Question about inverters

First: You want a true sine wave inverter if at all possible, Several reasons for this, but mostly it is very clean power.

The smallest I've seen TSW inverters is 300 watts. this is enough for your television and computer, May run the house radio/home theater.. or not (not sure it would run mine).

For you, at this time, that is what Id suggest.

Kick it up to around 1500 watts you can microwave lunch or use a hot plate, But you need a lot of battery to do that (About 200 amp hours per kilowatt of inverter).

Mine is 2000 watt, does all the above at the same time.

As far as size, A 150 watt powers my sat tv, and all the chargers for phone computers etc etc.

My 400 smoked a couple weeks ago, so I replaced it w/ my 150 that I use to power a christmsn tree.

We currently have 7 batteries on the house side of the RV
And a inverter that will run the MW or coffee maker
And I still prefer to use a generator for those big items
A coffee maker power use can be any where between 900w aka 80 amps draw to 1500 watts 130 amps (kureg) while making coffee

You will need a lot more batteries before you can use MW our coffee maker with out killing the batteries

For your cell phone, I suggest getting a car charger—probably more efficient, almost certainly so if that's the only thing you're using on the inverter. The inverter takes in DC power from your batteries (which are charged by the solar panels, perhaps among other power sources) and transforms it into 120V AC power for household devices.

Microwave and electric coffee maker are big, big power consumers relatively speaking. Without a substantial (and physically large) battery bank, you won't be able to run them well, at least for any very useful length of time. A small immersion heater of around 150-300 watts will heat a cup of water in a few minutes and is readily powered by a small inverter. (A propane stovetop will also heat water and make coffee quite handily, of course, and requires no electrical power.)

You can look on the power brick for the laptop for its consumption; mine is labeled as producing 170W (its output) and has a maximum input current listed as 2.5A. Apparently the power factor isn't as high as one would prefer. At any rate, a 300W or 400W inverter would power it readily.

Lynn0527 wrote:
I need an inverter to power DC items. I can power all my 12 volts with my solar panel via my house battery.

I do know that my solar panel won't power my inverter. It can be wired to my battery. I think. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I think you need to read these:

Don Rowe site Inverter FAQ
Inverters by Phred
inverter thread
MSW v. pure sine
Inverters and MW thread

And especially this:
12v side of life.

Microwave and coffee maker are high draw items requiring 1200 to 2000 watts inverter and more than two batteries to drive this size properly.

Matt_Colie wrote:
Lynn,

Your question's phrasing makes me wonder if you understand what you are asking.

The solar panels will produce some power. Not much and not dependable, but power none the less. About the only thing that they are good for really is charging batteries. You don't want an inverter to do that, you want a solar charge controller. If you need to power thing that require 120V AC, then you need an inverter. That has to be selected by application.

So, if you come back and tell us what you need to run and what your rig has for a house bank, we should be able to tell you A: If you have a chance at all and B: Advise what sort of inverter to shop.

Matt

I have an Interstate group 24 deep cycle battery. Opps, I always get my AC and DC mixed up. I want to power 120v items in my unit.

Lynn

Oops , always get my AC/DC mixed up. Yes, I want power AC 120v items.

Inverters come in MSW which can run most things but not all, and PSW which can run anything. PSW is more expensive than MSW except if there is a sale on the PSW ones and not on the MSW ones at the time.

With all the modern gizmos that need recharging, IMO it is safer to get PSW. EG, some electric drills that need recharging won't on MSW, so I wonder about some of the newer gizmos that need recharging that have those funny batteries in them--I just don't know, so I would play a safety on that and get PSW. They keep coming out with new gizmos, so who knows what they will need?

EDIT: Oops now you want a big inverter to run the MW etc but only need a small one for the laptop, tv/dvd etc. Split personality needs two inverters. A 2000w (can be MSW) for the MW, toaster, etc and a 300w PSW for the little stuff and the sensitive stuff that needs PSW, which are little.

But the big inverter needs a big battery bank or else swap to AGMs that can handle the heavy loads without dropping in voltage so much they trip the inverter's alarm at 11 v.

So with the B, lets say you can only have two batts but you want the 2000w inverter to run a MW. You can do that but must get two AGMs. Two Wet 6s or two Wet 12s won't get it done.

Your installer better put in short fat wires from the big inverter to the batts too. Watch them like a hawk! Installers are notorious for doing a bad job for people who don't know what is right. Don't be yet another victim :(

Sorry, I should provide more information . I would just like to power for laptop, cell phone, microwave- my TV is a 12 volt so don't need for that. Also for my coffee maker if possible. When I filled in my sheet to figure out my daily usage it was 80 amps. I hope that is right.

My understanding is basic - I need an inverter to power DC( I mean AC)
items. I can power all my 12 volts with my solar panel via my house battery.

I do know that my solar panel won't power my inverter. It can be wired to my battery. I think. Please correct me if I am wrong. I will not being doing the installation myself.

Lynn

Lynn,

Your question's phrasing makes me wonder if you understand what you are asking.

The solar panels will produce some power. Not much and not dependable, but power none the less. About the only thing that they are good for really is charging batteries. You don't want an inverter to do that, you want a solar charge controller. If you need to power thing that require 120V AC, then you need an inverter. That has to be selected by application.

So, if you come back and tell us what you need to run and what your rig has for a house bank, we should be able to tell you A: If you have a chance at all and B: Advise what sort of inverter to shop.

Matt