I'm a little confused on inverter use. I know that dealing with AC current, watts = volts x amps and using that formula, when I'm plugged into power, my 1200 watt coffee pot uses 10 amps of my 30 amp system. If I also use my 1500 watt toaster oven, my microwave, and my AC, I'll exceed that 30 amp limit and pop a breaker. My confusion is with batteries. I have 2 6-volt golf cart batteries, rated at 237 amps, hooked into a 2000 watt inverter. The 237 is DC amps, not AC. Does that equate to 23.7 AC amps? If I'm using my tv, satellite, and surround system all rated at about 10 amps, how long will the batteries last? 2.37 hours?

The inverter will have some loss. The output would be closer to 15-18 amps.You may only get about an hour with heavy loads as shown before low voltage alarm starts talking to you.You would be better off getting a genset of about 3500-4000 watts when using microwave, coffee pot and toaster.

I'm guessing you mean your batteries are rated at 237 ampere hours not amps, two different things. Most battery manufactures rate their battery ampere hours at a 20 amp per hour rate, therefore 237/20 amps 11.85 hours your batteries would be dead with a consistent 20 amp load.

Thanks, enble. I have a generator but also rely on my batteries after quite hours, and times when an ac is not needed. I don't actually run the tv setup that I described, I used that as an example to assist me in computing the life of the battery charge.

Thank you, Bend, and your correct. I know it's amp hours, not amps, and yes they are 2 different things. Just an oversight in my typing and attempting to form my question. I also know about the mfg rating of 20 amps; but that is DC amps, not AC. Hence, my question.

We run TV setup on a small inverter which would have less loss then your large one.We use a stove top percolator for coffee. We gave up on 120 volt drip coffee maker.You should post make and model of the inverter. Some start low voltage alarming around 11.5 volts.

Voltage, amps, and watts | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

clev
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
Thank you, Bend, and your correct. I know it's amp hours, not amps, and yes they are 2 different things. Just an oversight in my typing and attempting to form my question. I also know about the mfg rating of 20 amps; but that is DC amps, not AC. Hence, my question.
clev
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
Thanks, enble. I have a generator but also rely on my batteries after quite hours, and times when an ac is not needed. I don't actually run the tv setup that I described, I used that as an example to assist me in computing the life of the battery charge.
BendOrLarry
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
I'm guessing you mean your batteries are rated at 237 ampere hours not amps, two different things. Most battery manufactures rate their battery ampere hours at a 20 amp per hour rate, therefore 237/20 amps 11.85 hours your batteries would be dead with a consistent 20 amp load.
enblethen
Nomad
Mar 19, 2016
The inverter will have some loss. The output would be closer to 15-18 amps.
You may only get about an hour with heavy loads as shown before low voltage alarm starts talking to you.
You would be better off getting a genset of about 3500-4000 watts when using microwave, coffee pot and toaster.

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Voltage, amps, and watts

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