Forum Discussion
wa8yxm
May 31, 2016Explorer III
The power factor for a Progressive Dynamics converter is, as the company name implies "dynamic".. It will vary with the state of charge of the batteries or to be more precise the load on the unit.. If you really, really want I can plug in a test device and give you a reading on a 9180 with full batteries and perhaps 5-10 amps load. But this is not the full story.
Or,,,,,, you can do it yourself if you have a plug in model.
Things needed to find power factor on my 9180
1: short (like 1 foot) extension cord 15 or 20 amp
2: 1 Kill-a-watt
1: Adapter 20 to 15 amp (I have one I made up)
The 9180 works well on a 15 amp circuit (has tripped the breaker once in 11 years) so plug it into the adapter.. plug adapter into Kill-a-watt, plug Kill-a-watt into short cord (NOTE, longer is OK so long as it's at least 14ga) plug cord into outlet (the outlet mine is plugged into is a 15/20 type, takes either plug)
press PF key on Kill-a-watt.. There is your answer.
On edit.... Back when this Rig was more or less new I owned a 1,000 Watt Genrac portable generator.. This is a TRUE 1,000 watt (Sustained) unit... I'd really like to get it back (legally I still own it, but alas it grew legs, I knwo who's but knowing and proving are two very different things)
With the Interstate U-2200s Dead, and I MEAN DEAD (lights won't) I plugged the 9180 into the Genrac, using the adapter I built (Which is also a short extension cord) and it held... Generator eventually ran out of gas and batteries were near full when it got there. Did not trip the 10 amp breaker.
So, that gives you and idea of how much it takes.
Of course I'm not sure if Generators generate WATTS or Volt-Amps
(What is the difference? Volt-amps times power factor = Watts, so if the Generator generates WATTS. then the power factor does not matter but if it generates Volt-Amps (Volts times amps) then it does).
Or,,,,,, you can do it yourself if you have a plug in model.
Things needed to find power factor on my 9180
1: short (like 1 foot) extension cord 15 or 20 amp
2: 1 Kill-a-watt
1: Adapter 20 to 15 amp (I have one I made up)
The 9180 works well on a 15 amp circuit (has tripped the breaker once in 11 years) so plug it into the adapter.. plug adapter into Kill-a-watt, plug Kill-a-watt into short cord (NOTE, longer is OK so long as it's at least 14ga) plug cord into outlet (the outlet mine is plugged into is a 15/20 type, takes either plug)
press PF key on Kill-a-watt.. There is your answer.
On edit.... Back when this Rig was more or less new I owned a 1,000 Watt Genrac portable generator.. This is a TRUE 1,000 watt (Sustained) unit... I'd really like to get it back (legally I still own it, but alas it grew legs, I knwo who's but knowing and proving are two very different things)
With the Interstate U-2200s Dead, and I MEAN DEAD (lights won't) I plugged the 9180 into the Genrac, using the adapter I built (Which is also a short extension cord) and it held... Generator eventually ran out of gas and batteries were near full when it got there. Did not trip the 10 amp breaker.
So, that gives you and idea of how much it takes.
Of course I'm not sure if Generators generate WATTS or Volt-Amps
(What is the difference? Volt-amps times power factor = Watts, so if the Generator generates WATTS. then the power factor does not matter but if it generates Volt-Amps (Volts times amps) then it does).
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