Which inverter to get

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upup

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I just want some lights, a tv and wifi to run, about 700 watts. So basicly I want a inverter with batteries, to kill loadshedding. It must be quiet, [low noise fan]. One local company who sells mecer get a lot a inverters coming back faulty. Maybe people is drawing too much out of it. I suppose going to 50 volts, the batteries becomes more expensive. I don't think I will go for a trolley, I have place in a cupboard
 
upup said:
I just want some lights, a tv and wifi to run, about 700 watts. So basicly I want a inverter with batteries, to kill loadshedding. It must be quiet, [low noise fan]. One local company who sells mecer get a lot a inverters coming back faulty. Maybe people is drawing too much out of it. I suppose going to 50 volts, the batteries becomes more expensive. I don't think I will go for a trolley, I have place in a cupboard
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700 watts or 700 watt hour, the answer will differ vastly?
 
A waste to spend a lot of money on something to run a router and some lights. A relatively cheapish powerbank will take care of the router and there are lots of cheap light options out there..
 
For a router and access point try something like a gizzu.

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For the tv I use one of these.
Yes a trolley.
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For lights try some loadshedding bulbs or emergency lights.


If you want the whole house lit, try a generator.

Otherwise if you have lots of money and you're not moving in the next 20 years try:

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or even

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upup said:
I just want some lights, a tv and wifi to run, about 700 watts. So basicly I want a inverter with batteries, to kill loadshedding. It must be quiet, [low noise fan]. One local company who sells mecer get a lot a inverters coming back faulty. Maybe people is drawing too much out of it. I suppose going to 50 volts, the batteries becomes more expensive. I don't think I will go for a trolley, I have place in a cupboard
Click to expand...
Why does a space in the cupboard disqualify a trolley?
 
upup said:
I don't think I will go for a trolley, I have place in a cupboard
Click to expand...

If you choose lead acid batteries ensure the cupboard is well ventilated (holes or fan) else you could end up with a buildup of an explosive mix of hydrogen and oxygen. You'd want ventilation to keep the equipment cool in any case.
 
Paul_S said:
If you choose lead acid batteries ensure the cupboard is well ventilated (holes or fan) else you could end up with a buildup of an explosive mix of hydrogen and oxygen. You'd want ventilation to keep the equipment cool in any case.
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Truly in this day and age there is absolutely no reason to choose lead acid batteries.
 
700 Watts is a lot. Gonna have to get 4 to 6 100A batteries, depending on how long your loadshedding slots are. Doubt you will use that much for just a couple of lights and TV, but best is get a kill a watt meter or similar to measure.

Nothing wrong with the Mecer's. Yes, they are cheap.

What is your budget?
 
TheChamp said:
Truly in this day and age there is absolutely no reason to choose lead acid batteries.
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Yes and no. It is still an affordable option as a temporary solution. Temporary is the key word here. Also most of these cheap affordable inverters run best without issues on Lead acid or gell.

But in the end it comes down to finances and where you are willing to compromise.
 
RedViking said:
Yes and no. It is still an affordable option as a temporary solution. Temporary is the key word here. Also most of these cheap affordable inverters run best without issues on Lead acid or gell.

But in the end it comes down to finances and where you are willing to compromise.
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You can get a 50Ah lithium for R3500, or a 24V for R6000, it will be equivalent to a 100Ah due to the depth of discharge, it will have way more cycles than a lead acid, it can discharge way more current than a lead acid and it's lighter and more user friendly.

I know one might argue that a lead acid cost R3500 but the thing will be dead in 6 months, the savings it's just not worth it. It's just one of those decisions that needs one to be brave and take the right decision.
 
RedViking said:
700 Watts is a lot. Gonna have to get 4 to 6 100A batteries, depending on how long your loadshedding slots are. Doubt you will use that much for just a couple of lights and TV, but best is get a kill a watt meter or similar to measure.

Nothing wrong with the Mecer's. Yes, they are cheap.

What is your budget?
Click to expand...
He needs to convert his lights to LED, that's is the only reasonable explanation why a TV, internet and light could come to 700W.
 
Koosvanwyk said:
700 watts or 700 watt hour, the answer will differ vastly?
Click to expand...
He didn't even say watt hours???

700 watts, take it as he said it.

As others have said though you need an energy monitor and an idea of budget to limit your ambition, else it quickly turns into "just a TV, a few lights, the DStv box, my Xbox... A few more lights, the alarm, the door, the gate..the fridge. the intercom, the microwave occasionally... The pool pump, my bitcoin miner, next door..."

And always there are some low hanging energy fruit... LED lights, old fridges you don't need to be on etc...
 
Loadshedding bulbs for lights, mini Ups for router and modem, get them first.
Mercer inverter on with a lithium battery preferably a hubble, when u have the budget.. linky
 
TheChamp said:
You can get a 50Ah lithium for R3500, or a 24V for R6000, it will be equivalent to a 100Ah due to the depth of discharge, it will have way more cycles than a lead acid, it can discharge way more current than a lead acid and it's lighter and more user friendly.

I know one might argue that a lead acid cost R3500 but the thing will be dead in 6 months, the savings it's just not worth it. It's just one of those decisions that needs one to be brave and take the right decision.
Click to expand...
Lead acids are cheaper then R3500, in fact I got 2 lead acids for a friend for that price, sure they were Royal Deltecs but my other 2 bought in June of 2020 are still going
 
Lupus said:
Lead acids are cheaper then R3500, in fact I got 2 lead acids for a friend for that price, sure they were Royal Deltecs but my other 2 bought in June of 2020 are still going
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Yes, I meant to R2500, otherwise what I am saying doesn't make much sense.

What I am trying to stress is that it is a really bad decision to go for lead acid to save R1000, it won't be worth it.
 
TheChamp said:
Yes, I meant to R2500, otherwise what I am saying doesn't make much sense.

What I am trying to stress is that it is a really bad decision to go for lead acid to save R1000, it won't be worth it.
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There is a case study for them, but I mean if you can get them for around R1800 each and they are just normal flooded or sealed flooded, those Gel and AGM ones are just a joke tbh.
The problem with lithium is they are pricey and their pricing isn't going to go down any time soon.
 
Lupus said:
There is a case study for them, but I mean if you can get them for around R1800 each and they are just normal flooded or sealed flooded, those Gel and AGM ones are just a joke tbh.
The problem with lithium is they are pricey and their pricing isn't going to go down any time soon.
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Esp with current Eskom.

My 24 LFP I bought at the start of the year for R10800 now retails for R19000 if you can get them. <-- bloody insane

Wanted to get a second one now in December, saw the price yesterday and nope'ed out of the store.
 
AlphaJohn said:
Esp with current Eskom.

My 24 LFP I bought at the start of the year for R10800 now retails for R19000 if you can get them. <-- bloody insane
Click to expand...
The inverter + battery setup I paid R4800 for last year November are going for closer to R6800 now, it's freaking ridonk, the hubbles I paid R5k for at the beginning of the year are now sitting at over 7.
 
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