Both sides previous revision
Previous revision
Next revision
|
Previous revision
|
electrical:inverter [2024/04/05 21:29] frater_secessus [special case: tiny loads] |
electrical:inverter [2024/06/15 22:00] (current) frater_secessus [MSW and electronics] |
It is **more efficient to use DC power directly** whenever possible. In particular it is more efficient than running a laptop of phone charger off an inverter.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Here-s-one-for-you-inverter-lovers)) | It is **more efficient to use DC power directly** whenever possible. In particular it is more efficient than running a laptop of phone charger off an inverter.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Here-s-one-for-you-inverter-lovers)) |
| |
AC-only items will require an inverter. [[electrical:12v:wallwart|Devices that run off a "wall wart" adapter]] almost never require an inverter. | Note: **only AC loads will require an inverter**. [[electrical:12v:wallwart|Devices that run off a "wall wart" adapter]] that output DC almost never require an inverter. Things that charge off USB (phones, fans, tablets, etc) can use a [[https://amzn.to/3JmopvO|12v-to-USB port]]. Laptops often have car chargers that run off 12v ([[https://amzn.to/3Wax1Nw|example]]). Search for "[specific make/model] car charger" |
| |
| |
===== efficiency ===== | ===== efficiency ===== |
Inverting from DC to your local shore power spec will necessarily incur losses. These might be 10-30%, depending on the inverter, the inverter's efficiency spec, etc. In the absence of hard information you might use 20% losses as a rule of thumb. This means it will require 20% more power to run your load than the rating spec. | Inverting from DC to your local shore power spec will necessarily incur losses. These might be 10-30%, depending on the inverter, the inverter's efficiency spec, etc. In the absence of hard information you might use 20% losses as a rule of thumb. This means it will require 20% more power to run your load than the rating spec. |
| |
50w * 0.8 efficiency = 60w demanded from the system | 50w / 0.8 efficiency = 60w demanded from the system |
| |
| |
| |
> One way that I used to check computer/electronic power supplies... take a [[https://amzn.to/2XKSFfp|Kill-a-Watt meter]] and measure the power factor. If it was >0.9, it probably would work fine -- BB((https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/191612#Comment_191612))((power factor is the PF button on the kill-a-watt)) | > One way that I used to check computer/electronic power supplies... take a [[https://amzn.to/2XKSFfp|Kill-a-Watt meter]] and measure the power factor. If it was >0.9, it probably would work fine -- BB((https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/191612#Comment_191612))((power factor is the PF button on the kill-a-watt)) |
| |
| Appliances with motors tend to run poorly and hotter than usual. |
| |
| |