Two inverters?

[BobnBev]

Hi All, We run 2 inverters in the van , a 600 watt psw that runs 24 /7 the 2500 watt psw is for the vacum n micro ect..
Pulled the 3kw one off the wall on the granny flat.( its off grid )to blow the dust out and oil the fans yesterday, found a few dead gekos in side . so put some mesh over the 2 fans .Its lucky they didn't blow it up ....
Bob n Bev..

[T1 Terry]

It's funny the things you find inside an inverter, spiders, ants nests, cockroaches, lizards and even a mouse in one, all fried crispy except for the ants and cockroaches, the ants just blow out with the air hose and a good coating spray around the outside seems to keep them from returning, but the cockroaches wreck them because they short out the circuit boards when they crap all over them. Microwave ovens suffer the same fate.

T1 Terry

[bagmaker]

installed my new chinese toroidal W7 copy yesterday, not over impressed so far

https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.h ... 9090313010

[jon_d]

Wayne,

the link doesn't work.

jd

[T1 Terry]

installed my new chinese toroidal W7 copy yesterday, not over impressed so far

https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.h ... 9090313010

More details please, what is it not doing that you hoped it would do and what is it doing that you hoped it wouldn't?

T1 Terry

[native pepper]

This is a good link regarding the powerstar W7, including tests. Which may reveal why you are getting the results you are.

https://forums.energymatters.com.au/sol ... c3344.html

In my limited experience, have seen a few tests of these types of large inverter/chargers, that's why I use 3 inverters on my home and two in the bus. Worked it out using a 12v x 3-6kw, or 6-12kw inverter, used much more power than using a 2kw, 1500kw and 300w inverter, one on each house circuit, saves lots of energy, as they are rarely working together.

Haven't got a clue why, but my late mate went to 12v house systems and inverters, because he said 24/48v inverters, used more stand by power than the same capacity 12v and the bigger they are the more they use. He said because lifepo4 has such a stable voltage, there was no need for higher voltages in the system.

When I'm going to buy something not sure of, always do a long and thorough research of the item. Even when don't have a clue what they are saying, you do get to learn whether they are good or bad. Can save money in the long run.

[T1 Terry]

This is a good link regarding the powerstar W7, including tests. Which may reveal why you are getting the results you are.

https://forums.energymatters.com.au/sol ... c3344.html

In my limited experience, have seen a few tests of these types of large inverter/chargers, that's why I use 3 inverters on my home and two in the bus. Worked it out using a 12v x 3-6kw, or 6-12kw inverter, used much more power than using a 2kw, 1500kw and 300w inverter, one on each house circuit, saves lots of energy, as they are rarely working together.

Haven't got a clue why, but my late mate went to 12v house systems and inverters, because he said 24/48v inverters, used more stand by power than the same capacity 12v and the bigger they are the more they use. He said because lifepo4 has such a stable voltage, there was no need for higher voltages in the system.

When I'm going to buy something not sure of, always do a long and thorough research of the item. Even when don't have a clue what they are saying, you do get to learn whether they are good or bad. Can save money in the long run.

The very high stand by load for a very high capacity inverter is what set me on the path of building linkable inverters that only turn the next stage on as required. The big brick transformers waste a lot of energy under light or no load, but they also have huge over load capacity for quite a useful period, the toroidal transformers have a much lower energy waste at light load and no load but do not have the high over load capabilities for any usable length of time. The high frequency inverters that claim a 100% peak over load capability fail to mention that over load is a about 2 milliseconds, absolutely useless, the low frequency inverters weigh a lot but have real overload capability, the 300% over load isn't for very long, but a 50% or even 100% over load can be handled for 1/2hr or more. Generally the fuse in the supply side lets go long before the inverter has an issue, 3,000w under a 50% overload is 4,500w and that requires better than 375 amps from a 12v battery, so the 300 amp fuse lets go after a few mins. Had one that was belting out 4600w @ 230vac or 20 amps and the 16 amp RVD called time out after 10 mins, the inverter was fine and so was the lithium battery. Turned out the 10 amp in line protection device (can't remember the name) in the mains inlet cable had tripped and the W7 inverter had triggered the UPS settings and switched to inverter mode supplying a virtually uninterrupted 230vac, so the occupants of the van were none the wiser. They had the air con as well as the hot water on, plus TV etc and the problem didn't show up until the young bloke got the orders to do the washing up, so he filled the 2400w kettle and turned that on as well

