Opinions on Mecer Inverter

[Dan C]

Mine has been charging for 12 hrs now and green light still flashing...hopefully because it was it's 1st discharge and recharge

Edit:Exactly 13 hrs to full charge and no more fan!!

I think the 1200va version's fan does stop after fully charged. No such luck with the 2400va

 

[Scoperzor]

Two set of questions on the Mecer 1200VA inverter:

1) What information does the LCD display actually give you? Can't seem to find any information online, and all the pictures are too small. Does it assist in determining the charge of the battery? (i.e. to stop using it once reaching 50%) Or would you need something else for that too?

2) How loud is the fan during the charge? Is it always better to charge immediately after using?

 

[B@rrels]

Two set of questions on the Mecer 1200VA inverter:

1) What information does the LCD display actually give you? Can't seem to find any information online, and all the pictures are too small. Does it assist in determining the charge of the battery? (i.e. to stop using it once reaching 50%) Or would you need something else for that too?

2) How loud is the fan during the charge? Is it always better to charge immediately after using?

The front panel gives the input voltage and output voltage and battery status in 4 bars and the load in 4 bars..not very informative.
I tested the voltage with a multimeter to see where I was with recharging,14. something volts which showed me it was charging and green light flashing.The fan is bearable but only on during charging.Once the mains supply comes back it starts charging automatically.Will check again tonite as we are shedding from 8

 

[Dan C]

Spot on what B@rrels said about the display. I do suggest you get an additional monitor for the battery.

 

[Saman]

Two set of questions on the Mecer 1200VA inverter:

1) What information does the LCD display actually give you? Can't seem to find any information online, and all the pictures are too small. Does it assist in determining the charge of the battery? (i.e. to stop using it once reaching 50%) Or would you need something else for that too?

2) How loud is the fan during the charge? Is it always better to charge immediately after using?

Barrels had already answered your first question, but in the absence of any dedicated battery charge meter, I reckon the Mecer display is a fair guide, even if somewhat inaccurate. So let's say once it goes over to the 3rd bar definitely stop using it. Of course before that even becomes necessary, rather calculate your max battery up time using your load & battery Ah rating. Then take half of that to be the actual max time you should run the inverter on battery. If your calculated operating time works out to less than the anticipated 2 hrs 30mins, then either get a bigger battery or add another battery in parallel to the one you have.

As for the fan, it is maybe 50% - 70% the noise of a vacuum cleaner, but it's more constant. Besides the annoying noise I'm also imagining that it may be wasting electricity because it sounds so loud. Perhaps it's not the case?
Thankfully we now know that it does stop once the battery is charged (interestingly when I googled it before, everybody seemed to complain that the fan never stops! Luckily that didn't deter me).
There's also a bit of buzzing when its running on battery but it's not bad, and the fan seems much quieter then.
All in all, I'm very happy with my purchase.

 

[B@rrels]

Last night when it went to the smaller of the bars,the last bar,I measured 11v.That was after 2.25 hrs.Tonite when load ****ting started it shot straight down to the 3rd bar and is still there after 30 min.Will monitor it but don't know dod with them bars.

Edit:The fan is running but very quietly

 

[grim101]

As soon as loadshedding starts it drops to 3 bars. Always! Does not matter your load. Never had mine under 3 bars.

 

[B@rrels]

As soon as loadshedding starts it drops to 3 bars. Always! Does not matter your load. Never had mine under 3 bars.

Still on 3 bars after 1 hour..happy!!

Down to 2bars on 100AH battery...what size battery?Maybe I should add a battery.

 

[Dan C]

Still on 3 bars after 1 hour..happy!!

Down to 2bars on 100AH battery...what size battery?Maybe I should add a battery.

Have you managed to measure the load ?

 

[B@rrels]

No,but it's been on 2 bar all night,whether that means 50% of full capacity ie 350watt,who knows.half hour to go so will see what happens.Anyway, happy so far

 

[Dan C]

No,but it's been on 2 bar all night,whether that means 50% of full capacity ie 350watt,who knows.half hour to go so will see what happens.Anyway, happy so far

Ah ok. Mine drops to 2 bars quite quickly, but stays there. Currently charging and the light indicates 'float charge' i.e flashing light every 10 seconds.

If load shedding tomorrow, then mine will be in action again.

