Inverter question - basic setup

[macbeth]

I picked up this inverter cheap on bid or buy.
Basically want to install it to run lights in the garden.
Says it is 800w.
I'm no expert. Any ideas how many lights i can run, what battery I would need to boost it and installation?
The lights i can put on a plug - and use LEDs outside so its not pitch dark
The specs are as follows

Model

OP-W80C

DC Input voltage

DC10-14V

AC Input voltage

180-240V

Charging current

≤ 12A

Self-consumption

≤ 1.5%

Output voltage

AC-220V

Output wave form

Modified sinc wave

Output frequency

50-60Hz

Efficiency

78%

Measurement

235x420x150mm

Net weight

7kg

 

[adassonv]

Well I'm no expert either but recently (Sat in fact) had my inverter hooked up at home.

Here are a few pointers:

*You need to add the voltage of all your lights together to get the sum total.
*It is recommended to not run your inverter with more than 50% load for extended periods (around 400W worth of lights - in LED that is a HELL of a lot)
*You could use 2 x 7V batteries connect in series to connect to the inverter

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Well I'm no expert either but recently (Sat in fact) had my inverter hooked up at home.

Here are a few pointers:

*You need to add the voltage of all your lights together to get the sum total.
*It is recommended to not run your inverter with more than 50% load for extended periods (around 400W worth of lights - in LED that is a HELL of a lot)
*You could use 2 x 7V batteries connect in series to connect to the inverter

Huh!?!?!?
You don't need to add voltages, you need to add wattages, juyst make sure the LED's are 220V
You don't get 7V batteries

 

[macbeth]

Well I'm no expert either but recently (Sat in fact) had my inverter hooked up at home.

Here are a few pointers:

*You need to add the voltage of all your lights together to get the sum total.
*It is recommended to not run your inverter with more than 50% load for extended periods (around 400W worth of lights - in LED that is a HELL of a lot)
*You could use 2 x 7V batteries connect in series to connect to the inverter

yeah 400w is a hell of a lot. Have around 15 lights. some on led and some on 11w energy saver. so dont think I'll even come near 400w.
7v batteries sounds good.
And i hook it into the mains - I dont need to change amp on the switch or anything?
thanks

 

[macbeth]

I take it the same principle works if i had to hook it up to tv etc. dont go over 400w, and use enough batteries?

 

[adassonv]

Typo Scott
Wattages in deed an not Voltages

 

[munchies]

Also just got my inverter. But had some success thus far.

So definitely get a 12v deep cycle battery. Add up the watts of each item you will be connecting to it. Then based on the results using this http://powerstuff.co.za/battery-size-calculator/ you can determine the size of the battery you need. Also I have heard that you should not deplete your battery below 20% as this shortens the life of it. So build that into your calculation.

 

[adassonv]

Correct. I is recommended. Depending on the type of inverter they all have different efficiency ratings, so that also makes a small difference in the actual power delivered (available) vs the stated.
I dropped my wattage from 1300W to 168W by switching to led and energy savers where led was not an option.
So I have all my lights on my inverter, plus TV and decoder and alarm system.
I can also run my garage motors off it in the event of load shedding even though it is modified sine wave.
It is a risk that I am prepared to take

 

[X-Gamer]

Well I'm no expert either but recently (Sat in fact) had my inverter hooked up at home.

Here are a few pointers:

*You need to add the voltage of all your lights together to get the sum total.
*It is recommended to not run your inverter with more than 50% load for extended periods (around 400W worth of lights - in LED that is a HELL of a lot)
*You could use 2 x 7V batteries connect in series to connect to the inverter

What is this 50% load recommendation? You cannot make that assumption. It depends entirely on your inverter.
Just connect two 12V Lead acid batteries in parallel. Two 7V batteries are not an option. Did you mean 6V in series?

Huh!?!?!?
You don't need to add voltages, you need to add wattages, juyst make sure the LED's are 220V
You don't get 7V batteries

This exactly!

You need to keep the total load below the rated output of the inverter. Without more info on the inverter, you don't have much to go on. 78% efficiency is probably a safe upper limit to start testing. So see if you can run 600-650W and if the unit gets excessively hot.

 

[fishfly]

800W means it's the maximum power that the inverter would output, however depending on the efficiency of the Inverter (in this case 78%) which means you will be getting out a maximum of 624W - theoretically. Don't forget to add in the loss of the cable between the battery and the inverter and the DB board...

624W would power 10 60W light bulbs - depending on the Amp of the batteries you use means how long your batteries would be able to power the light bulbs

The spec sheet of the inverter doesn't specify if it is capable of shutting down when the battery drain reaches a certain percentage -personally I would recommend getting Lead Crystal batteries instead of Deep Cycle Lead Acid.

Going off topic but have a look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O45eLd5YotM

 

[The_Traveller]

personally I would recommend getting Lead Crystal batteries instead of Deep Cycle Lead Acid.

Going off topic but have a look at this:

Why would you personally recommend LC ? have you used it and for how long ?

 

[adassonv]

I sometimes wonder what the point of asking a question on a public forum is. With so many experts...who do you believe?

 

[macbeth]

Thanks for the replies. I know I've got to get a decent battery. But good to know I'm on the right track.

 

[Eddie01]

Have a look at these FAQ's on a specialist website...very informative http://volton.co.za/faqs/
Hope it helps.