Wanting just over 1000w from the inverter

[SagaCapt]

Now that our batteries are behaving normally, I turn to something almost as important.

Coffee.

I like good coffee and my Nesspressso makes GREAT coffee. Thing is, it rated at 1200w on it's label.

It only draws peak for 30 seconds or less and we only make 4-6 cups a day so the overall draw on the batteries is minimal.

Plugging my Nesspressso into the inverter 110v circuit worked.......

Most of the time.

Like 1 out of 20 times, it tripped the inverter which would reset after a delay.

How hard is it to upgrade to a 1500w inverter particularly in mind that the loads would be well below guidelines and for only short durations?

I see the current inverter under that port side settee, does that settee just easily come off and could I just swap in a 1500w unit?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The gotcha is that when it didn't trip, it still was overloaded. Eventually it's going to die of that sort of treatment. If you are lucky, it will just quietly stop working. If you are *very* unlucky, there will be smoke and sparks involved.

Just how long an inverter will run at "peak" and what that peak number really is ... not always as clear as it should be. There are a lot of inverters out there with a number in great big letters (or as part of the name). Dig in a bit and that is the "one cycle maximum" ( = 1/60th of a second). If you want three seconds it's a lower number. At 20 seconds a lower number still.

If you like messing around, a hybrid inverter / charger is one way to go. That replaces both the converter charger *and* the inverter. The wiring is a bit simpler and you only have one box to bother with. Victron's Multi 2000 and Multi 3000 are examples, there are many other brands and models out there.

https://shop.pkys.com/Victron-MultiP...00_p_2554.html

https://shop.pkys.com/Victron-Energy...02_p_2431.html

Indeed they are a bit more than just a typical inverter (though not more than the Victron inverters).

Bob

[pteck]

It's not the direct approach that you're looking for but I would suggest the link below as a potential solution.

I have a 2000W inverter on my batteries that runs my coffee maker just fine. But I want to run a microwave and hairdryer, and any number of other things requiring a large inverter and more battery capacity. Without suffering the high c-rate draw penalties to capacity on lead acid batts. This setup works well for me. Expands battery reserve, inverter capacity, and a number of other things in an all in one reasonably priced solution.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...um-196422.html

[J. Morgan]

The simple answer is it would be easy to swap in a 1500 watt inverter in place of the 1000 watt unit, but you MIGHT need to run new 12 volt feed wires, the existing ones may be too small.

[waninae39]

look at the victron system

we migrated to the 3k inverter/converter

it meets our needs very well

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

The simple answer is it would be easy to swap in a 1500 watt inverter in place of the 1000 watt unit, but you MIGHT need to run new 12 volt feed wires, the existing ones may be too small.

Hi

Assuming AS is wiring them all the same .... (it's AS ... who knows):

The wiring to the 1,000W inverter is *barely* adequate for the full 110 to 120A load into the device. Anything more than that, you need a new set of cables.

Bob

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

The wiring to the 1,000W inverter is *barely* adequate for the full 110 to 120A load into the device. Anything more than that, you need a new set of cables.

But realize that's not as big a deal as it might seem. You can go to any Home Depot or Lowe's and purchase whatever length of 10 or 8 gauge wire you need for relatively little cash. They often have deeply discounted "accidentally cut" lengths hanging on the rack next to the spools.

[Gerry]

I only hook up my inverter for temporary use (the 'why' is another story), but I wanted heavy gauge wire at an economical price, so I purchased an inexpensive set of jumper (booster) cables of a suitable length on sale, clipped off the clamps at one end & crimped on eye rings to fit the inverter. Carries lots of current without any overheating.

[pteck]

The OP hasn't told us what kind of batteries he has.

It could be that at lower states of charge, the inverter just can't make it happen. It could be the wiring is causing too much resistance. And it very well could be the inverter is not up to the task and marginal. Or it could be all three combined.

Perhaps resolving any one those three could work.

Personally, I let my flooded "house" batt do what they do best which is to support low draw loads. And use my all-in-one high performance lithium portable Goal Zero to support the heavier lifting.

[jnm30327]

There are plenty of 850 watt coffee makers out there. Might be an easier solution. We use a Krups Moka . To spare the batteries, I preheat water to boiling on the stove top when dry camping. Makes pot in 2 minutes.

