new inverter

[Exwindsurfer]

Am now reading this thread as I am about to enter into this journey. Some daft quetions may be ahead.
So far what I am looking for is:-
Pure sine wave 3000W.
At the moment colour unimportant

Why 3000watt Tim ?

 

[cheyenne]

You dont use an inverter to run a charger, solar panels do that directly through a good regulator, no need for an inverter.

hi trevskoda . i am afraid i have not explained myself properly . i am not going to run an inverter to run a charger if you look at the photo i have 2 /120w solar panels going through a mppt 20a regulator feeding 2 /110ah gel battery's which feed the inverter . which will give me power to cook outside in Spain .

 

[CriftinsCampers]

Am now reading this thread as I am about to enter into this journey. Some daft quetions may be ahead.
So far what I am looking for is:-
Pure sine wave 3000W.
At the moment colour unimportant

If you genuinely need to pull 3kw then that’s really borderline for what 12v can suppprt, the sheer amount of current involved means cabling needs to be massive and all connection need to be perfect, worth considering going to 24v or 48v as that halves or queers the current.

 

[wildebus]

If you genuinely need to pull 3kw then that’s really borderline for what 12v can suppprt, the sheer amount of current involved means cabling needs to be massive and all connection need to be perfect, worth considering going to 24v or 48v as that halves or queers the current.

as well as having a VERY hefty battery bank to cope with voltage sag!

I would generally go for an inverter that is sized large enough to deal with the biggest SINGLE load and modulate when you use different AC devices to avoid an extremely high current at any one time.
For example, my own inverter is a 1350W Inverter. It is big enough to run the Microwave (my largest single draw), and I also use it for the 850W Water Boiler and a pair of 500W Induction Hobs. But I don't ever have the Water Heater on when the Microwave is in use or use the Hobs at the same time as the Microwave.

AC devices that are high power AND need a significant running time (so for example Air Conditioners or Room Heaters) are unsuitable to run off Batteries unless the battery bank is a pretty significant one.

 

[cheyenne]

hi guys . new battery's arrived this morning to go with my new inverter . did a mockup of how my system is in the garage which replaces my old inverter & knackered old leisure battery's . run the microwave for 3 minutes boiled a bowel of water volts went down to 11.9 then back up to 12.8 what they was before start . think i might get a third battery when i have checked these out bring the m/h
home tomorrow to install .Cheyanne

 

[wildebus]

You have a switch there which is handy, but if you don't have a fuse holder close to the battery ready to reuse, you must add one! For that size of inverter, you could draw close to 200A, so plan on preferablt a MegaFuse holder with a use of 200A or so.

Question ... the red cable from battery to inverter in yout photo ... Was that one supplied with the Inverter?

 

[trevskoda]

hi trevskoda . i am afraid i have not explained myself properly . i am not going to run an inverter to run a charger if you look at the photo i have 2 /120w solar panels going through a mppt 20a regulator feeding 2 /110ah gel battery's which feed the inverter . which will give me power to cook outside in Spain .

Would gas not be more simple, I carry a small single stove and why not use the one in the van and carry the food outside to eat.

 

[Exwindsurfer]

You have a switch there which is handy, but if you don't have a fuse holder close to the battery ready to reuse, you must add one! For that size of inverter, you could draw close to 200A, so plan on preferablt a MegaFuse holder with a use of 200A or so.

Question ... the red cable from battery to inverter in yout photo ... Was that one supplied with the Inverter?

and they are shit David i wouldnt use them on mine .

 

[cheyenne]

You have a switch there which is handy, but if you don't have a fuse holder close to the battery ready to reuse, you must add one! For that size of inverter, you could draw close to 200A, so plan on preferablt a MegaFuse holder with a use of 200A or so.

