Questions for a Newbie

SouthAfrica75
SouthAfrica75 Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
Have a 2400 surge and 1200 running watt power inverter. Have it connected to one 115 AH deep cycle marine battery. It runs a plasma 42", fan, 2 lights with no problems.

It will however not run my refrigerator. Just not enough power to even get it going. You can hear the motor at about 50% power and the light inside the refrigerator at about 70% brightness compared to being directly connected to AC power.

Refrigerator states at full load is runs at 6.5ah.

Do I need to get another battery and connect in parallel or what to get the referigerator to run. I would like to to run for about 2 hours a day if power fails ?

Live in hurricane county and no gas generators allowed in my condo
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  • Windsun
    Windsun Solar Expert Posts: 1,164 ✭✭
    #2
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    If this is on 115 volts AC, then 6.5 amps translates to 65 amps at 12 volts.

    So your battery, and probably the wiring from inverter to battery is way undersized.
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  • SouthAfrica75
    SouthAfrica75 Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
    #3
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    Damn................ money spent for nothing.

    Any suggestions as to size battery ?
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  • tripster
    tripster Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
    #4
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    Probably not best to run the fridge on a modified sinewave interter. I'm assuming its msw. Probably cost you $100-150 correct? The surge time on your unit is probably not enough to handle the compreesor startup.
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  • SolarJohn
    SolarJohn Solar Expert Posts: 202 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    I have an 1100-watt sine wave inverter and 4-105ah batteries in parallel. I run a refrigerator and a freezer with no problems at all. I agree with windsun.

    When I try to run my washing machine, I get the symptoms you describe. Motor starting current is just too high I suppose.

    John
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  • Brock
    Brock Solar Expert Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    Do you know the thickness of the wiring running between the inverter and batteries? If you can make that wire as short as possible or heavier gauge it might work. You could also add a second battery in parallel if indeed the battery can't take the start surge. If it were me I would do both, get a second battery and run a minimum of #6 between the batteries and inverter.
    3kw solar PV, 4 LiFePO4 100a, xw 6048, Honda eu2000i, iota DLS-54-13, Tesla 3, Leaf, Volt, 4 ton horizontal geothermal, grid tied - Green Bay, WI
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  • SouthAfrica75
    SouthAfrica75 Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
    #7
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    Answers to some of the great answers I've gotten so far. And Thanks....

    It is an MSW inverter. It's a Vector MAXX SST

    I am using very thick cables I know they are at least a #6 and as short as I can make them. It also has a 300amp inline fuse.

    I'm thinking that the one battery alone is not enough power to get it up and running or the MSW inverter will not do it.

    I don't want to go out and spend the money on another battery if it ain't going to work.
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  • Brock
    Brock Solar Expert Posts: 639 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    Hard to say for sure but if you already have short #6 wires I would put money on the battery voltage dropping to much. You could put a meter right on the battery and watch it while the fridge tries to start. If it drops below 11 adding a second battery would help a lot. Could you get your hands on any second battery just to try it? Pull one from a car for a bit? Are you sure the battery you do have is fully charged to start with?
    3kw solar PV, 4 LiFePO4 100a, xw 6048, Honda eu2000i, iota DLS-54-13, Tesla 3, Leaf, Volt, 4 ton horizontal geothermal, grid tied - Green Bay, WI
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  • SouthAfrica75
    SouthAfrica75 Solar Expert Posts: 36 ✭
    #9
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    BROCK..... gotta get out and get a meter. Battery should be fully charged, just bought it but then again..... you never know.

    I will go the route of pulling a battery from my car or boat and see if it works.

    Thanks
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    yucch !

    Mod sine inverter & Large Fridge = smoke out of fridge motor.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • tripster
    tripster Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
    #11
    Re: Questions for a Newbie

    The battery should be around 12.7v with no load. Becareful if you are charging it with a manual battery charger!
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