As far as the power wasted by a 3,000w W7 on a 12v battery compared to a 2000w, 1500w and 300w inverter all on standby, quality for quality the W7 would waste less, but a Victron 3000VA Multiplus or Quattro (2500w below 40*C) would waste less than the 300w inverter on its own.... the $2145.00 price tag is then the catch For a mere $4300 plus a bit for the linking cable you can have 2 of these in parallel for a continuous 5,000w output (under 40*C) with an over head no load draw of less than the average 1500w inverter ....... but you do need the room to mount them

T1 Terry

[bagmaker]

OK some background first,
We have a standard looking double plugged 2500w PSW inverter that does everything ok but seemed to be dying, kind of loosing part of the phase or something. We run a pidgeon pair fridge and freezer- not inverter type- that each use about 80 watts running and 10 times that starting , the fridge is happy enough but the freezer is noisy. Noisy compared with plugging into mains. (hint)
And I observed once that it didn't start, just sat and hummed like an electric fence generator. My sparky suggested it was not up to scratch and probably didn't like RCDs either so "on the hunt" went I.
The unit linked above was chosen after some consideration. Mainly the sparky wanted an inverter without plug sockets, the price was reasonable, the emails seemed to show that the dealer knew 3/4 of 1/2 of something 240v 50hz was a special build for them -5 days extra- that gave me more confidence. Rated at 12v3000w, a look inside prior to mounting showed nice workmanship.
Turned up in short time and looked good, damned heavy. Installed well with only minor blood loss and 2 pulled muscles. Wired through RCD with oversize supply in and out.

the good-
has a 30a charger built in. Emails to the dealer could not clarify if the charge rate was flat (you can alter the voltage) or had stages like a typical LA charger. Might be a handy thing for Lithium as there is a 13.8v setting.
Seems to be grid tied capable, settings allow it to assist in amperage compared with any grid AC going in. The controls are a bit simple, however, I dont like the chances myself. Not much scope outside the pre-set variables
Strong. I pulled a 3600w load for a couple of minutes and the unit merely turned on its 2nd fan and buzzed louder.
Runs at 49.8hz but not checked under load.
No load uses about 1.5 amps at 12.8v. At first I thought this was excessive but some research reveals its not so bad
Runs the fridge, freezer (quietly), 1300w microwave, small angle grinder, 1000w blow heater, etc, etc. No problem. Battery voltage was heading south during testing and hi-load testing halted at 11.5v, the batts (LA) recovered quickly. The inverter kept going without so much as a beep but made a heavier buzzing in line with the loading.


The bad-
Noisy. The smaller fan runs full time and is slightly drowned out by a 50hz buzzing/rattling. Not a deal breaker but wouldn't want it under my bed.

but
It wont start my el-cheapo split system aircon. I cannot figure why. The head fan starts and runs but the compressor sounds like its arguing with a hornets nest, the inverter is argueing back very loudly and pulling a heap of amps.
The little old 2500w inverter runs it OK, draws about 1600w running- cannot catch the compressor start amps as it doesn't start at the same time, but a few minutes after you fire up the head unit. Mains, of course, run it fine.

Any clues?

[jon_d]

Power factor. Get your sparky to adjust the PF.

Before that, try it with a couple of 100W incandescents and see what happens.

Also, in the head unit is just a small motor turning the fan plus some electronics. Nothing big.

[bagmaker]

A couple of 100w incandescents inline to the Compressor unit do you mean JD?