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Old 12-14-2017, 05:45 AM   #1
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ETI Inverter Leave it on? How much power

The ETI inverter discussion please:

Do you leave it turned on? Only turn it on when you need it?

How much power does it drain when it is turned on and nothing is in use?

Does your solar keep enough energy on board so that you just leave the inverter on?

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Old 12-14-2017, 06:18 AM   #2
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I always keep it off except when in use. Any wasted energy use is too much wasted energy in my book.
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Old 12-14-2017, 06:21 AM   #3
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I also turn mine on only when I need to power an appliance. Then, I turn it off.


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Old 12-14-2017, 06:22 AM   #4
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If you have a Gopower

The 1000 spec sheet says 1.4A/.5A No Draw/Powersave
the 1500 is 1A/.25A

I don't see the 1000 as an option any more.
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Old 12-14-2017, 11:10 AM   #5
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Henry, look at it this way: why would you leave an inverter on unless you needed to invert power? Anything that is energized when boondocking is drawing from your batteries, and that includes the inverter. The purpose of the solar is not specifically to provide power, but to recharge the source of power - the batteries.

We have the inverter, but I can probably count on two hands the number of times we've used it when boondocking. 12V DC power is just more efficient because no inversion (and the resulting loss from the inversion) takes place.

If you're going to use the inverter, turn it on, use the AC device, then when done shut the inverter off. It's job is done. And be aware that if you're going to use it on a high draw device, like the microwave, it will draw down your battery power very quickly.
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Old 12-14-2017, 12:04 PM   #6
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I have the Samlex 1500 inverter. It appears to draw 1-2 amps when there is no load on it. If you need to, you can run the inverter for days at a time-- I tried to power a small household compressor fridge with it when my trailer fridge broke. The inverter worked okay but the trailer's batteries gave out. It was an experiment.
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Old 12-14-2017, 01:01 PM   #7
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I have the GoPower 1500 watt inverter, and like others, only turn it on when I'm using it. Unlike Robert, I use my quite a bit while boondocking (this morning I microwaved a Jimmy Dean Egg Cheese Sausage Biscuit (I know, not healthy!). I do have 480 watts of solar recharging the batteries, and cut down on usage when a string of cloudy days is predicted.

I just checked using my battery monitor, and the inverter with no load is drawing less than 1/2 an amp. If you check the manual, it can be set so it draws nothing when on, but requires choosing a minimum wattage load before it starts.

My only complaint is the output voltage of my 1500 watt GoPower inverter is only 108 volts. I don't know if that is typical, or mine (the specifications state 110 volts +/- 10%, so it is within specs), but while that cuts down the amperage draw on the batteries when in use, it takes longer to brew a pot of coffee or cook something in the microwave. My previous 1000 watt Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 produced 120V...
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Old 12-14-2017, 02:56 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
My only complaint is the output voltage of my 1500 watt GoPower inverter is only 108 volts. I don't know if that is typical, or mine (the specifications state 110 volts +/- 10%, so it is within specs), but while that cuts down the amperage draw on the batteries when in use, it takes longer to brew a pot of coffee or cook something in the microwave. My previous 1000 watt Xantrex PROwatt SW 1000 produced 120V...
That's interesting Jon. My Samlex provides 115V, pretty close to the Xantrex. We've noticed no difference in appliance performance on the inverter vs shore power. In looking at the spec sheet for the GoPower, it's supposed to output 110V, with a 3 volt fluctuation. That would be a noticeable difference vs 120V.
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Old 12-15-2017, 02:00 AM   #9
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I just checked our factory GoPower inverter, and it’s putting out 108V too. Bummer.
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Old 12-15-2017, 10:57 AM   #10
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inverter

Is only on when I need 110 power
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Old 12-15-2017, 01:20 PM   #11
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110 volt RMS

Thats funny I just checked mine with full batteries 111.2 volts.?
Could it be your meter ? Is it a true RMS meter, does it matter ?


( It is possible that the "Low Voltage" is a result of your particular voltmeter...

Many less expensive volt meters simply take the peak voltage and divide by the sqrt of 2... For a sine wave, this is exactly correct for calculating the Root Mean Square (RMS) value of a sine wave (basically, the 120 VDC voltage equivalent work of a 170 Volt Peak Sine Wave).

In reality--the Inverter is outputting the ~120 volt RMS equivalent--and would read ~110-120 VAC with a true RMS meter. )
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Old 12-15-2017, 03:57 PM   #12
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I don't know about Scott, but I am measuring with a high quality, true RMS meter.
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Old 12-15-2017, 04:14 PM   #13
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That is strange, I wonder if there is an adjustment that can be made ?
I will keep an eye on it under varying battery conditions. Thanks for the heads up,
hope your panel is kicking butt.
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Old 12-15-2017, 06:30 PM   #14
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Measured mine using a Fluke 117 True RMS meter.
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Old 12-15-2017, 07:15 PM   #15
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Well I do not have mine yet to check the voltage..... :-) (June Production date) but I do know that it will be turned off when not needed.

Thank you all.

And Merry Christmas!!!
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