Question ... the red cable from battery to inverter in yout photo ... Was that one supplied with the Inverter?

hi wildbus . yes i was thinking of putting in a fuse https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/38029659...6&customid=am5tDrIWAAAAE5BIiFWYQXzDlFAGAAAAAA . the big cables going to the inverter was from my old system along with the switch the other cables came with the inverter . its just an upgrade i am doing & a complete system from the m/h as its got 2 /110ah AGM powered by the inboard 3 stage charger & 100w solar panel which both charges up habitation & vehicle when the need arises
Cheyanne

 

[cheyenne]

Would gas not be more simple, I carry a small single stove and why not use the one in the van and carry the food outside to eat.

hi trevskoda. yes we do cook inside we have a 3 gas & 1 electric hob cooker a built in microwave 2 /11KG refillable gaslow cylinders & a Spanish's repsol cylinder ( wintering in Spain )& a french cylinder spending the ( summer in France ) both 3 months at a time don't use it much in rip off Britain . her indoors won't let me cook chips or curry in the m/h this my setup Cheyanne

 

[cheyenne]

If you genuinely need to pull 3kw then that’s really borderline for what 12v can suppprt, the sheer amount of current involved means cabling needs to be massive and all connection need to be perfect, worth considering going to 24v or 48v as that halves or queers the current.

hi guys . my old inverter was 3000w & i found it was to much for my old battery's 2000w is plenty like i have 3 m/h's ago but i changed to 3000w WHICH was a bad mistake . Cheyanne

 

[trevskoda]

hi trevskoda. yes we do cook inside we have a 3 gas & 1 electric hob cooker a built in microwave 2 /11KG refillable gaslow cylinders & a Spanish's repsol cylinder ( wintering in Spain )& a french cylinder spending the ( summer in France ) both 3 months at a time don't use it much in rip off Britain . her indoors won't let me cook chips or curry in the m/h this my setup Cheyanne

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Thats some amount of prugh to carry around, weather looks fab mind you, have fun.

 

[Tim120]

Why 3000watt Tim ?

I should say I'm starting this journey from the point of very little knowledge and as they say that can be a dangerous thing
What I should do is work out what I need and go from there.
Solar will be (next week) 340W through a victron smart solar MPPT 100/30, I have on order a Fogstar 460Ah battery so I shall start from there.
Hair straightener/dryer no longer an issue

 

[The laird]

I should say I'm starting this journey from the point of very little knowledge and as they say that can be a dangerous thing
What I should do is work out what I need and go from there.
Solar will be (next week) 340W through a victron smart solar MPPT 100/30, I have on order a Fogstar 460Ah battery so I shall start from there.
Hair straightener/dryer no longer an issue

Starting to let your hair down that man eh ,never knew you used them TIM

 

[cheyenne]

I should say I'm starting this journey from the point of very little knowledge and as they say that can be a dangerous thing
What I should do is work out what I need and go from there.
Solar will be (next week) 340W through a victron smart solar MPPT 100/30, I have on order a Fogstar 460Ah battery so I shall start from there.
Hair straightener/dryer no longer an issue

hi tim120 . all i can say is you will be off grid at lot PUT as many panels on the roof as you can fit that is the key . Cheyanne

 

[cheyenne]

Thats some amount of prugh to carry around, weather looks fab mind you, have fun.

hi mate . yes its a big job to get everything in the m/h since we downsized to the swift 599 from our autotrail tag . but when you are parked up for a few months you need your tackle around you

 

[cheyenne]

hi guys . brought the m/h back from storage to start the refit . Cheyanne

 

[Tim120]

Starting to let your hair down that man eh ,never knew you used them TIM

It's the other way Gordon, my hair let me down a few years back

 

[The laird]

It's the other way Gordon, my hair let me down a few years back

Feel for you mate cannae say I've got that problem

 

[Trotter]

Why 3000watt Tim ?

It’s like having 400ah’s of lithium. There ain’t no substitute for cubes.

I went 3000w cos I’ve always bought “good enough “, only to have had to replace kit when I improve the van.
With the 3000w inverter, I can use virtually anything in the van. While weaning the van away from lpg.

A current example of this is the Victron 100/30 solar controller, bought to replace a cheap Chinese one. The new panels will exceed it’s capabilities. If I’d got the 100/50 initially, I’d saved more than a few quid.

Hobby horse time? If fitting the Renogy inverter. Check cable sizes and add a suitable fuse.
Yes I know I’ve said it before, and trust me, I’ll probably say it again. The instructions supplied are a bloody disgrace.