Inverter low output

Plucka

My inverter output has dropped to 195 volts from 212 volts a couple of weeks ago. 3000watt pure sine rated at 200-240 volts.I checked inside and there was a switch whose highest position was 220volts The weather has changed from hot to cool and that is the only change I can think of.--3000 watt DC Master brand pure sine 12 volt inverter.Is my inverter dying YES/NO?

mcgivor

Measure the battery voltage, AC voltage can fluctuate in proportion to input voltage.

Plucka

Battery 360a/h lithium showing 13.5 volts with 10.2 amps charging from solar panels on a light cloudy day at 11am late autumn

mcgivor

Is the AC voltage measured with or without load?

Plucka

Measured without a load but output is slowly wandering between 189 to 195 volts and as I said it was 212 volts a couple of months ago.What made me check was my toaster was taking a lot longer to toast bread.

mcgivor

Generally electronic devices don't die of cancer, they die due to major heart attack, here one minute gone the next.
Try measuring AC voltage under load, it may be different to no load, ambient temperatures may change the value of electronic components which may in turn change the voltage, hense the tollerance in the specs, looking at the specs of my cheap inverter, it's +/- 10% voltage regulation, so at 220 V could be 190V or 242V, better quality will usually have less spread and I'm not talking Vegemite.

Plucka

Laughing

Plucka

Turned on a 240 volt caravan water pump 194.3 off 192.6 on. Seems too little difference.

Plucka

Took the cover off the inverter -pull out all the fuses and then put them back ,touched this and wiggled that and now I'm getting 225 volts under load.FIXED

BB.

Fuses are designed to be unreliable (pop if too much current).

Look for signs of heating or overheating (dirty or poor electrical connections).

Bill

Plucka

Not fixed--- back to same problem so I've ordered a new inverter.Lucky i have a small [1000w] inverter which will just get me though the days till the new one arrives.It will run the 240 volt fridge and freezer and I have to turn these off if I want a cup of tea or toast.That's 4 chinese inverters over 14 years I've had to replace.

mcgivor

Success in attrition, or would it have been better to buy quality from the get go, that is a question I ask myself, most of the quality items have failed, whilst the economy devices keep on working, strange how that works. There has to a line where sacrificial electronics outweigh the more expensive alternatives, one lightning strike could cripple an entire system, expensive to replace with high end equipment, cheaper and easier with low end, I'm pondering the question, having lost expensive equipment lately, however I digress.

Estragon

In your situation (high lightning risk), I'd probably lean towards the cheaper alternatives and spend some of the difference on a stock of spares.

Plucka

Just installed my new 3000 watt inverter which seems to have a high output of 240>250 volts.The lights are brighter and the toaster takes half the time to make toast. Very pleased with it so far.