 

[Saman]

Are you guys talking about the same thing?
On the left are the remaining battery power bars whereas the right of the display are the load bars. Since there are 4 bars in each case, we assume each bar represents 25%. So the moment it goes onto battery power the first battery power bar dims, indicating 25% used (more accurately, 25% is in process of being used), hence leaving at least 75% of total battery capacity remaining. Only when it has used over 25% of the battery capacity will it dim the 2nd bar. Hence, the moment the third bar dims you have used 50% of the batteries stored power. That's when you want to shutoff the invertor to protect the battery.

 

[beatlexx]

Yip it's a 5 yr old hisense 40" but the 2nd tv is a 40" LG Led.....will look for battery monitor to be safe.

@B@rrels. I am also interested in buying the Mecer 1200va. But also sit with a 8yr old Sansui LCD tv and from I can see it uses about 300w. Have you used you Hisense tv on the inverter and if you have did it work correctly? I hear people say that old tv doesn't work so ok with modified inverters.

 

[B@rrels]

@B@rrels. I am also interested in buying the Mecer 1200va. But also sit with a 8yr old Sansui LCD tv and from I can see it uses about 300w. Have you used you Hisense tv on the inverter and if you have did it work correctly? I hear people say that old tv doesn't work so ok with modified inverters.

My Hisense is the main TV on the inverter and works just fine.

 

[B@rrels]

Are you guys talking about the same thing?
On the left are the remaining battery power bars whereas the right of the display are the load bars. Since there are 4 bars in each case, we assume each bar represents 25%. So the moment it goes onto battery power the first battery power bar dims, indicating 25% used (more accurately, 25% is in process of being used), hence leaving at least 75% of total battery capacity remaining. Only when it has used over 25% of the battery capacity will it dim the 2nd bar. Hence, the moment the third bar dims you have used 50% of the batteries stored power. That's when you want to shutoff the invertor to protect the battery.

I think you are right there so it means getting another battery.I am going to ask an auto electrician today for a DC clamp meter (tong tester) and try to calibrate the bars.

 

[Scoperzor]

Thanks for all the replies on the 1200VA guys, been helpful. There is a store close by to me with a special on a MR power 1200w modular inverter for ~R1400, anyone know MR power and their reliability, relative to Mecer?

http://www.saeg.co.za/index.php?a=2&b=334

 

[Saman]

Thanks for all the replies on the 1200VA guys, been helpful. There is a store close by to me with a special on a MR power 1200w modular inverter for ~R1400, anyone know MR power and their reliability, relative to Mecer?

http://www.saeg.co.za/index.php?a=2&b=334

No idea about the brand & model (I'm really a novice to these things, my interest driven purely by necessity), but it seems like a good deal especially considering the units power. It's about twice the Watt capacity of the Mecer. Mecer is 720W (1200VA) whereas the MR is 1200W (around 2200VA?). And it's got a more accurate ammeter to indicate how many amps it's drawing. The Mecer's load bars are somewhat vague.
The mecer is somewhat better looking for the lounge, but if you going to be hiding it that's not an issue. The Mecer also has 3 SA plug points placed conveniently on the top cover of the unit so it's fairly similar in that regard. Maybe also enquire about the fan noise and whether it switches off when charging, etc.

 

[lionking15]

Hi
Please can someone tell me on the 1440 Watt inverter, with the 2 batteries...how long should it take to fully charge from the time the battery alarm is sounded...on 10 Amp and 20 Amp ?
Also does it help to unplug everything when it is charging to decrease charge time ?

Thank you

 

[Dan C]

Hi
Please can someone tell me on the 1440 Watt inverter, with the 2 batteries...how long should it take to fully charge from the time the battery alarm is sounded...on 10 Amp and 20 Amp ?
Also does it help to unplug everything when it is charging to decrease charge time ?

Thank you

It takes about 10 hours to charge on 10 amp or even more. My concern is that you had a battery alarm sound, meaning you ran the batteries to the ground ? If so it will harm your batteries.

The recommended settings for 2x102ah batteries in a 24v config is 10 amp. It does take longer to charge, but apparently better.

I don't think it matters what load you have during charging, as the power is relayed. (this is just my thinking)

 

[lionking15]

Thank you for your reply....it took me 11 hours on 20 Amp...is that normal ?
Damn, I thought I was meant to let it run till the alarm goes !!...how far down am I supposed to use the batteries ?

Also please tell me would you know if the Ellie's inverter takes just as long to charge, and does it make as loud a noise as the mecer ?

Thanks for your help