Inverter

Kevin 1955 · Veteran Member

Inverter

KFT · Guru

G'day Kevin

I am sure other members will back me up here but for running things like electronics I would (and I have) opt for the pure sine wave unit.

Simply for peace of mind that my device was getting as close to mains power as modern technology can make it.

frank

Yuglamron · Guru

Teac do a 12 Volt TV with built in DVD player. I have one and it's OK. Has a 240 to 12 Volt transformer for home use. Model number is.

LEDV2482FHD 12V 5A===60 Watt

Saying that I have upgraded to a 240 Smart TV Bigger Picture of course.

Dav4Cris · Senior Member

Yes get a Pure Sine wave unit, you can then run a laptop or charge your smart phones as well as running your TV

in transit · Senior Member

We have been using a modified sine wave inverter for 5 years. We use it on the laptop, smartphone and dry cell battery charger, and occasional other things. Our PC always runs on the battery. Remove the battery and it won't work on AC. So the AC from the inverter is charging the battery which in turn powers the PC. I presume the phone works the same way because we have not had a problem.And we have saved some money by not going to pure sine wave.

You may have components that do need a smooth sine wave. I suggest you check with the manufacturer/importer/supplier and see if you can get a convincing response.

One thing I would recommend that won't cost much in a modified sine wave is that if 150W is big enough, buy a 300W. It will run cooler and you might still get change out of $80.

meggsy · Veteran Member

Yes you will need a pure sine wave inverter... but without teaching granny to suck eggs so to speak just remember the efficiencies of 240 volts.... to run an inverter that will supply your TV means that for that 60 watts of 240 your batteries will drain about 7 amps from your battery for every hour that you run it 5 Amps for the TV and 2 amps for inverter inefficiencies. Does your system gave that amount of "spare power" ? a inverter capable of producing 300 watts will draw about 25 amps + a bit extra for inverter inefficiencies at max loading and unless its a high quality one the idle current is likely to be high also.

-- Edited by meggsy on Friday 13th of November 2015 10:26:01 PM

Tomcat · Senior Member

I believe pure sine wave is the safest way to go. I use a 300 to run my Vast Decoder but i wish i had bought a 12v decoder. It seams so less complicated and as others have indicated running 240v appliances from an inverter uses more of your hard earned 12v power.

Baz421 · Guru

in transit wrote:
We have been using a modified sine wave inverter for 5 years. We use it on the laptop, smartphone and dry cell battery charger, and occasional other things. Our PC always runs on the battery. Remove the battery and it won't work on AC. So the AC from the inverter is charging the battery which in turn powers the PC. I presume the phone works the same way because we have not had a problem.And we have saved some money by not going to pure sine wave.

You may have components that do need a smooth sine wave. I suggest you check with the manufacturer/importer/supplier and see if you can get a convincing response.

One thing I would recommend that won't cost much in a modified sine wave is that if 150W is big enough, buy a 300W. It will run cooler and you might still get change out of $80.

Good advice IMHO. we do basically the same and never had a problem in 7 years.

Use of pure sine wave inverters is overrated when modified works just as well and these days they are very efficient compared older models.

I can vouch for this as I use a 12V ammeter to check standby current draw and in use current draw etc.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Saturday 14th of November 2015 09:21:51 PM

oldtrack123 · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Good advice IMHO. we do basically the same and never had a problem in 7 years.
Use of pure sine wave inverters is overrated when modified works just as well and these days they are very efficient compared older models.
I can vouch for this as I use a 12V ammeter to check standby current draw and in use current draw etc.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Saturday 14th of November 2015 09:21:51 PM

What on earth has standby current& in use current got to do WITH WAVE FORM???/ confuse

To the Op, follow good advice by a pure sine wave, then you know you have one that will be ok for all 240v [within it's power rating]

MSW stands for MODIFIED SQUARE WAVE, some very crude representation of a pure SINEWAVE, some better than other.

The raw SQUARE wave is chopped into steps, the more steps the better.

Baz421 · Guru

oldtrack123 wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
Good advice IMHO. we do basically the same and never had a problem in 7 years.
Use of pure sine wave inverters is overrated when modified works just as well and these days they are very efficient compared older models.
I can vouch for this as I use a 12V ammeter to check standby current draw and in use current draw etc.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Saturday 14th of November 2015 09:21:51 PM

What on earth has standby current& in use current got to do WITH WAVE FORM???/
To the Op, follow good advice by a pure sine wave, then you know you have one that will be ok for all 240v [within it's power rating]
MSW stands for MODIFIED SQUARE WAVE, some very crude representation of a pure SINEWAVE, some better than other.
The raw SQUARE wave is chopped into steps, the more steps the better.

Nothing OBVIOUSLY. Others were commenting on the DC current draw and so did I.

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi Baz

Apologies, you were obviously referring to efficiency. disbelief

Baz421 · Guru

oldtrack123 wrote:

Hi Baz
Apologies, you were obviously referring to efficiency.

No problems OT. I'm a bit testy at the moment as I have to move my father from one nursing home to another with a secure wing as he's a bit aggressive now with dementia.

brickies · Guru

Brought Palsonic 12 volt with built in DVD player . Save need for inverter .

oldtrack123 · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
oldtrack123 wrote:

Hi Baz
Apologies, you were obviously referring to efficiency.
No problems OT. I'm a bit testy at the moment as I have to move my father from one nursing home to another with a secure wing as he's a bit aggressive now with dementia.

Hi Baz

Very sorry to hear that, it is a bugger when you get old

I am 87 Wife turns 90 on Thursday.

Splottboy · Senior Member

Hi,

I am a newby, so be patient please.

I have a 3 year old Fiat Ducato AVAN OVATION Motohome, and am fitting 2 x 200watt solar panels, and want to fit a good 2,000 watt or 3,000 watt inverter to occasionally run a laptop and a 1,850 watt coffee machine. I understand it should be sine wave type. What problems could I expect loosing battery charge. I would plan to only use the coffee machine about 8 times a day, and would switch it off when not required. Is there anything else that I should look at, such as auto cut off etc.

Jaahn · Guru

Hi,

Just a quick reply as you want a few pointers. You have 400watts of panels but only get say 300watts at best out of them being flat on the roof. Say you get 6hrs out of them at that power. The coffee machine will need about 2000 watts to drive it. So you can see that you will be drawing a lot more than you are making, so the time you draw that power will need to be proportionally less. Say no more than an hour in total a day or so. Can it make coffee in less than 10 minutes. On bad days then you will be going backwards most likely !!

Sine wave inverters are now recommended for everything but the MSW ones will do a lot of the jobs that people say they cannot do !! And they are cheap and light too. BUT the experts on here have spoken!! confuse

The problem with a big inverter is the current they draw is very large. Usually the wires are too small and too long and badly connected. So the inverter squeals and complains and trips out on low voltage because of the voltage drop. If you want it to work properly put it close to the battery and use big cables with proper connections direct to the battery terminals.Then you only will need a 2000W inverter to drive a 1850w coffee machine.

It will be a complete overkill for the laptop charging but will draw the small power ok to do that in between the cups of coffee. biggrin

Jaahn

PeterD · Guru

Splottboy Your inverter will draw about 185 A when running the coffee machine. How long does it take to make a cup of coffee? How large are your batteries?

-- Edited by PeterD on Monday 23rd of May 2016 11:53:20 PM