[WindyJim]

As Uncle Bob stated, the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 or lithium 1400 are a very simple way to go. It will handle 1500 watts pure sine wave, and can be conveniently just set up and slowly recharged with solar. While it can handle a microwave, if you set it up with an automatic transfer switch to supply your entire Airstream there are "hotel" loads (converter, etc) which will make the overall load greater than 1500 watts. We just plug our toaster, etc into it directly and it does fine. While the Yeti 1000 is lithium battery powered, it's designator reflects it has 1000 watt-hours of capacity. As an example, if you plug a 1000 watt load into it, it will run down to zero capacity in one hour. A 500 watt load will run down in 2 hours, etc.
With the Yeti 1000 on board, we no longer take a portable generator along when we use the Airsteam.

We have 300 watts of solar capacity on the Airstream, and while we have a 600 watt inverter on it, the Goal Zero makes every trip much more enjoyable.

We even have a diesel motor home (with an Onan propane generator built in), and do a lot of dry camping such that we even sometimes take the Goal Zero with us for power when park hours prevent running a generator.

[WindyJim]

Relative to kidjedi's Home Depot wiring comment, it takes much more than an 8 or 10 gauge wire to feed a 1500 watt inverter. Current = Power divided by voltage. The supply voltage feeding the inverter is 12 volts, so Current = 1500 watts divided by 12 volts = 125 amps. That means you probably need at least a #2 AWG wire or larger diameter. Also it's a good idea to get marine wiring because it is more flexible, and better suited to the application (also substantially more expensive). It is more flexible because it if finely stranded wire instead of solid conductors like Home Depot would supply.



West Marine pricing:
Guage Max Amps $/foot
2 210 $5.79

1 245 $6.99

1/0 285 $7.79

2/0 330 $8.99

[SagaCapt]

>>The OP hasn't told us what kind of batteries he has.
Stock lead/acid.

>>There are plenty of 850 watt coffee makers out there.
Not that make espresso.

And I think the wire going to the inverter now is 2gage with 4gage going from the batteries to the 12v panel.

[banderabob]

Responding on a mobile so I don’t know what your rig is. I swapped out a 600W for a 1000W in our 23D, and it barely fit in the space. The higher the wattage, apparently the larger the unit.

[pteck]

Originally Posted by SagaCapt

>>The OP hasn't told us what kind of batteries he has.
Stock lead/acid.

I believe the main culprit is your batteries rather than the inverter. As you said, it generally works so the inverter is likely up to the task. What I believe is happening is that the batteries, based on state of charge, is having a rough time supporting the load, and drooping too low in voltage. Most inverters have a low voltage cut-out that if sensed, will trip the inverter.

Pulling 1000W from lead acid batts is something they don't particularly like. And voltage will droop into the low 11V range and possibly 10V. Shutting down the party. Even if you are to upgrade your inverter, you'll have this same problem.

You'll need to upgrade to AGM or lithium's to support this. Or have added significant current support like running your car, or have significant solar.

I think the easiest solution is what I suggested earlier:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...um-196422.html

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by pteck

I believe the main culprit is your batteries rather than the inverter. As you said, it generally works so the inverter is likely up to the task. What I believe is happening is that the batteries, based on state of charge, is having a rough time supporting the load, and drooping too low in voltage. Most inverters have a low voltage cut-out that if sensed, will trip the inverter.

Pulling 1000W from lead acid batts is something they don't particularly like. And voltage will droop into the low 11V range and possibly 10V. Shutting down the party. Even if you are to upgrade your inverter, you'll have this same problem.

You'll need to upgrade to AGM or lithium's to support this. Or have added significant current support like running your car, or have significant solar.

I think the easiest solution is what I suggested earlier:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...um-196422.html

I've used lead acid batteries with my whole trailer inverter(s) for almost five years now....... two group 27s......

When I first started five years ago I had a huge MSW inverter, when I thought it had broken (it didn't) I bought a pure sine wave unit to replace it.

If I had it to do over again I'd stick with a MSW.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by SagaCapt

>>The OP hasn't told us what kind of batteries he has.
Stock lead/acid.

>>There are plenty of 850 watt coffee makers out there.
Not that make espresso.

And I think the wire going to the inverter now is 2gage with 4gage going from the batteries to the 12v panel.

Hi

If you want to stick to "normal" ratings, 2AWG is only good to about 90A.

https://www.usawire-cable.com/pdf/nec-ampacities.pdf

A more reasonable choice would be 2/0.

No, I'm not making any claims about what *is* being used right now in your trailer .....

Bob