Inverter capacity?
I try not to ask questions which have been repeatedly discussed but sometimes the right answer is hard to find with the search function..... I am thinking of installing an inverter but am not sure ...
Forum Discussion
KATOOM wrote:
The microwave in my trailer is the common overhead Dometic 1.5 cf 1000 watt unit I see in most RV/trailers I've been in. Dont know the input needs.
And I'd get a 12 volt TV but I really want something around 32 in. There is a 12v 32" flat screen, but the best price I found was $600. To costly for my taste as I can get an LCD flat screen 32" at Costco or Walmart for under $200.
So 2000 watts is all I'd need? Thats less than I thought. Then what would be the need for a 6000 watt inverter?
The input power to the microwave is likely around 1500 watts.
The big thing is the batteries: 2 GCs are really not enough. In the case of high current draw, true deep cycle 12 Volt batteries are better than 6V because of the lower internal resistance.
My microwave/convection (Sharp) will pull 160 Amps from my 4 GCs, so 80 Amps per pair; still higher than I would like. As the battery voltage is drawn down current draw climbs. 90 seconds to reheat a cup of tea or coffee is really stressing them.
As an example, if I were to replace my 4 GCs with 4 12V group 24s batteries the current draw spread now 4 ways instead of 2 would be only 40A per battery--still high for a group 24 (which you will never find in a true Deep Cycle anyway) but better that 80A per battery with the 6V.
