Inverter recommendation

[Lord Farquart]

How much did your setup cost and how long can you run it for ?

All I bought over the weekend was the inverter @R5200. The rest of the stuff I stripped out of my offroad caravan. 2x 80W solar panels, 210AH deep cycle battery, solar controller, 220V battery charger and lots of cabling. This I bought 2 years ago. So it was just a question of connecting it all up. I can guess what the stuff would possibly cost now or give you the prices from 2012?

As for how long it runs, how long is a piece of string? On Sunday afternoon we were shed and the daughter was running her desktop for the duration. We also had an amp running on the patio for some radio and the plasma screen, amp and WD TV device was on. Battery indicator went down in the red, but it did not bomb out. The battery was not fully charged though.

My plan is to add more batteries in future if needed. Will get feedback from the wife in the next few weeks to see if it is necessary. I work in Botswana, so not there to see it operate.

 

[Lord Farquart]

Some pics of the setup. There is no change-over switches available in Gauteng (so says my electrical supplier), so I had to make a plan. Excuse the wiring mess, but I can not cut the cables to length. They were custom made for the caravan.

 

[w1z4rd]

anything to back this up? i thought that sensitive electronics would need "clean" power

Your power supply takes that power in and converts it. Unless you have a really really old PSU its not an issue. Most UPS`s you buy use modified sine. Computers are constantly on them with no problem. I have routers, dstv decoder, switch, big screen tv, gaming pc, lcd monitors etc all permanently on modified sine. Not a single problem.

 

[KOPITE]

I can get a 1000w inverter with built in charger for R1500. Do you guys think it's a good deal. Make is a Powermaster so not sure if it's a decent one.

Only details I have is this

1000w charger Transfer Switch Soft Start AVR design Input & Output isolated Auto temperature control fan Reverse polarity protection. / by fuse Output short circuit protection Temperature protection: 50 +/- 5degrees Overload protection Input low voltage protection Input high voltage protection Low battery alarm Low battery shut-down Description: MODIFIED SINE WAVE inverter with built in AC Charger Connect batteries and operate it as UPS

Yay or Nay

Can I power my 32" LCD, 5.1 dvd surround sound, laptop, modem and lights or less.

 

[JayM]

Unless you have an electric motor you wasted your money. Extended use of modified sine does not damage most computer electronics.

The R700 or so extra is worth it for the extra UPS functionality (nice status LCD with input/output voltage, frequency, battery charge level, load indicator, serial port, surge protection etc). And frankly it looks much better than the "Inverex" style inverter too.

 

[Rkootknir]

So your usage of the word "clean" is correct. The only difference is that the power supply panel beats the wave form into the shape it wants regardless of what you put in.

I've heard that "beating" the modified sine-wave form into the correct shape introduces harmonics which causes buzzing on audio equipment. Is this true?

 

[D3x!]

so i have some cash coming in to spend on this now, not much, but i reckon i could get a 1-2.5 inverter and 2 batteries, maybe and a panel or 2 later.

I got a quote from powerstar today, not sure how well their stuff rates.

Any advices?

 

[The_Traveller]

so i have some cash coming in to spend on this now, not much, but i reckon i could get a 1-2.5 inverter and 2 batteries, maybe and a panel or 2 later.

I got a quote from powerstar today, not sure how well their stuff rates.

Any advices?

Share prices and specs please...

 

[The_Ogre]

I've heard that "beating" the modified sine-wave form into the correct shape introduces harmonics which causes buzzing on audio equipment. Is this true?

I personally have never experienced that one either my TV's or PC speakers

But on the other hand I have never used either of my inverters on specialist audio equipment. Maybe one of the guys can test it for us on their surround sound system or audio receiver unit?

 

[spiff]

I've heard that "beating" the modified sine-wave form into the correct shape introduces harmonics which causes buzzing on audio equipment. Is this true?

I've experienced the "buzz" with my old 700w inverter running my old CRT tv and SD PVR

I upgraded to a PSW 1000w inverter and the buzz is gone.

both used the same 12v x 105A deep cycle battery

 

[Craig777]

What's a good isolator to use from the batteries to the charge controller?

 

[D3x!]

Share prices and specs please...

Sako SKN-SS1 KW is priced at R2599 - this is a hybrid that he suggested.

 

[The_Traveller]

Sako SKN-SS1 KW is priced at R2599 - this is a hybrid that he suggested.

Oh ok great . I am buying the same SKN-SS series in either 8kw or 10kw. But no stock right now. Looks like in March only.

 

[D3x!]

Oh ok great . I am buying the same SKN-SS series in either 8kw or 10kw. But no stock right now. Looks like in March only.

do you feel it is a good buy? i honestly havent dealt with this sort of thing in years and havent had time to research really yet.

 

[The_Ogre]

Sako SKN-SS1 KW is priced at R2599 - this is a hybrid that he suggested.

do you feel it is a good buy? i honestly havent dealt with this sort of thing in years and havent had time to research really yet.

Is it this one?

http://sako.en.alibaba.com/product/...ter_With_Controller_1kw_6kvw_12v_24v_48v.html

If it is, and I was in your position, I'd ask him to demo it to me because 60db would be a bit too loud for me.

But if you're putting it in a spare room or garage then it shouldn't bug you.

 

[SYNERGY]

Hi

Can someone please recommend a setup for me?

Please note that I am more or less a complete noob when it comes to electrical stuff. My knowledge extends to wiring a battery to a light globe/motor to a penlight battery when I was a child.

I'm looking at running the following:

5 x 20watt fluorescent globes.
2 x 80watt LED tubes
1 x 200 watts 60" LED TV - assuming
1 x 50 watt Laptop

Would prefer to run completely off the grid for the above.

So I would be looking at:

? x Solar Panels
1 x Bank of batteries
1 x Charger/Controller

Someone please enlighten me

Based in Durban. Or is someone willing to sell me a package including installation?

Thanks!

 

[The_Ogre]

^
Permanent? Or only for loadshedding periods?

 

[SYNERGY]

^
Permanent? Or only for loadshedding periods?

Permanent. Would hopefully get the batteries to last over 7 years.

 

[The_Traveller]

Is it this one?

http://sako.en.alibaba.com/product/...ter_With_Controller_1kw_6kvw_12v_24v_48v.html

If it is, and I was in your position, I'd ask him to demo it to me because 60db would be a bit too loud for me.

But if you're putting it in a spare room or garage then it shouldn't bug you.

Yip that's the one. Mines will be in the garage so 60db wont be a problem at all. 60db aint that bad anyway. If I could handle the Tedelex intellipower 4 for several years, heck anything less is pleasurable.

 

[The_Traveller]

do you feel it is a good buy? i honestly havent dealt with this sort of thing in years and havent had time to research really yet.

The supplier is competent, that much I can tell you. I haven't used any of his Sako products as yet but the Prostar UPS is quality.