Santiago
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-27-2003
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Quiet inverters
1. What is the quietest inverter in the 1500-2000 watt range?
2. Is the only point of the charger part of an inverter/charger so that a generator could be attached to it and the generator will feed the panel and
charge the batteries at the same time?
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Bob and Susan
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Registered: 8-20-2003
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#1
all inverters hum...
the humming gets louder as you increase the load
then they may have a fan for cooling
just keep it in the garage
with the batteries
never in the house
remember once you convert your battery power
to 120v you can run the current along way
#2
yes you are correct
when using the charge feature the fan comes on
more noise
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maspacifico
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The cheaper the inverter the louder they are! Bob is right, you don't want to be sleeping with them...the inverters...not Bob and Susan. The batteries
are the place to go cheap. Better to spend the money on controllers and inverters and grow into them. I used an Outback MX60 controller and Outback
inverter with 480 watts of panels and 4 Costco batteries for 5 years. No problem with the controller and 480 watts, and I watched constantly. Couldn't
believe I was making electricity! I have added batteries and panels and maxed out the controller at 1600 watts, and that's mostly because Sun Electric
was selling those blemished panels so cheap. Great deal....hard to see blemishes and the only thing that see them are the zopolotes. If I need more
power I'll wait for the grid....along with Pompano...and Pompano and Bob and Susan will get it long before me!
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meme
Senior Nomad
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Location: San Felipe,BC
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We bought an Outback Inverter(Big $$) had it just less than 3 years & it blew the transformer. Outback wants almost as much to fix it as a new
one---Think NOT! Will think twice about Outback products next time.
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El Camote
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Had this similar earlier model installed in the San Felipe house 12 years ago. As far as I know it's still going strong. Trace/Xantrex 1500.
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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Bob and Susan
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Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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meme could it be that you
let the batteries get too low...
lower batteries make the inverter
work harder...thus fry
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Santiago
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I use my Honda 2000E when I run my power tools. When I get my small, 120v PV system set up with a 2000 watt inverter/charger, should I plug the
generator into the charger and run the tools from the 120v side of the system or just continue to run the tools from the generator? Seems like I
would get some charging of the batteries during the time the genset is running but is the constant start-up of the saws and compressors hard on the
system?
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Russ
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I have a bit larger system but never use the gen set if the batteries are charged. If I work into the evening and the batteries get below 24.5v I'll
run the generator for a short time to pump the up for the drain during the night. If you work early you probably won't need to charge from th
generator. And you can always add a panel or two to help too.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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maspacifico
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It's probably a carryover from when I had a very small system, but when I run the washer, or a tool that I'm going to be using for a while, I plug
right into the generator. Hardest part is running the extension cord, and, if you've got one of those 2000's you don't even need an extension cord. I
don't like large and fast draws on the batteries and they've never been down to 24.5. As far as using and charging at the same time....I use the tools
or I charge the batteries. I think if you have a big generator, more than the Honda's, you could do whatever you want. Someone might be able to
explain where I'm wrong, but I think I'll still do it that way.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
I use my Honda 2000E when I run my power tools. When I get my small, 120v PV system set up with a 2000 watt inverter/charger, should I plug the
generator into the charger and run the tools from the 120v side of the system or just continue to run the tools from the generator? Seems like I
would get some charging of the batteries during the time the genset is running but is the constant start-up of the saws and compressors hard on the
system? |
Santiago
It depends on how you have your system put together and what quality of eqipment you have. I have my system set up so that I can run my large tools (
table saw, mig welder, metal lathe, band saw, etc, ) off the inverters, and only run the generator for AC on hot nights or to charge batteries after
several cloudy days. If you stick with good stuff, like Outback, Midnite solar and some of the newer Xantrex inverters, they can handle the high
surges from power tools. Some of the smaller inverters may not like it and might fail. If you use stuff from Harbor freight or similar then stick with
your generator to run the power tools.
Hope this helps
Larry
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