[Guide] 12v/240v Power Inverters -- How I Done It --

Dellmassive

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12v/240v Power Inverters -- How I Done It --

Place Holder - current work in progress. -- coming soon


the other inverters i have that are worth looking into are:

All @Dellmassive tested and approved.


Victron 375w, 800w, 1200w
COTEK 250w, 700w, 1000w, 1500w
Renogy 100w,2000w

Vict.

12/375

12/800



Cotek.

Sp600

Sp1000



1000w

1500w



Bestek.

200w grey

200w white.

300w red.

1000w

++++



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part5 .


Inverter test export doc . .
 
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I've started fitting 150a Anderson connectors to my 1000W+ inverters and feed cables. .

to make testing and swapping them over easier. . .


Here we have a Antares (Cotek) 1000w unit.


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8mm bolt feed connections. . .


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ticking over at 542w its drawing 41.88A



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swapping back over to the Renogy 1000W . . .



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we can see 770W its drawing 60A . . .

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.
 
im finding it hard to find an inverter thats 1000w+

that will fit in the bench section.


im having issues with some inverters with the surge and they shut down,

evenif the surge is just a blip,


so far the Renogy 1000W is the only one that doesn't complain.


+++++++++++++



so after a lot of searching I've come across this little unit.

12V 1500W Pure Sine Wave Inverter UK Socket​


  • DC Input Polarity Reversed protection by auto- recovery
  • Input DC Over/Under Voltage Protection
  • Internal Over Temperature Protection
  • Output Overload Protection
  • Output Short Circuit Protection
  • Adjustable AC output voltage and frequency
  • Fan speed control by Load and Temperature
  • ECO mode available with power consumption <1W
  • Turbo mode available: 120% continuous output power when temperature <30 ゚ C
  • High efficiency: max up to 94%.
  • Low THD: ≦2.5%
  • With RS232 communication port
  • With dry contact terminal
  • Remote LCD display controller (option)


.....

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.....

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++++++++++++


they do the remote for it too. . .


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++++++++++++



.






I've got one on order that ill be testing . . .
 
My inverter collection has doubled since starting this thread.....

I need to do more work on it.

Just to update the Intellitec 1500w above.

It's a nice unit...

But it's just to big to fit in the double seat base.

I'll be making space in the rear for the larger units........with the 150A Anderson quick disconnect.
 
What size inverter?


Most people will be fine with the 100-500w range.

Example:
Bestek 300w
Bestek 200w
Victron 375va


This will cover all normal phone and laptop chargers plus small household items like fans and small devices.

You can upto 100w from the 12v dash socket, but it will get hot.... Les than 80w is recommended.... To pull above 100w you need to move over to a hardwired connection.


Powering electric heaters from an inverter is possible but massively inefficient and will munch your battery bank.... So not advised. (Stick with gas, diesel or EHU for that)

If you want the big power items like hair dryer, induction hob, etc then your looking at the 1000-2000w range.

You need 100Ah lifepo4 per 1000w of power required.
 
I managed to squeeze a basic 1000w pure sine wave inverter with no digital readout in a 3” space above the battery in the rear cupboard cupboard below the fridge. I haven’t needed to use it much apart from a little tv I have and a few power tools. I never gave much thought to monitoring what it was actually doing as, before I fitted the solar system, if it overstrained the battery, it simply switched off. However @Dellmassive it would be nice to know what it’s actually doing. This might be a naive question but what are you using to monitor your inverters?
 
I use the Victron BMV712 or smart shunt on the battery.

That meters out all the power that the inverter draws from the battery bank.....

So volts,amps, watts etc etc.

It's all metered.


See current shunts section.over here....

..




.
 
Thanks Lee. Is the only difference between the 712 and this one the round monitor unit? This one, which is also bluetooth enabled apparently does all I need. ….or have I missed something?

Screenshot 2022-08-01 at 16.55.35.png
 
No that basically it ... Both are Bluetooth etc.

But the 712 has the remote display and a programable output.

The smart shunt will be fine for you..... Just put it on your leisure battery between the battery NEG post and the neg busbar.
 
Good. I'll order it now. I've hardly got the space left for a matchbox but I'll get it in somehow and show you the result when I've done it.
 
Hi @Dellmassive

i have a 120ah agm battery that's charged by a victron dc-dc and a 175w renogy panel on the roof with victron mppt.

I mostly use this to run typical camper power vitrifrigo fridge, led lights and phone charging.

I want to add an inverter, mostly for low wattage use to start with (charging a nebula capsule max and laptop).

Can I run a 1000w renogy inverter on the above set up? Sort of future proof my system for when I can afford a decent lithium battery.

Cheers
 
Hi @Dellmassive

i have a 120ah agm battery that's charged by a victron dc-dc and a 175w renogy panel on the roof with victron mppt.

I mostly use this to run typical camper power vitrifrigo fridge, led lights and phone charging.

I want to add an inverter, mostly for low wattage use to start with (charging a nebula capsule max and laptop).

Can I run a 1000w renogy inverter on the above set up? Sort of future proof my system for when I can afford a decent lithium battery.

Cheers
Simple answer is yes.

A 1000w inverter will pull 80-100A under full load.

That your AGM will be able to handle for short durations.

So seeing as you say you will only use low wattage loads, and that you plan to upgrade to lithium is say you are good to go.

Follow the user guide on cable type and length, fuse correctly.... the main tip is to keep the 12v inverter power cables as short as possible. So try to mount next to battery, or as close to the battery as possible.

And fit the remote switch so you can power down when not needed.

The Renogy 1000w inverter is very good. I use one myself in the van, runs silent for most of the time.

.
 
I run a Renogy 1000w inverter (I want the 2000 watt) and have managed so far to blow an 80A and 100A glass tube type fuse where the load (supposedly sub 1kw travel kettle) was drawing 88A at 13.2 volts and a 700 watt microwave oven that pulled 97A at 13.2 volts.
Not saying these currents are beyond lead acid batteries but they will sag pretty quickly, get the inverter by all means but realistically go bonkers and get the 2000 watt version for the modest difference in price and use it on light loads until you've got the 200Ah plus of lithium to power it at full tilt.
The 2000 watt version will pull near enough 200 A at 13.2 volts from the leisure battery to produce the 2kw at 230 volts AC so factor in 0 gauge welding lead type input cable to the inverter and as short a run as possible.
 
Fwiw.

The Renogy 1000w inverter guide shows a 150A supply fuse. And 4awg cable up to 3ft.

So a 150A Midi or maxi fuse might be best.

Suppose they are accounting for the increase in current due to the drop on voltage under load.?

It's also worth noting the Renogy recommend 100Ah worth of lithium battery per 1000w of off inverter.

..

Screenshot_20230829_225751_Samsung Notes.jpgScreenshot_20230829_225808_Samsung Notes.jpg
 
Simple answer is yes.

A 1000w inverter will pull 80-100A under full load.

That your AGM will be able to handle for short durations.

So seeing as you say you will only use low wattage loads, and that you plan to upgrade to lithium is say you are good to go.

Follow the user guide on cable type and length, fuse correctly.... the main tip is to keep the 12v inverter power cables as short as possible. So try to mount next to battery, or as close to the battery as possible.

And fit the remote switch so you can power down when not needed.

The Renogy 1000w inverter is very good. I use one myself in the van, runs silent for most of the time.

.
Cheers brother ill get one ordered now. We have shore power in the van also so the inverter will give us a bit more flexibility when off grid and when I eventually upgrade the battery i may let the wife dry her hair!
 
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