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electrical:inverter [2023/04/09 18:25] frater_secessus [estimating your needs] cleanup |
electrical:inverter [2024/04/05 21:26] frater_secessus [special case: tiny loads] |
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AC-only items will require an inverter. | AC-only items will require an inverter. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== efficiency ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inverting from DC to your local shore power spec will necessarily incur losses. | ||
+ | |||
+ | 50w * 0.8 efficiency = 60w demanded from the system | ||
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* In [[https:// | * In [[https:// | ||
+ | Also see [[https:// | ||
===== Pure Sine Wave ===== | ===== Pure Sine Wave ===== | ||
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Not all PSW are prohibitively expensive. | Not all PSW are prohibitively expensive. | ||
===== inverter chargers ===== | ===== inverter chargers ===== | ||
+ | |||
{{ https:// | {{ https:// | ||
- | An //inverter charger// performs | + | |
+ | //Inverter/chargers// are most often found on rigs that are on shore power much of the time and run heavy AC loads | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | It provides | ||
- invert 12v battery power to 120vac | - invert 12v battery power to 120vac | ||
- | - pass-through shore power when available | + | - pass-through shore power when available, with auto-switching |
- some can bond shore and battery power to support heavy 120vac loads | - some can bond shore and battery power to support heavy 120vac loads | ||
- charge battery banks like a [[electrical: | - charge battery banks like a [[electrical: | ||
+ | - some also handle solar charging | ||
They tend to be [[https:// | They tend to be [[https:// | ||
+ | Note: the Victron Multiplus line has outputs for maintaining the starter battery: | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | >> The main DC terminal can supply the full output current. The second output, intended for charging | ||
===== Sizing your inverter ===== | ===== Sizing your inverter ===== | ||
Once you have made your MSW vs. PSW decision the next step is **sizing the inverter** (picking the right capacity). | Once you have made your MSW vs. PSW decision the next step is **sizing the inverter** (picking the right capacity). | ||
+ | ==== special case: tiny loads ==== | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | For ~120w loads you can use [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: Ciggy ports are already delicate so having an inverter that sticks out of the socket will cause poor connections and often failure of the inverter or socket. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In any case, find out what kind of fuse your ciggy port uses and have some on hand. Mistakes are easy to make and easy to fix (if you have the spare fuse waiting). | ||
==== estimating your needs ==== | ==== estimating your needs ==== | ||
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The low voltage cutoff is to protect your batteries from [[electrical: | The low voltage cutoff is to protect your batteries from [[electrical: | ||
- | HandyBob((https:// | + | HandyBob((https:// |
+ | |||
+ | ===== cooling ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Most inverters have fans to pull cooler air through them. Some do this only when they are too warm, or at a given power output regardless of temp, and some run 100% of the time. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If your fan runs only when hot, do not turn off the inverter until the fan has cooled the insides and stopped running. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== running big loads at lower power ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | see [[electrical: | ||
===== sharing power ===== | ===== sharing power ===== | ||
- | Because higher voltage power has less losses over long wires, it may be most efficient to share power between RVs as 120v. The donor vehicle would invert to 120v, plug in an extension cord to their inverter and run it to the recipient. | + | Because higher voltage power has less losses over long wires, it may be most efficient to share power between RVs as 120v. The donor vehicle would invert to 120v, plug in an extension cord((outdoor rated and approprate gauge)) |
===== differences from shore power 120vac ===== | ===== differences from shore power 120vac ===== |