Inverter Question

Zakarume
Zakarume Solar Expert Posts: 143 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Is it alright to leave a inverter on even if there is no load on it?
1460 Watts Solar @24v. 675 AH Battery Bank using 12 6v Trojan T-105. 1 Midnite Classic 150. 1500 Watt 24v Samlex Pure Sine Inverter
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Inverter Question

    Yes, however it will have a constant draw, which should be stated in the specs. some have a sleep mode for lower draw and 'wake' when a load is applied.
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • 2manytoyz
    2manytoyz Solar Expert Posts: 373 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Inverter Question

    If you have a small solar array, the idle current from an inverter can eat your lunch. Here are actual numbers for my various inverters:

    http://2manytoyz.com/noload.html

    Now that I have a larger array, I leave one inverter on all the time. Prior to that, I got a bit creative and used a wireless remote to switch the inverter on/off:

    http://2manytoyz.com/gridless.html
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  • hemmjo
    hemmjo Solar Expert Posts: 90 ✭✭
    #4
    Re: Inverter Question

    Interesting information 2manytoyz. Our system has a 1000w inverter. Its main function is to run the refrigerator. Are you saying that it the fridge is OFF, and the inverter is sleeping, that turning on a 2watt light may not wake the inverter?

    Thanks,

    John
    Two systems in the Dominican Republic  http://villagemountainmission.org/
    installed Feb 2014 at 19.796189° -70.893594°, Classic 150 + WBJR, KISAE SW1210, MN Battery Monitor, IOTA DLS 55/IQ4,  4- Solar World 275w, 4-6v x 225ah Trace Batteries
    installed Feb 2015 at 19.795733° -70.893372°, same components  as above
    Honda PowerMate PC0497000, 7000/8750w generator - powers the well and chargers maybe once a week






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  • Mountain Don
    Mountain Don Solar Expert Posts: 494 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Inverter Question

    It all depends on the inverter. Some can be "tuned" to turn on with a very small wattage load, like an LED night light. My Outback v=VFX3524 can do that. OTOH, the Samlex I have needs something like 20 watts to activate and that is not user programmed. To make matters worse the Samlex also takes several seconds to actually deliver the power, whereas the OB takes a fraction of a second.
    Northern NM, 624 watts PV, The Kid CC, GC-2 batteries @ 24 VDC, Outback VFX3524M
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  • 2manytoyz
    2manytoyz Solar Expert Posts: 373 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Inverter Question

    My previous setup at my last house: My Prosine does have a Power Save feature. This only consumes 1.5 Watts/hr. Once every 2 seconds, the inverter sends out a pulse to detect if a load of 20 Watts or larger, has been applied. If so, the inverter comes online. When the load is removed, the inverter goes back into Power Save mode. Very slick, and I have used this feature. The downside is CFL bulbs don't present a resistive load, so the inverter can't detect when a light switch has been flipped. Consequently, I only connect things like my two refrigerators to the Prosine inverter, with an automatic transfer switch I fabricated. If the grid goes down, the refrigerators automatically connect to the inverter. It detects the load, comes to life, and runs them as long as the grid is down.

    My present setup uses the Xantrex PROwatt SW2000. This one lacks the Power Save feature, but the idle current (inverter ON) is less than the Prosine inverter. So this inverter is always on. No delay when applying loads, and it doesn't care if a small inductive load has been applied, still works like the grid.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Inverter Question

    Robert, have you looked into the load presented by an LED light bulb, like the Phillips new offering a flat 'bulb' http://www.homedepot.ca/product/led-105w-a-line-slim-style-soft-white-case-of-4-bulbs/864384?eid=PS_GO_140203__ALL_PLA-864384&pid=864384&kpid=864384&gclid=CjwKEAiArqKmBRCOj_qfmuqinnYSJAAkAYwGgZkbb-3_WSQqOmnaSKNASzOYPiSL0AjOzDuRM4tS-BoCCBzw_wcB, as per your comment about resistive load not being high enough to register with the inverter?
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • 2manytoyz
    2manytoyz Solar Expert Posts: 373 ✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Inverter Question

    The only LED lighting I have isn't tied into the inverter yet, so haven't tried triggering the sleep mode with an LED. If you send me one, I'll test it for you. :cool:
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: Inverter Question

    your prices are way lower than ours, there also is a 6 pack, which gets you about a 25% discount.... mind you the price has dropped up here about 50% since I bought the first one... I do have to say they give off a good light frequency compared to the other we have tried
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • 2manytoyz
    2manytoyz Solar Expert Posts: 373 ✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Inverter Question

    The prices certainly are dropping. I paid $38 per bulb in 2011. Still working great, but the equivalent replacements are now $14.97 locally.

    These are the ones I used:

    http://2manytoyz.com/LEDKitchen.html

    The current replacements:

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-75W-Equivalent-Soft-White-2700K-BR30-Dimmable-LED-Light-Bulb-ECS-BR30-75WE-W27-120-G1-BL/205351494

    I have not tried the LED bulbs intended for use with a standard table lamp. Most I see locally are 60W equivalent. I use 2 75W bulbs to illuminate a large room. 60s aren't going to cut it. I keep looking though...
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