Inverter Crisis!

Try running your engine when you fire up the coffee maker or the microwave.
How many things you have plugged at one time makes a difference too.

 

1500 watts isn't much, you're exceeding the peak at start. How long are the cables? You should have 4 gage cable, preferably welding leads. The longer the cable, the more loss there is, and the larger the cable should be.

 

i have a 2550 inverter and it runs my microwave w/ no problem's

i used no. 2 wire fyi.

 

A 800W microwave might need over 1500 watts when it initially fires up, same with the 900W coffee pot. But you didn't mention if the inverter was a 1500W "continuous" or 1500W "PEAK".
A good rule of thumb is at least 2X the rating you need; if you run microwave (800W) and coffee pot (900W) at same time, you would need at least 3500W inverter. I run a 3000W continuous (4000W Peak) and I haven't had any problems in several years.

 

My coffeepot has an adjustable heating element, and if I crank it up it will overload my 3000watt inverter. I have since stopped using the inverter and bought a 3000watt generator mounted on my catwalk and the coffeepot gives it hell when on full blast but it handles it. I don't know if that's an option for you but you might look into it. In my opinion, 1500watts really isn't enough. Roadkill is right, the continuous wattage might be fine, but it's the startup wattage required that's killing you. I wouldn't run anything less than a 3000 watt inverter for microwave/coffeepot. Anything with a heating element takes alot of juice!

 

i run a 1000 watt inverter and have no problems as long as i only run one thing at a time

i use a seperate 600 watt for my tv and vcr/dvd player so i can leave them running while im cooking

 

That must be one hell of a coffeepot!

I looked up the typical household appliance wattage draw to find the average coffeepot only draws about 200 watts per hour.
A coffee maker drew upwards of 900 watts per hour.

If you can "dog" a 3k inverter or generator with it, it's either on fire or you're heating the engine water for the truck next to you.

There must be something else going on that isn't immediately apparent.

Kidding aside, I can only suspect your adjustable temp coffeepot may have a "switching power supply" in it that has a poor power factor rating which means it could be confusing the inverter's load sensing circuitry.

I suppose it's possible as well for a bad power factor device ( like inductive loads) to confuse a generator's load sensor as well?

What brand/model of coffeepot is it? I'll look up the wattage specs for it.

 

I know it's a Mr. Coffee. I'm not sure the model as I'd have to dig it out of the cabinet and unplug it and reset my clock. It has a big clock on the front with a stainless panel around it. Bought it last year.

 

Get a better inverter.

I now have a 3500watt inverter, and it seems to have enough power for a 19" CRT tv, 900w microwave, 100w laptop, and many other small accessories.