How much should an inverter handle?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by insipidtoast, Mar 25, 2019.

  1. insipidtoast

    insipidtoast Road Train Member

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    I’ve had 3 in a 2 year period. The first 2 were used. I don’t remember how many watts. The third one was a new cobra 1500watts, and completely died with just 3 weeks of use.

    My use: mini fridge always plugged in. Using a small rice cooker at the same time as the fridge once or twice per day. The first two inverters handled this no problem, but after many months just died. The latest inverter: brand new, immediately said it was overloaded the first day when cooking.

    I took it to a shop to fix it recently, and when I got it back the thing totally died within a day after leaving the shop.

    Any recommendations?
     
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  3. WesternPlains

    WesternPlains Road Train Member

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  4. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Get the 5000w one and be done with it
     
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  5. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    bigger is better when it comes to inverters
     
  6. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    2500w minimum.
     
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  7. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Inverters shouldn't be just dying on you that quick.

    Make sure you're using proper gauge, fuse and have it grounded properly.

    2500 watt cobra should be fine for your needs.
     
  8. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Yeah don't run both the fridge and the rice cooker at the same time.
     
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  9. flood

    flood Road Train Member

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    The problem is the RICE COOKER and the fridge running at the sametime

    The rice cooker is using north of 1,000 watts. Most likely 1,200-1,400 add the fridge 350-450 watts staring the compressor and you are at the limit of what a 1,500 watt invertor can handle.

    2 things you can do
    1 unplug the fridge and idle when cooking
    Or 2 get a bigger invertor
     
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  10. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    Stop buying truck stop junk inverters and get a good pure sine wave, 2500 watt or more. This is really the only way to handle it, the crap sold over the truck stop counter are usually modified sine wave and can't handle induction loads well. The induction load, like your rice cooker and even the motor in the fridge compressor, cause these to heat up and burn out quickly.

    Make sure when you get your next inverter it is properly installed, using the correct size wire, otherwise this too will cause excessive heat strain on the circuitry and cause premature failure. Also make sure it is properly sized, add up the peak ratings of everything you intend to use at the same time and buy an inverter with at least that large of a rating, this way when everything is at max draw simultaneously the inverter is still capable of handling it without strain.
     
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  11. uncleal13

    uncleal13 Road Train Member

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    What size wiring are you using to supply the inverter?
     
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