have and recommend GoPower 2000 watt sine wave inverter. Yea it is a little more money.
    Either way I recommend 4+ batteries to drive this amount of power. 2/0 or 4/0 12v wire will be fine.
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2017
    Ron3rd wrote:
    Good PSW inverters are not cheap and the cheap ones tend to be very noisy with fans that run all the time. The better ones have quiet thermostatically controlled fans while the best don't have fans at all.


    Any brand examples? Is that why some are $400 and others $900, for the same size?
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2017
    I don't understand the 12v wiring getting hot if it's sized correctly for the 3' it'll be run.

    If I do my math right, running a hair dryer once every 3 days for 10 minutes is 25A. If we run the MW at all, it'll be for maybe 10 minutes a day, or 15A a day. Another 20A for misc for 130A every 3 days, I have enough solar and batteries.
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    Mar 05, 2017
    Good PSW inverters are not cheap and the cheap ones tend to be very noisy with fans that run all the time. The better ones have quiet thermostatically controlled fans while the best don't have fans at all.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 05, 2017
    That's cutting it close for the dryer. It would likely depend on how long it's used. And at 12v your wiring could get hot. I run a lot of big stuff and have chosen to go to a higher voltage.

    Have you chosen your battery complement? That's going to be important in your quest to run high draw appliances.

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